|
BOYS RANKINGS: | RANK | TEAM | RECORD | PREVIOUS RANK | | 1 | Pottsville | 9-0 | - | | 2 | Lewisburg | 8-0 | - | | 3 | Loyalsock | 8-1 | - | | 4 | Scranton
Prep | 7-2 | - | | 5 | St. John Neumann | 9-0 | - | | 6 | Shamokin | 8-2 | - | | 7 | Mid Valley | 9-0 | - | | 8 | Lehighton
| 8-1 | - |
Maxpreps State AAA Rankings - January 4, 2015
Pennsylvania Class AAA Rankings
PENN LIVE RANKINGS - January 3, 2015
CLASS AAA 1. Neumann-Goretti (8-0) — defeated Wheeling Park (W.Va.)
93-82. Next game: Monday vs. Cardinal O’Hara. 2. Archbishop Carroll (6-3) — idle. Next
game: Monday vs. Bishop McDevitt. 3. Indiana (9-0) — at No. 9 Hampton, ppd. Next game: Tuesday
vs. Southmoreland. 4. Uniontown (9-1) — idle. Next game: Tuesday at OW West Mifflin. 5.
Susquehanna Twp. (8-3) — defeated Lower Merion 69-42. Next game: Tuesday at Cedar Cliff. 6. Imhotep
Charter (5-4) — idle. Next game: Today vs. Constitution. 7. Mars (11-1) — defeated
Penn-Trafford 83-77 (OT). Next game: Tuesday vs. Deer Lakes. 8. Pottsville (8-0)
— defeated Williamsport 62-32. Next game: Monday at Tamaqua. 9. Hampton (10-0) —
vs. No. 3 Indiana, ppd. Next game: Tuesday at Freeport. 10. Beaver Falls (8-2) — vs. Aliquippa,
ppd. Next game: Tuesday vs. Hopewell.
| Rank | School | W | L | T | | 1 | Pottsville Area | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0.829267 | | 2 | Allentown
Central Catholic | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0.761418 | | 3 | Salisbury Township | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0.728871 | | 4 | Tamaqua
Area | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0.724890 | | 5 | Lehighton Area | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0.698790 | | 6 | Saucon
Valley | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0.693313 | | 7 | North Schuylkill | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0.643606 | | 8 | Wilson
Area | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0.610259 | | 9 | Blue Mountain | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0.551194 | | 10 | Palisades | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0.546947 | | 11 | Notre
Dame of Green Pond | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0.531733 | | 12 | Palmerton Area | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0.516813 | | 13 | Bethlehem
Catholic | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0.481653 | | 14 | Jim Thorpe Area | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0.453131 | | 15 | Northwestern
Lehigh | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0.449295 |
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PENN LIVE RANKINGS - January 1, 2015
CLASS AAA 1. Neumann-Goretti (7-0) — defeated Chester 89-56. Next game:
Saturday vs. Wheeling Park (W.Va.) in Wheeling, W.Va. 2. Archbishop Carroll (5-3) — defeated
Haverford School 69-49. Next game: Friday vs. La Lumiere (Ind.) in Wheeling, W.Va. 3. Indiana (9-0)
— idle. Next game: Saturday at No. 9 Hampton. 4. Uniontown (8-1) — idle. Next game: Friday
vs. Belle Vernon. 5. Susquehanna Twp. (7-3) — lost to Germantown Academy 58-48. Next game: Saturday
vs. Lower Merion. 6. Imhotep Charter (5-4) — defeated Red Mountain (Ariz.) 65-50. Next game:
Sunday vs. Constitution. 7. Mars (10-1) — defeated Freeport 71-59. Next game: Saturday vs. Penn-Trafford
at Pittsburgh’s Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic. 8. Pottsville (7-0) — defeated Nativity
77-30. Next game: Saturday vs. Williamsport. 9. Hampton (10-0) — defeated North Hills 92-88.
Next game: Saturday vs. No. 3 Indiana. 10. Beaver Falls (8-2) — lost to Allderdice 69-63. Next
game: Saturday vs. Aliquippa.
| |
| Rank | School | W | L | T | | 1 | Pottsville Area |
7 | 0 | 0 | 0.813531 | | 2 | Tamaqua
Area | 9
| 1 | 0 | 0.749786 | | 3 | Allentown
Central Catholic | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0.732387 | | 4 | Salisbury
Township | 8
| 1 | 0 | 0.721254 | | 5 | Saucon
Valley | 7
| 2 | 0 | 0.694425 | | 6 | Lehighton
Area | 8
| 1 | 0 | 0.690990 | | 7 | Wilson
Area | 5
| 4 | 0 | 0.610277 | | 8 | North
Schuylkill | 5
| 2 | 0 | 0.589248 | | 9 | Blue
Mountain | 4
| 4 | 0 | 0.585463 | | 10 | Notre
Dame of Green Pond | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0.556615 | | 11 | Palisades | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0.530765 | | 12 | Palmerton Area |
4 | 5
| 0 | 0.517679 | | 13 | Bethlehem Catholic |
2 | 6
| 0 | 0.500433 | | 14 | Northwestern Lehigh |
4 | 4
| 0 | 0.493084 | | 15 | Jim Thorpe Area |
4 | 6
| 0 | 0.4 |
|
CLASS AAA
1. Archbishop Carroll (2-2) — lost to Orlando (Fla.) Oak Ridge 67-66. Next game: Tonight vs. Chatsworth (Cal.) Sierra Canyon at City of Palms
Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. 2. Neumann-Goretti (2-0) — idle. Next game: Sunday (12-21) vs. Pennsbury
at Archbishop Wood. 3. Indiana (7-0) — idle. Next game: Tonight vs. Kittanning. 4. Uniontown (6-0) — defeated Grundy (Va.) 78-42. Next game: Tonight vs. Tecumseh (Okla.) at KSA Disney
Tournament in Orlando. 5. Susquehanna Twp. (4-2) — idle. Next game: Tonight vs. Palmyra. 6. Imhotep Charter (1-3) — idle. Next game: Dec. 27 in Arizona.
7. Mars (6-1)
— defeated Liberty (Nev.) 74-32. Next game: Tonight vs. John Muir (Cal.) or Faith Lutheran (Nev.) at Tarkanian Classic
in Nevada. 8. Pottsville (4-0) — defeated Blue Mountain 65-29. Next game: Saturday at Salisbury. 9. Beaver Falls (5-0) — idle. Next game: Tonight vs. Ellwood City. 10. Scranton Prep (3-1) — defeated Wyoming Valley West 93-49. Next game: Saturday at Georgetown (D.C.) Prep.
CLASS AAA 1. Archbishop Carroll (2-1) —
idle. Next game: Thursday vs. Orlando (Fla.) Oak Ridge at City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. 2.
Neumann-Goretti (2-0) — idle. Next game: Sunday (12-21) vs. Pennsbury at Archbishop Wood. 3. Indiana (5-0) — idle. Next game: Tonight at Mount Pleasant. 4.
Uniontown (4-0) — idle. Next game: Tonight vs. Thomas Jefferson. 5.
Susquehanna Twp. (3-2) — idle. Next game: Tonight vs. OW Bishop McDevitt.
 Pottsville head coach Dave Mullaney piloted his Crimson Tide to their third
victory in as many tries on Monday. (PennLive.com files) 6. Imhotep Charter (0-2) — idle. Next game: TBA. 7.
Mars (5-0) — defeated Valley 72-48. Next game: Wednesday vs. Rock Canyon (Col.) at Tarkanian Classic in
Las Vegas. 8. Pottsville (3-0) — defeated Pine Grove 61-26. Next game:
Thursday vs. Blue Mountain. 9. Beaver Falls (4-0) — idle. Next game:
Tonight vs. Blackhawk. 10. Scranton Prep (2-1) — defeated Pittston
88-39. Next game: Thursday at Wyoming Valley West.
BOYS' BB PREVIEW: Tide look to roll againBY MIKE CARNAHAN Published: December 11, 2014
The best way to describe the 2014-15 Schuylkill League
boys’ basketball season is uncertainty and plenty of change. Such is the case at Mahanoy Area. For the first time
since 1981, Mickey Holland will not lead the Golden Bears as head coach. The job now belongs to Scott
Hudson, who was a sophomore at Mahanoy Area during Holland’s first season 33 years ago and has been involved
with the program in some capacity ever since. Then there is the new addition to the league in Lehighton and how much
of an impact the Indians will make in the Division I race. There is also the question of who will emerge as the front
runners for the Division II and III titles. Both races are wide open this season and will bring plenty of intrigue as the
year moves on. There are, however, no such uncertainties and changes at Pottsville. The Crimson Tide’s expectations
are always high, and this season is no different. The Tide are loaded again, and the expectations may be turned up a
little bit more. Not only is Pottsville coming off a 24-6 campaign, but all five starters — seniors Travis
Blankenhorn, Eli Nabholz, Ty Painter and Connor Hinchliffe, along
with junior Jordan Melochick — are back. Last season, the Crimson Tide’s drive for a fifth
consecutive overall league title ended with a 45-44 loss to Mahanoy Area in the championship game. But 2013-14 could hardly
be considered a failure. Pottsville won its fifth straight division title by beating Blue Mountain 51-42 in a tiebreaker
contest Feb. 8. The Crimson Tide also reached their first District 11 Class AAA title game since 2010 and then won their first
PIAA playoff game since 1974 with a 58-38 victory over Lower Moreland on March 7. Pottsville proceeded to give eventual state
runner-up Susquehanna Township a fight in the second round before losing 52-45 on March 11. Blankenhorn, a 6-foot-2
guard, stepped into more of a leadership role and responded with the best season of his career, averaging 18.2 points per
game, including 61 3-pointers. He was The Republican-Herald Co-Player of the Year with Mahanoy Area’s Dylan
Mahmod. Blankenhorn also hit 1,000 points for his career during a 56-30 victory over Williams Valley in the league
semifinals Feb. 11. Nabholz (12.0 ppg), a 6-5 forward, had the best season of his high school career, too, becoming
a threat both in and out of the paint. Melochick (9.8 ppg) nearly averaged double figures in scoring, while Connor Hinchliffe
(6.1 ppg., 24 3s) was second on the team in 3-pointers and Ty Painter (2.8) became more confident offensively as the season
went along. What could make the Crimson Tide even scarier is that there is depth this season, so much so that last year’s
starting five could be different this season. To that end, coach Dave Mullaney wants Pottsville to
be more aggressive on both ends of the floor. He wants the Tide’s man-to-man defense to be even tighter, and his motion
offense to run crisper sets. He knows there is a lot of work to do. “We are nowhere where we want to be,”
he said. “I really want to see us offensive rebound better than we have in the past. I want to see us play defense like
we have in the past as well. Last year I don’t think we were a great defensive team. And just continue to build confidence.
