BleacherCoaches.com

Anyone have any predictions?

WesPAC North...... This will be a wild season for the WestPAC North. Windber and North Star look to be the top teams but don't count out CV. All main players are back so they will also be in most games. Ferndale took a big hit with graduation and this will probably one of the weaker Ferndale teams in a long time. Portage has been getting better with the Jr. High teams but I don't think they are there yet.

Laurel Highlands looks tough once again. My predictions are Penn Cambria and BG will compete for the section #1 title. I've heard that Somerset and Westmont are both looking impressive in section 2.

Heritage- Northern Cambria seems to have outstanding offense (once again).

Chestnut Ridge has all of there starters from last year when they advanced to the district 5 semi's or finals..so they will be a machine this year

Westmont is good as usual. Richland is no longer impressive. I agree Ferndale was hit hard by graduation but they still have that Baumbaugh girl. McCort was also hit hard, and therefore are nothing to worry about. Johnstown has improved greatly, there out for a win this year. Conemaugh Township is doing pretty well along with Holidaysburg. My first pick would be Bishop Carroll.

In A, Northern Cambria has won 5 straight district 6 titles while North Star has done the same in district 5. North Star is currently ranked first in the state while Northern Cambria is ranked 3rd. D6 is loaded in Single A with NC, West Branch, and Penns Manor all ranked in the top 10. Bishop Guilfoyle will again be solid. Bishop Carroll looks good. Other teams in d6A to consider are Conemaugh Valley and Homer-Center. d5 figures to come down to North Star and Windber. NS just beat Windber in 4 the other night.

Philipsburg is the favorite in d6AA. Will be interesting to see which of the LHAC teams rise up to challenge them (Penn Cambria, Westmont, Somerset). Chestnut Ridge will have another great regular season but having to play in the district 6 playoffs will again make it difficult. Ridge lost in the d6 semis last year to Philipsburg. Note enough teams in d5AA to have own playoffs (at least not in recent years).

D5 will come down to the two top quality teams of North Star & Windber. Both are coached very well and their players are better skilled at their postions. Both teams have some nice hitters that should help carry theri season. Conemaugh Township ranked as getting better? I'm not sure about that the coaching is very suspect after their first two games, granted they started the season against two top teams. However their offense has not developed and they struggle with a questionable rotation the coaching staff uses. They will struggle to do as well as last year with 6 wins. Coaching will not develop enough to help this team. Better coaching choices were out in the market for a struggling program. I didn't mean to hit on this team just didn't understand the comment they would do well this year.

Ferndale does well even with a smaller height squad is is very well coached that should permit them to remain strong enough this year. Their girls have enough skill to to win games. It will be interesting to see how well Chestnut Ridge does this year. I do thing NC will have another strong year.

Single A is LOADED in D-6... willl be a great battle for a title- NC, West Branch, Penns Manor, BG, and BC I think will all be good/dangerous....

AA- I'm thinking PC will make it to the final four as normal. I believe they will win the LHAC, but I don't know much about Westmont.... You never know with Somerset either

AAA= Altoona has a nice young team- I Hope they can beat out State College, I think Hollidaysburg needs to start playing harder competition....

Any sleepers in LHAC? It seems we have a tight battle for #1 and a huge drop off from there....

Spin, I think your assessment was spot on, D5 will be a two team race NorthStar and Windber I think Ferndale will be tough but their lack of height will give them problems against NS &Windber . Chestnut Ridge will also be good but has a tough road to get out of districts, Nothern Cambria should have a good year also. and for those who think CT is up and coming this is a struggling program with yet another set of new inexperienced coaches . that team is going nowhere ,they will be lucky to win 5 games.haven't seen the northern D6 teams yet so I can't speak to BC, BG etc. good luck to all as the season progresses