City of Basketball Love

Michael Bullock (@thebullp_n)
--

Since District 3’s Class AAAA and Class AAA preliminary rounds are slated for Friday or Saturday, we’re going to take a brief glimpse at only those respective fields today.

As a result, we won’t roll out the Class AA and Class A portions until early next week since those tournaments sport later starting dates. Actually, those events will start on the same nights the bigger-school classes slice their fields from 16 to eight.

Brackets can be found here.

For those who may have forgotten, York has won the last two Class AAAA championships. Steel-High, meanwhile, claimed the Class AAA crown.

CLASS AAAA
York came into the 2015-16 campaign hoping to become the first program to collar three consecutive District 3 big-school titles since Reading banked three straight (1955-1957) — and despite coming in as the No. 10 seed those hopes are alive.

And, if Troy Sowers’ Bearcats navigate their way to yet another 3-AAAA final, it’ll be the sixth time since 2009 that York has played for District 3 gold.

Several players — Montrel Morgan, Kris Johnson, Trey Shifflett and Jacquez Casiano — were part of last season’s 56-53 win over Cedar Crest. Johnson, meanwhile, canned the elbow jumper with seconds to go that gave York a 54-52 win over Crest one year earlier.

So, is another York title run in store? That’s the big question that will start to be answered Wednesday when the No. 10 Bearcats stroll into historic Evans Gymnasium for their 3-AAAA opener against Carlisle’s seventh-seeded Thundering Herd.

THE TOP SEEDS

1. CENTRAL YORK (20-2) — Always in the middle of things once District 3 tips off its Class AAAA festivities, Kevin Schieler’s Panthers earned the top seed this time around after piecing together a perfect mark in YAIAA Division I play. Central, in fact, is still trying to collar a YAIAA tournament title before taking aim at 3-AAAA gold. Although not the biggest side around, 6-1 senior lead guard and York College recruit Jared Wagner possesses the heart of a youngster much, much bigger. Willing to bounce into the lane repeatedly, Wagner can get to the rack or kick to wing shooters Nathan Markey and Niko Sobestanovich or dish inside to Onterio Edmonds. Schieler also likes this group’s chemistry and coachability, qualities that can carry spark teams to memorable things. Finished seventh last year, defeating McCaskey in final consolation game. Will open against Shippensburg or YAIAA playmate Red Lion.

2. READING (20-3) — Winners of 15 straight outings heading into the Berks County championship game opposite Berks Catholic, many believe Rick Perez’s Red Knights are the odds-on favorites to hoist the 3-AAAA championship. And that reasoning is sound, especially since 6-5 junior Lonnie Walker (16.0 ppg) is a key cog in “The R” lineup. While Walker missed last year’s semis, he returned with determination in the third-place game and led the Knights past Cedar Cliff in OT. Senior guards Khary Mauras (14.9 ppg) and Damon Stern (11.2 ppg) also sport plenty of big-game experience, while the same holds true for senior forward Keyon McCutchen (7.0 ppg) and junior wing Isiah Cook (7.0 ppg).  Will open against Manheim Twp. or Greencastle-Antrim. 

3. NORTHEASTERN (21-1) — Fueled by emotion when they opened the YAIAA’s eight-team postseason tournament, Jon Eyster’s remarkably athletic Bobcats stunned many of those stuffed into West York’s new gymnasium with their 76-47 dismantling of York High. Displaying balance, quicks and a drive to avenge their lone regular-season defeat, Northeastern led 47-16 at the half and just kept building from there. Kobi Nwandu (15), Donovian Maxfield (11), flashy lead guard Fred Mulbah (10) and sixth man Antonio Rizzuto (10) reached double digits in the rout, which set up Thursday night’s semifinal-round scrap with Spring Grove. Brandon Coleman and rebounding machine Jeff Reynolds chipped in with nine apiece for the Bobcats, who captured YAIAA’s Division II title. Finished sixth last year, losing to Harrisburg in consolation round. Will open against Wilson or Governor Mifflin.

4. SPRING GROVE (20-2) — Having won 20 of 21 heading into Thursday night’s YAIAA semifinals and a much-anticipated date with Northeastern, James Brooks’ sneaky-long and remarkably cohesive Rockets have boosted themselves into the District 3 spotlight as they chase the school’s first state tournament berth. Junior guard Eli Brooks may be the focus of most defensive game plans — he had 25 points, 11 boards and five assists in Spring Grove’s recent 61-44 triumph over Hanover — but 6-3 senior and York College recruit Darin Gordon (12 points/15 boards) is capable of posting big numbers against any opposition. And while Grant Wierman, Liam Flaherty and Jon Sager round out the starting lineup, sophomore Drew Gordon brings plenty off the bench as part of the Rockets’ eight-man rotation. Held a halftime lead, but ultimately lost to eventual runner-up Cedar Crest in last year’s round of 16. Will open against the survivor of the Mid-Penn Commonwealth prelim between Central Dauphin East and Chambersburg.