The talent is there, it is just the job of the coaching staff to kind of put it all together and reach our potential.” Blankenhorn
knows this season could be special, too. Now the Crimson Tide have to go out and get it done. “We still have
to go out and play the game,” he said. “Nothing is guaranteed. We have to keep focused, keep getting better and
take nothing for granted.” Pottsville and the rest of Division I have to deal with Lehighton as it enters from
the now defunct Mountain Valley Conference. The Indians (14-11, 7-7 MVC) might be new to the league, but are familiar
with a few of the teams they will play. Lehighton lost to Pottsville in the District 11 Class AAA quarterfinals the past two
years, and also have played Tamaqua, Jim Thorpe, Panther Valley and Marian in non-league games in the recent years. Two
of the Indians’ leading scorers return in senior guard Jordan Knappenberger (13.7) and junior forward
Tyler Crum (13.0). The rest of Lehighton’s starters will be new. “It is different basketball
in the Schuylkill League compared to where we came from,” Indians coach Rich Oertner said. “The
Mountain Valley, the kids were more athletic, but their basketball IQ wasn’t there. I think the basketball IQ in the
Schuylkill League is pretty high. The kids and the coaches are fundamentally sound. We were usually the smarter team, but
now some of the better teams are smarter than we are. That will be a change.” Lehighton’s first league game
is Monday at home against Panther Valley. Here are some other items to look for this winter: • In addition
to Blankenhorn, Nativity’s Jeff Yordy (1,191) and Tamaqua’s Brett Kosciolek
(1,034) are returning as 1,000-point scorers in the league this season. • In addition to Hudson, Jim Thorpe’s
Jason McElmoyle and Gillingham Charter’s Pete Sanfilippo are also new head coaches. •
The postseason classifications have changed for some schools for the new PIAA two-year cycle. Class AAA includes Blue
Mountain, Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, North Schuylkill, Pottsville and Tamaqua; Mahanoy Area, Marian, Minersville, Panther Valley,
Pine Grove, Schuylkill Haven and Williams Valley are Class AA; and Nativity, Shenandoah Valley, Tri-Valley, Weatherly and
Gillingham Charter are Class A. Upper Dauphin is still Class AA and Hamburg stays Class AAA in District 3, while Lourdes remains
in Class A in District 4. Here’s a breakdown of the division races: Division I Lehighton should be
in contention for the division title. So, who else might challenge Pottsville? A good place to start is Tamaqua. In
addition to Kosciolek, senior Bo Rottet (15.0 ppg, team-leading 346 points, 50 3-pointers) has developed
into one of the best point guards in the league. Also returning is junior guard Russell Blaker (5.3 ppg,
24 3s), who averaged 10.7 points per game over Tamaqua’s final six contests. The Raiders have gone 27-20 the past
two seasons, qualifying for the District 11 Class AAA playoffs twice. They have plenty of offensive firepower, but the keys
to taking the next step and competing for a league title will be defense and rebounding. If those areas improve, this
could be the year the Raiders qualify for the league playoffs for the first time since 1995. Blue Mountain and North
Schuylkill are always in the mix and this winter will be no different. Both have starters to replace, but if recent history
is any guide, they should be just fine. That is especially true for the Eagles, who have just one starter back in junior
guard Mark Chelius (6.9 ppg). Three other letterwinners return in senior Dean Stramara,
junior Ian Donovan and sophomore Connor Kerstetter. The three combined to score 86 points
last season. Blue Mountain was in the same position at the start of 2012-13 and ended up going a combined 39-13 over
the following two seasons, qualifying for the league playoffs twice. Two starters are back for the Spartans, including
6-5 forward Tevin Murray (12.5 ppg), The Republican-Herald Rookie of the Year. Also returning is sophomore
guard Major Jordan (6.6 ppg). The Spartans needed to replace four starters at the beginning of last
year and finished 16-7. North Schuylkill nearly played for the District 11 Class AA title, but were done in by a bad fourth
quarter during a 52-46 loss to Catasauqua in the semifinals. Blue Mountain Head coach: Dustin Werdt
(12th season) Last year: 21-7 overall, 11-1 D-I. Division wild-card, District 11 Class AAA third-place finisher, PIAA
qualifier Returnees: Dean Stramara (sr., G), Nico Granito (sr., F), Mark Chelius (jr., G), Ian Donovan (jr., G), Christian
Puzzi (jr., F), Connor Kerstetter (soph., F-C), Aaron Albertini (soph., G), Brayden Lewis (soph., F), Newcomers: Jack
Barton (sr., F), Spencer Welsh (soph., G), Mason Zerbe (soph., G-F), Jakob Biever (fr., C) Outlook: The Eagles took
a major graduation hit, losing four starters. The guards are versatile, with some who can hit from the perimeter, while others
are slashers. The youth is a concern and Werdt is looking for the Eagles to commit to playing defense on every possession.
Division playoff contender. Jim Thorpe Head coach: Jason McElmoyle (1st season) Last year:
2-20, 1-11 D-I Returnees: David Everitt (sr., F), Shane Snisky (sr., F), Brett Luicina (sr., G), Jordan McElmoyle (jr.,
G), Rayan Green (jr., F), Christopher Micciche (soph., G), Brendan Carroll (soph., G) Newcomers: Jalil Veney (sr., G),
Abraham Johnson (sr., F), Alec Lauer (jr., F), Rocco Twardzick (jr., F), Owen Snisky (soph., G), Matthew Elmore (soph., F) Outlook:
The Olympians will be one of the more experienced teams in the division with four starters back. They have some size, too.
McElmoyle likes the chemistry they are developing. How much of an impact the Olympians could make in the division remains
to be seen. Lehighton Head coach: Rich Oertner (4th at Lehighton, 14th overall) Last year:
14-11, 7-7 Mountain Valley Conference. MVC semifinalist, District 11 Class AAA quarterfinalist Returnees: Jordan Knappenberger
(sr., G), Tyler Crum (jr., F), Newcomers: Tom Ruzicka (sr., G), Tyler Williams (sr., F), Nick Chambers (jr., C), Tanner
Zwetoliz (jr., G-F-C), Ben Cordova (jr., C), Hunter Green (jr., F), Nick Skrincosky (soph., F) Outlook: The Indians
have their two leading scorers back with team speed a strength. The goal is to qualify for districts. Oertner believes doing
that depends on how well the football players adapt to basketball. Division playoff contender. North Schuylkill Head
coach: Curt Ziegmont (12th season) Last year: 16-7, 8-4 D-I. District 11 Class AA semifinalist Returnees: Ryan
Hillbish (sr., G), Jordan Marlow (jr., G), Tevin Murray (jr., F), Major Jordan (soph., G-F), Newcomers: Justin Heaton
(sr., F), John Mercado (sr., G), Chris Karlonis (sr., F), Conor Carney (sr., G), Ryan Mazeika (sr., F), Alex Mazur (jr., G), Outlook:
The Spartans have two of the better younger players in the league in Murray and Jordan and the task is to find three new starters
to built around them. Ziegmont likes the athleticism and depth as the Spartans seek to find their identity. They should be
in the division mix, too. Panther Valley Head coach: Patrick Crampsie (13th season) Last year:
10-12, 4-7 D-I Returnees: Chad Dubosky (sr., F), Cee Keo (sr., G), Ethan Vermillion (sr., F), Charles Nase (jr., F),
Anthony Miholick (soph., G), Matt Hudicka (jr.) Newcomers: Nate Miller (jr.), Sam Stanko (jr.), Tristian Blasko (fr.,
F) Outlook: The Panther lost two of their leading scorers to graduation and the new faces must take over the offensive
load. There is more athleticism and length than in previous years and that should help improve the defense. Pine
Grove Head coach: Frank D’Agostino (2nd season) Last year: 4-18, 1-11 D-I Returnees: Kobe D’Agostino
(sr., G), Mark Weinus (sr., F), Luke Rossi (sr., F), Newcomers: Austin Fick (sr., F-C), Brett Mars (sr., F), Kyle Fidler
(jr., F), David Snedden (soph., G), Jake Leininger (fr., G-F), Collin Griffiths (soph., G-F), Outlook: D’Agostino
has progressed into one of the best guards in the league as the Cardinals look to develop players to build around him. They
have a good mix of strength and athleticism as well as some shooters to hit from the perimeter. The program is still rebuilding.
Goals are to make districts and have a signature win against a quality opponent. Pottsville Head
coach: Dave Mullaney (8th season) Last year: 24-6, 11-1 D-I. Division I champion, Schuylkill League runner-up, District
11 Class AAA runner-up, PIAA Class AAA second round Returnees: Travis Blankenhorn (sr., G), Eli Nabholz (sr., F), Ty
Painter (sr., G), Connor Hinchliffe (sr., G), Derek Shuman (sr., G), Jed Dunkel (jr., F), Jordan Melochick (jr., G), Christian
Witman (jr., G) Newcomers: Pat Coyle (sr., G), Muldeen Thomas (jr., G), Pat Schenk (jr., G), Tanner Gerchak (jr., G),
Jordan Abdo (soph., G), Ian Renninger (fr., F) Outlook: The expectations are always high for the Crimson Tide and this
season is no different. All five starters return and the newcomers are pushing them for playing time, so there is plenty
of depth to back the talent already in place. Division I and overall league favorite. Tamaqua Head
coach: Caszy Kosciolek (4th season) Last year: 13-10, 6-6 D-I. District 11 Class AAA qualifier Returnees: Brett
Kosciolek (sr., G-F), Bo Rottet (sr., G), Tyler Skripko (sr., F), Russell Blaker (jr., G), Ben Miller (sr., G), Nate MacDonald
(sr., F) Newcomer: Thaddaeus Zuber (fr., G) Outlook: The Raiders have plenty of offensive punch. In order to take
the next step and compete for a division title, the defense has to improve. If that happens, the Raiders could find themselves
in the running for a spot in the league playoffs. Division II This is a wide-open division, with at least four
teams having a shot depending how things shake out. Senior guard Cody Miller (9.0) and junior forward
Nick Rodichok (10.3) are back for Williams Valley, the two-time defending division champs. The Vikings don’t
have much experience after that, and how quickly the newcomers come around could be the key to the Vikings winning another
division title. Lourdes has the most starters returning with four. However, the Red Raiders are still young with just
three seniors and only one, Luke Holleran (4.8 ppg), expected to see any significant playing time. Lourdes
returns its leading scorer in 6-5 sophomore center Larry Czeponis (10.7 ppg), junior forward Jordan
Fobia (9.2 ppg) and sophomore guard Kenny Pawelizyk (6.6 ppg). The guards are quick and Red Raiders
may press more to take advantage of that. The two starters returning for Minersville are point guard Collin
Hashin (6.8 ppg) and forward Spencer Tobin (7.8 ppg), both seniors. Two of the new starters, juniors
Jon McBreen (5.7 ppg) and Chris Leshko (5.0 ppg), saw plenty of playing time last year. Tri-Valley
came up a win short of qualifying for districts last season and return its leading scorer in junior forward Jaden
Buchanan (9.5 ppg). Juniors Bryce Yearsley (4.0 ppg) and Bryce McNally (1.7 ppg)
both started on and off last year. The Bulldogs likely won’t be a high-scoring team, so their success could come
down to how well they play defense. Lourdes Head coach: Pete Long (13th season) Last year:
12-12, 3-10 D-II. District 4 Class AA qualifier Returnees: Luke Holleran (sr., F), Jordan Fobia (jr., G), Michael Padula
(soph., G), Larry Czeponis (soph., C), Kenny Pawelizyk (soph., G), Coby Feese (soph., F) Newcomers: Billy Allen (sr.,
F), Vinnie Bucanelli (jr., G) Outlook: The Red Raiders are young and will be led by a strong sophomore class. Quick
guards could lead to more pressure defense. Should be improved and will be in the division-title hunt. Minersville Head
coach: Cliff Woodford (8th season) Last year: 16-8, 10-3. District 11 Class AA semifinalist Returnees: Spencer
Tobin (sr., F), Collin Hashin (sr., G), Jon McBreen (jr., G), Chris Leshko (jr., G), Dylan Stephen (jr., G) Newcomers:
Storm Fekette (sr., G), Zach Brown (sr., G), Tom Moran (sr., C), Dave Graham (jr., F), Brian Brennan (jr., F), Adam Stoppie
(jr., F), Justin Fedornak (jr., C), Israel Martinez (jr., F), Outlook: The Miners lost their two leading scorers to
graduation, but have experience returning. The outside shooting should improve, while a quicker lineup should mean more of
the man-to-man defense that Woodford wants to play. Without much height, the key to a successful season could come down to
rebounding. A division title contender. Schuylkill Haven Head coach: Fran Murphy (3rd season) Last
year: 0-22, 0-13 D-II Returnees: Zavier Webb (sr., F), Danny Blugis (sr., G), Mike Ulsh (sr., F), Brad Fryer (sr., C),
J.T. Hughes (jr., G), Austin Charles (jr., F-C), Ethan Conage (jr., G) Newcomers: None Outlook: The Hurricanes
have only one place to go that is up. They’re working hard to improve and have another year of experience, with Blugis
and Webb three-year starters. There isn’t much size, so rebounding will be important. The goals are be competitive in
every game and grab a more few wins. Tri-Valley Head coach: Mike Masser (4th season) Last year:
10-12, 6-7 D-II Returnees: Jericho Zemencik (sr., C), Jaden Buchanan (jr., G-F), Bryce McNally (jr., G), Bryce Yearsley
(jr., G), Dan Opozda (jr., F) Newcomers: Justin Ziegmont (soph., G), Ashton Buchanan (fr., G), Logan Yoder (fr., F) Outlook:
The Bulldogs lost three starters to graduation and have only one senior starting. The guards are more experienced and that
should help cut down on the turnovers that have hurt in recent years. The key to the season could be how well the Bulldogs
play defense. Should be in the division title mix. Williams Valley Head coach: Denny Kasper (20th
season) Last year: 19-5, 11-2 D-II. Division II champ, District 11 Class AA qualifier Returnees: Cody Miller (sr.,
G), Nick Rodichok (jr., F) Newcomers: Peppe Mini (jr., G), Siul Sepulveda (jr., G), Garrett Zimmerman (jr., F), Landon
Bordner (jr., C) Outlook: Two solid scorers return for the Vikings, who lost four key players to graduation, including
three starters. Kasper likes the work ethic and attitude. The concerns are the lack of experience and playing consistently
as a team. Some new faces will have to step up for the recent success to continue. If that happens, the Vikings will be in
the division race, too. Division III Mahanoy Area went out in style last season during Holland’s final year. The
Golden Bears won their first overall league title since 2006. They also won their second consecutive District 11 Class A title
and reached the second round of the PIAA playoffs. Not only is Hudson new, so is the entire starting lineup. The
only starter expected to return was senior point guard Jason Richmond (5.8 ppg), but he tore his ACL early
during football season and likely won’t play at all this winter. Two of the new starters are senior forward Brian
Miller (5.9 ppg) and junior guard-forward Matt Yedsena (4.0 ppg). Miller has had some spot starts
in the past, while Yedsena’s playing time increased as last season went along. Hudson is stressing fundamentals,
and like Holland, defense and patience on offense. Marian is the deepest team in the division and will use it to its
full advantage. Among the key people returning are senior forwards Mike Vercusky (8.0 ppg), Nick
Wesner (3.0) and Chris Weber along with senior guard Matt Karnish (2.8) and sophomore
guard Ethan Kuczynski (5.5). Nativity is coming off its best season since 2007. Other than Yordy, however,
the only other returning starters are senior Dominic Piccioni (3.2 ppg) and senior guard-forward Cullen
Hoppel (4.7 ppg). Piccioni took over for Hoppel when he went down with serious concussion suffered against Tri-Valley
on Jan. 10. Hoppel has fully recovered and will be back in the lineup. The Hilltoppers want to run an up-tempo offense.
