Cardinal O'Hara coach Tim Kelly was an assistant on Buddy Gardler's staff for 11 seasons. So when Gardler , the all-time winningest coach in Catholic League decided to hang up the whistle after 560 wins and 39 seasons, it seemed natural that he'd still hang around the program.

Kelly said Gardler, his mentor, has been a regular at the Lions' home games this season. And Gardler frequently lends advice to his successor. Anything to help the Lions (2-16, 0-11 in the Catholic's Red Division) make a complete 180 and pick up a few wins here at the end of the season.

"We talk all the time," Kelly said of Gardler a week back. "He says, 'Hang in there. The kids will get a little bigger and a little stronger next year.' ...We're really focused on that and on trying to get that next win."

The Lions are loaded with juniors and sophomores, including forward Ryan Howarth and guard Anthony Bertolino. Come next season, things will be looking a lot better on Springfield Road.

It took two months, but Cardinal O'Hara is ready to name Buddy Gardler's successor.

The longtime boys basketball coach, and all-time winningest coach in Catholic League history, announced his retirement March 4. Right out of the gate, several names floated to the top of the list.

All of the speculation comes to an end today at 1:30 p.m., when O'Hara introduces its new coach during a press conference held at the school's main auditorium. Pick up a copy of Wednesday's Daily Times for the latest.

After 40 years on the sideline, Cardinal O'Hara's Buddy Gardler has decided it was time to call it a career.

The longtime O'Hara coach will leave his post as boys basketball coach effective Monday. Gardler, who coached 560 wins, has been at O'Hara for the past 32 seasons. Prior to that he coached Bishop Kenrick for seven seasons and spent one season as an assistant at American University.

"I didn’t get into coaching for the wins," Gardler told the Daily Times. "Did I want to win? Absolutely, but I got into coaching to teach the game and to stay around basketball."

For a full account, check out Terry Toohey's story in Thursday's edition of the Daily Times.

IN THE PIAA CLASS AAAA TOURNEY
Three games meant three more wins for Delaware County's teams in the PIAA Class AAAA tournament. Chester fended off Harrisburg on the strength of a fourth-quarter spurt. Ridley posted a second straight 30-point win, beating Central Dauphin East. And Penn Wood moved into the quarterfinals for the first time in a long time by handling Pocono Mountain West. Pick up a copy of today's newspaper for more on all three playoff games.