Preseason District 6 Basketball Power Rankings

[Crimson's Ghost]

Yeah you are probably right. I'm giving those schools credit for past performances, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now.

[guru1]

I think Juniata Valley could be a sleeper pick in Class A if they can get all of the athletes to play. This years seniors lost one game in Junior high and the next year the now juniors (really sophomores) were undefeated and won the ICC title. Good group of kids if they all play.

[ChrisKentRam]

Yeah you are probably right. I'm giving those schools credit for past performances, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now.

Nothing wrong with that.  They have definitely earned it.  Are you going to try to keep up with this periodically throughout the season?  Any girls' rankings?

[dougkeklak]

Good stuff. Doug West in Altoona is cool.

Are you handicapping the LHAC as McCort, Johnstown, Westy, Somerset at the moment? Just piecing together from how some of the league's teams slotted into your overall district viewpoint.

[Bballfan123]

Great work as always Crimson. Always a fun read, and hopefully gets everyone talking about hoops. I think you put some very good lists together. At this time of year it's hard to really argue with anything you said.

In double a I would probably take Homer and West Branch out, and put Portage and Penns Manor in. As I said, it's hard to really argue with the way you have it, I just think both teams lost too much production, especially West Branch.

I'm having trouble with putting Penns Manor in that mix.  I know this is a group that played really well in junior high but this is really one of my soft spots.  A team that played well at that age doesn't always translate as it's multiple factors that can go into it; especially on the boy's side where a lot of maturing takes place from jr high to varsity.  Besides that fact of being good at a younger age I can't give them the nod until someone beats HC, much less LV if Smith plays.  Portage deserves to be in there over West Branch from what I saw of them this summer; some really ncie athletes.

[Bballfan123]

How does everyone rank the conferences this year? I know we get into this discussion about football and who's better but what does it look like in basketball

[Crimson's Ghost]

Are you going to try to keep up with this periodically throughout the season?  Any girls' rankings?

Yes, come January the rankings will be weekly. It's tough in December with all the tip-off and Christmas tournaments to keep track, once January hits it becomes easier.

And probably won't do a girls rankings.  In all honesty, I don't keep up with girls basketball enough to do a ranking.  Plus there's enough girls basketball fans on here that will keep up with it. 

[ChrisKentRam]

Are you going to try to keep up with this periodically throughout the season?  Any girls' rankings?

Yes, come January the rankings will be weekly. It's tough in December with all the tip-off and Christmas tournaments to keep track, once January hits it becomes easier.

And probably won't do a girls rankings.  In all honesty, I don't keep up with girls basketball enough to do a ranking.  Plus there's enough girls basketball fans on here that will keep up with it. 

Sounds good.  I look forward to following them throughout the season.  

[Crimson's Ghost]

Are you handicapping the LHAC as McCort, Johnstown, Westy, Somerset at the moment?  Just piecing together from how some of the league's teams slotted into your overall district viewpoint.

If I had to sort out the LHAC (which is not easy) I'd go like this.

Section I

1. Bishop Guilfoyle
2. Central Cambria
3. Forest Hills
4. Bishop Carroll
5. Penn Cambria
6. Cambria Heights

Section II

1. Johnstown
2. Westmont
3. Bishop McCort
4. Richland
5. Somerset 
6. Bedford

I think Central Cambria or BG could finish 1-2 in that section. Depends how quickly their football players acclimate.  In Section II, Johnstown, McCort, Westmont and even Richland are all capable of winning that section. It's really a toss-up.

[Manfred]

Great work as always Crimson. Always a fun read, and hopefully gets everyone talking about hoops. I think you put some very good lists together. At this time of year it's hard to really argue with anything you said.

In double a I would probably take Homer and West Branch out, and put Portage and Penns Manor in. As I said, it's hard to really argue with the way you have it, I just think both teams lost too much production, especially West Branch.

I'm having trouble with putting Penns Manor in that mix.  I know this is a group that played really well in junior high but this is really one of my soft spots.  A team that played well at that age doesn't always translate as it's multiple factors that can go into it; especially on the boy's side where a lot of maturing takes place from jr high to varsity.  Besides that fact of being good at a younger age I can't give them the nod until someone beats HC, much less LV if Smith plays.  Portage deserves to be in there over West Branch from what I saw of them this summer; some really ncie athletes.

You've made a VG point.  For example, this years' FH varsity,  3 ?  years ago, won the LHAC Jr. Hi championship, yet, even though they will be a -pretty- good team, will likely not win or come close in their section.  They could surprise though.