Football vs. basketball?

It’s no contest around here — at least when it comes to attendance.

When it comes to basketball, things are a bit different.

The smaller gyms do fill up quickly, though seating is limited in a lot of those places. Moniteau, Karns City, Union, Mars and Freeport are among the smaller gyms that create quite an atmosphere for home basketball games.

It’s the bigger high schools and Slippery Rock University where the lack of fans is noticeable.

The folks who do turn out are boisterous and enthusiastic, but schools like Seneca Valley and Butler rarely pack their gyms to the rafters — and both teams have been quite competitive in recent years.

When Matt Clement first arrived on the scene as Butler’s basketball coach, the Golden Tornado enjoyed a long winning streak to begin the season, ‘Clement Crazies’ T-shirts were in vogue, a pep band was playing and the gym was rocking.

All of that seemed to level off a bit over the past year or so.

Crowds at Butler have been OK — much improved over previous years — but that gym can hold plenty of people.

Seeing it filled to capacity would be a sight to behold.

Of course, that could very well happen Tuesday when the Tornado open their home schedule against rival New Castle.

Seneca Valley is in the section hunt seemingly every year with Victor Giannotta as coach. That gym should be a nightmare for any opposing team.

Oddly enough, when Butler has played there in recent years, there’s been a number of empty seats.

Shouldn’t happen.

Slippery Rock University is the biggest puzzler.

Rock football games draw huge crowds. Rock basketball games draw sparse ones.

Since Kevin Reynolds took over at SRU, the team has played fast-paced, exciting, winning basketball. Morrow Field House is capable of seating plenty, but hasn’t done so.

This year, SRU may have one of its strongest teams ever. The Rock defeated Navy by more than 20 points in what was supposed to be mere exhibition for a Division II school facing a Division I opponent.

SRU basketball has earned fan support from its students and the community. To date, that support hasn’t been there.

Basketball is the one sport that can generate electric atmospheres at the local level.

Yes, football is king in Western Pennsylvania and the nearest NBA team resides in Cleveland.

But for pure entertainment and athleticism?

I’ll attend a Butler, Seneca Valley or SRU basketball game anytime.