Terry Karsonovich
Terry Karsonovich is one of the top basketball players ever developed at Sharpsville High School.
He played for the Blue Devils from 1971-73. As captain in the 1972-73 season, he helped lead the team to a 21-1 record and the Mercer County championship. The team finished the year 23-3 overall. He was named first-team All-Mercer County after averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds per game.
He went to Alliance College, where he shined in basketball from 1973-77. He was named to 2nd team Erie Big Five in 1975-76, then 1st team Erie Big Five in 1976-77. The Big Five included Alliance, Mercyhurst, Edinboro, Gannon and Penn State-Behrend. He served as team captain his junior and senior seasons. He was the first player from Alliance to lead the Erie Big Five in scoring, averaging 20.3 points per game. He totaled 366 points in 18 games.
A three-year letterman, he was only the second Alliance player to be honored as 1st team Erie Big Five. He was the third leading scorer in N.A.I.A. District 18 and the leading rebounder among non-centers, averaging 8 boards per game. He graduated among the all-time leading scorers in Alliance history, with a career high of 32 points against Steubenville and Penn State-Behrend.
He was invited to play for the Athletes in Action and to play in the New Orleans Jazz summer pro league. He was selected to play in the European Professional League on two occasions. He played with the Pittsburgh Gunners, a team trying to gain a franchise in the NBA.
He coached basketball for 17 years, seven as head coach. He was head coach at Sharpsville for two seasons and at Conneaut Lake for five, guiding three teams to the District 10 playoffs.