McCort @ Central Cambria

[LightItUp32]

I saw the game last night up in Ebensburg, and although it's only the second game I've seen each team play, here's a few observations from last night:
1. The battle for the War Memorial is heating up with big games between McCort & Somerset (tomorrow I think) and CC & BG coming up soon that should decide who represents the sections in the LHAC title game.
2. Nobody in the LHAC (and probably D6) can guard Jordan Miller straight up. Even for how quick Schrey and Varga are Miller just lost them every time.
3. The McCort guards showed me nothing offensively. The only thing that kept BM in the game was Boyd and Cruz crashing the offensive boards.
4. CC is top-to-bottom the most skilled basketball players (not just athletes who happen to play basketball) I have seen in this area for years. Westmont last year probably had better guard play, but CC has all the right components at every position. An unguardable D1 point guard who is a one man press break, an sharpshooter/tough defender who locks up the opposition best player, a long 6'5" swingman who can play both in the paint and step outside to shoot, a nice role player at the 4 who rebounds, defends, and plays unselfishly, and a 6'9" monster sophomore center who is a rebounding and shot blocking machine.
5. I'd like to see these teams meet up in the LHAC title game again. Although the score might not show it, there was clearly a level of intensity and passion in the end of the 1st half/beginning of 2nd half that I haven't seen all year.

[KLP]

I agree 100% with lightemup 32, but the one thing that is key with CC, they have absolutely NO bench! Somerset will beat them 3 out of 5 times because they go 5 deep on the bench....and they are as good as the 1st five or close to it. Bench or 'lack there of' is CC weakness. Somerset will win the LHAC, but lookout for McCort. BG is "somewhat down". They have Baronner, McDannel and Lyttle but they are not a typical dominating BG team. CC will run the table in section 1. Heights will give them a run....maybe. Somerset or Bishop McCort in section 2. My $ is Somerset to win it all. With that deep of a bench you cant bet against them. They are a very well balanced team. When was the last time an area team went that deep and never missed a beat on offense of defense??

If you saw CC play then you can attest to the fact that if Miller goes right he cant shoot off the dribble. His strength is going left and shooting off the dribble. I would say that BM or Somerset WILL HAVE someone who can stop him come championship time. No doubt a great player but does have some weaknesses. Besides, if he was that good, then Duke or UNC or even Pitt would be traveling the Cresson MT. to take a look.

BTH does any else notice the horrible officiating in high school bball (boys and girls). Are these guys on an ego trip or what? Let the kids decide the game and call the game fairly for crying out loud. I have watched alot of WestPac games this year & the refs have determined alot of games and I have seen a few LHAC games they have been quite bad to say the least. They need to be held somewhat accountable and also should have some course to take before taking the floor. Also make them ref jr. high 1st then jump to JV then varsity.

[betternewercrusher03]

KLP, first off, how can you agree "100%" with lightitup32, who says CC is a solid all around team "top to bottom" and then says that CC has "no bench". You contradict yourself to begin and then go on to claim that Somerset would beat CC in 3 out of 5 because somerset has a 5 deep bench with their starters being as good as CC's top 5?!? You make absolutely no sense. Don't get me wrong, Somerset is a very good team this year, but they beat CC at home in the first conference game of the year by less than 5 points. Keep in mind that this was when CC was without its other "twin tower" in brian holsinger. I can't agree with you that Somerset's top 5 is as athletically skilled as CC's, when they have both holsingers in the lineup. In the first matchup, Ankney was able to handle the north tower, Dan Holsinger, in the paint but the 6'9 story tall south tower Brian Holsinger is a force inside and Ankney won't be as effective against him. You also claim that Somerset and BM "WILL HAVE' someone to contain jordan miller...well in case you missed it, first team all state matt varga handled him pretty well, i think jordan only scored 30 against bishop mccort. Face it, Miller can go left right and upside down if he wants and still make a shot. If Somerset plays CC again, it will be at the war memorial, a "road game" for both teams. Who has somerset beat on the road? Yeah, BM and freaking Cambria Heights, who definitely has NO bench, turned out real well. Oh yeah, and i agree with you "100%". Somerset would only beat CC 3 out of 5 if every game was at home for somerset and traino decided to play with 4 men on the court, because, as you say, he has no bench. If and when the two meet agian, the two towers will stand tall and their overused bench will applaud as miller hoists the d-6 championship trophy.

