D.J. Barney, Bobby Joyce and Brandon Marlow all played in their final football game for Strong Vincent last Friday. However, they're not through wearing a Colonels uniform.

The trio are listed on Vincent's basketball roster for the 2008-09 season. Barney and Joyce return for the Colonels, while Marlow joined for his senior season.

Vincent head coach Shannon Pullium had a short bench when last season began because the start of the basketball season overlaps with the PIAA football playoffs. The basketball team didn't play at full strength for two weeks because several of their players were still on the gridiron.

The Colonels weren't eliminated in football until the AAA semifinals.

That won't be the case Friday, when Vincent opens against Barberton, Ohio, in the 5 p.m. semifinal of the Grove City Tip-Off Tournament. The host Eagles will face Pittsburgh Peabody at 8.

-- Mike Copper