Before They Drew X's and O's, Basketball 2014-15

Before He Drew X's and O's . . .

As you can imagine, many of the head coaches and assistants currently associated with city
leagues' basketball teams are former players. Since I'm ancient (smile), I wrote stories about
many of them during their high school careers.
We hope you enjoy this feature.
Would you like to see a story about someone who played in the Public, Catholic or Inter-Ac
leagues and is now a coach (assuming I did one on him)? Send me a note at tedted307@yahoo.com

Thanks,
Ted

This story from the 1987-88 season is about G Jamie Ross,
who helped Frankford win its first Public League title. He
played college ball at Eastern Kentucky, steered Vaux to
the Class A state championship in 2013 (final year of
existence) and is now an assistant at Roman. Best of luck
with the Cahillites, Jamie!

SHOOTING AS SUN RISES WAKES UP FRANKFORD'S ROSS

By TED SILARY, Daily News Sports Writer

As a public service, the Daily News today solves a mystery for people living on the east side of North 8th St. in Logan, both a little above and a little below Duncannon St.

Have you noticed that you no longer need an alarm clock to awaken each morning, because a persistent thump, thump, thump starts to emanate from Barrett Playground as early as 5:30?

Don't lean out of your window and curse Jamie Ross , a 6-2 wing guard for Frankford High's basketball varsity. Applaud his vastly improved work habits, then insert some earplugs.

It was last Wednesday morning, the day after shooting 0-for-7 from the floor and committing eight turnovers in Frankford's 58-57 victory over Ben Franklin in a Public League opener, that Ross commenced his beat-the-sunrise workout routine.

"I've been over at Barrett every morning for the last week, from about 5:30 to 7," Ross said. "I've been working on my shooting. Nobody has complained to me yet (about making racket that early). Really, my mother (Marlene) is the only person who doesn't like it a whole lot.

"She doesn't mind me practicing, but she's getting sick of having to wash all the sweatclothes I'm going through. "

Apparently, the extra work is paying dividends. Last night, Ross shot 6- for-9 and 2-for-3 for 14 points and added 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals as Frankford easily defeated the host, 63-39, in the championship game of the Father Judge Tournament.

Also starring for the Pioneers were brothers Jason (21 points, 16 rebounds) and Carlin Warley (20, 14).

According to coach Vince Miller, Ross had performed "terrible" in the three games previous to Monday's semifinal, in which Frankford defeated Monsignor Bonner.

"He was 5-for-30 from the floor with a lot of turnovers. That's bad, isn't it? " Miller asked. "I stuck with him because, as I kept telling him, we're a good team, but to be a great team, we need Jamie hitting his jump shot night in and night out. Hopefully, the way he played in this tournament, he's over the hump. "

Truthfully, the hump was beginning to resemble a mountain. Ross struggled throughout December and observers were finding it hard to believe that this Jamie Ross was the Jamie Ross of early last August, the Jamie Ross who starred in the Keystone State Games.

In the scholastic male championship game, Ross shot 11-for-18 and 8-for-12 for 30 points as Region I-South (Philadelphia city) outlasted Region IV-North (Northwest Pa.), 125-122.

"Maybe the Keystone Games hurt me," Ross now admits. "Everything came so easy for me, I figured everything would automatically keep rolling. I figured I didn't have to work out anymore, and that was the worst thing I ever did.

"After I played so bad against Franklin, it woke me up. I knew I had to start practicing extra again. I went back to basics on my shot; started from scratch and put it back together again. "

Ross, who is Proposition 48 qualified, intermittently is viewed as a lower Division I prospect. But each time his shot goes into hibernation, as it also did early last summer, recruiters waver on whether they like him.

"I've heard from Lehigh, Northeastern and Brigham Young-Hawaii. That's about it," Ross said. "When people start finding out that I have over 700 in the boards (Scholastic Aptitude Test), maybe things will pick up . . . Also, if I keep hitting my shots."