They aren’t very deep, however, and their starters will see a ton of minutes. Mahanoy Area Head
coach: Scott Hudson (1st season) Last year: 25-3, 13-0 D-III. Division III champion, Schuylkill League champion, District
11 Class A champion, PIAA Class A second round Returnees: Brian Miller (sr., F-C), Jason Richmond (sr., G, injured)
Matt Yedsena (jr., G-F) Newcomers: Peter Luddy (sr., F), Cody Price (sr., F), Mike Wronski (jr., G), Marcus Styka (jr.,
F), Mike Joseph (soph., G), Randy Derr (soph., F) Outlook: Not only is Hudson replacing a legend, he also has to replace
all five starters. This group of players has had success at the junior varsity level and if that translates to the varsity
level, the Golden Bears will be in the division-title hunt again. Marian Head coach: John Patton
(5th season) Last year: 9-14, 7-6 D-III. District 11 Class A quarterfinalist Returnees: Mike Vercusky (sr., F),
Matt Karnish (sr., G), Chris Weber (sr., F), Nick Wesner (sr., F), Ethan Kuczynski (soph., G) Newcomers: Chris Carmona
(sr., F), Adam Cortes (jr., G), Aaron DeAngelo (jr., F), Hunter Puza (jr., G), John Woitko (jr., G), Ryan Karchner (soph.,
G-F), Brandon Mohammed (soph., F), Ian Myers (soph., F), Kyle Plesh (soph., F) Outlook: The Colts have a ton of depth
with 16 players on the varsity roster. All 16 could play. They don’t have a go-to scorer yet and plan on mixing and
matching lineups each game. The record should improve. Division title contender. Nativity Head coach:
Kevin Kennedy (3rd season) Last year: 17-7, 10-3 D-III. District 11 Class A semifinalist Returnees: Jeff Yordy
(sr., G), Dominic Piccioni (sr., G), Cullen Hoppel (sr., G-F), Sean Greco (sr., F), Travis Hunyara (jr., F-C) Newcomers:
Ayden Adams (jr., G-F), Eric Nelson (jr., C), Simon Petzel (jr., G), Andrew Belding (jr., F) Outlook: Yordy will lead
the Hilltoppers, and the challenge will finding new faces to step into the starting lineup and contribute. Defense and rebounding
will be a key, while the lack of depth might be a concern. Should be in the division running, too. Shenandoah
Valley Head coach: Robbie Miller (5th season) Last year: 5-17, 4-9 D-III Returnees: Ian McCole (jr., G-F),
Noah Allegretta (soph., G) Newcomers: Josh White (jr., F), Julio Cabrera (jr., F), Ricardo Chagolla-Rojas (jr.), Joel
Santana (soph., G), Isaiah Alvarez (soph., F), Bobby Ryan (soph.), Matt Creasy (soph.), Jermaine McNeil (soph.), Noah Raisner
(soph.) Outlook: The Blue Devils are deep and athletic at the guard position. They put a ton of work in during the offseason
and Miller believes it is starting to show. Should be improved, but how many more wins it leads to remains to be seen. Weatherly Head
coach: Ron Cann (8th season) Last year: 5-17, 1-12 D-III Returnees: Luke Reiner (sr., G), Brett Kelly (sr., G),
Nick Miller (sr., G), Luke Figas (jr., G), Dillon Bizarre (jr., C) Newcomers: Gary Buck (jr., F), Zach Moon (fr., G),
Zach Peiser (soph., C) Outlook: The Wreckers return two double-digit scorers in Reiner (11.0 ppg, 30 3-pointers) and
Figas (10.3). There is experience among the starters, but there isn’t off the bench. The first five will see plenty
of minutes. Could make some noise in the division. Tri-Valley League Upper Dauphin The Trojans finished
third in the league last season and reached the District 3 Class A quarterfinals for the second consecutive year. Upper
Dauphin didn’t have much trouble scoring points (56.8 ppg last year) and will be led this season by junior guard Matthew
Miller, the Trojans’ second-leading scorer at 13.4 points per game, including a team-leading 41 3-pointers. Also
back are seniors Joseph Trently (5.3 ppg, 33 3-pointers), Dakotah Wiest and Ted
Calnon, along with junior Alex Uhler (5.9 ppg). Upper Dauphin Head coach:
Anthony Weaver (5th season) Last year: 13-11, 9-7 TVL. District 3 Class AA quarterfinalist Returnees: Joseph Trently
(sr., G), Dakotah Wiest (sr., C), Ted Calnon (sr., G), Matthew Miller (jr., G), Alex Uhler (jr., F), Jordan Gessner (jr.,
G) Newcomers: Maxwell Snyder (jr., G), Kolby Bond (jr., G), Drake Lenker (jr., G), Travis Deitrich (jr., G), Calen Reigner
(jr., F), Andrew Norris (jr., F) Outlook: The Trojans should be able to put the ball in the hoop, with experienced offensive
threats back. There is plenty of depth, too. Size is lacking, so rebounding will be a key. A return trip to the district playoffs
is a strong possibility. Berks League Hamburg The Hawks lost two of their most productive offensive players
to graduation and will look to three returnees — seniors Dan Fink (1.8 ppg) and Nick Schlottman
(6.7) and junior Logan Adams (22 points) — to pick up the slack. Hamburg has some size inside
in 6-6 Jared Lesher (22 points) and 6-7 Quinn Nabozny, and their development could lead
to an improvement for an offense that averaged 38.4 points per game last season. The defense (61.1 points allowed per
game), must improve, too. Berks Catholic, which lost in the league championship game last season to Wilson 43-41, is
one of the Section II favorites again. Conrad Weiser and Fleetwood should be in the mix, too. Hamburg Head
coach: Ryan McGinley (2nd season) Last year: 3-19, 0-10 Berks II Returnees: Dan Fink (sr., G), Nick Schlottman
(sr., G-F), Logan Adams (jr., G) Newcomers: Jared Lesher (jr., F), Lucas Hauck (jr., F), Quinn Nabozny (soph., F) Outlook:
McGinley continues his quest to rebuild the Hawks’ program. New scorers need to step up, while the team needs to continue
to improve in all facets of the game. If that happens, the Hawks could be more competitive and earn a few more victories.
Independent Gillingham Charter The Wolf Pack, who will once again play their home games at the Simon Kramer
Institute in New Philadelphia, are in their third season as a program and still searching for their first victory. Not
only does Gillingham Charter have a new head coach, the Wolf Pack are also playing a 21-game regular-season schedule. They
have also doubled the number of players from seven last year to 14 this winter. Since the program is still fairly new
and a good many of the players are still gaining experience, it was rough most nights last season. Guard-forward Storm
Hutchinson is the only senior, while juniors Isaiah Thompson, Nate Woodling, Blake
Broadhurst and Lake Miller each bring two years of varsity experience. Gillingham
Charter Head coach: Pete Sanfilippo (1st season) Last year: 0-11 Returnees: Storm Hutchinson (sr., G-F),
Isaiah Thompson (jr., G), Nate Woodling (jr., F), Blake Broadhurst (jr., G), Lake Miller (jr., F) Newcomers: Damy Cintron
(jr., G), Enoch Holbert (fr., F), Jetsiel Rivera (fr., F), Jadiel Rivera (fr., G) Outlook: The Wolf Pack are a young
team with only one senior, but do have experience returning. The program has more players than its ever had and will play
a full schedule of games. The hope is to continue to become more competitive, see the program continue to grow and finally
get a win. Schuylkill League Boys’ Basketball 2013-14 Standings DIVISION I Leag. Over. *Pottsville
11-1 24-6 #Blue Mountain 11-1 21-7 North Schuylkill 8-4 16-7 Tamaqua 6-6 13-10 Panther Valley
4-8 10-12 Jim Thorpe 1-11 2-20 Pine Grove 1-11 4-18 DIVISION II *Williams Valley 11-2 19-5 Minersville
10-3 16-8 Tri-Valley 6-7 10-12 Lourdes 3-10 12-12 Schuylkill Haven 0-13 0-22 DIVISION III *Mahanoy
Area 13-0 25-3 Nativity 10-3 17-7 Marian 7-6 9-14 Shenandoah Valley 4-9 5-17 Weatherly 1-12
5-17 Division I tiebreaker Pottsville 51, Blue Mountain 42 League semifinals Mahanoy
Area 49, Blue Mountain 35 Pottsville 56, Williams Valley 30 Championship Mahanoy Area 45, Pottsville 44 District
champions Mahanoy Area (District 11 Class A) State qualifiers Class AAA — Blue Mountain, Pottsville
(reached second round); Class A — Mahanoy Area (reached second round) All games start at 7:30 p.m.
