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PIAA Playoff Preview: Class 2A

03/09/2017, 12:00pm EST
By Michael Bullock & Josh Verlin

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin) &
Michael Bullock (@thebullp_n)
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A pair of Philly teams lead the way in the new 2A classification, but the rest of the state has quite a few contenders who will be looking to pull the upset over a two teams with championship histories.

Here’s a look at the Class 2A bracket, which gets underway Saturday:

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More Previews: Class A | Class 2A | Class 3A | Class 4A | Class 5A | Class 6A

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Malik Archer (above) and MCS fell in the PIAA Class A championship game a year ago. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

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Math, Civics & Sciences (18-9)

One of the surprises of last year’s PIAA playoffs, a rather green group of Mighty Elephants stormed all the way to Hershey before falling to Kennedy Catholic in the Class A championship game. Now, led by senior guard Malik Archer, MC&S is back in the state playoffs and looking much more polished than they were a year ago. Dan Jackson’s Elephants won the rubber match with Constitution to claim the District 12 2A crown before losing to 4A powerhouse Imhotep in the Public League playoffs, but they’ll have to shake off more than three weeks of rust since that Feb. 18 meeting. Senior guard Tymair Johnson and junior guard Kwzhere Ransom are back from last year’s deep playoff run, while senior big man Maqi Watson had similar playoff experience with Parkway Center City a year ago.

Constitution (16-9)
The Elephants’ foil in the Public League the last decade has been the Generals, which have met them every step of the way -- twice every regular season, plus typical meetings in the Pub classification finals and at some point in the PIAA playoffs. Last year it was the semifinals, when MC&S topped Constitution in a thrilling 79-78 overtime win on a 3-pointer by Ransom with under five seconds to play. Once again, the two programs are on a collision course to meet in the semifinals, though they’ll have to win a few games to get there. Rob Moore’s Generals are led by a pair of seniors in wing forward Maurice Waters and Tamir Green, and look out for talented freshman KeShaun Hammonds as well.

Dark Horses
Bishop Canevin (19-5)

Smacked by section playmate Sewickley Academy in the WPIAL semis, Kevin Trost’s Crusaders should be a factor in states after losing just two times to 2A opposition — twice to SA. They also own victories over SA and WPIAL 5A champ Moon. Hmmm. Defense-minded outfit that yields just over 52 ppg and that matters plenty at this time of the year. So, too, does guard play and Canevin has a pair of dandies in 6-0 senior Mitchell King and 5-10 classmate Walter Bonds, who combined for 36 points in the WPIAL semis. King topped the Crusaders during the regular season, averaging just south of 20 ppg.

Bishop Guilfoyle (17-7)
Although Chris Drenning’s Marauders got off to a late start since so many of Guilfoyle’s players were busy collecting gold medals at the PIAA football championships, the Altoona-based squad will begin chasing even more hardware Saturday when it opens against McConnellsburg. Luke Ruggery, a 5-10 sophomore, banked 22 points in the District 6 final, a game Guilfoyle dropped to Laurel Highlands Conference playmate Bishop McCort 63-60 despite canning 12 3-pointers. Josh Trybus and A.J. Labriola also reached double figures for the Marauders — Ruggery and Trybus shared 10 treys — as the 5-10 senior and 6-2 junior scored 14 and 11 points, respectively. More help generally comes from the likes of 6-2 junior Nick Scaramuzzino, 6-5 senior Luke Frederick, 6-2 senior Andrew Irwin and 6-4 junior Justin Charlton.

Bishop McCort (21-4)
Fresh off its first District 6 championship in five seasons — a 63-60 conquest of Bishop Guilfoyle — McCort is one of five Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference squads to advance to state play. The Johnstown-based Crushers, down nine in the first half of the 6-2A final, eventually prevailed when 5-5 junior Imil Britt bagged a deep trey with 1.1 seconds to play. Britt finished with 19 points, 6-1 senior Logan Kasper added 16 and 6-3 junior Matt Petrosky chipped in 10 for Jerry Murphy’s squad. Kasper (15.0) and Britt (13.6) are the top scorers for McCort, but Murphy uses a lot of players and can unleash an effective press on unsuspecting foes.

Church Farm (18-9)
Marc Turner’s Griffins didn’t accomplish their season’s first goal of winning the Bicentennial Athletic League championship -- Valley Forge earned that honor -- but Church Farm bounced back with two wins in the District 1 2A tournament to wrestle that title from Christopher Dock. Turner has a trio of multi-year senior starters in guards James Lawton, Augustus Veniukivicius and Faustas Kulbickas on the perimeter, but what really sets them apart is the presence of 6-9 sophomore Jon Bol Ajak patrolling the paint. A first-round matchup against Constitution is far from a picnic, but if Church Farm can get past the Generals, the Griffins could find themselves getting quite deep in the bracket.

Coudersport (24-0)
Much, much closer to upstate New York than it is to Hershey, Brian Furman’s undefeated Falcons might be the prototypical dark horse — particularly since Coudy does not have a single player taller than 6-1 on its roster. Of course, what else would you expect from a bunch that hails from the same tight-knit community that noted “Untouchable” Eliot Ness called home when he took his final breath. Sophomore Owen Chambers racked up 22 points in the District 9 final — the 6-0 guard banked 19 after the break — a 67-61 triumph over Brockway. Zach Layag added 13 points for the Falcons, who played without 5-9 senior starter Aaron Wolfinger (1-game suspension) and with limited production (7 points) from ailing North Tier League player of the year Jared Green (ankle). Rebounding will be the key for Furman’s Falcons, who will open state play Saturday against United.

