Frankford appears ready for P.I.A.A. Playoffs !!!
Posted: February 1st, 2005, 9:25 pm
Frankford appears ready for the PIAA
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
With head coach Bernard Handler ailing, it was left to assistant Ben Duban to lead Frankford out into the unchartered territory past the Philadelphia Public League.
Duban liked what he saw as his Frankford Pioneers handled State College 69-57 at the SportsFever Challenge held at Trinity High School.
"It was very far, we got a bit lost coming," Duban said. Handler's condition was undiagnosed but Duban expected him to return to the bench within a few days.
Despite a limited scouting report on the Little Lions, the 2003 PIAA Class (AAAA) champs and eighth-ranked team in this Patriot-News boys' basketball state rankings, the Pioneers found their bearings and more than held their own.
Frankford was originally scheduled to play Harrisburg in the event before it was postponed from Jan. 22 because of snow. The Cougars had another commitment Saturday at Parkland against Bishop McNamara (Va.), so the Little Lions filled in.
"We really didn't know anything about them coming into it," Duban said. "We've heard a little bit about the big kid [6-7 junior Eric Meister] and the coach's son who's the shooter [Kevin Kanaskie].
"We were just hoping that we were going to be a little more athletic than them, have a little more speed and we'd try to use that and play smart within that. I thought we did a great job doing that."
With the win, Frankford managed to live up to its own ranking in this, its first year as a member of the PIAA.
Frankford's losses came to Bishop O'Connell (Va.), Holy Ghost Prep and Strawberry Mansion at a time when players were struggling to play together as a team.
"A lot of games we were a little out of control," Duban said.
The Pioneers have settled in behind Lewis Leonard, a 6-4 junior who leads with 19.5 points per game, and Maurice Miller, a 6-0 senior who averages 10.4.
But the Pioneers know they'll have a tough road ahead of them if they secure one of the four District 12 seeds to the PIAA tournament.
"It's not going to be easy to get there," Duban said. "If we play smart and play the way we did today, with aggression and as a team, we certainly can beat anybody in the state."
Any curiosity the Pioneers had about the state tournament trophy had to wait. Trinity had plenty of them on display in their lobby, but since Frankford arrived late, they didn't have time to stop and take a look.
But Duban said the whole Frankford community is very excited to be in the PIAA and have a shot at winning one.
"The school is very excited," Duban said. "It should be a lot of fun."
"THE CHOPS".
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
With head coach Bernard Handler ailing, it was left to assistant Ben Duban to lead Frankford out into the unchartered territory past the Philadelphia Public League.
Duban liked what he saw as his Frankford Pioneers handled State College 69-57 at the SportsFever Challenge held at Trinity High School.
"It was very far, we got a bit lost coming," Duban said. Handler's condition was undiagnosed but Duban expected him to return to the bench within a few days.
Despite a limited scouting report on the Little Lions, the 2003 PIAA Class (AAAA) champs and eighth-ranked team in this Patriot-News boys' basketball state rankings, the Pioneers found their bearings and more than held their own.
Frankford was originally scheduled to play Harrisburg in the event before it was postponed from Jan. 22 because of snow. The Cougars had another commitment Saturday at Parkland against Bishop McNamara (Va.), so the Little Lions filled in.
"We really didn't know anything about them coming into it," Duban said. "We've heard a little bit about the big kid [6-7 junior Eric Meister] and the coach's son who's the shooter [Kevin Kanaskie].
"We were just hoping that we were going to be a little more athletic than them, have a little more speed and we'd try to use that and play smart within that. I thought we did a great job doing that."
With the win, Frankford managed to live up to its own ranking in this, its first year as a member of the PIAA.
Frankford's losses came to Bishop O'Connell (Va.), Holy Ghost Prep and Strawberry Mansion at a time when players were struggling to play together as a team.
"A lot of games we were a little out of control," Duban said.
The Pioneers have settled in behind Lewis Leonard, a 6-4 junior who leads with 19.5 points per game, and Maurice Miller, a 6-0 senior who averages 10.4.
But the Pioneers know they'll have a tough road ahead of them if they secure one of the four District 12 seeds to the PIAA tournament.
"It's not going to be easy to get there," Duban said. "If we play smart and play the way we did today, with aggression and as a team, we certainly can beat anybody in the state."
Any curiosity the Pioneers had about the state tournament trophy had to wait. Trinity had plenty of them on display in their lobby, but since Frankford arrived late, they didn't have time to stop and take a look.
But Duban said the whole Frankford community is very excited to be in the PIAA and have a shot at winning one.
"The school is very excited," Duban said. "It should be a lot of fun."
"THE CHOPS".