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South Jersey Basketball: Wednesday, February 16, 2000
PRESS RELEASE In 1980 Al Carino, the founder and longtime president of the Basketball Club of South Jersey, set the wheels in motion for the establishment of a South Jersey Hall of Fame. Carino's first step towards that goal was to call upon Doug Frambes, former Riverside High School coach and currently a sports writer at the Courier-Post, to form and chair a committee for this purpose. Frambes formed a committee composed of Walt Burrows, Stan Mroz, George Pims, Dick Carpenter, Jack Harte, Al Mattern, Charlie Nash, Bill Thomas and Bob Viggiano. Initially, the committee met to set the ground rules and the format to be used in the selection process. In addition to selecting former outstanding coaches and players, the committee decided one inductee each year would be chosen for distinguished service to basketball in the area. The first banquet and induction ceremony was held in February, 1981 when 13 inductees were welcomed into the Hall of Fame. Carino was the first recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. The following year the Hall of Fame was expanded to include women. Bob Kenney, sports editor of the Courier-Post, and Ginny Whitaker, athletic director for Cherry Hill East High School, were added to the selection committee for this purpose. After five years of serving as chairman of the selection committee, Frambes stepped down but remained active on the committee. In 1985, Viggiano, also a sports writer at the Courier-Post, was named as the new chairman of the selection committee. Later Dick Carpenter served as chairman and in 1996, Harry Beaudet assumed the role as chairman. Over the past 17 years, over 180 men and women have been inducted into the South Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame. The induction ceremonies have become one of the Club's top activities and fulfills the hopes and dreams of Al Carino.
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HISTORY OF THE CLUB The Basketball Club of South Jersey, a long time dream of founder Al Carino, was organized in the fall of 1962 with the help of Courier-Post sportswriters Charlie Schuck and Walt Burrows. During the first year, men such as Al Mattern, Sam Strauss, Bob Kenney, Dick Carpenter, Ben Mark, John Kling and the Rev. William Hart added their support. An All-South Jersey team and the Coach of the Year were honored at the first post season banquet and the Suburban Newspapers presented the Suburban Cup. State champion coaches were feted. In 1964 the Courier-Post started the Top Ten award and in 1966 the Club selected its first South Jersey Collegiate Player of the Year and held its first South Jersey Invitational Tournament. In addition, the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO), Camden District Board 34 presented the initial Sportsmanship Award in memory of Kenneth E. Smullen. In 1970, the Al DiBart Memorial Foundation began the top scoring award and named it the Bob Elder Award. That year the Club held its Unsung Heroes night for seniors who contributed to the team. The best foul shooting award was started in 1971. It now honors Tom Bowe and is presented by IAABO Board 34. In 1973 the Club honored its first woman coach for winning a state championship. In the fall of 1974, the Club began honoring girls at the regular meetings and the 1975 banquet cited the girls' scoring champion and the girls Coach of the Year. The Courier-Post added the girls Top Ten. In 1975, Charles M. Nash began honoring the South Jersey girls' scoring champion and named it the Sara J. Taylor Memorial Award. In 1976, the first Female College Player of the Year was honored by the Club with the aid of the girls officials of West Chapter Five, honoring Ginny Whitaker. In 1977, the first Small College Player of the Year was honored. 1978 saw the first All-Star games featuring senior boys and girls. In 1980, the Major College Player of the Year award was named in memory of Samuel Strauss. In 1981, the first Hall of Fame Inductees were honored and in 1982, the first females were inducted into the Hall of Fame. After the tragic death of Al Carino in 1982, Father William Hart moved up from Vice President to take over the leadership of the Club which was officially renamed the Al Carino Basketball Club of South Jersey. In 1985 the Small College Player of the Year Award was named in memory of Andrew A. Mitchell. In October, 1987, due to the growth of the Club, it was decided the Club should be split into two divisions. The divisions are now known as the Albert Carino Boys Basketball Club of South Jersey and the Albert Carino Girls Basketball Club of South Jersey. William G. Thomas was named President of the Boy's Division. Composed of men and women who are interested in promoting basketball in South Jersey, the Club tries to make a contribution to the sport in South Jersey. It is the firm desire of the officers that the club grow with the sport and we ask that you join with us to help honor the men and women in South Jersey basketball.
