johnstown boys freshman basketball team

[WPIAL~Titan]

Good to know those young kids are playing AAU basketball. Most of the kids from Shaler play for the NPBC (North Pittsburgh basketball Club) Cavemen.

I know that last year they attended King James, the one in Pittsburgh, and in Solon, OH.

FYI, the Cavemen's team at the level you're talking about (current hs frosh) won the AAU NATIONAL TITLE in Division II two summers ago, and placed 4th last year. That Cavemen squad includes the Holtz kid (who's starting for Shaler's varsity now), and two others who start for Shaler's frosh team. These 3, coupled with the other best frosh North of Pittsburgh (one starts varsity for Butler, one for Pine-Richland, one plays some varsity minutes for Central Catholic...you get the idea how good this team is), has a pretty good squad.

[thesportsfan]

Titan, I think you need to post the Shaler Jr. High Tourney information. I would like to come down and watch this tourney. Especially, if the J-town boys enter.

[CoachEmUp]

Good to know those young kids are playing AAU basketball. Most of the kids from Shaler play for the NPBC (North Pittsburgh basketball Club) Cavemen.

I know that last year they attended King James, the one in Pittsburgh, and in Solon, OH.

FYI, the Cavemen's team at the level you're talking about (current hs frosh) won the AAU NATIONAL TITLE in Division II two summers ago, and placed 4th last year. That Cavemen squad includes the Holtz kid (who's starting for Shaler's varsity now), and two others who start for Shaler's frosh team. These 3, coupled with the other best frosh North of Pittsburgh (one starts varsity for Butler, one for Pine-Richland, one plays some varsity minutes for Central Catholic...you get the idea how good this team is), has a pretty good squad.

I’m definitely familiar with NPBC Cavemen, The kid your talking about from central catholic is real close friends of the family. I also am aware of the fact that NPBC has 4 teams and that age group. The team you’re talking about usually plays up a division. However I don’t believe that there are any kids from Shaler on the team that won nationals. I believe their on the secondary squads and we actually beat their secondary teams last year twice. I will have to ask Ben for sure on his teams roster and I will get back to you.

NPBC has a nice program, but thier secondary teams arent very good, those teams are usually filled with average talent and usually the money from those players are used to pay for the schalorship players of the show case team.

[WPIAL~Titan]

Nope, the Cavemen team that won AAU D2 nationals two summers ago featured the players I was talking about in my earlier post. The kids on the team that won nationals from Shaler are: JP Holtz (current starter on Shaler's varsity), and Zack Taylor (starting on Shaler's frosh team.) I think that there is one more, who played at a Catholic school until coming to Shaler this year (Gavin?)

Here's a link that can keep you updated on Shaler's Jr. High Tourney...It begins in a few weeks and the registration deadline for teams is this Friday.

http://www.sasd.k12.pa.us/SAHS-Login.aspx?id=15746

WT

[thechosenone]

Titan you only get better by playing better competion so i'm all for that. & as far as my boys winning all the time that's not going to happen but it will teach them that sometimes things aren't always going to go there way so you have to affiliate life with sports for these kids thats my coaching style winnings just an added bonus. i also know i was put on this earth to be an influence in these kids lives & i'm doing just that so as far as your great shaler team kodos to them!!!! but you might want to calm it down a little i'm starting to think your the one who wants to re-live a dream of yours but guess what it's past you by......give someone a good luck or a thats great once in a while.

[CoachDalhiLama]

I've had the privelage to watch the Frosh Trojans a few times, they our a talented bunch. CoachEmUp, McCort Frosh give them all they could handle, only down 6 with a few minutes remaining, losing by 9, not 40. BM Frosh had there chances at the end as the young Trojans begin to far apart, there seemed to be a conflict with the coach and player at the end. Also, in there Westy Tourney game, it was a little closer than the Trojans would have liked, but a win is a win!

Remember the Westy Frosh team with Balog/Stevenson/Watson, only had 1 loss as Freshman, had a undeated season as Seniors. This young Trojan bunch is 10x more talented, and if they can keep there heads on straight will compete with any WPIAL AAA team as Juniors/Seniors.

CoachEmUp, the Trojans Soph class is above average, just for fun, who would be the starting 5/bench 2011?

[WPIAL~Titan]

I did catch a Shaler frosh game yesterday. They beat Butler at home by 19, 78-59 to go 18-0.

My first thought was, "That is a TON of points for a frosh game with 7 minute quarters." I spoke to the coach (who I know well) after the game, who told me, "That was our closest game all season", and he said, "This team is already amazing, and the scary part is that they can even get so much better...Wait until they play with Holtz!"

The team is exceptionally athletic and very skilled. They have excellent guards, it seems like everyone on the team is a guard. They press, trap, and run better offensive sets than most varsity teams.

An 8th grader (Geno Thorpe), who will be moved up to the varsity next year as a 9th grader, scored 26 points, including three 3-point shots, and a goal tending against him in which he came from the elbow, jumped and swatted a shot off the rim. He also missed a slam dunk off a fast break that bounced like 20 feet in the air off the back of the rim. Thorpe is about 6'1" 160 pounds. I saw Darelle Revis play basketball as an 8th grader at Beaver County Christian, and this kid is every bit as athletic as Revis was at the same age.

After seeing what I saw yesterday, I know it's all about the challange, but I'm not so sure Jtown would want to drive 2 hours to play a team like that, much less on their home court.

[Sleepy Floyd]

I have to disagree with the comment that Johnstown's 10th grade class is above average. Only one of the 10th graders contributes anything to the varsity.

[WPIAL~Titan]

Heard that Jtown will be travelling over to Shaler to play in Shaler's Frosh Tourney.

Should be a great test for the young Trojans.

[thechosenone]

what's the dead line for the shalers tourney.???? & to coachdalhilama i do think bishop mccort freshman does give j-town fits one thing is there so familar with each other.great story i can still remember a leach kid giving are best player a mouth full just to let our player know hey buddy you better play ball or i'm going to take your candy from you,& 2 their just tough as nails there scrappy they dive after balls they just aren't as athletic as j-town but we all know..... myself included you have to be mentally tough in this day and age.