Joe Evans
Joseph J. "Joe" Evans was one of the outstanding Sharon High basketball players during the heyday of the WPIAL Section 3 wars.
In 1969, as a junior he was selected 2nd-team All-Section 3 averaging 15 points a game. His most memorable accomplishment that year will remain the memory of longtime Sharon fans. It came against undefeated Farrell in the last game of the regular season when he drilled in the game-winning shot in the final seconds of a 55-54 victory. That was the only loss for the state champion Steelers of Coach Eddie McCluskey, who led by the great Dave Johnson, finished 27-1. His senior year in 1970, team co-captain Evans averaged 18 points a game and was named 1st-team All-Section 3 as well as honorable mention on the All-State team. That season Coach Alex Chrobak's Sharon team tied Beaver Falls for the Section 3 crown with a late season run that included wins over Beaver Falls, 60-56 - when Evans scored 20 points - and Farrell, 49-44 - with Evans pumping in 10 markers. In a playoff game for the championship at Westminster College, however, Sharon lost a 53-52 heart-breaker when Beaver Falls scored in the waning seconds. Evans made several key shots to help keep Sharon in the game. Beaver Falls went on to the win the state championship.
He and Dooms were both selected to start and play for the Western Pennsylvania All-Star team in the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic in Pittsburgh. The team's coach wanted Evans' 6-foot-3 size and offensive skills at the No. 2 guard, although he had never played guard. He went on to score 11 points and grab 6 rebounds as they rolled to a 109-76 victory over the Pittsburgh All-Stars.
Evans received a 4-year athletic scholarship at the University of Buffalo as an economics major. He started at small forward for the freshman team and was the leading scorer with a 19.8 per game average. He scored 37 points, including 18 field goals, against Brockport State. His sophomore year he earned a varsity letter as a reserve forward and played against some of the greats such as George "Iceman" Gervin of Eastern Michigan and Doug Collins of Illinois State. Unfortunately, due to medical reasons, Evans didn't play after his sophomore year.
Evans said some of his proudest athletic moments came playing in high school against some of the greatest high school coaches and best Section 3 players that ever put on a basketball uniform.