Basketball is a game
of spurts. Each season has its highs and lows, peaks and valleys. The Crimson Tide Basketball Team started their season in
what must have seemed like the Grand Canyon. The Tide entered the season with the new title of a "Quad A" school
and vacated lineup which has lost five senior starters from the previous year. These hardships were not easily overcome as
the Tide hoopsters hit rock-bottom durning the non-league season. The young line-up hadn't yet adjusted to playing "big
Time" high school basketball and barely survived the non-league season with a 2-6 record. "We knew the non-league
season was going to be tough" commented Junior swingman Tim Cola, "but no matter what our record looked like after
those games, we could tell we were going to be a better team once the league started."
The Tide's improvement and the young team's growing maturity were quickly seen
when league competition began. The Tide rapidly started to climb toward the top of the standings as the wins began to pile
up. The Tide rolled through their first six games with an undefeated record.
Leading the surge was steady starting five combination. Each member of the cast portrayed an integral role in the success
story. Sophomore point guard Kevin Dicello was a magician on the court as he controlled the Tide's offense. Dicello waved
his magic wand and dished out 222 assists to go along with his own 7.6 point scoring average.
The rest of the offensive firepower was provided by the duo of Senior Tim Matas
and Tim Colna. Colna lit up the scoreboard with a team leading 13.6 scoring average, while Matas tallied an 11.2 average.
Spearheading the defensive attack was Junior Dean Eckley. Eckley was called upon night in and night out to cover opposing
teams' offensive guns. Adding defensive support was the sultan of swat, Junior center Keith Armson. Armson blocked away a
league leading 125 shots while leading the team in rebounding.
Despite the Tide's inexperience, they qualified for the league playoffs as the Division I wild card team and also competed
in the District XI playoffs for the ninth consecutive year. Against Lourdes in the wild card game, the Tide fell short by
a 69-66 count. Coach Jim Steidle commented, "We didn't get the big basket when we needed it." In the opening round
of district play, the Tide faced top seeded Allentown Allen and came up short end of a 73-62 score. "I was so proud of
our kids in that game. We never gave up," emphasized Coach Steidle.
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 47
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Williamsport 52
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 56
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Northampton 57
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 57
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Hazleton 81
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 46
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Easton 49
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 78
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Danville 63
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 56
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Lebanon 55
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 40
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Dieruff 61
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 40
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Neshaminy 55
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 56
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Tamaqua 53
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 56
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Blue Mountain 51
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 44
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Allentown Central Catholic 71
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 57
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Pine Grove 50
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 71
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North Schuylkill 50
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 69
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Parkland 67
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 64
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Mount Carmel 46
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 57
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Shamokin 63
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 67
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West Hazleton 50
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 53
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Tamaqua 54
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 44
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Blue Mountain 45
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 72
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Pine Grove 37
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 62
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North Schuylkill 59
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 68
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Mount Carmel 44
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 69
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Shamokin 66
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 79
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West Hazleton 66
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 66*
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Lourdes 69
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Pottsville Crimson Tide 62**
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Allentown Allen 73
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