johnstown boys freshman basketball team

[lakersfan24]

WT, Every post of yours somehow involved how the WPIAL is far superior to our area. Please keep in mind these kids are all the same age, the skill level is not as different as you say. In football D6 hardly ever plays D7 but when they do it isn't always a blow out. You can have any varsity team you like, but a team with Miller, Vescovi, Weatherly, Gallahar, and Papini would be hard to beat if they played together for awhile.

[WPIAL~Titan]

FYI, from a statewide perspective, I think that WPIAL basketball isn't very good, particularly in AAAA and AAA (except for Chartiers Valley, who I am waiting for to get exposed because they are so one dimensional)...Basketball pretty good in AA, and average in A. Take away the private schools in WPIAL class A, and the basektball stinks here too.

Take a look at the record of District 5 and 6 boys' teams over the past 10 years in the PIAA playoffs, then take a look at the WPIAL and how they fared...The WPIAL is much better winning %age wise. That said, Districts 1 (suburban Philly) and District 3 (Central PA...Harrisburg/Lancaster/Reading/York areas) are clearly the superior districts when it comes to performance in the PIAA playoffs.

In addition, the Phila Catholic League (District 12), who just entered the PIAA playoff brackets this year, will have a SIGNIFICANT impact on the PIAA playoffs in both boys and girls hoops. You heard it here first. District 12 has 4 bids in AAAA, 3 bids in AAA, 4 Bids in AA, and 1 bid in A.

Incidentially, CHESTER is in District 1 and has a rich basketball tradition...I coached at a program in District 1 and the basketball there is a significant upgrade from the WPIAL.

Trust me when I tell you, Chester would absolutely clobber the team made up of the 5 players you mention. It wouldn't even be close. Take an all-star team from Districts 5 and 6 put them up against Chester (or any of the other top 4-5 District 1 AAAA teams for that matter), and Chester wins by double digits easily. Ask any coach in that area who knows basketball and if the person is honest, they will tell you the same thing.

[coaching4life]

Thats funny that you went from Shaler to Chester beating our teams. Im pretty sure our athletes go to the same colleges these kids go to so your point of all this is useless. Check the archives

[nash112358]

I don't know anything about Shaler but I watched Chester play Norristown for the PIAA AAAA championship last year, and they were definitely on a different level than basketball in the D 5 & 6 area. At guard they have Maurice Nelson, younger brother of Jameer, who would probably make Jordan Miller, Alex Raymond or any other guard you throw in there look like a fool.

Im pretty sure our athletes go to the same colleges these kids go to so your point of all this is useless.

Chester is a poor district and many of these kids can't make the grades, like Maurice.

http://www.thebulletin.us/articles/2009 ... 749008.txt

[coaching4life]

Again...name a college or university that these kids attend that johnstown kids doesnt? Just because your the son or younger brother of someone doesnt make you a star too. Ask Michael Jordans son that.

[I wear stripes]

State College pounded Chester in the State Finals a few years back.

[WPIAL~Titan]

Pounded??? What game were you watching?

That State College/Chester game was OT and State won by a few points.

Even a blind dog finds a hydrant once a century or so.

WT

[psycho]

In the olden days Johnstown played a statewide schedule which benefitted them greatly. Now they play in the LHAC where most of their games are against teams that are not very good. Junior has a chance with these kids because they all seem to be very committed to the game. They are playing AAU ball against some good competition and improving their games in the off season. The problem junior is going to have with this team is keeping them from getting bored and developing a false sense of how good they are playing in the LHAC. He should think now about scheduling some of the top teams in the state if he wants to compete for a AAA state title in a year or two. Do it now to reap the benefits later.

Junior is a good coach. He really knows what he is doing. He understands how important competition is and hopefully will not worry about his "record". Now he will have the talent. All that is missing is the competition. Schedule and there could very well finally be a state championship banner in the Doc Stofko gym.

[sydfinch]

The problem junior is going to have with this team is keeping them from getting bored and developing a false sense of how good they are playing in the LHAC.

Like that team that was going to go undefeated in the LHAC this year got bored and lost four league games?

[pats39]

Must be the lack of competition.