On March 24, a press release was issued by Bethlehem Catholic High School principal John Petruzzelli that announced the firing of girls basketball coach Bill Lanscek.

"Bethlehem Catholic High School has announced that it is seeking a new girls' basketball coach. Mr. William Lanscek will not return to the job next year. We appreciate the time and energy that Coach Lanscek has given to the program."

Less than 40 minutes earlier, Lanscek had just found out for himself and was shocked when Becahi business administrator Chris Domyan, and current Becahi athletic director Mike Grasso gave him the news.

"Nobody said a word [before March 24]. The administrators were all there for our conference and district wins. I threw a party, and they all came," said Lanscek.

What Lanscek was expecting on March 24 was a typical end-of-the-year wrap-up meeting with plenty of give-and-take. What Lanscek got was a blindside.

"They said, 'We're going in a new direction with girls basketball,'"Lanscek said.

Lanscek was baffled.

"I asked them, 'What new direction could you possibly mean? Ten years ago we went in a new direction,'" he said.

According to Lanscek, Domyan explained that it wasn't wins and losses that would be successful to Becahi, but that 30 kids in the program would be.

On Lanscek's end, rounding up 30 kids wasn't for lack of trying. Becahi's feeder schools are dwindling with recent and not-so-recent closings. Of the schools that are left, not all have girls basketball teams.

In addition, Becahi used to run a girls and boys summer basketball camp. Now, the camp is open only to boys.

"Was I supposed to be the marketing person for the school? The school is supposed to market themselves," said Lanscek.

When asked for comment, Grasso referred to the press release as his only statement.

"He has worked hard with our student athletes," Grasso said from the release. "We wish coach Lanscek the best. I'm sure he will be a success wherever he coaches. The school will begin a search for a new coach immediately."

Right now, Lanscek is left with more questions than answers, because when he was told, 'You've done everything we've asked you to do, but...,' things didn't add up.

So, what Lanscek really wants is the truth, and sometimes the truth hurts, but it would be better than what he got.

"I built up a program that now swallowed me up," he said.

Lanscek's record at Becahi is 161-97. Last year, the Hawks set a school record for most wins with 28 and won the district title, making it to the PIAA finals. This year, the Hawks won the conference title and districts, going undefeated in the LVC with a record of 25-4.

Lanscek has taken a step back, leaving his post as Becahi's junior varsity softball coach, and leaving his substitute teaching job, also at Becahi.

"For 10 years, I had a smile on my face because I knew I was going to see the kids," he said.

Right now, Lanscek wants one more thing.

"I'm not a bad guy. I've been married 38 years, had the same job for 37 years, coached in the Catholic school system for 22, in CYO and in high school. My kids went to Beca. I don't want to be thought of as the guy who was fired," he said.

Although Lanscek may not understand Becahi's decision and the way it was handled, he believes that he will someday. It might be a year from now or three years from now, but as time passes, and the story begins to unfold, the truth will be revealed.

As Lanscek told Domyan and Grasso, "I've got to live with your decision, and you'll live with yours."