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2000 INDUCTEES ED BIEHLER One of the area's most outstanding players during his playing days. The 1941 Camden High School graduate was the leading scorer in the 1941 Camden City Series and led his team to the city championship. He was named to the All-City first team in 1941. He passed up college offers to enter the Coast Guard during World War II. He played on several outstanding Coast Guard teams during his tour in the service. Following World War II he resumed his career in the popular independent industrial leagues of the late 1940's and 1950's. He was the leading scorer for the Garden State All-Star team in 1948 and again in 1949. In 1951 he was named the Most Valuable Player in the Camden County League and in 1953 he was named toe Most Valuable Player in the Stretch Tournament. BILL CULBERTSON As one of the greatest all-time clutch performers in South Jersey history, Culbertson was a three-year starter and a two-time All-South Jersey performer for Camden High School. During his three-year career at Camden he helped lead his teams to three conference championships, three Sectional Group 4 crowns and a pair of State Group 4 titles. He scored 1,537 points in his career. During his career, Culbertson helped Camden compile an 80-10 record. He put on one of the most memorable performances in the 1979 state tournament. In five games that year he scored 174 points. In the state semifinals against unbeaten Middletown South, he scored 39 points and in the finals he scored 38 points as Camden beat Union. He played one year in college at South Alabama and his final three years at Pittsburgh. He also played one year in Italy and another in Argentina. Today he and his wife Kettisa and son Joshua live in Pennsauken. He works as a case manager and a substance abuse counselor for Volunteers of America. He also serves as an assistant coach at Rutgers-Camden. JOE FRANCE He was a coach and teacher at Riverside High School for over 30 years. After serving as head basketball coach at Millville for one season he moved to Riverside to begin a long and distinguished coaching career. He served as an assistant football coach seven years for the Rams and spent six seasons as an assistant in basketball under Hall of Fame coach Doug Frambes. When Frambes retired, France took over the program for the next 10 seasons where the Rams continued their excellent success. France's 1967 team reached the South Jersey Group 2 championship round. Following the 1975 season he stepped down to become the Riverside Director of Athletics, a position he held for many years. He returned to coaching for one season in 1988-89 to guide the Riverside girls program. He is now retired and living in Willingboro. He and his wife Vi are the parents of three daughters and a son. VINCE IANDOLI This long-time official is being inducted into the Hall of Fame for his long and distinguished service to South Jersey basketball. In 1973 he became a certified official with IAABO Board 34 and immediately became involved in the cadet training program. He was instrumental in upgrading the level of instruction being provided to upcoming officials. In 1979 he was elected to the position of Rules Interpreter for Board 34 and still holds that position. His position requires the conducting of interpretation sessions for schools and officials and also the scheduling of floor clinics. He holds "on-floor" instruction classes for two and three-person crews. He has served on the International Association's Rules Examination Committee and has served as an official with the Special Olympics. Mr. Iandoli also serves as Rules Interpreter and Cadet instructor for DVOA. This Drexel University graduate and his wife of 44 years, Thelma, live in Cherry Hill. They are the parents of three children and one grandson. MARYBETH (QUINN) KIRSCHLING She was a three-year starter at Paul VI High School under Hall of Fame coach Vickie Harrington Orzechowski. During her career she was a member of three South Jersey North Conference Championship teams. She was a strong inside player and a steady scorer. She was more noted for her defense and rebounding. In 1976 she was named to the All South Jersey first team. She continued her basketball career at North Carolina State University under 1988 Olympic Gold Medal coach Kay Yow. During her freshman season the Wolfpack won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship. Following graduation she began officiating in the area. She has officiated four State Tournament of Champions games and several state finals. For the past 11 years she has officiated at the college level. She has worked the women's NCAA Eastern Regional Finals and in 1998 she worked the NCAA Division III Final Four. Today she and her husband Bill Kirschling live in West Deptford with children Neil and Megan. SUE MARSHALL She was one of the area's best all around athletes during her playing days at Haddonfield High School. The 1975 graduate was not only an outstanding basketball player, where she was a three-year starter, but was also an excellent field hockey player. She also played one year of softball and in one year of track set a South Jersey record in the low hurdles. During her three-year varsity basketball career she was twice named to the All South Jersey first team. In her final season at Haddonfield she averaged 19.4 points a game while also leading her team in assists and steals. She finished her career with 999 points. In her final hockey season she was named to the All-South Jersey second team and gained first team honors in Group 1 and the Colonial Conference. She then went onto East Stroudsburg University where she continued her hockey career and also played lacrosse. She earned her teacher's certificate from Glassboro State College. She has been an assistant basketball, track and field and softball coach. Today she lives in Hatteras, North Carolina. THERESA (McGLADE) LOMBARDI She becomes the fourth member of the McGlade family to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The 1979 Gloucester Catholic High School graduate was a four-year varsity performer and a starter for three seasons. She has the rare distinction of having played on four state championship teams during her career. During her career she scored 1,045 points and had 1,408 rebounds. She was