[lhacbigfan]

Now before you go giving CC the trophy, don't forget about Indian Valley, who has some starters back from last year's team that beat CC in the AAA championship game...

[LightItUp32]

True, but I too must agree with BNC. Indian Valley does have their point guard (name escapes me) who gave Miller some trouble last year in the D6 chip back as well as do-it-all-and-then-some guard/forward Austin Long. But they also lost Tundel (playing at Juniata I think) and two other starters from last years team. I can see the Somerset half court trap or CC putting McGregor or Gowen on him to deny the catch against Long and possibly neutralizing him. So I'm going with CC-Somerset in the D6 chip as well. If it happens, it should be interesting. I'd like to see the Eagles try to employ that trap on an actual college regulation court (not the minimized one as I've been told they have at home) as they would have to at SFU. And I can't see CC letting themselves fall to a team that they should've beaten earlier this year (threw away a double digit lead) or a team that has knocked them out of the D6 playoffs in each of the last three years.

Also, what about the LHAC champ game? If both McCort and Somerset win out, what will happen? They both have the same section record as of now (which could change I know) and they have both lost one cross-section game (BM to CC, SOM to CH). What's the next tie-breaker?

And a big game should be coming up soon with CC going TO BG (always a tough place to play) with the Section 1 title on the line. Does anyone know the date of that game?

[KLP]

My bad 'bettnewercrusher03" I should have only agreed 95% of what the post said.

If you are correct about Jordan Miller of CC holding the D6 AAA trophy as the 'overused' bench(not sure what you mean there) applauses, make sure you look to the end of the bench or down on the locker room floor for the 6'9 twin tower Brian Holsinger laying on his stomach getting a rubdown from the trainer after his plays sparingly for 3-4 minutes. The few games I have seen him play (and he only played in a few) this year, he has played a few minutes and straight to the locker room for a rub down, and not return to the game. From what I am told if they are not careful the 'south side twin tower' could ruin his career if he keeps punishing his back. I may be wrong so before you go jumping my ****, remember this is "just what I heard". Not 100% fact. He should not be a factor for CC in the playoff run. Remember, the D6 field is loaded with good teams this year. Anything can happen. Especially when the 6'9 twin tower is flat on his belly enjoying a lower back rub down from the CC trainer.

[Dokkenball]

As for the younger Holsinger boy, his minutes have increased dramatically lately. He played over the half the game versus Wesmtmont.

[packers4]

The younger Holsinger played alot, close to 3/4 of the Mcort-CC game.

As for the tiebreaker for the section champs: A few years ago, Johnstown and Mccort both finished with identical section records and lost once to each other. they both finished with the same conference record also. Since section, League, amd head to head records were even, McCort got in because it beat Johnstown by more points than Johnstown beat them. (not a great way to decide it, since Johnstown was blowing Mccort out in the first game and sat their starters for most of the 4th quarter)
Don't know if that's still the next tiebreaker but if it is, McCort would get in because they own the point differential. Who knows what could happen the rest of the way though with both teams still having some tough games to play.
Does anyone know for sure what the next tiebreaker would be? A play-in game at a neutral site would seem to be the best way to go but don't know if that would work with the limits on games allowed to be played.

[hilltoppanther]

LHAC Section Tie-breaker

1. Head to Head
2. Record vs. Opposite Section (Not a fair tie breaker since some teams play these teams at home while others are away)
3. Head to Head point differential
4. Point differential vs. opposite section Champion
5. Rose Bowl Rule

[packers4]

Not a good way to decide it after head to head matchup. Could they fit a play in game there?
See you at McCort tonite.