AAA D6 Boys Basketball Playoff Preview & Thread
-
Crimson's Ghost
- Moderator Team
- Posts: 11116
- Joined: June 24th, 2011, 10:43 am
AAA D6 Boys Basketball Playoff Preview & Thread
The Favorite - Richland 19-4
Richland enters the postseason with an impressive 19-4 record and champions of a very strong Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference. The Rams are a very talented team, and one that does not start a senior. This could be the start of a special multi-year run for this program. Tyler Zimmerman is an athletic 6'3" wing that may be the best player in this AAA playoff field. Point guard Caleb Burke is beyond his years for being a freshman. Collin Instone and Trevy Hardison are good forwards that are productive players as well. They will be a tough out for anybody, and they have a very balanced attack.
The Challenger - Central Cambria 16-6
Despite the six seed, Central Cambria still may the second best team in the playoff field. They have some close losses this season, and aren't terribly far away from being 19-3. The size of this team is what sets them apart. Junior 6'6" center Matt Holsinger average 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks a game. He can change the game in many different ways. Evan Bopp, a 6'3" senior forward is their leading scorer. Senior point guard Nate Gillen is steady and is their best outside shooter as well. Bishop Carroll transfer Alex Persio has come on strong lately, and adds another outside shooter to the mix.
The Experience - Westmont 14-8
Westmont starts five seniors, and their sixth man is a senior as well. Dave Roman Jr's squad is put together very well. Ian Valente is a tough point guard that can handle the ball and also score at a high rate as well. Ben Molchany is one of, if not the best outside shooter in District VI. Matt Rodacay is also a threat on the outside as well. The inside game features two Cal U football recruits, Jake Elders and Justin Bulas. Both are strong and physical players inside. Aaron Miller is a good athlete off the bench. This team has the experience to breakthrough for their first District VI title since 2007.
The Sleeper - Ligonier Valley 17-6
Much of the talk will be about some of Laurel Highlands teams, and for good reason, those schools are pretty good. Ligonier's 17 win season may fly under the radar, and that's fine with them. The Rams have out together a nice season after a slow start, and they look poised to make some noise. They handed a good Saltsburg team their only loss this season, and they will be ready for the big stage of the playoffs. Marrek Paola is one of the best sophomores around, and Michael Marinchak is a good freshman point guard. Throw in some football players that know how to win led by Collin Smith, the Rams may have something special here.
The Unknown - Juniata 18-4
It seems like this is the story every year with Juniata, for both basketball and football. They play a schedule that features very few District VI opponents, and they are hard to judge. They did just win their first ever league championship on Friday night, and head into the postseason with some momentum. They are 3-1 against District Six competition this year, with a loss to Tyrone the other night. They are the champions of the Tri-Valley league with an 18-4 record. Juniata has two 6'3" forwards that control the paint in Josh Parson and Ben Lauver. 6'2" Tyler Clark was the quarterback on the football team and is another reliable player as well.
The Defending Champs - Bellwood-Antis 15-5
Bellwood-Antis has three starters back from last season's 24-3 District VI championship team. That alone should count for something. The Blue Devils have two very good forwards that can score and rebound. 6'6" Jarrett Tanneyhill averages 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks a contest, while Joey Padula averages 16 and 10. Junior sharp-shooter Trent Walker is shooting a red-hot 47% from thee-point land and averages 16 a game himself.
The Road Warriors - West Shamokin 12-10
West Shamokin is new to District Six, and they are about to learn how big this district is. They played their first full season in the Heritage Conference this season, and will be making their District Six playoff debut this year. The Wolves enter the postseason at an interesting time, as the district has moved to a home-court advantage format in the first two rounds. Their first game will be over a two hour bus ride to Mount Union. Should they win, a near three hour trip to Juniata awaits them in round two.