Greensburg Central Catholic (23-1)
Undoubtedly miffed about failing to reach the WPIAL championship game — despite sporting the top seed — GCC will definitely be looking for a quality rebound when the Centurions open state play Saturday against West Middlesex. Top scorer Neal McDermott (20.6 ppg) and Ben Hertzog, a pair of 6-3 seniors, split 32 points in GCC’s 54-49 loss to Our Lady of Sacred Heart in the WPIAL semis. Eighth consecutive state appearance for Dr. Greg Bisignani’s Centurions, who also get plenty of mileage out of Jack Liberatore, yet another 6-3 senior.

Sewickley Academy (20-4)
Remarkably balanced and unselfish, Win Palmer’s Panthers will carry a seven-game winning streak into state play that includes the school’s fourth WPIAL crown. No. 4 arrived last week in Pittsburgh, where Sewickley downed section rival Our Lady of Sacred Heart 71-60 in the final behind 24 points and six assists from 5-10 senior Chris Groetsch. SA also popped three others into double figures. Groetsch, a returning all-state selection who is averaging 16 ppg, directs on-court traffic for a multi-faceted side that includes 6-5 sophomore Nate Ridgeway (17 ppg), 6-5 senior Declan Hickton, 6-3 senior Justin Pryor and 6-1 junior David Groetsch. Dangerous side that last season reached the Class A state semis.

Players to Watch
Malik Archer
, Math, Civics & Sciences
Last year, the 6-3 guard was MCS’ certified gunner, often going over 10 3-point attempts in a game. Now, he’s become a much more well-rounded scorer (21.3 ppg), and Division II schools have started to extend offers as he shows his ability to get buckets off the bounce as well as hit outside shots.

Jon Bol Ajak, Church Farm
He’s got a body that Division I coaches will drool over, at 6-9 and 220 pounds, not skinny but not overweight, just smooth and long and full of upside. Right now, his best asset is his ability to run the floor and wreak havoc defensively, as he’s prone to some over-aggression offensively, but when he plays within himself he’s a force to be reckoned with.

Brock Burleigh & Shane Kelly, North Penn-Mansfield
Why separate these 6-5 seniors when they work so well together? Burleigh, the son of NPM head coach
Kipper Burleigh, will carry averages of 21.2 ppg and 9.8 rpg into the Tigers’ state opener at nearby Mansfield U. against Ridgway. Kelly, meanwhile, is averaging a double-double (11.5 ppg/11.2 rpg) for the District 4 champions.

Tamir Green, Constitution
A speedy blur of a scoring point guard, Green is a flashy scorer with typical Philly confidence. A good enough 3-point shooter to keep defenders honest, his best asset is his ability to attack the bucket, especially in the open court; if he gets his hands on a long rebound and has a few feet ahead of him to get going, watch out.

Chris Groetsch, Sewickley Academy
Tagged the “Energizer Bunny” by one of his teammates, the 5-10 Groetsch pocketed 24 points and dealt a half-dozen assists as the Panthers decked Our Lady of Sacred Heart in the WPIAL title game. A returning all-state selection, Groetsch is averaging just over 16 ppg.

Joel Santana, Shenandoah Valley
A dangerous player whenever the ball happens to be in his capable hands, the 5-11 senior bounced into the District 11 championship game averaging 20.1 points per outing. Santana, a returning all-state selection who banked 14 points in the Blue Devils’ loss to Schuylkill League playmate Marian Catholic, has buried 71 3-pointers.

Maurice Waters, Constitution
A 6-6 wing forward, Waters is a versatile talent who can play a trio of spots in the Generals’ attack. Typically, he’ll do most of his damage around the bucket, benefitting from Constitution’s array of slashers to find weak spots in the defense. Also a plus defender and shot blocker who can step out on the perimeter with his long arms as well.

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First-Round Schedule (District-Seed in Parenthesis, all games 3/11)

(11-1) Marian Catholic vs. (12-3) Julia Masterman -- 5:30 PM, Pottsville HS
(3-1) Halifax vs. (4-3) Muncy -- 6:30 PM, Central Dauphin East HS

(4-2) Northeast Bradford vs. (2-2) Mountain View -- 4:30 PM, Mansfield University
(12-1) Math, Civics & Sciences vs. (1-2) Christopher Dock -- 3:30 PM, South Philadelphia HS

(1-1) Church Farm vs. (12-2) Constitution -- 5:30 PM, Bensalem HS
(2-1) Holy Cross vs. (11-2) Shenandoah Valley -- 5:30 PM, North Pocono HS

(4-1) North Penn-Mansfield vs. (9-3) Ridgway -- 6:00 PM, Mansfield University
(5-1) Berlin Brothersvalley vs. (6-3) Purchase Line -- 4:30 PM, University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown

(7-1) Sewickley Academy vs. (10-4) Rocky Grove -- 4:30 PM, Northgate HS
(6-2) Bishop Guilfoyle vs. (5-2) McConnellsburg -- 5:30 PM, Altoona Area HS

(10-2) West Middlesex vs. (7-4) Greensburg Central Catholic -- 4:30 PM, Sharon Area HS
(9-1) Coudersport vs. (6-4) United -- 4:30 PM, Bradford Area HS

(6-1) Bishop McCort vs. (7-5) Jeannette -- 4:00 PM, Richland HS
(7-2) Our Lady of Sacred Heart vs. (10-3) Cambridge Springs -- 3:00 PM, Peters Township HS

(9-2) Brockway vs. (7-3) Bishop Canevin -- 6:00 PM, Clarion University
(10-1) Wilmington vs. (7-6) Chartiers-Houston -- 6:00 PM, Sharon Area HS


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