A Boys Playoff Open Thread

[Crimson's Ghost]

All Games Friday..

Local Schedule

-- Shanksville vs. Lancaster County Christian @ UPJ 6:30
-- Portage vs. McConnellsburg @ Hollidaysburg 6:00
-- Saltsburg vs. Cameron County @ ClarionU 6:00
-- Bishop Carroll vs. Elk County Catholic @ Central Cambria 6:30
-- Southern Fulton vs. Vincentian @ UPJ 5:00


Any thoughts, predictions, here ya go.

[clueless]

I'll take:
Shanksville
Portage (in a close one)
Cameron County
BC
Vincentian (if there is a chance for an Upset SF may be it)

Western Finals - Kennedy v. Farrell
Eastern Finals - MSC v. Constitution
State finals - Farrell v. Constitution
Champ - Constitution

[dougkeklak]

I'll take:
Shanksville
Portage (in a close one)
Cameron County
BC
Vincentian (if there is a chance for an Upset SF may be it)

Western Finals - Kennedy v. Farrell
Eastern Finals - MSC v. Constitution
State finals - Farrell v. Constitution
Champ - Constitution

Vincentian's an excellent program, both boys and girls, and while the boys' aren't as good this year as in year's past, but I think they will still beat SF.

I wouldn't let VA's record fool you though. Five of those nine losses are to Beaver Falls, South Fayette, Upper Saint Clair, Seton-LaSalle, Mount Lebanon and Massillion (OH). That's a pretty aggressive schedule for an A school.

Strangely enough it's Vincentian and Southern Fulton in the first round of both the boys and girls brackets. I wonder how many times that's happened!

[voncap]

It is no secret that VA's game is fast paced. If SF is to have a chance to pull the upset, they will have to completely control the tempo. If SF can some how keep the score in the low 60's, they will have a shot. If the score goes to 65+, the advantage definitely swings to VA's side.

[usatf oldguy]

Don't sell SF boys short. They have a very good program down there and have won a few games in the state playoffs in the past!

[dougkeklak]

Not selling them short, I hope they do well. I'm just saying when I look beyond the records and the schedules, it's that VA has played a much tougher schedule. Looking at SF's record I have no reason to believe they couldn't have replicated it if not be undfeated based on some of those teams.

It's like in that other thread where CG broke down Math, Civics, and Science and how even though they have a losing record, they'd still probably run through D5 or D6 like a knife through hot butter.

[Crimson's Ghost]

Second Round Pairings.

Millersburg (17-8) vs. Delaware County Christian (14-12)
Math, Civics & Sciences (12-13) vs. Meadowbrook Christian (25-3)
St. John Neumann (26-1) vs. Halifax (18-9)
Constitution (20-8) vs. Shanksville (26-1)

Monessen (21-6) vs. Portage (20-6)
Cameron County (23-3) vs. Kennedy Catholic (22-4)
Elk Co. Catholic (24-2) vs. Farrell (21-4)
Vincentian Academy (17-9) vs. Clarion-Limestone (23-3)

I think the East is definitely in favor of Constitution, and local team Shanksville will have a tough one on Tuesday. Math,Civics,Sciences skated by, and that raises some eyebrows, they are beatable. I was wrong, Penn State commit Mike Watkins went to a different school for his senior year, BUT they have a 6'3" guard committed to play for Steve Lavin and St. Johns. St. John Neumann, you never know they are 26-1 for a reason.

On the WEST, I think Farrell is the team to beat. I think Monessen will beat Portage, Kennedy-Cameron County will be a great game featuring two Division One big men.

[theprophet]

No LHAC teams left but 2 WestPac teams remain. Any thoughts?

[Crimson's Ghost]

The LHAC is 15 points better than both WestPac teams, just ran into the toughest draw of the three.

[theprophet]

I think all in all this area boy basketball is terrible and from top to bottom 3 to 4 levels behind other areas in the state.
I thought the LHAC this year wasn’t very good collectively either. I support the LHAC but I’m also not against giving credit out when it is deemed. Not only single A but AA and AAA the LHAC do not have any teams left after 1 round of the state playoffs. Westpac is basically all single A schools with an occasional AA school thrown in so just off of numbers the LHAC will be stronger year in and year out, but the Westpac should be recognized this year if you just consider size of schools the better conference.
Now outside of BC the Westpac schools would probably fair pretty well against the other Single A and double A schools in the LHAC. I hope they win a lot more games we need to gain some respect outside of this area regardless of what conference the teams are in.