uopdated 2/3/08

Ideas for LL playoffs.

 

Great article from Jason G from the New Era. on the LL play-offs. .Basically, he stated that the LL were not putting the top teams in the play-offs. I believe he is correct. I have a proposal to keep the 4 sections and reward the top teams..Let's call it section champs plus 2. Here are my thoughts. Allow all 4 section winners to compete. Ties for section would be played off just as it is now. Take the top 2 percent teams from section 1 and 2 and the top 2 % teams from section 3 and 4 to complete the 8 team race. This year it would mean  as it currently stand that Crest and Hemp would be in from section 1 and 2 top %.  In the section 3 and 4 Lanc. Cath. Columbia and M Central would be in. The cross over games would mean a lot. If Section 2 has 2 good teams and beats Section 1 teams, then they probably deserve to be in LL. the problem will occur when 2^nd place teams in different sections have the same %. I would be in favor or playing them off. The LL ends on a Wed this week with the LL starting Tues. I would think a playoff game on Thurs. or Friday to determine the winner would be acceptable to most coaches, fans, and players. By the way last year (2007) TWP, PM and Warwick would have tied..We must get rid of the mini bracket tie breaker. Who would not loved to see PM, TWP and Warwick play to get in? I would think the LL officials would be happy with a near sell-out for the Columbia/Lanc. Cath game. Imagine the money generated by playing off ties? J

 

The LL has finally switched different nights for boys and girls. Good move—Llhoops has been pushing that idea for years.:)

 

LL breakdown

 

McCaskey (19-4)  vs. MC (15-8).

We have the LL's top scorers in this game. Jordon Gatchell from MC and Lamar Patterson from McCaskey. McCaskey scores in bunches. Central is content on a lower scoring game. Look for MC to try to slow the game down and McCaskey to try to speed it up..

 

By the numbers..

 

Mc is avg. 56 ppg..and giving up 50. Top scorers are Jordon Gatchell @22.6 ppg. and Zach Gatchell @ 10 ppg.. 70% foul shooting as a team.

 

McCaskey..top scorers Lamar Patterson at 20.3 ppg.Leonatae Turner and Jamaal Parker at 10 ppg..McCaskey is avg. 72 ppg. and giving up 56.  65% as a team foul shooting.

 

Columbia(22-2) vs. Etown(14-9).

 

The Etown Bears have been this years rags to riches story. Long time Etown assistant and community fixture, Kevin Dolan, guided the Bears into the LL playoffs after a slow start. The Bears are in the LL for the 2^nd time in 3 years. Columbia won a playoff game vs. Lancaster Cath to claim a Section 4 title. The Tide will be top seed in the District three AA tournament.  Both teams can score points so this maybe a high scoring affair.

 

By the numbers

Columbia avg. 73ppg and giving up 48.5. The tide is lead by 2 1000-point scorers, Mike Seibert 17 ppg and Adam Pittman at 20 ppg. Team foul shooting is  68%

 

Etown Nathan Koach and Quinn Cozzens led the Bears avg 13 ppg each. Etown is avg. 58 ppg and giving up 54%.  Etown is 70% as a team in foul percentage.

 

Lanc. Cath.(17-7) Vs CV (14-8)

 

Lanc. Cath is in familiar territory as it seems they are ALWAYS in the LL. The Crusaders find ways to win the first round games. However it's the first time that LCath comes into the LL as NOT the section champ. CV played in the LL last in 2005. First year coach, Brad Herr,  has done a fine job getting the Bucks to blend together and learn a new system. Their record in the past 7 games is 6-1 with the only loss being to Etown on the road. Lanc. Cath beat CV in a an earlier game at the Warwick Christmas tournament. Lancaster Cath. Has the tallest player in 6'8" Dan O'Leary , while the Bucks have a very balanced attack with 3 players in double figures and another one not far behind.

 

By the numbers.

Lanc Cath. Is avg 60 and giving up 53 ppg. Dan O'Leary and Sweigart lead the Crusaders with 13ppg and 12 ppg respectively. LCHS is a 61% foul shooting team.

 

CV.. Dan Kreider and Jerremy Skolada come in at 14 ppg while Joe Fuller is scoring 13 ppg. CV is avg 57 ppg and giving up 57 ppg (this points to a lot of close games). The Bucks are 72% foul shooting team.

 

Hempfield (17-6) vs. Lebanon (15-8)

 

Both teams have name recognition. The Cedars and the Knights have been in the LL over 15 times each- check out archives on llhoops.com main page J. Craig Colletti coached his almamater to a section 3 crown in his first season as the Cedars head coach. Warren Goodling has been around for how long J Coaching Goodling guided the workmen like Knights to a runner-up place in Section 1. The Knights gave top seed McCaskey 2 great games during the year. Lebanon will use a variety of defenses and its speed. The Knights can go slow or fast and usually depend on the man def. The Knights are 10-1 in their last 11 games. The Cedars beat Hempfield in OT in the second game of the season.

 

By the numbers

Hempfield..avg. 55 ppg and giving up 44. Top scorers are Jordon Stewart at 14 ppg and Eddie Gailor and Marc Kreider at 11ppg. foul shooting as a team would be 70%.

 

Lebanon..avg. 58ppg and giving up 55. Tops scorers are Tyler Spancake at 16 ppg and James Capello at 14ppg. The Cedars are a 66% foul shooting team.

 

District brackets

 

http://district3.piaa.org/

 

Fan me...Blame it on the Cameron Crazies? J We want fans to sit on their hands and politely clap when their team does something well. No standing, face painting and group cheering? Please...What other sport has a no standing rule? Go ahead think about that! J

 

I have had the opportunity to attend about 10 games at Duke in recent years. Not once have I heard or seen profanity directed towards players as a group cheer. Well, the "Go to H!@# Carolina" is the exceptionJ  They are loud and organized and have some witty chants. At other schools, the chants of Duke Sucks or Fuke Duck t-shirts abound.

I have to say that face painting never affected a game in anyway.

I have witnessed this year fans sections thrown out of games. I have seen a technical get called on the fans - I talked to several refs about that.

The LL league is cracking down on mean fan behavior and I don't think you'll find anyone opposed to removing students who make remarks disrespecting  a team or players. However, standing during a game, cheering, face painting takes it all too far. As the LL participates in the districts, there are no such rules. As kids stop coming to games, we'll have less interest, less school spirit, and less coverage of games. Isn't it funny that the "big games" are the ones that are packed..The players, refs, and coaches are all into it? Isn't this the reason we moved the playoffs out of Hershey- not enough money to pay the bills?

 

As a coach, I never heard what the other fans were chanting or cheering about during the games. I'm sure most coaches will tell you the same thing.

I believe each school knows which students cause trouble. I watched as a ref had security remove a kid from the game the other day. I think that is the way it should be dealt with.

 

I coached at a freshmen game the other night at Hempfield. Some of the students were painted and had HEMPFIELD spelled out. They had a great time. Fun to see the fans get into it. The principal was there to keep them on a positive track. Fun for all.

 

The bottom line is that I believe it is ok to crack down on bad behavior, but let's not go crazy and hurt school spirit and discourage fans from coming to games and supporting their teams.

 

 

Books..Gordie Jones has a great book out on the 1983 Sixers. Gordie was the LL beat writer for the Intel for many years. He now writes for the Allentown Morning Call. Gordie covers colleges and pro teams.

 

Tales from the Philladelphia 76ers by Pat Williams and Gordie Jones. The book can be found at most books stores and on Amazon.com

 

 

Enjoy the playoffs.

 

Dell Jackson