Tide closing in on the 2014-2015 season -Team dedicates offseason for individual improvement Summer League Beginning in June our freshmen, JV, and Varsity teams began competing in our summer
league at Barefield. Our summer league continues to grow and now has a total of 22 teams.
With three teams competing, we have up to 24 players in our program competing each Tuesday and Thursday evening at
our Barefield Complex. Our varsity team was able to compile a 6-6 record in a very competitive Adult league,
which continues to attract the very best adult teams and players within Schuylkill and its’ surrounding counties.
Our JV-A team went undefeated through the Junior Varsity league, while our freshmen ended with a winning record.
We are excited to see our summer league continue to grow and improve each and every year! Skill Development We try to pride ourselves to devoting most of our offseason to skill development. We
feel this is the number one priority for us as a program each offseason. As we get closer to the season,
we will begin to focus more on our system, but the majority of our offseason workouts involve making our players better individually.
Our skill development sessions ran Monday through Thursday mornings at Barefield and focused primarily on dribbling,
passing, and shooting. These skill sessions were often led by Nick Schlitzer and Brandon Bridy, former
star players for the Tide and current college players. Nick also ran his own day camp in July in which
27 players of ours attended. Brandon, along with Saige Spece, another former Tide player who is now playing
at Bloomsburg, helped Nick with the advanced skill development camp. Strength Training One area we noticed
we fell short as a program in comparison to the elite teams in the state last season, was in strength, quickness, and explosiveness.
Our trainer, Dan Slotterback, who is certified in strength training, has our kids training at an all-time high.
Through strength training three days a week in the summer and two days a week during the fall, we feel we are going
to be ready to meet the physical and athletic demands to compete with the very best in the state this year. Team Camp Our Varsity and JV teams returned to the Kutztown AFBE team camp in mid-July. Once
again, the camp provided plenty of competition from teams from the Northeast and abroad. Our Varsity Team
recorded a 9-4 record and lost a close semi-final game. Our JV’s won their division, and did so in
such an impressive fashion, they were moved up to varsity competition for the playoffs. Fundraising Our booster club has had another successful offseason of fundraising. In
the spring, we hosted our AFBE basketball tournament for the 2nd straight
year. In early June, we ran our sticky bun fundraiser, which was used to defer some of the cost for our
beach trip. Once again, we ran our 3 on 3 tournament at Barefield, along with our golf tournament at Hidden
Valley. This year the weather cooperated and we had a great turnout for both! Our last
fundraiser before the season will be the Philadelphia University vs Kutztown University basketball game we our hosting at
Martz Hall. Given the fact we will have two of our former star players participating, we anticipate a large
crowd on November 25th at Martz! Beach Trip to Stone Harbor The summer of 2014 marked the first year for a beach trip for our program. We were
able to take 12 of our junior and senior players on a four day, three night beach trip to Stone Harbor at the end of July.
While the kids were able to enjoy some free time at the beach, we also got some great competition at neighboring Middle
Township High School. Though competing with the Middle Twp current players, as well as former players, who are now playing
collegiately and professionally, our kids were exposed to a great deal of talent.
BOYS' BB: Tide remain unbeaten with rout of WilliamsportBY MIKE CARNAHAN
Published: January 3, 2015 There must be something about facing Williamsport that brings out the best
in Pottsville’s Travis Blankenhorn. The senior guard was almost perfect against the Millionaires on Saturday afternoon.
So were the rest of the Crimson Tide for that matter. Blankenhorn scored 24 points and Eli Nabholz added 18, while the
defense turned in another shutdown performance to lead Pottsville to a 62-32 rout of Williamsport in a non-league contest
at Martz Hall. Blankenhorn tallied a career-high 33 points during the Crimson Tide’s 53-37 win at Williamsport
last season. Blankenhorn’s output Saturday was a season high, beating the 22 he scored against Salisbury on Dec. 20. Blankenhorn
finished the game 10-of-12 from the field, including a 3-for-5 performance from beyond the arc. He scored 19 of his points
in the first half, with 13 coming in the second quarter, as Pottsville (8-0) raced out to a 31-14 halftime advantage. “I
guess my teammates got me open a lot today and I was able to knock my shots down,” Blankenhorn said. Nabholz,
who missed the Crimson Tide’s 77-30 victory over Nativity on Tuesday with a concussion, returned to the starting lineup
Saturday and was a perfect 9-of-9 from the field. He did most of his damage in the second half where he scored 12 points.
Eight came in the third quarter as Pottsville held a 19-5 scoring advantage to take a 50-19 lead and put the game away. “Just
going out and trying to do the same offensive principles: Post up, one pass, back seal and try to get a lob,”
Nabholz said. “There just wasn’t a lot of backside help today, so we got a couple of lay-ups from the passes.” Jordan
Melochick added seven rebounds and four assists for the Crimson Tide, while Blankenhorn had six boards and Connor Hinchliffe
collected five assists. Sophomore Isaiah Hankins led the Millionaires (4-5) with 12 points. Saturday’s victory
was eighth time this season Pottsville won by 15 or more points, and the seventh consecutive game decided by 20 or more points.
It was the perfect tune up for what will be a big three-game stretch for the Crimson Tide, which starts Monday at Tamaqua
(9-1, 3-0 D-I) in a showdown of the two remaining Schuylkill League Division I teams undefeated in the division. Pottsville
then hosts Shamokin (7-2) in a non-game Wednesday and travels to Lehighton (8-1, 2-1) next Saturday. “We haven’t
always been happy after some wins, but we are happy after today,” Pottsville coach Dave Mullaney said. “Williamsport
is a great program and that was a great win for us.” There was plenty to be happy with. Offensively, the
Tide were efficient and patient against Williamsport’s pressure defense, whether the Millionaires were playing man-to-man
or a 1-3-1 zone. Pottsville had tons of looks inside and finished the game 26-for-40 (65 percent) from the field. “We
thought if we handled their pressure and ran our half-court offense that there were going to be openings for us,” Mullaney
said. “For the most part we were able to work inside out.” Pottsville was just as solid on the defensive
end. Williamsport came into Saturday’s game averaging 67.6 points per contest, but struggled against the Crimson
Tide in half court. The Millionaires shot 10-of-41 (24 percent) from the field and turned the ball over 16 times. “They
are definitely (athletic) and they could take us off the dribble,” Blankenhorn said. “One of our keys was to just
kept them in front and if they went backdoor, just have another person to help. We had a lot of help defense.” Pottsville
led 10-7 late in the first quarter before going on a 21-7 run to close the first half. Blankenhorn had all five of the Crimson
Tide’s field goals during the second quarter, including all three of his 3s. His last came with 2 seconds left in the
half when he knocked down a trey from the top of the circle off a pick. Blankenhorn’s first-half shooting opened
up the inside game even more in the third quarter. All of Nabholz’s points in the third came inside the paint, topped
off with a putback with 1 minute to go. Melochick finished off the quarter, scoring on a lay-up with 4 seconds remaining to
make it 50-19. “They pressed a little bit,” Nabholz said. “We weren’t able to get a lot of shots
but all of us got lay-ups in the second half.” Game Summary WILLIAMSPORT (32) — Gosly 1 3-5 5, Scott
3 0-0 6, Thomas 0 0-0 0, Chestnut 0 0-0 0, Peterson 0 1-2 1, Hankins 4 3-3 12, Williams 0 0-0 0, Johnson 0 0-0 0, Carson 0
2-2 2, 1 1-2 4, Ali 0 2-2 2. Totals 9 12-16 32. POTTSVILLE (62) — Hinchliffe 0 2-2 2, Gerchak
0 0-0 0, Painter 1 0-2 2, Blankenhorn 10 1-2 24, Thomas 2 0-1 4, Dunkel 0 0-1 0, Melochick 2 0-0 4, Witman 1 0-0 2, Abdo 1
4-4 6, Nabholz 9 0-0 18, Coyle 0 0-0 0, Renninger 0 0-2 0, O’Pake 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 7-14 62. Wil (4-5) 7 7 5 13 — 32 Pot (8-0) 14 17 19 12 — 62 3-point
FGs: Hankins, Benjamin, Blankenhorn 3 JV score: Pottsville 53-52
Here's how PennLive's ranked boys' hoops teams fared on Wednesday, Dec. 17 Shown in last season's state playoffs, Dave Mullaney's Pottsville Crimson
Tide will play Blue Mountain tonight. (Mark Pynes, PennLive.com)
By Michael Bullock | mbullock@pennlive.com
on December 18, 2014 7:30 AM, updated December 18, 2014 1:58 PM HERE’S HOW PENNLIVE’S RANKED BOYS’ BASKETBALL TEAMS FARED
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17, 2014 CLASS AAA 1. Archbishop Carroll (2-1) —
idle. Next game: Tonight vs. Orlando (Fla.) Oak Ridge at City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. 2. Neumann-Goretti
(2-0) — idle. Next game: Sunday (12-21) vs. Pennsbury at Archbishop Wood. 3. Indiana (7-0)
— defeated Punxsutawney 62-25. Next game: Friday vs. Kittanning. 4. Uniontown (5-0) — idle.
Next game: Tonight vs. Grundy (Va.) at KSA Disney Tournament in Orlando. 5. Susquehanna Twp. (4-2)
— idle. Next game: Friday vs. Palmyra. 6. Imhotep Charter (1-3) — idle. Next game: TBA. 7.
Mars (5-1) — lost to Rock Canyon (Colo.) 82-72. Next game: Tonight vs. Liberty (Nev.) at Tarkanian Classic
in Las Vegas. 8. Pottsville (3-0) — idle. Next game: Tonight vs. Blue Mountain. 9.
Beaver Falls (5-0) — idle. Next game: Friday vs. Ellwood City. 10. Scranton Prep (2-1)
— idle. Next game: Tonight at Wyoming Valley West.