The Junior Class - Penn Cambria (11-11)
Penn Cambria was 7-15 last year, and improved to 11-11 this season. They are led in scoring by four members of their junior class. Mason Ronan and Jacob Shugis lead the way in scoring, while Tanner Perrone and Brandon O'Donnell are also key contributors. Conventional wisdom would state that next year is their big year, but could they surprise and arrive a year early? They just might be able to pull it off if they play well.
The Second Sleeper - Mount Union 12-7
Mount Union has won three straight games going into the playoffs. They also lost to Bellwood-Antis twice by three points total at the beginning of the month. That alone shows they are right there with a quality team like Bellwood. Could they put it together for a lengthy playoff run? We'll see, but they have home court advantage to start the postseason.
The Grind - Penns Valley 12-10
There aren't many teams anywhere that embrace an ugly, defensive game more than Penns Valley. Nobody grinds out games like the Rams. They are comfortable playing games in the 30's and 40. Heck, look at their last regular season game. They held Tyrone to 28 points.....and lost.
The Underdog - Cambria Heights 3-19
Not many people will be giving Cambria Heights a chance. The Highlanders haven't won a game since December 26th and went 0-16 in LHAC play this season. Liam Wholaver and Brandon Bearer are two guards that are capable of knocking down outside shots. It's the playoffs, anything can happen.
The Picks
(9) Penns Valley over (8) Penn Cambria
(7) Mount Union over (10) West Shamokin
(6) Central Cambria over (11) Cambria Heights
(1) Richland over (9) Penns Valley
(4) Ligonier Valley over (5) Bellwood-Antis
(3) Westmont over (6) Central Cambria
(7) Mount Union over (2) Juniata
(1) Richland over (4) Ligonier Valley
(3) Westmont over (7) Mount Union
(4) Ligonier Valley over (7) Mount Union (Consolation)
(1) Richland over (3) Westmont
Richland enters the postseason with an impressive 19-4 record and champions of a very strong Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference. The Rams are a very talented team, and one that does not start a senior. This could be the start of a special multi-year run for this program. Tyler Zimmerman is an athletic 6'3" wing that may be the best player in this AAA playoff field. Point guard Caleb Burke is beyond his years for being a freshman. Collin Instone and Trevy Hardison are good forwards that are productive players as well. They will be a tough out for anybody, and they have a very balanced attack.
The Challenger - Central Cambria 16-6
Despite the six seed, Central Cambria still may the second best team in the playoff field. They have some close losses this season, and aren't terribly far away from being 19-3. The size of this team is what sets them apart. Junior 6'6" center Matt Holsinger average 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks a game. He can change the game in many different ways. Evan Bopp, a 6'3" senior forward is their leading scorer. Senior point guard Nate Gillen is steady and is their best outside shooter as well. Bishop Carroll transfer Alex Persio has come on strong lately, and adds another outside shooter to the mix.
The Experience - Westmont 14-8
Westmont starts five seniors, and their sixth man is a senior as well. Dave Roman Jr's squad is put together very well. Ian Valente is a tough point guard that can handle the ball and also score at a high rate as well. Ben Molchany is one of, if not the best outside shooter in District VI. Matt Rodacay is also a threat on the outside as well. The inside game features two Cal U football recruits, Jake Elders and Justin Bulas. Both are strong and physical players inside. Aaron Miller is a good athlete off the bench. This team has the experience to breakthrough for their first District VI title since 2007.
The Sleeper - Ligonier Valley 17-6
Much of the talk will be about some of Laurel Highlands teams, and for good reason, those schools are pretty good. Ligonier's 17 win season may fly under the radar, and that's fine with them. The Rams have out together a nice season after a slow start, and they look poised to make some noise. They handed a good Saltsburg team their only loss this season, and they will be ready for the big stage of the playoffs. Marrek Paola is one of the best sophomores around, and Michael Marinchak is a good freshman point guard. Throw in some football players that know how to win led by Collin Smith, the Rams may have something special here.
