City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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The PIAA Class A tournament gets underway in two days, with the 32 best small-school teams in the state ready to do battle over five rounds. Quite a few familiar names (Constitution, Farrell, St. John Neumann and more) are back in the bracket, though a lot of them boast new names than the ones who led them to deep runs in the past.

Here’s a look at the Class A field, with all games taking place Friday night at various gyms across the state (to see the full bracket with times and locations, click here):

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The Favorites
Farrell (19-6): Flush with experience following a run to last season’s Class A final, Roland Shannonhouse’s Steelers have a bona fide star in senior guard Malik Miller, the storied program’s all-time leading scorer following a 31-point outburst in the 10-A championship game against Kennedy Catholic. Guards Terrance Holloway, Leon Lewis and Marcus McCoy also started in last year’s state final at Hershey’s Giant Center, where Farrell was handled by Constitution. A nasty opening-round scrap with WPIAL hammer Monessen is just the start of a difficult route back to Hershey that’s laden with landmines.

Kennedy Catholic (23-2): Parked at No. 1 in CoBL’s state rankings when the season began, Rick Mancino’s Golden Knights have maintained their lofty status throughout. Kennedy also defended its District 10-A championship by beating Farrell for the third time and, as a result, Mancino’s bunch rolls into states on an 18-game winning streak. West Virginia recruit Sagaba Konate is the centerpiece of Kennedy’s lineup at 6-8, averaging a double-double (15.8 ppg/10.5 rpg). Konate’s 6-4 brother, Mohamed Konate (9.0) and 6-1 Drew Magestro (16.0) were KC’s other returning starters, while 6-3 Jason Austin (15.8) shipped in from nearby Sharon. Maceo Austin (9.4), a talented 6-3 freshman, rounds out Kennedy’s customary lineup. While the Eagles’ last loss came against Aliquippa in late December, Mancino’s bunch is the only side to knock off Class AAAA No. 1 Allderdice. Also bested reigning Class A champ Constitution in January.

Monessen (21-4): Upended by Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic in the WPIAL semifinals — Monessen edged CWNC earlier in the season by three at home — Joe Salvino’s Greyhounds find themselves in an all-or-nothing, opening-round scrap with Farrell to start state play. Good thing the ‘Hounds sport a high-powered lineup without much length featuring returning all-stater Lavalle Rush, Dwight Moore, Jaden Altomore and Justice Rice — all of whom average nearly 17 points per outing or more. Plus, Salvino’s ledger features 600-plus victories and a pair of state championships. Monessen had reeled off 15 straight victories before falling to CWNC, so Salvino & Co. are capable of getting on another roll. Reached quarterfinals last season, falling to Kennedy Catholic.

Phil Mont Christian (28-1): The District 1-A champions have had an impressive season, losing only to 1-AA champs Church Farm back in December but otherwise running clean. They’re senior-heavy, led by 6-3 guard Noah Baldez (12.8 ppg), 6-4 wing/forward Osaze Thornton (10.6 ppg) and 6-8 forward Sean Griffin (15.3 ppg), but 6-3 junior forward David Giuliani (12.9 ppg) has turned into a consistent double-double threat as well. There isn't a ton of depth behind that quartet, but there's certainly enough talent in that group to carry them a far way. We'll see how good they really are with a potential second-round matchup against unbeaten York County Day looming assuming they can get past Robeson (18-7) in the first round.

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The Dark Horses
Constitution (16-11): The defending state champions are a very different group from a year ago, as Rob Moore saw the majority of his starters graduate after their third state championship in four years (Class A in 2012 and ‘15, AA in ‘14)--Ahmad Gilbert (Minneosta) is gone, as are Kimar Williams, Akeem King, Chad Andrews-Fulton and Haneef Vaughn. But Moore still has senior wing Anthony Satchell, plus a pair of talented juniors in 6-1 guard Tamir Green and 6-6 wing forward Maurice Waters. Don’t discount a three-point loss to Kennedy Catholic in January, just one piece of a remarkably difficult schedule that Moore crafted to get his team ready.

York Country Day (22-0): Still unscathed heading into state tournament play — only two of Country Day’s 22 successes have come by fewer than 10 points — Corey Stiles’ Greyhounds have spent most of the season lighting up opponents. So, maybe it’s a good thing Stiles’ bunch had to shrug off a halftime deficit before rallying to beat Greenwood last weekend in Hershey for the tiny school’s first District 3-A title. DeAireus Brown, an athletic 6-0 junior who checked in from Northeastern, is Country Day’s top scorer (22.0) and rebounder (8.0). Brown banked 15 of his 24 points in last weekend’s 3-A final in the third quarter, including a dozen during a pivotal 16-0 salvo. Junior forward Jordan Ray (17.0/7.0) also is capable of posting sparkling numbers, while soph guard D.J. Hamilton (11.0/3.0 apg) handles a lot of the ballhandling chores.

