McAnany gives his team chance to win
It takes a certain passion and love for basketball to work tirelessly through brutal losing streaks.
During his two years as a starter for Fort Cherry High School, Rob McAnany was often the first one at the gym and the last one to leave, and most of his spare time was spent lifting weights or shooting jumpers. Sure, he got frustrated, but his medicine for losing was hard work.
Despite his deep love for the game, the senior shooting guard was often angry following his varsity basketball games with the Rangers. He hates to lose and no matter how many hours he spent at the gym or three-pointers he made, Fort Cherry lost far more than it won during his time wearing the red and white.
The Rangers went 7-37 the past two seasons and only defeated one team with a winning record – a 64-57 victory over Chartiers-Houston this season.
In that win, McAnany, a 6-3 senior shooting guard, scored 19 points and made four three-pointers, but his high school career ended with a six-game losing streak.
He has one more chance to go out a winner. McAnany will represent Fort Cherry as a member of the Red Team in the Washington-Greene County High School All-Star Basketball game tonight at Washington High School. The annual event starts with the girls game at 6:30 p.m. followed by the boys game. There will be a three-point competition and dunk contest during halftime of the boys game.
“We struggled the last couple of years,” McAnany said bluntly. “We just couldn’t get a rhythm or a groove. It’s kind of frustrating most of the time, but there’s really nothing else I could do.”
McAnany searched for answers and found solace at the gym, spending countless hours trying to improve his shot. It led to a season in which he averaged a team-high 14.7 points per game. McAnany also grabbed nine rebounds per game, but he did most of his damage behind the arc.
McAnany 64 three-point field goals and made at least two in all but three games. He made seven three-pointers in a Section 3-AA game against Burgettstown in December, but the Rangers lost, 77-61.
“He’s a pure shooter. I got to see him in our Christmas Tournament,” said former Avella head coach Drew Denham, who is coaching the Red Team. “I think he lit up seven threes that night. I joked with him that I have money on him for the three-point shootout, so he better not let me down.”
It was actually five three-pointers, but who’s counting? Well, McAnany is. Every shot made helps him prove that his name belongs among the WPIAL’s highly regarded players.
Unlike many players, McAnany has never played for an AAU team. That meant every high school game was his opportunity to show he can play at the next level.
Despite the losses he’s endured, McAnany will likely have that opportunity. He’s deciding between Westminster and Muskingum to continue his basketball career, but before he goes off to college, there’s some unfinished business.
McAnany is playing in the Pennsylvania vs. Maryland All-Star Game in Harrisburg next weekend. In the two all-star games, he’ll finally be playing his natural position on defense.
For Fort Cherry, McAnany was asked to play in the post on defense. His height at a small Class AA school is hard to find, so he was asked to do it all.
“I was the second-biggest person on our team , so I had to play down low,” McAnany said. “I’ve been doing it for a while now, probably the past three years – shooting guard and down low. We just didn’t have any other big dudes.”
Ten years ago, McAnany’s brother, David, a former guard for Fort Cherry, played in the all-star game at Wash High. Rob doesn’t remember much of the game, but he’s ready to open some eyes tonight in a game that is often dominated by the underdog – players who fly under the radar until their opportunity to compete against the area’s best seniors arrives.
“That would be really sweet to win here,” McAnany said. “It’s a pretty special thing to play in this game.”