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Just because they dropped the first couple until they found there style of ball, everyone counted them out but watch out they aint stoppin now......They are just as good as Mcort and they are getting all this lhac contender recognition and FH gets nothing but doubts..........They Can Play !!!!!!!!!!

Here are my thoughts on Forest Hills and the other teams I saw early this week at Windber:

Saw two games tonight at Windber, after eating a helping of Rizzo's lasagna and a few slices of pizza. All in all, it was worth the 4 hours of driving in my new ride with my two sons.

Bedford dominated Windber in the consy game 67-51. Troy Harris is a really excellent athlete. He could've pretty much taken the ball to the hoop at will...I heard he was planning on attending IUP to play football--Any truth to that rumor? Bedford fields an intriguing team who SHOULD be the favorite to win 5-AA hands down...However, to really excel, Bedford will need to play more disciplined basketball, and run some better 1/2 court motion offense...At times, Bedford's players tended to stand around a lot and just watch THarris do his thing with the ball. That style of play can haunt Bedford if THarris has an off night.

Windber's team should hold their own in the WestPac, and they definitely hustle and play hard, but aren't as talented and skilled and physical (Pete Gerula, WHERE ARE YOU??) as some of the past Rambler teams. Bedford's athleticism and speed gave the Ramblers tons of problems. I see Windber being a better team as the season progresses and will should be formidable in 5-AA by the end of the season.

The championship game was entertaining as the mighty Rangers pilled the upset and beat McCort by 13, 68-55. Looks like the goalposts...errr, I mean baskets will be torn down tonite!

FH has a hard nosed team...FH is not exceptionally talented or skilled, but they're a physical and hustling type team who will give "meek and mild" teams problems. #22 (Rolla?) can play and will hurt teams who allow him to get his feet set and get a look at the hoop. Rolla doesn't have tremendous skills or talent, but he's the type of player you love to have on your team, can tell he's tough and hates to lose. FH shot the ball exceptionally well this evening, particularly in the 3rd and early in the 4th quarter where they blew open a close game to lead by as many as 17. I don't think they'll be a top 3 ELHACK team, but I do think they will cause some of the top teams problems and can be a dangerous team to face come D-6AAA playoff time, if they continue to improve--

McCort on the other hand strikes me as VERY intriguing...They have numerous excellent athletes who have the ability to be good basketball players. They played 10-11 players consistently, a lot of subbing for a hs team. Their best player, #42 (O'Connor?) appeared to have an off game, but I could see the skills...He reminds me a little bit of a "poor man's" Stu Anglum from Shaler Area, probably the top swingman in the WPIAL this season, although O'Connor isn't nearly as physical and skilled as Anglum. Cruz and the other guard (both D1 football recruits) looked the part, but didn't deliver as I would have expected two players with D1 athleticism.

McCort had a lot of problems against FH's zone defense...Very little motion (other than one baseline cutter), ball movement, flashing, screening, precise cutting...They need to go back to the drawing board and put in some sort of effective motion offense vs. a zone that gets them clean looks at the basket or they'll have probs again vs. teams that have decent talent and play zone defense. Defensively, McCort seemed to overplay everything and gamble instead of just executing fundamental defense. That extended zone trap SHOULD be effective..They may want to consider running a 1-3-1 half or 3/4 court trap with one of those great athletes at the top of the trap to utilize that athleticism to create havoc and turnovers vs. teams with shaky ballhandlers.

I see McCort as one of the top teams, if not THE top team in the ELHACK in terms of TALENT...But I also see a team that has some glaring limitations and issues that will need addressed. This McCort team could be the 6-AA champs or be gone in the 1st round against like last season...It will be interesting to see how their season unfolds. The potential is there, but potential can be an ugly word if it's not fulfilled.

ANy thoughts?

Not takin anything away from FH at all b/c I think they are a decent team but I also think that McCort while havin tremendous athletes lacks desire. I watched them early in the season and while havin a height and speed advantage they didn't seem to be to excited abt bein on the floor

I agree with pretty much everything you said Titan, good observations. I don't think the rumor of Harris going to IUP is true tho, I know there are a few other smaller D1 schools looking at him. I think McCort is kind of a dissapointing team to watch, they have tons of talent but seem like they really don't care if they win. Cruz doesn't seem to put out hardly any effort, only occasionally, and when he does he can take a game over. In the last few minutes of the Bedford game he stopped Bedfords final push with a three and a couple other buckets. I think they still have to be considered a top team in the LHAC and if they put things together even more maybe the top team.

I agree with you on FH as well, they aren't an extremely talented team but have a couple good players surrounded by tough kids. Rolla is very good and strong, he will just bull his way to the basket and he can also hit the three. They have a couple of other guys who can shoot as well, and their point is very solid, not flashy but he is a good guy to have running the point. I think they will be a tough team throughout the year in the LHAC.

i agree with all of you, the only thing I have to say on my own is McCort is a let down this year, when you have so much talent you play with it, cruz putting up only 3 points in many games when I picked him as 2nd team D6 last year is a disappointment.... the way they are playing they are not a top team, the only top teams are Westy, and Johnstown, but I said Forest hills would make a presence and that they are winners of 5 straight and over a talented but no where near top team in McCort...