AA playoff Picture after 5 weeks...

[Opinionguy]

The way things are shaping up this year...it looks like 3 losses might get you in (as I predicted earlier), and with 4 loses you are out! Lets take a look at the District to see how teams are looking as we head down the home stretch of the season.

Tyrone 5-0
Where else would you start besides talking about Tyrone. Heck, it has been where the Road to the title has run for the last 10 years. Shoot..they have won 7 out of the last 10 D6 titles. Tyrone is racking up the points again this year, and faces their stiffest competition this weekend in Bellfonte. I would expect the experienced Tyrone team to roll, and enter the playoffs in a familiar position...seeded #1.

Cheasnut Ridge 5-0
I'm going to try and be nice here. Ridge is coasting through their cupcake regular season schedule and will most likely either finish undefeated or with one loss. Either way, it will probably be good enough to enter them in the top 4 seeding wise heading into week 10. Fishertown would be a excellent place to travel for any team in the playoff field.

Bishop McCort 4-1
The highly touted Crushers got it together this past week in a slaughtering of the Richland Rams. It is known that the Crushers have a ton of talent, but rumors of team turmoil could ruin yet another run for Coach Kenny and the boys. Regardless, McCort is still one of the favorites to return to the Park. With the talents of Barbin, Sheridan, Spangler, Lewis, and Rizzo this team is a serious offensive threat. With their only loss so far being to A Carroll, an 8-1 record will likely put them in the #2 slot.

Purchase Line 4-1
The loss to United last weekend really put a damper on the Dragons post Season aspirations. With a loss to Blairsville (likely) the Dragons will be scratching to get in the playoffs since they will not get many points because they play in the Heritage. This would mean a trip to either Tryone or McCort for the first round... This is not the caliber of Purchase Line team that Disposed of Westmont in 01...

Forest Hills 4-1
The Rangers seem to be trying to find a new identity after the thumping they took from Bedford in Week 3. A lot of the Rangers future is yet to be determined as the Rangers have a very tough remaining schedule with Central Cambria, Penn Cambria, and McCort still to come. Forest Hills made a lot of changes since week 3, and we'll learn a lot more about them during the next few weeks.

Penn Cambria 4-1
Coach Fetzer has had the Panthers do a 180 from a year ago. PC is much improved but is yet to knock off a top notch opponent. They will get two more opportunities at that as they still have FH and BC on their schedule. PC has a very good defense...but they lack a lot of speed which will hurt them when playing with the top teams in the District.

Westmont 3-2
The Hilltoppers have a lot of people scatching their heads. The live and die by the big play...with usually doesn't equal out to much success in the playoffs. With a key injury to McCloskey...the Hilltoppers will be relying more on Kanuch to carry the load...something he has not yet proven to be able to do.

Bedford 3-2
Bed"Ford" is rolling. With 3 straight wins over 3 quality opponents it looks like the Bisons have it together. With no opponents remaining that will challenge the Bisons, it looks like they will be in cruise control into the playoffs, landing them somewhere around the 6th seed. They should be well rested seeing their remaining schedule is fairly weak, so this could be the year the Bisons make some noise in the playoffs.

On the Outside looking in...
Central Cambria
With 3 losses in the first 5 games the Devils Ship is all but sunk. More then likely there are going to be a team or 2 get in with 3 losses. The Devils must win out for this to happen and then say their prayers and take their vitamins every night like a good little Hulkster and hope for the best. With the Rangers next on the Schedule...it looks like this "Has to be the year" for the Devils to break the Curse of the "Buzzbino", or the Devils will miss the playoffs for the first time in....well...a while (I don't know that one).

Other teams in Contention but are going to need a lot of help at this point...
Everett and Marion Center
Both of these teams are going to need to win out and hope they can accumulate enough points, along with a few LHAC teams getting upset along the way.

This is the way it looks right now...although losing out is unlikely it could happen...and things can change drastically by week 10.

[Coach]

There is NO WAY that Ridge loses 1 or less games. They have 3 in a row against Bellwood, NBC, and Mo Valley. They lose 2 of 3 there in my opinion.

[Opinionguy]

I think Ridge can Handle NBC and maybe Mo Valley...but Bellwood should put them in their place.

[count2infinity]

what's bellwood look like this year? anyone know?

[Lefteyelouie]

I feel that CR should go 8-1. I assume the loss will come at the hands of Bellwood. But, if CR losses a tough one to Bellwood look out for a possible letdown and a key loss in one of the final 2 weeks. If they stay focused, they should win out after Bellwood.

[Coach]

I think CR is around 1-12 all time in playoff games if I remember what the Gazette said in the article by Creps a few weeks ago.

[ham55]

Yup, Bedford as a 6th seed would pit the Lions and the Bisons in the first round with the Bisons riding to CR, and sending CR on their way to another basketball season with bruised, sore asses.

[Lefteyelouie]

I don't see Bedford being as low as 6th unless they lose again! CR won't be 3rd unless they go undefeated. Which is not out of the question.

[Coach]

Yes it is...they won't go undefeated.