DANGER BELOW — Reading may be a heavy favorite in many corners, but there’s a host of others capable of causing all sorts of problems before what should be a remarkably competitive tournament winds up at Hershey’s Giant Center. Start with No. 5 McCaskey (18-5), which squared off against Cedar Crest in Thursday night’s Lancaster-Lebanon League title game. Steve Powell’s Tornado still has guards Kobe Gantz (20.2 ppg/35 treys) and Randolph Speller (15.4 ppg/56 treys) available and that's a mighty good start. … Beginning to get players back at the right time — from injuries, academic issues, whatever — No. 6 Harrisburg (17-4) will be a handful behind Anthony “Big Ten” Johnson (19.0 ppg) and Christian Ray (13.4 ppg/28 treys). If the Cougars can get Chris Whitaker (24.1 ppg) healthy, look out. … No. 7 Carlisle (16-5) already owns a victory over top-seeded Central York and with DeShawn “Dey Dey” Millington (17.6 ppg) working alongside Jordan Purcell (14.0 ppg), Andre Anderson’s Herd are mighty capable. … Two-time 3-AAAA runner-up Cedar Crest (19-5), even at No. 8, still has do-everything senior Evan Horn (21.2 ppg/34 treys) available and his presence is enough to frustrate opposing coaching staffs. … No. 9 Hempfield (14-7) will have two weeks to prepare for Horn and his Crest teammates. And Danny Walck’s Black Knights are mighty capable. … Don’t count out No. 10 York High (12-10) and its experienced nucleus of Johnson, Morgan and Shifflett. … No. 13 CD East (13-9) and No. 20 Chambersburg (11-10) already split two games. Evan Chandler (14.2 ppg) is East’s top scorer, but Don Ross’ Panthers also have 6-9 Brennen Jackson (9.9 ppg) plugged into the middle. Cole Christian (15.4 ppg) and ByShawn Mincie (11.2 ppg) are the top threats for Shawn Shreffler’s Trojans, who claimed 3-AAAA gold in 2012 as a No. 15 seed.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Lonnie Walker, Reading, 6-5 junior — Check out one of Reading’s games and it’s quite possible that some power conference Division I program might have a head coach or one of his assistants parked in the adjoining seat. That’s the type of demand there is for Walker’s multi-faceted game. He can score (16.0 ppg) from the blocks, foul line and deep, but he’s just as capable of finding a teammate or rejecting an opposing shot. 

Anthony “Big Ten” Johnson, Harrisburg, 6-7 senior — Although Johnson finally has returned after a lengthy run away from the floor, Harrisburg’s fluid front-court standout is capable of tormenting opponents at both ends and in numerous ways. Highly capable of dominating in the paint, Johnson also can take his game to the perimeter and he really likes to get out on the break. Has offers from Rider and Wagner tucked away. 

Kobe Gantz, McCaskey, 6-4 senior — Electric with the ball in his capable hands, Gantz can get to the rack and finish or knock down a deep look or create offense by turning an opponent over defensively. Was on an unbelievable roll late last season, propelling Steve Powell’s Tornado to the state semifinals and within a long jumper of knocking off eventual champ Roman Catholic. One of several returning all-staters in Class AAAA field.

Evan Horn, Cedar Crest, 6-1 senior — Since many of his teammates from Crest’s daring runs to states each of the past two seasons have moved on to the next level, Horn willingly upped his offensive output to keep Tom Smith’s Falcons in the middle of things. And with Horn on the floor, Crest is another one of those 3-AAAA teams that is capable of making memories happen. Will play football at FCS entry New Hampshire. 

Eli Brooks, Spring Grove, 6-1 senior — While Brooks may have become the ninth member of Spring Grove’s 1,000-point fraternity earlier this season, his game isn’t centered around just finding the bucket. The son and grandson of coaches, Brooks does whatever’s needed to help the Rockets prevail. Could be rebounding, finding a teammate, blocking a shot or shutting down an opponent, doesn’t matter. Helps explain why the 6-1 youngster with the lengthy wingspan holds 10 Division I offers. 

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH (eight advance to states)
1. Reading
2. McCaskey
3. Harrisburg
4. Cedar Crest
5. Northeastern
6. Spring Grove
7. Central York
8. Carlisle