The Unknown - Juniata 18-4
It seems like this is the story every year with Juniata, for both basketball and football. They play a schedule that features very few District VI opponents, and they are hard to judge. They did just win their first ever league championship on Friday night, and head into the postseason with some momentum. They are 3-1 against District Six competition this year, with a loss to Tyrone the other night. They are the champions of the Tri-Valley league with an 18-4 record. Juniata has two 6'3" forwards that control the paint in Josh Parson and Ben Lauver. 6'2" Tyler Clark was the quarterback on the football team and is another reliable player as well.
The Defending Champs - Bellwood-Antis 15-5
Bellwood-Antis has three starters back from last season's 24-3 District VI championship team. That alone should count for something. The Blue Devils have two very good forwards that can score and rebound. 6'6" Jarrett Tanneyhill averages 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks a contest, while Joey Padula averages 16 and 10. Junior sharp-shooter Trent Walker is shooting a red-hot 47% from thee-point land and averages 16 a game himself.
The Road Warriors - West Shamokin 12-10
West Shamokin is new to District Six, and they are about to learn how big this district is. They played their first full season in the Heritage Conference this season, and will be making their District Six playoff debut this year. The Wolves enter the postseason at an interesting time, as the district has moved to a home-court advantage format in the first two rounds. Their first game will be over a two hour bus ride to Mount Union. Should they win, a near three hour trip to Juniata awaits them in round two.
The Junior Class - Penn Cambria (11-11)
Penn Cambria was 7-15 last year, and improved to 11-11 this season. They are led in scoring by four members of their junior class. Mason Ronan and Jacob Shugis lead the way in scoring, while Tanner Perrone and Brandon O'Donnell are also key contributors. Conventional wisdom would state that next year is their big year, but could they surprise and arrive a year early? They just might be able to pull it off if they play well.
The Second Sleeper - Mount Union 12-7
Mount Union has won three straight games going into the playoffs. They also lost to Bellwood-Antis twice by three points total at the beginning of the month. That alone shows they are right there with a quality team like Bellwood. Could they put it together for a lengthy playoff run? We'll see, but they have home court advantage to start the postseason.
The Grind - Penns Valley 12-10
There aren't many teams anywhere that embrace an ugly, defensive game more than Penns Valley. Nobody grinds out games like the Rams. They are comfortable playing games in the 30's and 40. Heck, look at their last regular season game. They held Tyrone to 28 points.....and lost.
The Underdog - Cambria Heights 3-19
Not many people will be giving Cambria Heights a chance. The Highlanders haven't won a game since December 26th and went 0-16 in LHAC play this season. Liam Wholaver and Brandon Bearer are two guards that are capable of knocking down outside shots. It's the playoffs, anything can happen.
The Picks
(9) Penns Valley over (8) Penn Cambria
(7) Mount Union over (10) West Shamokin
(6) Central Cambria over (11) Cambria Heights
(1) Richland over (9) Penns Valley
(4) Ligonier Valley over (5) Bellwood-Antis
(3) Westmont over (6) Central Cambria
(7) Mount Union over (2) Juniata
(1) Richland over (4) Ligonier Valley
(3) Westmont over (7) Mount Union
(4) Ligonier Valley over (7) Mount Union (Consolation)
(1) Richland over (3) Westmont
-
Sportsfan305
- Freshman
- Posts: 7
- Joined: December 30th, 2016, 2:01 pm
Re: AAA D6 Boys Basketball Playoff Preview & Thread
Crimson why penns valley over penn cambria?
-
Crimson's Ghost
- Moderator Team
- Posts: 11116
- Joined: June 24th, 2011, 10:43 am
Re: AAA D6 Boys Basketball Playoff Preview & Thread
8/9 games in any bracket are meant to be close, so it could go either way. I expect Penns Valley to control the tempo and make it an ugly game.
I could be totally wrong. Just taking a stab at it.
I could be totally wrong. Just taking a stab at it.