Doug Kelly doesn't want to get out of coaching and admits he could end up on a high school bench next season. He just doesn't want to be the boss.

Kelly resigned recently as Franklin Regional's boys' coach. In his seven seasons the Panthers were 80-94 and this season finished 15-8 and in third place in Section 2-AAAA. They won one section title and qualified for the playoffs three times.

He wasn't burned out yet -- coaching can do that to a guy -- and enjoyed the interaction with the players. What he didn't enjoy was the time away from his family.

"There are other things deserving of more of my time," he said, referring to his family that includes son Sean, 9, and daughter Maeve, 6. "I hope to volunteer [as a coach] as early as next season. I just want to be able to leave if they have something going on I should be at."

If that doesn't happen, Kelly will keep himself busy coaching youth basketball.

"I never saw myself as someone who would be [coaching] for the long haul. I'm just not wired that way. I told [Hempfield coach] Bill Swan that during the season," Kelly said.

Swan just completed his 11th season of coaching.

While on the subject of Franklin Regional, point guard Nick Novak, who led the WPIAL in scoring during the regular season with a 28.1 points-per-game average, has not decided on a college.

"I know Pitt-Johnstown has talked to him," Kelly said. "He's been talked to by some Division II schools in the West Virginia Conference, but I don't know about what level he should play at. That's more for the schools to decide.

"Columbia did call and Nick is a good student, so that would make sense. The thing about him is that whereever he goes, that school will be getting not only a good player but an outstanding individual. He's a gym rat who'll work hard and won't cause any problems."

As a junior, Novak, who is 6 feet 1, averaged 21 points and three assists a game.

"I know Pitt-Johnstown coach Bob Rukavina told Nick to go find the best deal that he could, but if things didn't work out to get back in touch with him," Kelly said.

Tuesday's PIAA play-in games were played at the home court of one of the teams. That's new this season. In the past, the play-in games were at neutral sites.

The thinking is the atmosphere and attendance at the play-in games will be better at one of the competing teams' gyms, which is probably true. But how about the team that has to travel?

Wonder how thrilled the coaches and players at Hollidaysburg, the District 6 runner-up, were about having to play at Central Catholic, the No. 5 team from the WPIAL, in a play-in game? Central Catholic won, 71-66.

WPIAL officials were happy with the attendance at the championship games.

Executive director Tim O'Malley said the tripleheader Friday night that featured the shootout between Sewickley Academy's Tom Droney and Serra Catholic's T.J. Heatherington in the Class A final, and the Class AAAA doubleheader Saturday night that had Peters Township and Mt. Lebanon meeting in the Class AAAA boys' game, were well attended.

The tripleheader Saturday afternoon, that had the boys' Class AA final between Jeannette and North Catholic, didn't attract as many fans as expected.

"We thought a Beaver Falls-Jeannette rematch would pack the place," O'Malley said. "But that didn't happen. Still, we were pleased with the attendance."

Beaver Falls was upset by Monessen in the quarterfinals. North Catholic defeated Jeannette, the defending Class AA champion, in the title game.

It should be noted that the WPIAL crowned five first-time champions -- Peters Township in boys' Class AAAA, Hampton in boys' Class AAA, North Catholic in boys' Class AA, Mt. Lebanon in girls' Class AAAA and Sto-Rox in girls' Class AA.

The WPIAL does not select MVPs for its championship games, something we have advocated the league doing for years. So, once again, it's up to us -- OK, me -- to name the eight most valuable players from the finals.

Sorry, guys and gals, the only thing that comes with this award is a pat on the back for a championship effort. So here they are, our title game MVPs:

• Boys Class AAAA -- Craig Wolcott, Peters Township.

• Boys Class AAA -- Bill Luther, Hampton.

• Boys Class AA -- Henry Pwono, North Catholic.

• Boys Class A -- Tom Droney, Sewickley Academy.

• Girls Class AAAA -- Madison Cable, Mt. Lebanon.

• Girls Class AAA -- LaShaunia Brothers, New Castle.

• Girls Class AA -- Kerry Connolly, Sto-Rox.

• Girls Class A -- Lauren Savulchak, North Catholic.