St. John Neumann (24-0): Back for another crack at a PIAA Class A championship, first-year coach Mike Kirby’s Knights prepped themselves by rolling through yet another regular-season schedule. Neumann, in fact, has won only once by fewer than 10 points and that came in the District 4-A semifinals when Kirby’s bunch bested Lourdes Regional 54-48. Williamsport’s East Enders then trimmed Cowanesque Valley for their fourth straight 4-A crown, winning 71-48 behind 31 points and 13 rebounds from all-state guard Kevin Anderson. Otis Anderson and Ra-Quan Mars form the rest of the backcourt for Neumann, which reached last season’s state before falling to eventual champ Constitution.

Homer-Center (25-0): Returning to the state tournament following last season’s early exit from postseason play, Bob Rado’s balanced Wildcats steamed to a District 6-A title, defeating Bishop Carroll 54-47 in last week’s final. Ben Wolford, a 6-6 senior, popped a double-double (13p/12r) in the championship game, while 6-3 senior John Ireland finished with 12. Alex Arone, John Capitosti and Tanner Yancy shared 25 more points for Homer-Center. Capitosti, just 5-10, also snared 11 rebounds for a Tigers club that will meet defensive-minded Ridgway in Round 1.

Elk County Catholic (27-0): Although Coudersport put up a fight in the championship game, Aaron Straub’s Crusaders prevailed 48-42 and won their first 9-A title since 2011. ECC put three players in double figures — 6-2 Nate DaCanal (19), 6-0 Gabe Kraus (13) and 6-4 Kyle Huff (10/12 boards) — and needed every one since Coudy made things interesting after trailing 27-16 at halftime. Made it into last season’s second round before running into Farrell. Straub has won 700-plus times at the St. Marys school, with one of those many victories coming when ECC downed Scranton’s Bishop Hannan in the 2006 Class A championship.Tough draw since Crusaders will open with a quality Eden Christian side on Friday.

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic (18-8): Dave Long’s bunch may have been sitting 2-7 when the calendar changed — Long prefers to test his Trojans against a tough non-league slate — but the folks from suburban Pittsburgh’s Cranberry Twp. steam into state play having won 16 of their last 17. Kenny Fukon, a 6-2 junior, and 6-0 junior Tristan Newcamp average 14 ppg for a CWNC group that captured the school’s third WPIAL title with a 50-36 triumph over Sewickley Academy. Fukon had 13 points in that win for the Trojans, who open states against District 9’s Union-Rimersburg.

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The Stars
Kennedy Catholic senior Sagaba Konate emerged during his junior season as a big-time Division I recruit, and the 6-8 power forward will take his talents to West Virginia after the season. ...Phil-Mont’s Sean Griffin has several Division II offers, and is being recruited by East Stroudsburg, Kutztown and Holy Family. … Farrell’s Malik Miller became his school’s all-time leading scorer (1,542 career points), quite the distinction considering some of the remarkably talented players who’ve preceded him. … Neumann’s Kevin Anderson may have a season remaining on Williamsport’s East End, but he’s already at 1,212 career points heading into state play. … Ridgway (23-4) may rely on its defense much of the time, but the Elkers have a terrific player in 6-4 Jeremy Breier (17.6) who can really fill it up at times. … Delco Christian’s Wyatt Harkins is averaging just under 20 ppg, but Don Davis’ Knights are expected to be without junior Devin Hill and senior Grant Fischer when they meet Greenwood (13-13). … West Shore Christian’s Jake Keeports may check in at 6-0 or so, but his game features all sorts of activity in the paint. Successful, too, since the talented senior is averaging around 25 ppg.

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First-Round Games to Watch
Farrell vs. Monessen: Since Monessen tumbled in overtime in the WPIAL semis to eventual champion Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic and Farrell was downed by Kennedy Catholic in the 10-A title game, these two western Pennsylvania hammers are colliding in the opening round — and not in a quarterfinal or semifinal-round scrap. Tough break, too, since Monessen spent all season ranked at No. 2 in Class A and Farrell was one spot below Joe Salvino’s Greyhounds. That said, look for a dandy to unfold at Slippery Rock University on Friday night between Monessen’s quartet of explosive guards (see above) that like to play at break-neck speed and a Farrell five headlined by all-time leading scorer Malik Miller. Winner won’t have much time to relax since a probable second-round scrap with Elk County Catholic awaits.

Homer-Center vs. Ridgway: Might be the back end of a Class A twinbill at Central Cambria High School in Ebensburg, but this is another opening-round coin flip pitting Homer-Center’s balanced Wildcats against a defense-minded bunch from Ridgway led by 6-4 senior Jeremy Breier. And expect the squad that’s able to impose its will more effectively to prevail and move into a likely second-round matchup against WPIAL runner-up Sewickley Academy. While Homer-Center was able to knock off Bishop Guilfoyle and Bishop Carroll en route to the District 6-A crown, three of Ridgway’s four setbacks were delivered by undefeated 9-A champ Elk County Catholic — all by a total of 10 points.