| Year | Wins | Losses | Winning % | | Coach | Schuylkill League Championships | District XI Championships | State
Playoffs | | 2014-2015 | 3 | 0 | 100.00 | | David Mullaney | | | | | 2013-2014 | 24 | 6 | 80.0% | | David Mullaney | Schuylkill
League Runner-Up, | District XI Runner-up District Qualifier | State Qualifier-2nd Round | 2012-2013 | 21 | 6 | 77.7% | | David Mullaney | Schuylkill League Champions | District Qualifier | | | 2011-2012 | 22 | 3 | 88.0% | | David Mullaney | Schuylkill League Champions | District Qualifier | | | 2010-2011 | 25 | 3 | 89.2% | | David Mullaney | Schuylkill League Champions | District Qualifier | State Qualifier | | 2009-2010 | 23 | 5 | 82.1% | | David Mullaney | Schuylkill League Champions | District XI AAA Champions | State Qualifier | | 2008-2009 | 12 | 15 | 44.4% | | David Mullaney | | District Qualifier | State Qualifier | | 2007-2008 | 13 | 12 | 52.0% | | David Mullaney | | District
Qualifier | | | 2006-2007 | 13 | 11 | 54.1% | | Tim Colye | | | | | 2005-2006 | 17 | 9 | 65.3% | | Tim Colye | | | | | 2004-2005 | 13 | 12 | 52.0% | | Tim Colye | | | | | 2003-2004 | 18 | 9 | 66.6% | | Tim Colye | Schuylkill League Champions | | | | 2002-2003 | 9 | 16 | 36.0% | | Tim Colye | | | | | 2001-2002 | 12 | 13 | 48.0% | | John Toomey | | | | | 2000-2001 | 19 | 6 | 76.0% | | John Toomey | | | | | 1999-2000 | 25 | 3 | 89.2% | | John Toomey | Schuylkill League Champions | | | | 1998-1999 | 9 | 17 | 34.6% | | John Toomey | | | | | 1997-1998 | 15 | 9 | 56.0% | | John Toomey | | | | | 1996-1997 | 6 | 18 | 25.0% | | John Toomey | | | | | 1995-1996 | 20 | 7 | 74.0% | | John Toomey | | | | | 1994-1995 | 15 | 12 | 55.5% | | James Steidle | Schuylkill League Champions | | | | 1993-1994 | 12 | 11 | 52.1% | | James Steidle | | | | | 1992-1993 | 21 | 6 | 77.7% | | James Steidle | Schuylkill League Champions | | | | 1991-1992 | 14 | 15 | 48.2% | | James Steidle | | | | | 1990-1991 | 7 | 17 | 29.1% | | James Steidle | | | | | 1989-1990 | 21 | 8 | 72.4% | | James Steidle | | | State Qualifier | | 1988-1989 | 23 | 7 | 76.6% | | James Steidle | Schuylkill League Champions | District XI AAA Champions | State Qualifier | | 1987-1988 | 14 | 12 | 53.8% | | James Steidle | | | | | 1986-1987 | 13 | 13 | 50.0% | | James Steidle | | | | | 1985-1986 | 17 | 10 | 62.9% | | James Steidle | | | | | 1984-1985 | 25 | 2 | 92.5% | | James Steidle | Schuylkill League Champions | District XI AAA Champions | State Qualifier | | 1983-1984 | 29 | 2 | 93.9% | | James Steidle | Schuylkill League Champions | District XI AAA Champions | State Qualifier | | 1982-1983 | 26 | 7 | 78.7% | | James Steidle | Schuylkill League Champions | | | | 1981-1982 | 16 | 12 | 57.1% | | James Steidle | | | | | 1980-1981 | 22 | 9 | 70.9% | | James Steidle | Schuylkill League Champions | | | | 1979-1980 | 23 | 7 | 76.6% | | Charles Funk | Schuylkill League Champions | | | | 1978-1979 | 15 | 12 | 55.5% | | Charles Funk | | | | | 1977-1978 | 15 | 11 | 57.6% | | Kenny Kline | | | | | 1976-1977 | 9 | 14 | 39.1% | | Kenny Kline | | | | | 1975-1976 | 13 | 11 | 54.1% | | Kenny Kline | | | | | 1974-1975 | 18 | 11 | 62.0% | | Kenny Kline | | | | | 1973-1974 | 16 | 7 | 69.5% | | Kenny Kline | | | | | 1972-1973 | 11 | 11 | 50.0% | | Kenny Kline | | | | | 1971-1972 | 7 | 15 | 31.8% | | Kenny Kline | | | | | 1970-1971 | 13 | 9 | 59.0% | | Kenny Kline | | | | | 1969-1970 | 22 | 6 | 78.5% | | Kenny Kline | | | | | 1968-1969 | 15 | 7 | 68.1% | | Kenny Kline | | | | | 1967-1968 | 12 | 10 | 54.5% | | Kenny Kline | | | | | 1966-1967 | 18 | 5 | 78.2% | | Kenny Kline | | | | | 1965-1966 | 14 | 8 | 63.6% | | Kenny Kline | | | | | 1964-1965 | 1 | 21 | 4.5% | | Kenny Kline | | | | | 1963-1964 | 17 | 7 | 70.8% | | Kenny Kline | East Penn League Champions | District Qualifier | State Qualifier | | 1962-1963 | 14 | 8 | 63.6% | | Larry Haberle | | | | | 1961-1962 | 15 | 7 | 68.1% | | Larry Haberle | | | | | 1960-1961 | 9 | 13 | 40.9% | | Larry Haberle | | | | | 1959-1960 | 6 | 15 | 28.5% | | Larry Haberle | | | | | 1958-1959 | 5 | 16 | 24.0% | | Charles Miller | | | | | 1957-1958 | 9 | 12 | 42.8% | | Charles Miller | | | | | 1956-1957 | 16 | 11 | 59.2% | | Charles Miller | | | | | 1955-1956 | 12 | 14 | 46.1% | | Charles Miller | | | | | 1954-1955 | 4 | 20 | 16.6% | | Eddie Deitch | | | | | 1953-1954 | 8 | 13 | 38.0% | | Eddie Deitch | | | | | 1952-1953 | 15 | 7 | 68.1% | | Eddie Deitch | | | | | 1951-1952 | 6 | 16 | 27.2% | | Eddie Deitch | | | | | 1950-1951 | 14 | 8 | 63.6% | | Eddie Deitch | | | | | 1949-1950 | 5 | 17 | 22.7% | | Eddie Deitch | | | | | 1948-1949 | 8 | 15 | 34.7% | | Eddie Deitch | | | | | 1947-1948 | 9 | 12 | 42.8% | | Eddie Deitch | | | | | 1946-1947 | 8 | 14 | 36.3% | | Eddie Deitch | | | | | 1945-1946 | 3 | 16 | 15.7% | | Chester Rogowicz | | | | | 1944-1945 | 16 | 8 | 66.6% | | Chester Rogowicz | | | | | 1943-1944 | 11 | 11 | 50.0% | | Chester Rogowicz | | | | | 1942-1943 | 10 | 7 | 58.8% | | Chester Rogowicz | | | | | 1941-1942 | 22 | 4 | 84.6% | | Al Sadusky | East Penn
League Champions | District XI Champions | | | 1940-1941 | 8 | 14 | 36.3% | | Al Sadusky | | | | | 1939-1940 | 7 | 12 | 36.8% | | Al Sadusky | | | | | 1938-1939 | 3 | 16 | 15.7% | | Al Sadusky | | | | | 1937-1938 | 4 | 14 | 22.2% | | George Dimmerling | | | | | 1936-1937 | 5 | 16 | 23.8% | | George Dimmerling | | | | | 1935-1936 | 10 | 12 | 45.4% | | George Dimmerling | | | | | 1934-1935 | 7 | 14 | 33.3% | | George Dimmerling | | | | | 1933-1934 | 6 | 15 | 28.5% | | George Dimmerling | | | | | 1932-1933 | 7 | 10 | 41.1% | | George Dimmerling | | | | | 1931-1932 | 6 | 11 | 35.2% | | Howard Flack | | | | | 1930-1931 | 5 | 12 | 29.4% | | Howard Flack | | | | | 1929-1930 | 9 | 9 | 50.0% | | Ross Hufford | | | | | 1928-1929 | 5 | 12 | 29.4% | | Charles Williams | | | | | 1927-1928 | 7 | 12 | 36.8% | | Charles Williams | | | | | 1926-1927 | 6 | 17 | 26.0% | | Coach Stevens | | | | | 1925-1926 | 16 | 5 | 76.1% | | Coach Grimmett | | | | | 1924-1925 | 20 | 9 | 68.9% | | Chester Rogowicz | | | | | 1923-1924 | 13 | 10 | 56.5% | | Coach Jacoby | | | | | 1922-1923 | 12 | 17 | 41.3% | | Coach Jacoby | | | | | 1921-1922 | 8 | 4 | 0.0% | | Coach Grube | | | | | 1920-1921 | 12 | 9 | 57.1% | | F.T. Toohey | | | | | 1919-1920 | 1 | 5 | 16.6% | | Coach Wagner | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1906-1907 | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Totals | 1239 | 1014 | 54.9% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Coaches | Wins | Losses | % | | Years | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | David Mullaney | 143 | 50 | 74.0% | | 2007-2014 | | | | | Tim Coyle | 70 | 57 | 55.1% | | 2002-2007 | | | | | John Toomey | 106 | 73 | 59.0% | | 1995-2002 | | | | | James Steidle | 275 | 143 | 65.7% | | 1980-1995 | | | | | Charles Funk | 38 | 19 | 66.6% | | 1978-1980 | | | | | Kenny Kline | 201 | 153 | 56.7% | | 1963-1978 | | | | | Larry Haberle | 44 | 43 | 50.5% | | 1959-1963 | | | | | Charles Miller | 42 | 53 | 44.0% | | 1955-1958 | | | | | Eddie Deitch | 77 | 122 | 38.6% | | 1946-1955 | | | | | Chester Rogowicz | 60 | 51 | 54.0% | | 1942-1946 | | | | | Al Sadusky | 40 | 46 | 46.5% | | 1938-1942 | | | | | George Dimmerling | 39 | 81 | 32.5% | | 1932-1938 | | | | | Howard Flack | 11 | 23 | 32.3% | | 1930-1932 | | | | | Russ Hufford | 9 | 9 | 50.0% | | 1929-1930 | | | | | Charles Williams | 12 | 24 | 33,3% | | 1927-1929 | | | | | Coach Stevens | 6 | 17 | 26.0% | | 1926-1927 | | | | | Coach Grimmit | 16 | 5 | 76.1% | | 1924-1925 | | | | | Coach Jacoby | 25 | 27 | 48.0% | | 1922-1924 | | | | | Coach Grube | 8 | 4 | 66.6% | | 1921-1922 | | | | | F.T. Toohey | 12 | 9 | 57.1% | | 1920-1921 | | | | | Coach Wagner | 1 | 5 | 16.6% | | 1919-1920 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | No Coach | 5 | 2 | | | 1906-1907 | | | | | Totals | 1239 |
1014 | 54.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Nick Schiltzer player of the game. Click on the link below to get a story on
former Pottsville player!
