Westmoreland Campus Clippings: Norwin's Deri living showcase life

A number of local college football players are in Fort Worth, Texas to take part in the College Gridiron Showcase, an invite-only “all-star” event for many of the country’s top seniors.

The showcase runs from Jan. 3-8 at McNair Stadium.

Among the local contingent is West Liberty strong safety Logan Deri, a Norwin graduate.

Deri recently was named to the Don Hansen Football Gazette Division II All-Super Region I third team. A four-year starter, he led West Liberty in tackles (79) and became the sixth player in program history to record 300 or more career tackles.

Other area players attending the event are cornerback Reid Harrison-Ducros and defensive tackle Kam Carter of Duquesne, running back Terance Stephens of Robert Morris, offensive guard Christian Eubanks of St. Francis (Pa.), wide receiver Jojo Gause and linebacker Damon Lloyd of IUP and Penn State punter Blake Gillikin.

Since the event began in 2015, 475 participants have been offered pro opportunities, according to CGS. Last year, 150 scouts from the NFL, CFL and other professional leagues attended the symposium and showcase to evaluate talent.

The CGS is the first all-star event to apply an OTA format — organized team activities, like the NFL uses — with practices and a controlled scrimmage with pro coaches. Players will go through drills, meetings and interviews with scouts and team executives.

Men’s basketball

Allegheny: Sophomore guard Josh Ratesic (Norwin) had a career-high 12 points for the Gators in a 78-71 win over Penn State Behrend.

Grove City: Junior guard Justice Rice (Monessen) scored a team-best 14 points and added four blocks in a 63-57 loss to Chatham.

Holy Cross: Junior guard Austin Butler (Latrobe) scored 18 points to lead the Crusaders (2-13) to a 63-61 victory over Navy. He hit 7 of 14 shots (4 of 8 3-pointers) and grabbed five rebounds in the win.

Lehigh: Freshman guard Reed Fenton (Latrobe) scored a season-high 19 points, including a 3-for-4 effort from behind the 3-point arc, and shot 7 of 11 from the field for the game as Lehigh (4-10, 1-1) snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 78-71 win over Loyola Maryland.

Pitt-Greensburg: The Bobcats made it nine wins in 10 games with a 76-62 win over visiting Pitt-Bradford. Junior Matt Johnson scored a game-high 18 points, Toran Jenkins added 12 points and sophomore Jojo France and senior Cody Spaid had 11 apiece for UPG (9-2, 6-1).

Jenkins turned heads with 18 rebounds, and junior Cam Seigfreid (Penn-Trafford) had eight points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals.

In a 90-72 win over Chatham, the defending PAC champion, Johnson scored 20, Seigfreid had 16, France added 14 and Jenkins chipped in 13.

Saint Vincent: Junior forward Shamar Bennett was named the PAC Player of the Week. Bennett averaged 19 points, 9½ rebounds and three blocks to claim MVP honors as the Bearcats won the Catholic Basketball Invitational title. He had 27 points and eight rebounds in an 81-73 win over Catholic.

Shippensburg: Junior point guard Jake Biss (Latrobe) scored 17 points and added four assists as the Raiders (9-3, 5-1) defeated Millersville, 76-65, in a PSAC East Division game.

It was his seventh double-digit scoring game this season.