D6 championship predictions

[Crimson's Ghost]

McCort is also a school that rarely brings up 9th graders, I believe they've only ever pulled up 4 since I started following the teams. So often the case, the McCort 9th grade team goes up against depleted Junior High teams also. That's often why they play both Altoona teams and Hollidaysburg to get some quality games on the schedule. Not every team does this, Johnstown has only brought up 2 kids in recent memory. So Johnstown, BG, and McCort typically have good 9th grade teams, and those games can be pretty telling. And pretty much 5 years ago, it was rare for anyone to bring up freshmen. Now many schools are doing it. Westmont has been playing 9th grade teams with almost entire rosters of 8th grades.

Side note, Westmont will be better but someone saying they can win D6 is a little premature IMO.

As far as McCort goes next year, they will be a different kind of team. They've had some tremendous players the past four years with Trexler, Hipp, and Wilson. And basically they had a team that relied on a few guys to score, while having a deep bench of role players and set shooters to compliment them. I don't think they have a kid that gets the automatic green light this season. They will need to work the ball, press, play less free spirited on offense, and run more sets. Like BG, the junior class of McCort ran the table in the LHAC a few years ago, but Updyke and Barnes and a lot of the conference's best players were moved up. They lost a lot from last year's team beyond Trexler.

They have one starter back in 6-3 C Karch Helsel. He's a banger, and his numbers will go up just for the sake of more opportunities. 6-4 PF Alex Conahan will start. He's a skilled big man, just not very strong. I think he could be the team's leading scorer. I would look for the Wade twins to be major players. They aren't playing football this year, but they are good athlete and they are both about 6-0. They have a good understanding of basketball, and like many twins, work well together. Beyond that, they have a couple of senior guards that will need to step up. They don't have a true PG, as the senior classes' PG transferred before last year, and their top 8th grader went elsewhere. I watched the 9th grade play once or twice, the first 5 could play, not sure if they would be ready to play significant varsity minutes though. Like I said, they should generate points via the press and hustle, but not many kids that will be able to take a game over in the half court.

[SFB14]

I remember the Helsel kid playing last year and I wasn't sure if he was a junior or senior. It sounds like BM will have a different type of team than in the past 3-4 years and losing a talent like Trexler is always going to be tough to overcome. Coach Murphy will no doubt have them ready to compete even with the limited returning experience. I know Richland also graduated a lot of senior starters (they do have the 6'5" kid, I can't recall his name) but that Somerset and J'town should be good with all the returning players they have. Throw in what is sure to be an improved Westmont team (although like you I think it might be a big leap from 4-18 to district title but you know they'll be better sp anything is possible) and that could be a real grind night in and night out in that section of the LHAC.

As for the other side I think it comes down to BC and BG again. I just don't know how you can go against BC with the 4 experienced players they have coming back and especially Martinazzi. BG will be very atletic and strong but may have to rely on younger kids for depth and while I think they'll be good in time I'm not sure they are ready for BC just yet. They should have a fairly bright future at BG though because I know they have another strong group of freshman this coming season. I do believe FH will be better because like Westmont they took their lumps but have several experienced kids back. Also, I saw PC and CH play in the Building 2 summer league. PC was pretty athletic and CH had a couple of kids who could really shoot the ball. It's tough in the LHAC every night and it is hard to win on the home floor of many of the schools no matter what the talent level may be. Last year there was a clear best team but this season is shaping up to be interesting because it seems many of the teams are more tightly bunched.

[SFB14]

Btw, I do agree with you about BM trying to beef up their Junior High schedule and that being a good idea. BG also plays home and away with Altoona and Hollidaysburg (Although this past year H'burg moved up several freshman) and have played home and away with State College as well. I will be seeing all the BG junior high games this year so it'll be interesting to see what the talent level is around the area in the lower levels.

[west33]

Ball is the tall guy for richland. Kutchman will start also with vinnie joy. They lost a lot. Ball and kutchman will be the wr and new qb for richland also who lost a lot. Somerset has the whole team back except for senior zerefoss who subbed with underclassmen alot last year. J-town has a lot back and will be tough with reid and updyke underneath and price was a great defensive player and could hit 3's They had a couple others that I can't remember the names. maybe a robinson also and brandon are the others. They will be tough if price gets his players to buy into the system. They are going to play a lot of guys and pressure man full court the whole game with price. They will be deep in depth. Somerset needs mostoller back out so barnes doesn't need to be down low again where he can get out front and get steals. They do have van litten, coyle, dick, reahm, and funa back as a nice team to go with two of the best guards in the lhc. Bedford and westmont will be a lot better also. Kendall and shaffer and mendelson for westy. Forest hills will be decent also. I say bc, bg, j-town, somerset will be at the top.

[Oohmy]

Sorry! Can't believe anything that is entered into Maxprep about BMHS by BMHS coaches. Heard they were not factual last season.

[Crimson's Ghost]

I doubt that, but I don't see where anyone brought up numbers or stats in the recent discussions.

But as an Athletic Department as a whole, McCort's the best I've ever seen with numbers and information.

[Oohmy]

You did page 3 of this topic. You have access to Hudl, count the shot taken by a certain player and you tell all of us if they were all recorded correctly.
To your statement about the Athletic Dept. They used to, not anymore. When Hollern left the bad accounting started.

[Crimson's Ghost]

I'm not sure what you are asking.

[PLDragons24]

I don't think any stats entered on a website have any affect on how talented someone is. I'm sure the stats are pretty accurate anyways. What benefit would it be to boost stats on maxpreps? It's not like scouts wouldn't watch the games themselves. No one gets a scholarship based off what their stats are on a website.

[D6sports101]

Blairsville is my favorite in AA because of some experience returning. Bellwood is also on the rise but is still one year away IMO. The AA field is wide open though assuming some others emerge