| Team - Offense | Games Played | PF | PPG | | Tamaqua | 10 | 588 | 58.8 | | Pottsville | 10 | 585 | 58.5 | | Blue Mountain | 8 | 461 | 57.6 | | Nativity | 7 | 400 | 57.1 | | Mahany Area | 9 | 505 | 56.1 | | North Schuylkill | 8 | 447 | 55.9 | | Upper Dauphin | 9 | 500 | 55.6 | | Williams Valley | 8 | 422 | 52.8 | | Minersville | 10 | 501 | 50.1 | | Panther Valley | 9 | 435 | 48.3 | | Weatherly | 7 | 319 | 45.6 | | Marian | 9 | 398 | 44.2 | | Hamburg | 10 | 432 | 43.2 | | Jim Thorpe | 10 | 421 | 42.1 | | Shenandoah Valley | 10 | 406 | 40.6 | | Lourdes | 9 | 358 | 39.8 | | Tri-Valley | 10 | 374 | 37.4 | | Pine Grove | 11 | 410 | 37.3 | | Schuylkill Haven | 8 | 248 | 31.0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Team - Defense | Games Played | PA | PPG | | Mahanoy Area | 9 | 292 | 32.4 | | Williams Valley | 8 | 278 | 34.8 | | Pottsville | 10 | 375 | 37.5 | | Minersville | 10 | 386 | 38.6 | | Lourdes | 9 | 352 | 39.1 | | Tamaqua | 10 | 400 | 40 | | North Schuylkill | 8 | 329 | 41.1 | | Blue Mountain | 8 | 338 | 42.3 | | Tri-Valley | 10 | 426 | 42.6 | | Marian | 9 | 411 | 45.7 | | Nativity | 7 | 346 | 49.4 | | Schuylkill Haven | 8 | 428 | 53.5 | | Shenandoah Valley | 10 | 536 | 53.6 | | Panther Valley | 9 | 484 | 53.8 | | Upper Dauphin | 9 | 485 | 53.9 | | Jim Thorpe | 10 | 553 | 55.3 | | Pine Grove | 11 | 640 | 58.2 | | Weatherly | 7 | 409 | 58.4 | | Hamburg | 10 | 595 | 59.5 | | | | | | | | | | | | Team 3-PT. Shooting | Games Played | 3's | 3/GP | | Mahanoy Area | 9 | 64 | 7.1 | | Weatherly | 7 | 42 | 6 | | Pottsville | 10 | 58 | 5.8 | | Upper Dauphin | 9 | 49 | 5.4 | | Panther Valley | 9 | 47 | 5.2 | | Williams Valley | 8 | 40 | 5 | | Tamaqua | 10 | 45 | 4.5 | | Shenandoah Valley | 10 | 42 | 4.2 | | Jim Thorpe | 10 | 40 | 4 | | Blue Mountain | 8 | 30 | 3.8 | | North Schuylkill | 8 | 30 | 3.8 | | Hamburg | 10 | 36 | 3.6 | | Schuylkill Haven | 8 | 29 | 3.6 | | Marian | 9 | 30 | 3.3 | | Minersville | 10 | 32 | 3.2 | | Tri-Valley | 10 | 30 | 3 | | Lourdes | 9 | 25 | 2.8 | | Nativity | 7 | 19 | 2.7 | | Pine Grove | 11 | 16 | 1.5 | | | | | | | Team - Foul Shooting | FTM | FTA | PCT. | | Tamaqua | 85 | 108 | 0.787 | | Blue Mountain | 93 | 129 | 0.721 | | Panther Valley | 117 | 165 | 0.709 | | Pottsville | 95 | 135 | 0.704 | | Williams Valley | 86 | 137 | 0.628 | | Mahanoy Area | 63 | 101 | 0.624 | | Nativity | 73 | 123 | 0.593 | | Pine Grove | 114 | 195 | 0.585 | | North Schuylkill | 81 | 139 | 0.583 | | Upper Dauphin | 81 | 140 | 0.579 | | Hamburg | 70 | 122 | 0.574 | | Lourdes | 69 | 121 | 0.57 | | Marian | 84 | 150 | 0.56 | | Schuylkill Haven | 27 | 50 | 0.54 | | Minersville | 77 | 143 | 0.538 | | Shenandoah Valley | 60 | 112 | 0.536 | | Weatherly | 23 | 44 | 0.523 | | Jim
Thorpe | 59 | 116 | 0.509 | | Tri-Valley | 48 | 97 | 0.495 | | | | | | | | | | | | Individual Scoring | GP | TP | PPG | | Yordy - Nativity | 7 | 177 | 25.3 | | Blankenhorn
- Pottsville | 10 | 206 | 20.6 | | Kosciolek -
Tamaqua | 10 | 203 | 20.3 | | Ney - Upper Dauphin | 9 | 162 | 18 | | D'Agostino - Pine
Grove | 11 | 187 | 17 | | Szczecina - Panther Valley | 9 | 152 | 16.9 | | Manbeck - North Schuylkill | 8 | 126 | 15.8 | | Maskornick - Shenandoah | 10 | 140 | 14 | | Sedesse - Williams Valley | 7 | 94 | 13.4 | | Nabholz
- Pottsville | 10 | 130 | 13 | | McNeil - Mahanoy
Area | 9 | 114 | 12.7 | | Reiner - Weatherly | 6 | 76 | 12.7 | | Rottet - Tamaqua | 10 | 126 | 12.6 | | Rautzhan - Williams Valley | 8 | 101 | 12.6 | | Kisha - Hamburg | 10 | 124 | 12.4 | | Barter - Hamburg | 10 | 115 | 11.5 | | Panchari - Blue Mountain | 8 | 91 | 11.4 | | Storm - Shenandoah | 10 | 108 | 10.8 | | Murray - North Schuylkill | 8 | 86 | 10.8 | | Melochick - Pottsville | 10 | 106 | 10.6 | | Micciche - Jim Thorpe | 10 | 106 | 10.6 | | Chelius - Blue Mountain | 8 | 85 | 10.6 | | Ferryman - Panther Valley | 9 | 94 | 10.4 | | Agosti - Marian | 8 | 92 | 10.2 | | | | | | | | | | | | Individual Scoring - 3 Points | GP | TOT | 3/PG | | Blankenhorn - Pottsville | 10 | 25 | 2.5 | | McNeil - Mahanoy Area | 9 | 20 | 2.2 | | Kelly - Weatherly | 6 | 13 | 2.2 | | Szczecina - Panther
Valley | 9 | 19 | 2.1 | | Rottet - Tamaqua | 10 | 20 | 2.0 | | Reiner - Weatherly | 6 | 12 | 2.0 | | Micciche - Jim Thorpe | 10 | 19 | 1.9 | | Herb - Shenandoah | 8 | 14 | 1.8 | | Trently - Upper Dauphin | 9 | 14 | 1.6 | | Figas - Weatherly | 7 | 11 | 1.6 | | Kisha - Hamburg | 10 | 15 | 1.5 | | Blugis- Schuylkill Haven | 8 | 12 | 1.5 | | Ney - Upper Dauphin | 9 | 13 | 1.4 | | Richmond- Mahanoy Area | 9 | 13 | 1.4 | | Miller - Mahanoy Area | 9 | 13 | 1.4 | | Agosti - Marian | 9 | 12 | 1.3 | | Slane - Blue Mountain | 8 | 10 | 1.3 | | Sedesse - Williams Valley | 7 | 9 | 1.3 | | Miller - Williams
Valley | 8 | 10 | 1.3 | | Stano - Panther Valley | 9 | 11 | 1.2 | | Ferryman - Panther
Valley | 9 | 11 | 1.2 | | St. Hill - Jim Thorpe | 9 | 10 | 1.1 | | Yearsley - Tri-Valley | 10 | 11 | 1.1 | | Miller - Upper Dauphin | 9 | 10 | 1.1 |
60 Game Win Streak | | Against Schuylkill League Opponents | |
| DATE | PLACE | OPPONENT | W/L | STREAK | 1/15/2010 | HOME | Jim Thorpe | | | 1/19/2010 | AWAY | @ Panther Valley | W | 1 | 1/22/2010 | AWAY | @ Blue Mountain | W | 2 | 1/26/2010 | HOME | Tamaqua | W | 3 | 1/29/2010 | AWAY | @ Pine Grove | W | 4 | 2/2/2010 | AWAY | @ Schuylkill Haven | W | 5 | 2/5/2010 | HOME | North Schuylkill | W | 6 | 2/12/2010 | HOME | Panther Valley | W | 7 | 2/9/2010 | AWAY | @ Jim Thorpe | W | 8 | 2/17/2010 | PLAYOFF | Williams Valley-semi finals | W | 9 | 2/19/2010 | PLAYOFF | Marian - Sch League-finals | W | 10 | 2/27/2010 | PLAYOFF | Panther Valley | W | 11 | 3/2/2010 | PLAYOFF | Jim Thorpe | W | 12 |
| |
| | | DATE | PLACE | OPPONENT | W/L | STREAK | 12/21/10 | HOME | Blue Mountain | W | 13 | 12/23/10 | HOME | Pine Grove | W | 14 | 12/28/10 | HOME | Schuylkill Haven | W | 15 | 12/30/10 | HOME | Nativity BVM | W | 16 | 1/4/11 | AWAY | Panther Valley | W | 17 | 1/7/11 | AWAY | Tamaqua | W | 18 | 1/11/11 | HOME | Jim Thorpe | W | 19 | 1/14/11 | AWAY | North Schuylkill | W | 20 | 1/20/11 | AWAY | Blue Mountain | W | 21 | 1/24/11 | AWAY | Pine Grove | W | 22 | 1/27/11 | HOME | Panther Valley | W | 23 | 1/31/11 | HOME | Tamaqua | W | 24 | 2/3/11 | HOME | Jim Thorpe | W | 25 | 2/7/11 | HOME | North Schuylkill | W | 26 | 2/15/11 | PLAYOFF | Marian - Playoff | W | 27 | 2/18/11 | PLAYOFF | Pine Grove - Playoff | W | 28 | 12/20/2011 | AWAY | Blue Mountain | W | 29 | 12/23/2011 | HOME | Pine Grove | W | 30 | 12/27/2011 | AWAY | Schuylkill Haven | W | 31 | 12/29/2011 | HOME | Nativity | W | 32 | 1/4/2012 | AWAY | Panther Valley | W | 33 | 1/6/2012 | HOME | Tamaqua | W | 34 | 1/10/2012 | AWAY | Jim Thorpe | W | 35 | 1/13/2012 | HOME | North Schuylkill | W | 36 | 1/19/2012 | HOME | Blue Mountain | W | 37 | 1/23/2012 | AWAY | Pine Grove | W | 38 | 1/26/2012 | HOME | Panther Valley | W | 39 | 1/30/2012 | AWAY | Tamaqua | W | 40 | 2/2/2012 | HOME | Jim Thorpe | W | 41 | 2/6/2012 | AWAY | North
Schuylkill | W | 42 | 2/14/2012 | HOME | Marian | W | 43 | 2/17/2012 | HOME | Pine Grove | W | 44 | 12/20/202 | HOME | Pine Grove | W | 45 | 12/27/2012 | HOME | Nativity | W | 46 | 1/2/2013 | HOME | Tamaqua | W | 47 | 1/4/2013 | AWAY | Blue Mountain | W | 48 | 1/7/2013 | AWAY | North Schuylkill | W | 49 | 1/10/2013 | Home | Panther Valley | W | 50 | 1/14/2013 | AWAY | Jim
Thorpe | W | 51 | 1/22/2013 | AWAY | Pine Grove | W | 52 | 1/25/2013 | AWAY | Tamaqua | W | 53 | 1/29/2013 | HOME | Blue Mountain | W | 54 | 2/1/2013 | HOME | North Schuylkill | W | 55 | 2/5/2013 | AWAY | Panther Valley | W | 56 | 2/7/2013 | HOME | Jim Thorpe | W | 57 | 2/13/2013 | HOME | Williams Valley Schuylkill League Semi-Final | W | 58 | 2/15/2013 | HOME | Mahanoy Area Schuylkill League Final | W | 59 |
12/19/2013 Away Pine
Grove
W 60
"Coming Soon To Martz Hall - The Pepsi
Zone"
Nick Schlitzer - Philadelphia University
|
DIVISION 1
|
W-L
|
DIVISION 2
|
W-L
|
DIVISION 3
|
W-L
|
|
Pottsville
|
12 - 0
|
Minersville
|
11 - 2
|
Marian
|
10 - 3
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|
Pine Grove
|
10 - 2
|
Tri-Valley
|
10 - 3
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Mahanoy Area
|
9 - 4
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|
Blue Mountain
|
8 - 4
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Sch. Haven
|
4 - 9
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Shenandoah
|
9 - 4
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|
North Schuylkill
|
4 - 8
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Williams Valley
|
4 - 9
|
Nativity
|
4 - 9
|
|
Panther Valley
|
4 - 8
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Lourdes
|
3 - 10
|
Weatherly
|
0 - 13
|
|
Jim Thorpe
|
2 - 10
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tamaqua
|
2 - 10
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Pottsville Republican's Preseason Power Poll - 12/1/2011 #1-Pine Grove (4 - 3) #2-Shenandoah
Valley (4 - 2) #3-Blue Mountain (3-2) #4-Minersville (4-2) #5-Mahanoy Area (8-0) #6-North Schuylkill
(5-1) #7-Pottsville Crimson Tide (8-0) #8-Marian (4-4) #9-Jim Thorpe (5-3) #10-Williams
Valley (2-5) Through Dec. 31 Team W-L Pv. 1. Pottsville 9-0
(7) 2. Mahanoy Area 8-0 5 3. Shen. Valley 5-2 2 4. North Schuylkill 5-2 6 5. Blue Mountain
6-2 3 6. Pine Grove 4-3 1 7. Tri-Valley 5-1 NR 8. Minersville 4-2 4 9. Williams Valley 5-2 10 10.
