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PENNSYLVANIA STATE RATINGS

FINAL RATINGS

March 24, 2008

1. Chester (33-1) (District 1 AAAA)

The Clippers won their sixth state championship with an 81-77 win over Norristown. The one sad note here is that after the game coach Fred Pickett told his players he was stepping down as head coach. He will be sorely missed by anyone who ever was in contact with him. As for the game it was a rematch of the District 1 final, but the Clippers broke out fast leading 17-2 early and as much as 21pts in the third quarter but then made some bad decisions and had to hold off the fast charging Eagles down the stretch. Karon Burton led with 24pts, 7assists, Russell Johnson had 18pts, 12rebs, Nasir Robinson had 14pts, 15rebs, 5assists, Kevin Green-Germany had 11pts and Rahlir Jefferson scored 8pts. Chester opened the state tournament with a 67-59 win over Williamsport. Then defeated Harrisburg 61-51, Penn Wood 68-60 and Pennsbury 75-64.

2. Norristown (32-2) (District 1 AAAA)

The Eagles opened state tournament play with a 63-56 win over Philadelphia John Bartram, then defeated Mechanicsburg 66-50, Philadelphia Southern 71-44 and Moon 52-33 to set up a rematch of the District 1 championship game against Chester for the state championship. In the final 81-77 loss to Chester, Khalif Wyatt had 6treys and scored 28pts, Maurice Briggs had 18pts and 15rebs and James Ramsey added 10pts. Norristown had four underclassmen in their lineup and should be a big threat next year.

3. Pennsbury (30-3) (District 1 AAAA)

The Falcons advanced to the state semifinals with wins over Red Land 61-55, Bethlehem Liberty 69-54 and Ridley 45-40 before losing to Chester 75-64. With Dalton Pepper and a whole host of others returning, Pennsbury should make another deep run next year.

4. Reading (30-1) (District 3 AAAA)

Red Knights became first team in schools storied history to win 30-consecutive games when they won their 19th District championship (18 in District 3 and one in District 1). Then came out overconfident in first round of states and were upset by Souderton 66-58. In 30-years of rating, we never dumped a team who had a great season because of one upset (and we had plenty) so there was no reason to do it this time Jermaine Jackson will play for Rider next year and Jordan Burdine is being courted by such schools as Duquesne. Four key players return so they should be strong again next year and should build from this team.

5. Philadelphia Roman Catholic (19-6) (Philadelphia Catholic League)

In the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament in Cumberland, Maryland, Roman fell to Baltimore St. Frances, MD 95-86 in overtime in the first round. Maalik Wayns led with 25pts, Aaron Brown had 20pts, Courtney Stanley had 15pts and Rakeem Brookens added 13pts. Came back and beat the host school, Cumberland Bishop Walsh, MD 69-51 as Wayns led with 18pts. Will Kirkland had 15pts, Brookens had 12pts and Stanley 10pts. Then took 5th place when they used a 52-31 second half and beat Batlimore Mount St. Joseph’s, MD 74-66. Wayns led again with 32pts and Brookens had 18pts. Maalik Wayns made First Team All-Tournament.

6. Steelton-Highspire (28-6) (Distict 3 AAA)

Won their sixth overall state title when they avenged the loss to Susquehanna Township in district final and made it 2-1 vs. the Indians with a 65-62 victory. Josh Proctor led the Rollers with 20pts, 13rebs, Ryan Hill had 15pts, Jeff Davis added 9pts and 13rebs for the AAA state champs. To get to the state final the Rollers rolled past Johnstown 71-33, Hershey 71-51, Bradford 72-41 and General McLane 58-43.

7. Jeannette (25-4) (District 7 WPIAL AA)

The Jayhawks won their first ever PIAA state championship just after the same players won two consecutive football state championships. They had to come from behind in the fourth quarter and go overtime to defeat favorite, Philadelphia Strawberry Mansion 76-72 for the win. Terrell Pryor led with 23pts, 8rebs and 5blks. Shawn Sunder had 21pts, 9rebs, Jordan Hall had 16pts and Moziah Harris added 10pts. To reach the final, Jeannette defeated Kane 83-41, Girard 67-35, Pittsburgh North Catholic 86-60 and North East 75-66.

