For more than 30 years, Paul Holzshu has coached basketball as an assistant or head coach at nine different high schools and colleges. But he never had to go through a practice like the one Tuesday.

Holzshu has taken over the Shaler Area boys' team after coach Howie Ruppert died last Thursday night of an apparent heart attack. Holzshu, who also is Shaler's athletic director, had been assisting Ruppert this season while Ruppert went through treatments for leukemia.

Shaler postponed three games after Ruppert's death. Holzshu didn't know quite what to say or how to act when the team practiced for the first time three days ago.

"It was the hardest practice I've ever been through," Holzshu said. "Who knows how long it will take for these kids to adjust -- if they ever adjust. On one hand, you try to move on, get beyond it and not belabor the fact. But on the other hand, you draw references back to Howie. You try to get the kids to understand that you want to continue with what Howie wanted done and the way he wanted it done.

"But how long do you keep mentioning it? How long do you keep throwing it back to the kids? It was hard for me to go on that floor for the first time. It will be hard for me to take over for someone who I had so much respect for and enjoyed being around."

Ruppert was well respected by WPIAL coaches, his teams were playoff participants five consecutive years and he won back-to-back section titles in 2004-05.

Holzshu has head coaching experience at Gateway, East Allegheny and Franklin Regional. He also was the head coach at Garrett Community College (Md.) and West Liberty.

"The reality of it is, some of our kids are more deeply disturbed [by Ruppert's death] than others," Holzshu said. "You look at Dan Taylor and J.P. Holtz. With AAU, they had been playing for Howie almost since they came out of the womb."

Shaler has only one senior on the team, and Ruppert was starting two freshman, two sophomores and a junior. Shaler plays at home tomorrow night against Central Catholic.

"Part of me is very apprehensive, and literally, a little bit scared," Holzshu said. "Just about how things will go and progress. But part of me is excited. Certainly it's going to be a challenge."

One of the best boys' games of the early season is tonight when Beaver Falls plays at Quaker Valley. Beaver Falls is 4-0 and the Post-Gazette's No. 1-ranked Class AA team, while No. 3 Quaker Valley is 6-0. Beaver Falls is one of the WPIAL's best teams, regardless of classification.

Mike Mastroianni, a two-time Post-Gazette coach of the year, has the Quakers looking good in his second season as coach. Last week, Quaker Valley defeated Aliquippa.

This is not a knock against Penn Hills basketball player Darche Jackson's ability. But what she has done so far this season proves it is a heck of a lot easier to put up big scoring statistics in a smaller classification than it is against good Class AAAA competition.

Last year at Wilkinsburg, which played in Class AA against schools such as Deer Lakes, Ellis School and Springdale, Jackson averaged 33.8 points a game and scored 54 twice.

But Jackson, a 5-foot-7 guard, transferred from Wilkinsburg to Penn Hills for her senior year. In the first five games at Penn Hills, Jackson hasn't scored more than 13 points and has been held below 10 twice.

Destiny Brown is a name that will be heard a lot in the future.

Brown is only a freshman at Gateway, but the 5-9 guard is having a major impact on the Gators. She is averaging 20 points a game and is being called a definite Division I prospect for the future.

Brock DeCicco can hoop, too. DeCicco was Thomas Jefferson's standout football player at tight end and linebacker. He already has made a verbal commitment to Pitt. Tuesday night, only four days after he played his final football game at Thomas Jefferson, DeCicco scored 16 points against Trinity. ... West Greene has not scored 20 points in any of its first four games.

Gateway football player B.J. Stevens made a verbal commitment to Miami (Ohio) in the summer. But there is a possibility he might not end up at the MAC school.

Two things happened to change the recruiting status of Stevens, a 6-2, 240-pound defensive end. First, he had a terrific season for Gateway, registering 22 sacks. Then Miami coach Shane Montgomery resigned last month.

Michigan, North Carolina State, Indiana and Virginia are a few of the schools that have offered scholarships in recent weeks. Pitt is also showing interest.

"I think a lot will be dictated by who Miami announces as head coach," Gateway coach Terry Smith said. "If it's someone from their staff, there is a good shot he'll stay with Miami. If it's an outside guy, I don't know what will happen."

Stevens' brother, Jordan, plays at Miami.