Jim Thorpe 5-4 9 - Compiled by Mike Carnahan
|
Player
|
Field Goals Made
|
Free Throws Made
|
Free Throws Attempted
|
3 Point Shots
|
Total Points
|
Points Per Game
|
|
Travis Blankenhorn
|
63
|
31
|
|
36
|
193
|
12.06 (16)
|
|
Brandon Bridy
|
68
|
40
|
56
|
10
|
186
|
11.62 (16)
|
|
Shavinski Thomas
|
63
|
21
|
43
|
0
|
147
|
|
|
Ryan Coyle
|
35
|
6
|
15
|
23
|
105
|
6.56 (16)
|
|
Zach Wile
|
29
|
4
|
|
4
|
62
|
3.87 (16)
|
|
Eli Nabholz
|
20
|
8
|
9
|
4
|
52
|
3.25 (16)
|
|
Tyler Heffner
|
|
19
|
30
|
2
|
39
|
2.43 (16)
|
|
Tyler Moser
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
1.33 (6)
|
|
Alex Adams
|
3
|
2
|
9
|
0
|
6
|
|
|
Charlie Schuster
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
0.13 (6)
|
|
Jake Plachko
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.00 (9)
|
|
Team Defense
|
Number Of Games
|
Points
|
|
|
Pottsville
|
18
|
577
|
32.6
|
|
Mahanoy Area
|
|
|
|
|
Blue Mountain
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|
|
|
|
North Schuykill
|
|
|
|
|
Marian
|
|
|
|
|
Minersville
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Williams Valley
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nativity
|
|
|
|
|
Panther Valley
|
|
|
|
|
Lourdes
|
|
|
|
|
Weatherly
|
|
|
|
|
Tri-Valley
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jim Thrope
|
|
|
|
|
Tamaqua
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schuylkill Haven
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number Of Games
|
Points
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minersville
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Williams Valley
|
|
|
|
|
Mahanoy Area
|
|
|
|
|
North Schuylkill
|
|
611
|
50.9
|
|
Pottsville
|
16
|
804
|
50.3
|
|
Lourdes
|
11
|
544
|
49.5
|
|
Blue Mountain
|
12
|
|
48.7
|
|
Tamaqua
|
12
|
583
|
48.6
|
|
Tri-Valley
|
11
|
532
|
48.4
|
|
Jim Thrope
|
13
|
626
|
48.2
|
|
|
13
|
619
|
47.6
|
|
Panther Valley
|
13
|
599
|
46.1
|
|
Hamburg
|
13
|
550
|
42.3
|
|
Marian
|
14
|
590
|
42.1
|
|
Nativity
|
13
|
528
|
40.6
|
|
Weatherly
|
|
420
|
38.2
|
|
Schuylkill Haven
|
12
|
426
|
35.5
|
 |
Tide Finish 2nd at “Shoot for the Cure” Tourney
Five players
from our program recently participated in a basketball tournament at Pleasant Valley High School, on Saturday, October 22.
The tournament, “Shoot for the Cure”, was a fundraiser for the Lucy Fund, a Foundation for Cancer Research.
Three juniors, Brandon Bridy, Ryan Coyle, and Zach Wile, along with two Freshmen, Ty Painter and Eli Nabholz, represented
Pottsville in the event. Along
with Pottsville, seven other teams participated in this year’s tournament. Those teams competing
were: Pleasant Valley, Pocono Mountain East, Notre Dame of East Stroudsburg, Pocono Mountain West, Stroudsburg,
Salisbury, and Wilson Area. The eight teams were divided into two groups and played in a round-robin format. In round-robin play, our team had three convincing
wins over Pleasant Valley, Notre Dame of East Stroudsburg, and Pocono Mountain East. These three wins propelled
us into the championship game. Our opponent in that game, Pocono Mountain West, also was undefeated entering
the final. PM West’s athleticism, strength, and depth proved too much the Crimson Tide as they were
able to pull away in the 2nd half in the Championship Game. We had to settle for 2nd
place. While our goal was obviously to win the tournament,
the players should be very proud of what they were able to accomplish. With limited varsity experience,
these players were not only able to play with, but also able to beat some of the larger and better programs in Eastern Pennsylvania.
The dedication in the gym and in the weight room that these players have displayed throughout the fall was evident
in this tournament. 2011
- 2012 Season Preview As the 2011 - 2012 season approaches, there are some glaring holes that need to be filled on Pottsville's
roster. Gone are seniors Casey Guers, Andrew Korrubin, Bobby Schappell, and Nick Schlitzer. Last year's senior class was responsible
for one of the most successful runs in Pottsville history. THEY RECORDED A 48 - 8 RECORD OVER THE PAST TWO SEASONS. They also
made three straight state playoff appearances, won two Schuylkill League Titles, and captured a District XI AAA Title. The
biggest shoes to fill will be those of Nick Schlitzer. A four year stater, Schiltzer left as the school's all-time leading
scorer. Also gone is first team all-area selection Bobby Schappell. With the senior's departures, also goes about 70% of the
scoring from last year's team. If losing three starters wasn't enough , the fall sports season also took it's toll on the
roster. Junior Bobby Witman and Senior Jake Tobin were lost for the season with knee injuries. We're all pulling for these
two to make full recoveries. Jake is hopeful to make it back for this baseball season and fortunately Bobby, only a junior,
should make a full recovery for next season. The recent graduates and recent injuries leave the Tide with several question
marks coming into the 2011 - 2012 campaign. With the roster
impacted by graduation and injury, others will have their opportunities to vie for minutes. Even with the injuries the Tide
should have plenty of talent to have a successful season. While tryouts have not been held, the program anticipates most players
returning from last year's squad. Four seniors will complete for playing time. Senior guard Tytle Heffner is one of two returning
starters for this season. Seniors Alec Adams, Ryan Miske, and Shavinskin Thomas will also be called upon to be leaders.
Junior point guard Brandon Bridy is the other of the two starters returning from last year. Bridy will be joined by fellow
juniors Ryan Coyle, Jake Plachko, Charlie Schuster, and Zach Wile. This program will also be counting on some of its younger
talent from the freshman and sophomore classes to contribute to the Varsity team. The staff is hopeful that some newcomers
will try out and be skilled enough to make this year's basketball team as well. The coaching staff won't have much time to get this new look group playing well together. The
six games prior to Christmas will be daunting. A home game against District 4 power Danville will open the season. That will
be followed by a road trip to Wilson West Lawn, one of only three teams to beat the Tide last season. After Hamburg visits
Pottsville, the Tide travel to rival Shamokin. Shamokin returns most of its talent and should be a tough test for the Crimson
Tide. The team then begins Schuylkill League play with games against two preseason Division I favorites, Blue Mountain and
Pine Grove. One thing is for sure, the team will be tested come the New Year! The goals for the team remain the same: make it to the Schuylkill League playoffs, win the Schuylkill League championship, and find their way back to the PIAA state playoffs for a fourth straight
year.
Tide Finish Productive
2011 Summer Our team recently completed our summer
program. The basketball program had it's most productive summer since the new coaching staff took over four years ago! Our
staff was extremely pleased with the dedication and effort exhibited by the players throughout the program. Through competing
in summer leagues, attending workouts, and participating in camps, we feel our players have improved greatly over the last
three months. It's been another positive step in taking our program to the next level! As you'll read, our program prides
itself on providing opportunities for our players to develop in the offseason. The offseason began with our Tuesday and Thursday night workouts in the spring. In May, we participated in the Hamburg
summer League. We competed with teams from Schuylkill and Berks counties. Many younger players were able to get their first
taste of Varsity basketball and really competed! With a very talented group lost to graduation, this summer league also allowed
our new upperclassmen their first chance to show they could be leaders on a Varsity basketball team. They did so
and our team was able to win a majority of our contests. June
began with our First Alumni Day. Four Teams participated in a round-robin format and then into a single elimination tournament.
Over the past 16 years, our program has been lead by three Head Coaches: John Toomey, Tim Coyle, and Dave Mullaney. Alumni
played for the coach in which they played for in high school. The Fourth Team that participated was our current varsity team.
Games were extremely spirited, which led to a great day for our program. It was a pleasure to see all the former players back
at Martz Hall! Team Coyle, consisting of the graduating players from 2002 through 2007, came away with the title. We believe
this event will continue to grow and plan on holding it annually. Early
June was again time for our "Give & Go" camp. This year's camp was a huge success! We had over 100 campers (comprised
of many Pottsville kids along with campers from neighboring schools) participate in camp this summer. Assistant Varsity Coach
John Toomey has developed one of the finest camps in the state and this year was no different. The staff did a great job and
the players had a great experience. With school being out,
we moved our team summer workouts to Tuesdays and Thursday mornings. These workouts focused on skill development and learning
of our system, and concluded with our weightlifting program. Along with our team workouts, individual skill workouts were
also run by our former player Nick Schlitzer. These workouts primarily focused on ball handling and shooting and were
held at our Barefield Recreation Complex each Monday and Wednesday morning. Several 8th and 9th grade players were dedicated
to this program along with a few upperclassmen. Our program also benefitted by a number of our players attending
Hoopfest at JFK with our 8th grade coach, Mr. Scott Reichert. The
summer months also initiated our other summer leagues. Our Junior Varsity competed in eight games at Marian High School, under
JV Coach Tom McGeoy. Our Varsity began its' third season in the Adult League at Barefield, which continued into
August. The Varsity had its' finest showing in the three years of the league. We demonstrated we can be competitive with the
best adult players and teams in our area. Finally, our younger players entering 3rd through 8th grade competed in the third
year of Junior High Laegue at Barefield. About 40 players participated in this summer league, which was held on Tuesdays and
Thursday mornings. From July 17th through July 21st our JV's
and Varsity competed at AFBE team camp in Kutztown. We were able to take 18 players from our program thanks to a major contribution
from our booster club. Our teams were up against some daunting schedules playing against teams from Maryland, New Jersey,
Long Island, Philly, and France! Our Varsity, under Coaches John Toomey and Dave Mullaney, competed in the Upper Varsity Division
against Quad A level schedule and finished with a record of 7 wins and 6 losses and winning our playoff pool defeating the
French in our final. Our JV's also had a good week, winning enough to be placed in the highest playoff pod. They eventually
lost an extremely close game to a team from France. One of
our last events for the summer was our Charles D. Shields 3 on 3 Tournament held at Barefield on Saturday July 23. Over
30 teams participated in a variety of divisions for boys and girls. Our program was represented by 39 boys from second grade
through twelfth grade. The tournament continues to grow and is a hugh fundraiser for our program. We plan on having an even
larger turnout next year! I would like to thank the other members
of our coaching staff, our parents' boosters, and all our former players who helped us have a tremendous summer. In particular,
the program would like to thank Craig Shields. Craig has been instrumental in fundraising and making all our summer activities
at Barefield possible. The Barefield Recreation Complex has become an intregal part of what we do as a program and has become
home to us in the summer. Thanks again to all who made this
very busy summer, a great one!!
Coach Mullaney
November 14, 2011 Schlitzer named CACC men’s basketball rookie
of the weekNEW HAVEN, Conn – Philadelphia University forward Nick Schlitzer garnered the 2011-12 season's first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) men's basketball rookie of the week award
by the league office Monday. In his collegiate debut, Schlitzer recorded 28 points, on 10-of-15 shooting and 7-of-8
from three-point range, and 11 rebounds. At halftime of the Rams' 84-78 loss to Kutztown Saturday night, Schlitzer had already
racked up 17 points and 10 boards. Philadelphia (0-1) opens its home schedule against West Chester University Tuesday,
Nov. 15 at 8 p.m.
