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What are the big matchups tonight and tomorrow?  D5 & D6?  Excited to see what teams emerge this season.  I thought some area teams did well last week and we even had a few D5 tip offs come down to the wire opening night.
Thoughts?

Tyrone at Central tonight should give us an idea where this years Central team fits in to the mix. Tyrone should be one of the favorites along with Huntingdon in the Mountain League.


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As Manfred mentioned in a different thread, the Mountain Cat Tournament should be pretty good.

Ligonier has 2 really good players in Marek Paola and Michael Marinchak. Paola is a 6'6" junior and is averaging 30 points and 12 rebounds through three games. Marinchak is a sophomore guard, and he can really play.  A lot of attention in AAA is on Richland and Central Cambria, but don't forget about Ligonier in a few months.

McCort lost a lot, but Matt Petrosky is a good player. Him and Paola should be worth checking out.  Ben Seidel is a good guard too.  


Shanksville lost everything but Dawson Snyder, but he's a good one.  It's definitely a bit of a rebuilding year for the Vikings, and they have a lot of young kids.  They are really well coached, I wouldn't count them out.

Many are expecting Forest Hills to be good this year.  They return 4 starters and they have some size with Cecere and Richardson down low.

Pretty good four team field.


Across the street, keep an eye on Richland/Bishop Carroll.   I think Richland is the best team around, but BC is improved and has some talented players, and the press can wear on anyone. I suspect they can hang with the Rams a bit.

My thoughts after the first night: After getting easily handled in a scrimmage with Liggy, BMCHS Coach Murphy had his boys ready last night. Liggy looked lost. If you have a 6-6 post player, why is he taking 15-18 ft. shots (1 for 7 by my count)away from the basket? Marinchak looked totally flustered and fouled out with 4+ min. left. Seidel and Petrosky had pretty good results for BMCHS. Good bench play too. Team quickness impressed me, esp. the guard play. FH will have their hands full tonight. Whoever wins will have earned it. Snyder was the only kid for Shanksville who could play on any of the other 3 teams, and he was forcing a lot of play trying to make something happen for his team. After last nt., my 1 game all tourney picks would be, Snyder, Paolo, Petrosky, Seidel, Smith -or- Schrock and Richardson, with co-MVP Seidel and Richardson. Of course, tonight's outcomes will change most of these.

Manfred wrote:My thoughts after the first night:  After getting easily handled in a scrimmage with Liggy, BMCHS Coach Murphy had his boys ready last night.  Liggy looked lost.  If you have a 6-6 post player, why is he taking 15-18 ft. shots (1 for 7 by my count)away from the basket?  Marinchak looked totally flustered and fouled out with 4+ min. left.  Seidel and Petrosky had pretty good results for BMCHS.  Good bench play too.  Team quickness impressed me, esp. the guard play.  FH will have their hands full tonight.  Whoever wins will have earned it.  Snyder was the only kid for Shanksville who could play on any of the other 3 teams, and he was forcing a lot of play trying to make something happen for his team.  After last nt., my 1 game all tourney picks would be, Snyder, Paolo, Petrosky, Seidel, Smith -or- Schrock and Richardson, with co-MVP Seidel and Richardson.  Of course, tonight's outcomes will change most of these.

Just like when Portage had Randy Spaid, a 6-9 point guard who shot 3s. Any other coach puts him in the post and he scores 35+ a game in the Westpac.

Vescovi sometimes uses Cecere at the point, setting up the plays, but he rarely shoots out there.

I'm a little surprised by the McCort/Ligonier outcome, because I heard the scrimmage went in favor of Ligonier.  I do think Seidel is going to have a breakout year, he's a very smart player. True point guard through and through. 

I saw Ligonier play last year in the playoffs, the individual talent is there, but Paola started hanging away from the basket and that hurt them. He's good, but everyone has off nights. He'll bounce back.  Still think Ligonier can be a factor late in the year. 

Shanksville lost so much, but I suspect they'll be competing by February. Snyder is a really good coach, he'll get them to play better. 

Forest Hills is doing what they were expected to do. I think tonight will be a good one.  

Liggy probably missing some football players too. Not sure if injuries are holding out Tutino and Daugherty were starters last year. Should help them out. Still looks like Liggy isn’t ready for big time D6 basketball just yet.


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Daugherty and Tutino did not play. But after leading by 7 or 8 at the half, Shanksville just snatched it running away from them. I picked the All tourney team, and nailed the MVP. I cringe any time I see FH with the Davidsville ref crew. Even the addition of Ed Danel, who made a couple obvious blown calls too, didn't help the Ranger cause. Surprising it ended up a 2 point BMCHS win. Since this tourney signs teams for a 2 yr. appearance contract, these 2 may face off again next yr.