On Jan 26, basketball great Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. He was 41. In addition to Bryant, his 13-year old daughter, Gianna; John Alobelli, his wife, Keri, their daughter Alyssa and Christina Mauser, all died in the crash.
Over his high school and professional career, Kobe played many teams. Two of those teams were from Northeastern Pennsylvania.
On March 15 1995, Kobe along with the Lower Merion Twp. Aces played the Hazleton Area Cougars in the PIAA Class 4A Eastern quarterfinals at Bethlehem Liberty High School. Despite Kobe’s 33 points, Hazleton won the game in overtime by a score 64-59.
The Standard-Speaker – March 16, 1995
In today’s Standard Speaker David Seamon shares a reflection on this game.
The following year, the Lower Merion Aces would be up against another NEPA team. This time on March 13, 1996, the Aces faced off against Scranton High at Bethlehem Liberty High School. This time it was all Aces. Kobe would led his time to a 79-39 defeat of the Knights.
The Tribune – March 14, 1996
In today’s Times-Tribune, Marty Myers speaks with Willie Chandler, member of the 1996 Scranton Knights team and current Misericordia basketball coach, about this game.
Myers also penned a column back in 1996 about the game, here is that article –
The Scranton Times – March 14, 1996
Here are images from the March 13, 1996 game –
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- Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion Twp. Aces, during the PIAA playoff game against Scranton High School on March 13, 1996 at Bethlehem Liberty High School. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion Twp. Aces, with team prior to the start of the PIAA playoff game against Scranton High School on March 13, 1996 at Bethlehem Liberty High School. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion Twp. Aces, during the PIAA playoff game against Scranton High School on March 13, 1996 at Bethlehem Liberty High School. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion Twp. Aces, standing between two Scranton players during a free throw attempt during the PIAA playoff game at Bethlehem Liberty on March 13, 1996. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion Twp. Aces, and a teammate go for the rebound during the PIAA playoff game against Scranton High School on March 13, 1996 at Bethlehem Liberty High School. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion Twp. Aces, sitting on the bench prior to the start of the PIAA playoff game against Scranton High School on March 13, 1996 at Bethlehem Liberty High School. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion Twp. Aces, during the PIAA playoff game against Scranton High School on March 13, 1996 at Bethlehem Liberty High School. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion Twp. Aces, surrounded by members of the Scranton High team during the playoff game at at Bethlehem Liberty High School on March 13, 1996. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion Twp. Aces, during the PIAA playoff game against Scranton High School on March 13, 1996 at Bethlehem Liberty High School. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion Twp. Aces, running down the court during the PIAA playoff game against Scranton High School on March 13, 1996 at Bethlehem Liberty High School. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion Twp. Aces, with a rebound during the PIAA playoff game against Scranton on March 13, 1996 at Bethlehem Liberty High School. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion Twp. Aces, playing defense against a Scranton player during the PIAA playoff game on March 13, 1996 at Bethlehem Liberty High School. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion Twp. Aces, playing defense against a Scranton player during the PIAA playoff game on March 13, 1996 at Bethlehem Liberty High School. Times-Tribune Archives
Brian Fulton has been the librarian at The Times-Tribune for the past 15 years. On his blog, Historically Hip, he writes about the great concerts, plays/musicals and celebrity happenings that have taken place throughout NEPA. He is also the co-host of the local history podcast, Historically Hip. He competed and was crowned grand champion on an episode of NPR quiz show “Ask Me Another.” Contact: bfulton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9140; or @TTPagesPast
