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The ride into the playoffs was more than relatively easy for Shade. The South had no competition this year, unlike the North. Shade didn't even play NS in the regular season but I agree that CV has the edge, both to win the West Pac North and the West Pac Championship.

Carom, For some posters, it isn't about who all is selected for the first team in Somerset Country basketball. It just better be one player that is selected as MVP for Somerset County. That's the bottom line.

Shade would take the championship over an m.v.p accolade and I can guarantee that!! I agree the ride for shade was easy, but they did beat some tough teams in the north section this year. They are playing great team ball right now and beat some good teams on this win streak they have going. The districts will be a tough ride for all district 5 teams though! I wish shade was in the district 5aa like north star though, because their isn't a team their that can beat any district 5 team, except for possibly north star. I disagree that shade wouldn't beat n.s. though as I saw them 2 teams players play all summer and I feel shade has a better 5 and bench than north star. Coaching would also go to shade!!! Kephart coming along like he did this year really helped the panthers and if m.j. knapp starts playing to his potential shade could win the d-5 and west-pac championships. North star is a very good team, but rely on freshmen who don't have the experience in the big games like shade and valley do!! Just my opinion from what I saw and know of the players. I thought hands down tussey would be the d-5 champ hands down of how they played shade last year without their best player who is now back. D-5 is tough from 1 to 8 this year and anyone can upset anyone. That is where the experience will kick in and shade has it and so do tussey and valley!

Here are my top 10 in the West Pac.
1. Gibbons-- Shade
2. Pruess--Valley
3. Fleegle--NS
4.Will---Berlin
5.Andy Maul--Portage
6.Smith----Shade
7. Lupeak---Valley
8.Walker----NS
9.Uncapher---Valley
10.Speigle-----Twp

Here are my top fifteen in the WestPac:

1. Smith -- Shade
2. Pruess -- CV
3. Gibbons -- Shade
4. Lupek -- CV
5. Gaunt -- Ferndale
6. Strasier -- NS
7. Fleegle -- NS
8. Will -- Berlin
9. Maul -- Portage
10. Kushner -- CV
11. Uncapher -- CV
12. Walker -- NS
13. Speigle -- CT
14. Scoran -- Portage
15. Gindlesberger -- Berlin

If you want to wait I will have my TOP 20

Not bad lists. Ohyeah we're waiting for your top 20.

badpass i like yours but what about ryan guant? and tuffnuts i think fleegle is up there passed lupek. other than that i like the lists from both of you. all of these young men are having great years and are exciting to watch

I just feel Smith, pruess, and lupek have been doing this since lasst year, and teams know these players are good, and play to shut them down every game. This is where gibbons steps in and improved his game to pick up the slack for smith, who is still averaging 20 a game playing weak teams and only playing a half a game, with coaches trying to stop him. Same for preuss, he is good in all aspects of the game. Smith has 41 three pointers already this year and pruess, gibbons, and lupek can hit the 3s and score from anywhere on the court, and that is why they are my top 4. These 4 can dribble with any hand, and are playmakers that can break a press themselves. Fleegle needs to improve his outside shot and quickness to reach the top 5. He is having a great junior year and will be dominant his senior year. He will be the one coaches try to shut down next year. Straiser is too strong and dominant with his size to be shut down. Next year north star and shade will play for the west-pac championship and I think north star will win because without smith, shut gibbons down and you beat shade.

Hey tuffnuts remember one of your earlier rants you said Shade would have nothing without the so called fab 4 beacause Fyock can't coach and Prosser is the best coach in the area. Well how did that turn out? Don't worry Fyock will have plenty of kids ready to play next year to help Gibbons just like he got kids ready to step in for the so called fab 4.

Shade had a relatively easy schedule that helped ease the loss of the fab 4. Fyock is doing a better job coaching this year and you learn from your mistakes. There just isn't any competition in the county anymore!! He did beat prosser twice this year which is impressive because he had a decent team, but will did nothing in the offseason as did none of the others except for gindlesberger and leydig. His players didn't work in the offseason and fyocks did and that gave us the 2 victories. Also smith and gibbons are playing college ball, not high school ball. They worked their butts off in the offseason playing against top quality players. You can't stop these two kids because they can score in any way imaginable. They are the 2 best guards in the area! But yes fyock is doing a good job and is getting better as a coach learning from the tough losses he had with the fab4. He isn't afraid to switch things up this year. His boy, ryan and kephart are having excellent seasons also. You live and learn and I see he is improving!! I didn't think we would beat berlin twice! I was wrong. Nobody is perfect.