8. Susquehanna Township (32-3) (AAA)

The Indians made it to the state final, where they lost to Steelton-Highspire 65-52 by beating Dallas 54-36, Great Valley 54-33, Philadelphia Communications Tech 57-44 and Scranton Prep 61-52. Matt Jones scored 13pts and Tajh Turner had 11pts in the loss to Steel-High.

9. Philadelphia Strawberry Mansion (23-6) (Philadelphia Public League-District 12 AA) The Knights started state play with a 79-71 win over Columbia, then defeated North Schuylkill 57-34, Trinity 71-53 and Philadelphia Imhotep Charter 80-68 to reach the state final against Jeannette. This one of the few overtime games in a state final. Mansion lost two players to fouls and their other three starters finished with 4 fouls each and they lost to Jeannette 76-72. Dwayne Davis led with game-high 28pts, Eddie Frazier had 16pts, 12rebs and Devon White had 7pts and 12rebs.

10. Philadelphia Imhotep Charter (27-4) (Philadelphia Public League-District 12 AA)

The Panthers opened PIAA AA play with a 64-61 win over Northern Lehigh, then beat Hughesville 63-36 and Scranton/Dunmore Holy Cross 51-49 to advance to the state semifinals where they lost again to Philadelphia Strawberry Mansion 80-68.

11. Philadelphia North Catholic (22-5) (Philadelphia Catholic League)

The Falcons defeated Archbishop Ryan 51-45 to win their eighth Catholic League championship and first since 1987. Woody Redding led with 21pts and Velton Jones added 11pts for North, who trailed 23-18 at the half.

12. Philadelphia Communications Tech (28-4) (Phila. Public League-District 12 AAA)

The Phoenix opened AAA state tournament defeating Lancaster Catholic 69-45 and Holy Ghost Prep 60-39. Season ended in the state quarterfinals with a 57-44 loss to Susquehanna Township.

13. North East (29-2) (District 10 AA) -

The Grapepickers lost only to Erie McDowell during the regular season they went all the way to the state semifinals with wins over Riverside 67-54, Tyrone 50-46 and Farrell 66-60 before losing to eventual state champion Jeannette 75-66 in the semifinals.

14. Philadelphia Prep Charter (17-7) (Philadelphia Public League-District 12 AA)

The Huskies season if over, but with no seniors on the team expect to be a powerhouse next year and try to win their third PIAA AA state title in four years.

15. Penn Wood (23-9) (District 1 AAAA)

The Patriots finished fourth in District 1. Then defeated Elizabethtown 55-46 and Pocono Mountain West 60-48 before losing to Chester 69-60. It was the fourth time they had lost to the Clippers during the year. They return five of first seven players for next year.

16. Erie McDowell (26-3) (District 10 AAAA)

The Trojans defeated Norwin 58-42 and then lost to Pittsburrgh Central Catholic 49-47 in the state tournament. They keep a higher rating because they defeated both AAA General McLane and AA North East, during the regular season and both of them made it to the state semifinals in their respective classes and lost to the eventual state champions.

17. General McLane (27-4) (District 10 AAA)

The defending AAA state champion Lancers advanced to the state semifinals, before losing to the eventual champion Steelton-Highspire 58-43. To get there they defeated Keystone Oaks 67-52, Central Cambria 67-54 and Blackhawk 55-49.

18. Moon (23-8) (District 7 WPIAL AAAA)

The Tigers avenged losses to McKeesport and twice to Pittsburgh Central Catholic on the way to the state semifinals where they were crushed by Norristown 62-33. The wins to get their were over Canon-McKillan 75-67, McKeesport 37-36, and Pittsburgh Central Catholic 61-41. One of the losses to Pgh CC came in the WPIAL championship game.

19. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (25-5) (District 7 WPIAL AAAA)

The Vikings won the WPIALtitle, beating Moon, then defeated Franklin Regional 66-55 and Erie McDowell 49-47 before losing to Moon 61-41 in the state quarterfinals.

20. McKeesport (20-5) (District 7 WPIAL AAAA)

The Tigers knocked off defending AAAA state champion, Pittsburgh Schenley 59-49 in the first round but then were beaten by Moon 37-36 in the second round