November 15, 2011 Rams
pull away to defeat West Chester, 71-59PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Five Rams
recorded double-figure point totals as the Philadelphia University men's basketball team knocked off visiting West Chester
University, 71-59, in a non-conference contest Tuesday night in the Gallagher Center. Guard Nick Schlitzer poured in a game-high 23 points to lead the Rams (1-1). He connected on four three-point attempts and went 11-of-12 from
the free throw line. Guard Nick Christian recorded 16 points and seven rebounds. Forward Corey Francisco added 12 points, while guard Stephen Griffin had 10 points, a team-high eight rebounds and five assists. Center Temi Adebayo had a double-double with 10 points and a career-high 10 blocked shots. Guard Jon Breeden paced the Golden Rams (1-1)
with 19 points. Forward Khalif Foster had a game-high 11 rebounds. Philadelphia shot 42.3 percent (22-of-52) for the
game, including a percentage of 46.4 percent (13-of-28) in the second half. West Chester hit on 33.3 percent (23-of-69) of
its attempts. The Rams shot 80.8 percent (21-of-26) from the charity stripe, while West Chester was 8-of-10. Philadelphia
outrebounded West Chester, 41-38. With the score tied at 45, Schlitzer knocked down two free throws to put Philadelphia
ahead 47-45 with 12:49 left. The Rams would not relinquish the lead. Philadelphia got away late by going on a 13-5 over a
7:26 span to turn a two-point lead into a 64-54 advantage with just 1:49 to go. The teams battled to a 32-all draw in
a first-half that featured seven lead changes and seven ties. Both teams held a six-point lead in the opening 20 minutes. Philadelphia
returns to action Saturday, Nov. 19 with a visit to UMass-Lowell. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.
November 12, 2011 Schlitzer’s double-double
not enough as Philadelphia falls to Kutztown, 84-78KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Guard
Nick Schlitzer recorded a double-double in his collegiate debut, but it was Kutztown University pulling off an 84-78 win over Philadelphia
University Saturday night at Keystone Arena in the season opener for both schools. Schlitzer shot extremely well, 10-of-15
from the field and 7-of-8 from three-point range, to finish with a game-high 28 points. He also led everyone with 11 rebounds. Center
Temi Adebayo added 22 points by shooting 10-of-12. Adebayo, Division II's top shot blocker last season, blocked five shots. Guard Nick Christian added 11 points and six assists. Kutztown (1-0) had four players in double figures led by Nate Edwards' 23 points.
Micah Fraction had a double-double consisting of 18 points and 10 assists. Devon McBride netted 19 points, while Mike John
had 14. The Rams (0-1) were the better shooting team from the floor overall, 57.9 percent (33-of-57) to 42.9 percent
(24-of-56), but the Golden Bears did more damage from beyond the arc, 52.4 percent (11-of-21) to 44.4 percent (8-of-18). Philadelphia
outrebounded Kutztown, 33-28. The Rams held a 12-point lead (65-53) with 10:29 minutes left to play. Kutztown went on
an 18-5 run, capped by a McBride three-pointer, in a span of four minutes to cut the margin to 71-70. The Golden Bears
took a 74-73 advantage with 5:14 left on a John basket. After Schlitzer drilled his seventh three-pointer with 2:13 to go
to cut the Rams' deficit to 77-76, the Golden Bears put the game away, hitting seven of their final eight free throw attempts. Philadelphia
trailed early on 14-4. The Rams recovered midway through the first half by going on a 13-0 run to take a nine-point lead at
32-23 with 5:09 left in the half. At the half, Philadelphia led 40-33. Philadelphia hosts West Chester University for
its home opener Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 8 p.m.
All-Anthracite boys basketball teams | |
| |
45th All-Anthracite
Boys Basketball Team
First team
Andrew Andreychik, 6-0 junior, Danville:
Guard averaged 14.1 points per game with 61 3-pointers for PIAA Class AAA qualifier. Chris Barletta, 6-0 senior,
Marian: Guard averaged 16.5 points per game to lead high-scoring Colts to District 11-A title. Brady Burke, 6-5
senior, Pine Grove: Averaged nearly 15 points per game for PIAA Class AA quarterfinalist. Third team All-State selection. Zac Hoy, 5-9 senior, Mifflinburg: Repeat selection. Guard averaged 17.5 points per game for Wildcats, who won Heartland
I and District 4-AAA championships. Nick Schlitzer, 6-5 senior, Pottsville: Player
of the Year. Repeat selection. Averaged more than 20 points per game for Schuylkill League champion and PIAA Class AAAA qualifier.
Player of the Year: Nick Schlitzer, Pottsville
Coach of the
Year: Eldon Hoy, Mifflinburg Second team Kieran Kelley, 6-1 junior, Shamokin Zach Malett,
6-0 senior, Southern Columbia Mike Marciniak, 6-5 senior, Line Mountain Corey Murtha, 6-4 senior, Mifflinburg Larry Zimmerman, 5-10 junior, Pine Grove Third team Josh Dombrosky, 6-5 junior Shenandoah Valley Tanner Harmon, 5-10 senior, Central Columbia Steve Normington, 6-3 senior, Lewisburg Tyler Pratt,
5-9 junior, Shikellamy Bobby Schappell, 5-9 senior, Pottsville
|
| | | Crimson Tide's Schlitzer repeats
as top player | |
| By Evan Jones Reading Eagle correspondent
| |
| Courtesy of Republican Herald: David McKeown Nick Schlitzer averaged more than 20 points per game for Schuylkill League champion Pottsville.
|
Pottsville has had a long history of success in boys basketball. In the 1980s Chris Nabholz dominated courts in the Lower Anthracite Region, leading the Crimson Tide to glory on the district
level, and held the program's career points record for more than two decades. A tremendous multi-sport athlete, baseball was
Nabholz's main game and he went on to a career in the majors. Fast-forward 25 years and Pottsville continues to
be a force in the Region. After this season, the Crimson Tide finished a run that included three trips to the
PIAA Tournament; championship, runner-up and third-place finishes in District 11; and two consecutive Schuylkill League championships. In the middle of it all was Nick Schlitzer. The 6-5 senior, the Reading
Eagle All-Anthracite Boys Basketball Player of the Year for a second consecutive season, finished his career with 1,884
points, passing Nabholz in January. This winter, he again averaged more than 20 points per game and took pride
in the fact that he also had lofty rebounding and assist totals, as well. In fact, he couldn't go long without
mentioning a teammate when reviewing his playing career. He said he was especially pleased with making states after
the program moved up to Class AAAA this year. "I'm proud," Schlitzer said after the Tide was eliminated
by Neshaminy in the first round of states. "We did a lot with this group." Bobby Schappell and Casey
Guers also will graduate and they became better players with Schlitzer, who in turn, became a better player because of them. The rest of the team worked to be just like them. "Nick and Bobby have meant everything to the program,"
Tide coach Dave Mullaney said. "Those two guys are the biggest reasons for all of our wins. They're amazing kids; they're
perfectly coachable. "We have 17 other kids that try to be just like them. That turned our program around." Schlitzer will continue his playing career at Division II Philadelphia University under Hall-of-Fame coach Herb Magee.
|
Rising high Nick Schlitzer's basketball idol is Gerry McNamara. Schlitzer
was in third grade when he went to Martz Hall in March 2002 to see McNamara, then a senior at Bishop Hannan, score 55 points
during a PIAA Class AA semifinal state playoff game against Trinity. "It was just unbelievable," Schlitzer
said. "After that, I followed his career the whole way up." Though Schlitzer never scored that many points
in a game during his four years at Pottsville, he's certainly done his best to emulate McNamara, who went on to Syracuse University
and helped the Orange win a national title in 2003. When it comes to scoring points in the Schuylkill League, Schlitzer
has had no equal the past two years. An elite player entering this season, Schlitzer went to new heights in 2010-11. For
his performance, Schlitzer is The Republican-Herald All-Area Boys' Basketball Player of the Year for the second consecutive
season. This past year, Schlitzer led the league in scoring with 589 points, a 21.0 average per game, and became the
Crimson Tide's all-time leading boys' scorer, finishing with 1,884 career points. He helped lead Pottsville to a 25-3 record,
a second straight Schuylkill League championship and a trip to the PIAA Class AAAA state playoffs, the Tide's third consecutive
state playoff appearance. Coach of the Year honors go to Pine Grove's David Archer. In two years, the energetic
Archer has turned the Cardinals around. Pine Grove was 10-36 in the two years before Archer arrived, but the Cards have gone
35-17 since then, including a 23-6 record this season. Pine Grove reached the Schuylkill League championship game for
the first time since 2004, played for its first District 11 Class AA title since 2004 and reached the PIAA playoffs for the
first time since 2005. Once there, the Cardinals beat West Catholic 45-44 and Hughesville 57-44 before bowing out to Communications
Tech 47-40 in the quarterfinals. Schlitzer the complete player Schlitzer is a relentless worker. He normally
shows up 30-45 minutes before practice and stays 15-30 minutes after to work on shooting. Tide coach Dave Mullaney estimates
Schlitzer will take around 400 shots between pre- and post-practice sessions, plus the shooting he gets in during practice
itself. All that work made Schlitzer a complete offensive player. It's also given him the confidence to put the ball
in the hoop despite knowing night in and night out he would be the focus of opposing defenses. "You just have
to go out and figure out where you can be successful against a defense, whether that's in transition, in the half court, breaking
down guys off the dribble, coming off screens," Schlitzer said. "It's kind of something you have to figure out during
the game and then try to exploit it." This past season, Schlitzer had 198 field goals, including 48 3-pointers,
and was 145-of-184 (79 percent) from the foul line. He reached double figures in 27 of the Tide's 28 games, scored 20 or more
points in 15 games, and 30 or more in four, including a career-high 35 against Emmaus on Feb. 12 at Martz Hall. But
just scoring points isn't what drives Schlitzer. He's wanted to become the best player he could be so the Tide could win.
He really didn't have any individual goals entering the season, instead focusing on team pursuits. "First of all
we wanted to win leagues and get back into the state playoffs in Quad-A," Schlitzer said. "Those were our two goals
the whole year and we got to them." And what did becoming Pottville's all-time leading boys' scorer mean to him? "It
wasn't as much as important as getting there," Schlitzer said. "It was neat looking back because it was a team accomplishment
just with all Coach did to help me get there. You look at all my teammates and how unselfish they were and how they helped
get there is what makes it so special." In his final game at Martz Hall, Schlitzer scored 24 points and hit the
game-clinching free throw in Pottsville's 51-49 victory over Pine Grove to win the Schuylkill League title. But it
was in the district playoffs where Schlitzer and the Tide left their mark. He scored 27 as Pottsville knocked off Nazareth
60-56 in the quarterfinals. After losing to Liberty in the semis, Schlitzer poured in 21 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter
as the Tide came from behind to down top-seeded Pocono Mountain West 59-53 in overtime in the consolation game to qualify
for states. Schlitzer, who is headed to Philadelphia University to play for Hall of Fame coach Herb Magee, will certainly
be remembered for his scoring ability. However, he hopes his legacy is not only continuing a winning tradition for the Tide
but also setting it up for future success.
44th
All-Anthracite Boys Basketball Team FIRST TEAM Steve Ennis, 5-11 senior, North Schuylkill Hard-working
guard led Schuylkill League in scoring at 21 points per game and had Spartans back in playoffs. Had a season-high 41 points
in win over Palmerton. Brent Forbes, 6-3 senior, Shamokin Forward showed his versatility by averaging 17.6 points
and 12.5 rebounds per game. Zac Hoy, 5-9 junior, Mifflinburg Athletic guard averaged 15.3 points per game as Wildcats
won Heartland Conference Division I and advanced to second round of PIAA Class AAA Tournament. Nick Schlitzer,
6-4 junior, Pottsville Guard averaged more than 20 points per game despite being heavily guarded as Crimson Tide won Schuylkill
League and District 11-AAA championships. Repeat selection. Matt Yaich, 6-4 senior, Marian Forward averaged 14.3
points per game as the Colts won District 11-A and advanced to the second round of states. Player of the Year:
Nick Schlitzer, Pottsville Coach of the Year: Dave Mullaney, Pottsville
Here's the
2005-06 All-Anthracite Boys Basketball Team: Second team
Matt Bird, Danville, 6-3 senior forward
Keith Fogel, Mifflinburg, 5-11 junior guard
Marty Foss, Schuylkill Haven, 6-5 senior forward
Colin Klebon, Southern
Columbia, 6-5 freshman forward
Jake Wartella, Pottsville, 5-10 senior guard
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