an intense competitor and three times she was named to the All South Jersey team. In 1979 she was selected by the Courier-Post as the Player of the Year. She went on to have an outstanding career at San Diego State University. She was a three-year starter and led her team in foul shooting two years and was ranked among the top 20 in the country. She also led her team in assists for two seasons. Today she lives in Key Largo, Florida. TOM MELCHIONNI He becomes the fifth member of the Melchionni family to be inducted into the South Jersey Hall of Fame, joining his father Bill and brothers Bill, Bob and Gary. Like his three brothers he was a standout player at Bishop Eustace. The 1971 graduate was a two-year starter, playing one year for Joe O'Connor and his second year under Hall of Fame coach Pete Johnston. He led the Crusaders in scoring those two years and helped Eustace post a 39-9 mark during that time. The Eustace teams reached the South Jersey Group A championship round both seasons. He was named to the All South Jersey team and second team All-State in 1971. He then followed his brothers Bill and Bob to Villanova where he played four seasons. He captained the Villanova team for the 1975-76 season. Today he is a real estate broker in the South Jersey shore area. He lives in Upper Township and is the father of three sons. WALT MONTFORD For three years the easy going and popular Montford was ranked amongst the very best in South Jersey. During his three-year career at Atlantic City High School he averaged 26 points a game and 24 rebounds. The 1975 graduate finished his career with 1,676 points and well over 1,000 rebounds. His 1,646 points was a school record that stood until broken in 1991. In his final high school game he put on one of the most memorable individual performances as he scored 42 points and had 21 rebounds in an overtime loss to Camden in the South Jersey Group 4 championship game. He was recently named by the Courier-Post to the All-Century Modern Era first team. He continued his basketball career at Temple University where he continued to enjoy a lot of success. He played four years for the Owls and scored 1,067 during his career. He was honored by the Albert Carino Basketball Club of South Jersey as the area's most outstanding college player. The gentle giant died in 1991. DAVE ROBINSON One of the finest all-around athletes ever produced in South Jersey. The Moorestown High graduate was a standout in football, track and basketball in high school. He was a dominant inside player for Hall of Fame coach Pete Monska on teams that went unbeaten and won State Group 3 championships in 1958 and 1959. He was a steady scorer for the Quakers but his main contribution was his outstanding rebounding and defensive ability. In college he opted for football where he was a two-way player at Penn State under fabled coach Rip Engle. He earned All-American honors at Penn State and in 1997 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was a first round draft choice of the Green Bay Packers and became an integral member of Vince Lombardi's teams that captured the 1965 NFL championship and Super Bowls I and II. He was named All Pro three times from 1963 to 1972. Today he resides in Kent, Ohio. BILL ULRICH Now in his 34th season of coaching, Ulrich is amongst the most successful coaches in state history. For the past 20 years he has guided the Sterling High School girls program. During that time he has posted an amazing 446-73 record entering this season. His teams have won 13 Colonial Conference titles, 7 South Jersey Sectional crowns and 2 state championships. Ulrich was an outstanding player himself. He was a three-year starter for Hall of Fame coach John Kling at Audubon High School. He became the school's first 1,000-point scorer and he was named to the 1960 All South Team. He attended Duke University on a full basketball scholarship where he saw considerable action until a knee injury in his junior year ended his career. In his senior year he served as a student assistant freshman coach under Chuck Daly. While he has gained his most recognition as the Sterling girls' coach Ulrich also enjoyed success as a boys' coach at both Asbury Park and Sterling. He posted a 55-37 record in four seasons at Asbury Park and then a 146-92 record during his 10-year career at Sterling. BILL WORRELL He was one of the area's most dominating players during his playing days at Rancocas Valley High School. The 1964 graduate was an outstanding all-around player. He could score, rebound and was an excellent defender. He was named to the 1964 All South Jersey team in his final season for the Red Devils as he led his team to an 18-5 record. He became Rancocas Valley's first 1,000-point scorer, finishing his career with 1,104 points. That record stood until broken in 1998 by present Maryland standout Dan Miller. Following his high school days he went on to play at Tennessee Tech where he continued his successful career, lettering all four years. In 1970 he returned to South Jersey to begin a long coaching career. He spent nine years as coach at Lenape High and one season at Burlington County College. In 1981 he returned to Tennessee Tech to become an assistant coach with the women's team. In 1986 he was elevated to the head coaching job where he has remained to this day. He has compiled a 271-128 record during that time. He and his wife Suzanne have two daughters, Dara and Paige.
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South Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame
* Deceased
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HOW TO NOMINATE Anyone can nominate a candidate to the Basketball Club of South Jersey Hall of Fame. All it takes is a postcard. Simply print your nominee's name, address and telephone number on the card and mail it to:
Harry Beaudet, Chairman If you are going to nominate a former basketball player, that candidate must be out of high school for a minimum of five years. Nominations may also be made for coaches, officials or individuals that have contributed to the sport in South Jersey. Nominations received are reviewed by the Hall of Fame Committee. The Selection Committee will make the final decision on all nominees. HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE
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