LHAC BBall races...

[Crimson's Ghost]

Heading into the final stretch run of the regular season. Quick look at what the LHAC races look like.

West Boys

1. Johnstown (14-1): Johnstown was upset by Tyrone on Friday for its first league loss. The Trojans still have command for the top spot with tiebreaker wins over any team that could catch them. They finish with home games against McCort and Carroll split with a road game to Central Cambria. I’m assuming Johnstown will win all three and finish 17-1 and 19-3 overall.

2. Westmont (13-2): Westmont is a game behind Johnstown and lost the H2H meeting, so it will be playing for the second spot. It’s simple here, Westmont needs to win out. They lost the H2H to Ridge, so they need to win just to stay a game ahead or some help in the form of a CR loss. Home games against Penn Cambria and Central Cambria should be manageable, but Friday’s game at Forest Hills is tough. Westmont is 15-4 overall with its other losses to Kiski and Armstrong, two 5A schools from the WPIAL.

3. Chestnut Ridge (13-3): Obviously stated above, but Ridge needs Westmont to lose. The Lions shouldn’t have much trouble with Bedford, then a road game at Richland is the other league game. Ridge also plays at Central Mountain in a non-conference game Saturday. Oddly enough, Westmont's rival McCort is what is holding Ridge back. McCort upset CR once despite the Lions beating the Crushers two other times by double digits.

4. Forest Hills (10-4): Probably not too much of a path here for the Rangers other than chaos and Ridge and Westmont losing everything down the stretch, plus them winning out. I don’t think that second part is out of the question at least. Somerset, Bedford, and Bellwood are all in the bottom four of the league. But again, it comes down to that Westmont game on Friday. That’s just a big game and should be good prep for the playoffs either way.

East Boys
1. Bishop Guilfoyle (15-0): BG has only had one team in the LHAC keep it within single digits of them this year. They are kind of crushing everyone locally. Their losses are all respectable: 9 to 6A Butler, 3 to 5A Gateway, and 3 on the road to a very good Trinity team in 3A. Given that Penn Cambria made a run last year in the AAA playoffs, I bet BG can probably do the same this year. AAA just seems to be one of the weaker WPIAL divisions. @Philipsburg and home against Clearfield should be easy wins. @Penns Valley is probably also a win, but slightly harder than the first two. BG should be 18-0 heading to the postseason.

2. Central (13-3): Pretty simple here. Win and Central is in. @Penns Valley and @Clearfield. They defeated PV and Clearfield each by 8 points previously.

3. Hollidaysburg (12-3): Hollidaysburg is only a half game back on Central, but the Tigers need the Dragons to lose. Central won both regular season meetings, so they have to gain a game on them somewhere. @CC, Bald Eagle at home, and Philipsburg are the remaining games, all winnable. Plus a rivalry game against Altoona. (How on earth is Altoona basketball 1-17 on the year by the way?)


West Girls
1. Bishop McCort (15-0): McCort has remained undefeated, but the last two have been tough and it overcame two second half double digit deficits. The schedule eases a bit with Johnstown and Bishop Carroll this week, plus a non-conference game with Ferndale. The last game of the year at Penn Cambria won’t be easy. Both teams kind of play the same full-court game. I don’t see them losing more than one and they have all the tiebreakers etc. They’ll get the top spot.

2. Forest Hills (13-2): As of today, it’s the Rangers by a tiebreaker because they beat Westmont 52-38 back on December 15th. Forest Hills will beat Somerset and Bedford at home easily. It really comes down to the game at Westmont on Thursday night.

3. Westmont (13-2): The game with FH on Thursday could potentially be big, but Westmont needs to get through Penn Cambria tomorrow first. Westmont beat them 70-50 already. Westmont’s issue is depth. They only have 9 players, but with Christiana Gordon they can be in every game. She’s an incredible basketball player.

East Girls
1. Hollidaysburg (16-0): Hollidaysburg is 18-1 and its only loss is to 6A Williamsport by one on the road.The Tigers will cruise by Bald Eagle and Philipsburg and should carry an 18-0 LHAC record in their first year in the league. Hollidaysburg is at Altoona (16-4) tomorrow in what should be a good game.

2. Bishop Guilfoyle (13-2): No race here at all. BG has the spot locked up. Bellwood can’t catch them. BG should probably beat Philipsburg, Clearfield, and PV anyway.

[Manfred]

Good analysis. FWIW, FH boys are 14-4, with non league wins against Mt. Pleasant and Windber, and a make-up against B-A yet besides what you mentioned. But yeah, they have to beat Westmont in Sidman, just for 3rd place. Left the game against CR slip away at the end. Look out the next 2 years. Bulk of the team underclassmen with some talent there.

[lhacbigfan]

I could be wrong, but I was told only the division record counts towards which teams make the playoffs. I don’t think it would change much anyway if that was the case.

[ERAChamp]

From what I understand about the division records that is correct, which begs the question, why even play crossover games in your conference, that don't count in your conference standings?!?

If WH girls can win out, including a win against FH on Thursday, what will be the tiebreaker? They would have split in the regular season and both lost to McCort. FH does have a crossover loss, but will it count. Who knows???

[Crimson's Ghost]

The boys field is almost set.

(E1) Bishop Guilfoyle
(W1) Johnstown.
(E2) Central
(W2) ???

Chestnut Ridge, Westmont, and Forest Hills are all 10-3 in section play, so it will come down to the final day of the regular season.

Ridge is ahead right now with a 2-0 record against the other two and all it has to do is beat Richland and they will qualify for Thursday's semifinal against BG. Should they lose, Westmont plays Central Cambria and Forest Hills plays Bedford, both games they'll probably win and that would open the door.

Not sure how the tiebreaker would work between Westmont and Forest Hills. Both would be 11-3 with losses to Johnstown, Ridge, and they split with each other.

[Crimson's Ghost]

The girls field is totally set, I believe.

Bishop Guilfoyle (E2) at Bishop McCort (W1)
Forest Hills (W2) at Hollidaysburg (E1)

[CCDevil2012]

The boys field is almost set.

(E1) Bishop Guilfoyle
(W1) Johnstown.
(E2) Central
(W2) ???

Chestnut Ridge, Westmont, and Forest Hills are all 10-3 in section play, so it will come down to the final day of the regular season.

Ridge is ahead right now with a 2-0 record against the other two and all it has to do is beat Richland and they will qualify for Thursday's semifinal against BG. Should they lose, Westmont plays Central Cambria and Forest Hills plays Bedford, both games they'll probably win and that would open the door.

Not sure how the tiebreaker would work between Westmont and Forest Hills. Both would be 11-3 with losses to Johnstown, Ridge, and they split with each other.

If Tissinger is unable to return this season, is Johnstown still the favorite to win the conference?

[Crimson's Ghost]

BG is pretty good and could beat Johnstown at full strength

[Crimson's Ghost]

I truthfully think Berlin is the best team in the area and would win the LHAC.

[CCDevil2012]

Where are the games being played on Saturday?