FOXBURG — A-C Valley's boys basketball team is under the direction of a new head coach following the resignation of Andrew Rapp.

“We played DuBois Central Catholic (Saturday in a 73-64 loss) and I got pretty hot with the players,” said Rapp, a 1991 A-C Valley graduate. “I could've handled it better.

“There are circumstances that I believe are keeping the team from reaching its potential and my conduct is part of that.”

With that in mind, Rapp notified the district Monday afternoon that he was stepping down, effective immediately. Tony McGarvey, who was in his third year as an assistant under Rapp, has taken over as head coach and was on the bench for the Falcons' 74-41 home win over Cranberry Monday night that improved the team to 5-13.

Rapp, who coached his alma mater to a record of 26-99, was in the midst of his sixth season of leading the Falcons. His tenure began with back-to-back one-win seasons in 2013-14 and 2014-15. The Falcons then improved their win total three straight years, including last season's 9-14 effort that included an appearance in the District 9 Class A playoffs.

Between graduation and injury, however, A-C Valley began this season minus four starters from last year's team. The current squad features two swing players averaging a double-double in junior Eddie Stevanus (13.6 points, 10.1 rebounds) and sophomore Levi Orton (21.2 ppg. and 10.2 rpg.), but the team lost its final six games under Rapp by an average of 19 points per contest.

“Those two players really stepped up, we just needed more depth,” Rapp said. “I lost my effect on the team and the kids deserve better than that.

“The relationships I formed with the kids and the staff, sure, it was tough to step down,” added Rapp, “but I was not an effective coach down the stretch.”