City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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Yesterday we took at the Class A and Class AAA tournaments, which begin on Friday. Here’s a look at the AA bracket, which tips off on Saturday (for the full bracket with locations and times, click here):

The Favorites
Aliquippa (25-0): Parked at No. 1 all season long, Nick Lackovich’s Quips head into the state tournament the same way they did last season — perfect — and eventually they wound up in Hershey playing for gold. And everyone starting for the WPIAL champs this time around saw action in last season’s title game. Guard Jassir Jordan (18.5 ppg) and 6-6 big man Chucky Humphries (15.0) really make this club go — Humphries rang up 22 and 18 in the Quips’ 49-45 win over Lincoln Park in the WPIAL final — but powerful forward Kaezon “Shazam” Pugh can lock up adversaries, and not just with a bear hug. Forward Robert Crute and guard Sheldon Jeter also have plenty of experience. Two straight WPIAL titles has this program, the only Pennsylvania squad to knock off Class A hammer Kennedy Catholic, ready for much more.

Conwell-Egan (15-9): The Eagles weren't quite as powerful as they were last year in taking home the program’s first-ever state championship, thanks to the offseason departure of point guard and Rider commit Stevie Jordan to a prep school in Texas plus the graduation of two important seniors from a year ago. But a good amount  of talent still remains under Frank's Sciolla’s watch, led by senior guard LaPri McCray-Pace (16.8 ppg) and senior big man Vinny Dalessandro (13.4), both of whom were big pieces on last year’s championship squad. After that pair, Egan relies on a cast of characters, including junior guards Kar’ron Johnson (6.3 ppg) and Darien Simmons (5.3 ppg). They need a consistent third scorer to step up; that could be Johnson or Simmons--or it could be 6-3 sophomore Eric Esposito, who had 13 points in Egan’s District 12 AA championship win over Mastery North.

Lincoln Park (22-4): Guard-driven group featuring returning all-state selection Nelly Cummings (23.6) and Nick Aloi (17.7) that has been plugged in near the top of the Class AA rankings since the start of the 2015-16 campaign. Should be well prepared, too, after navigating a rugged schedule filled with quality foes such as New Castle, Allderdice, Kennedy Catholic and Aliquippa. Dropped a 49-45 decision to the Quips in the WPIAL title game, so that puts Mike Bariski’s bunch in the championship discussion. Bigs Dermotti Welling and Zay Craft may be the key to a deep run since everyone knows about the Lincoln Park guards. Stay tuned.

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The Dark Horses
Bishop Canevin (19-6): Yet another balanced squad that’s hammered its way into the state tournament picture after reaching the WPIAL semis for the first time since 2008. Wings Justin Dix and Mitchell King, along with lead guard Walter Bonds, shared 60 points in Canevin’s 72-44 thumping of Quaker Valley that pushed them into the WPIAL Final Four. Dix, in fact, fashioned a 29-point effort that featured seven treys. And while Kevin Trost’s bunch wound up losing to Lincoln Park 59-53 in the semis, they already were locked into a state playoff berth by then. Will open state play against District 10-AA runner-up Fairview.

Camp Hill (18-6): Tumbled in the District 3-AA final to crosstown rival Trinity 55-50 yet led that backyard scrap 28-19 at the halftime break. Guard Casey Caruso (16.4/47 treys) is the top scorer for Scott Barrows’ Lions, but forwards David Fetrow (13.7) and Zack Kuntz (10.2) are capable of racking up big numbers. In fact, the agile 6-7 Kuntz hammered out a double-double (12 pts/14 rebs) in the 3-AA title game. And while Penn State football recruit Michael Shuster and dependable lead guard Mark Leach round out Barrows’ usual starting lineup, the first-year skipper will go eight and even nine deep. Fell in last season’s opener to eventual champ Conwell-Egan, so the Lions have an idea what’s needed for a deep, deep run.

Church Farm (22-4): The Griffins took down the District 1 title for the fifth time in the last six seasons, downing Devon Prep after getting upset by Bristol in the Bicentennial Athletic League quarterfinals. Head coach Marc Turner boasts a raw but talented pair of underclassmen bigs in 6-11 sophomore Fred Odhiambo and 6-9 freshman Jon Bol Ajak, whose size alone will give many teams in this bracket fits. Neither are good for too much more than dunks and put-backs at this stage in their careers, so CFS will need production from 6-5 senior Emmit Jeffries, 6-2 junior James Lawton and 6-4 junior Augustus Veniukevius to advance through the field. But Church Farm has the ability to slow games down and frustrate opponents to no end defensively, and that makes them a real contender.

Greensburg Central Catholic (23-2): Tucked in the WPIAL shadows behind powers Aliquippa and Lincoln Park, Dr. Greg Bisignani’s remarkably balanced Centurions have quietly pieced together yet another terrific season. In fact, GCC is back in the Class AA cauldron as the WPIAL’s third seed for the second straight year. There’s quality everywhere, as 6-4 Dom Rullo (14.6), 6-2 Neal McDermott (11.9) and 6-3 Ben Hertzog (9.6) handle the chores up front and diminutive 5-9 guards Tyler White (13.3) and Sam Nowicki (7.6) run the backcourt. Ran off 17 consecutive victories before encountering Aliquippa in the WPIAL semis and losing 71-62. Will open states against 5-AA champ Berlin Brothersvalley.

Mastery Charter North (23-3): Buoyed by the return of three key figures from an unheralded outfit that reached the state quarters, Terrance “Nip” Cook’s Pumas rolled through the regular season and were sitting 23-1 after capturing the Philly Public League’s Class AA title. While losses to eventual Pub champ Del-Val Charter and reigning state titlist Conwell-Egan followed, Cook’s Pumas are ready for another state run. And with the likes of Rodney Ross, Eli Alvin and Daeqwon Plowden still on hand — that trio shared 40 points in Mastery’s conquest of Trinity in last season’s second round — Cook’s Pumas possess plenty of pop. The good news is Mastery will open state play in Philly against District 11-AA runner-up Mahanoy Area.  

Meyers (19-6): On a roll since the calendar wheeled into 2016, Pat Toole’s Mohawks have won 17 of 18 since a three-point loss to Class AAAA hammer Abington Heights in late December. Also helps that 6-6 big man Ryan Wasley, who had a team-high 14 points in Meyers’ 50-29 conquest of Elk Lake in the 2-AA title game, is back in the fold following a lengthy bout with mono. Matt Dessoye added nine points in the final as the Mohawks hoisted their third 2-AA crown in five seasons. Defense-minded side — stopper Omar Kelly limited sizzling Elk Lake sniper Bailey Newhart to seven points — that doesn’t have a player averaging 10 points or more. Will open the 32-team festivities against Hughesville.

Trinity (19-6): Flashing good form heading into yet another state tournament — Larry Kostelac Jr.’s Shamrocks have won 12 of 14 — Trinity captured its third District 3-AA title in succession last weekend and could be primed for something special. Sophomore wing Jack Bucher notched a double-double (18/12) in the 3-AA final, while Timmy Edwards chipped in 15. While the gritty 6-4 Edwards (16.4) tops the Shamrocks’ scoring chart, slick 6-3 Austin Gilbertson (15.0/38 treys) is right behind his junior classmate. Also a group that can go mighty, mighty big with 6-9 Mount St. Mary’s recruit Jack Vukelich, 6-11 Sean Good and the 6-5 Bucher (38 treys). Will need quality guard play alongside all-stater Gilbertson to get deep in this event, so lock-down defender Marcus Hall and Mike Scarpelli will be keys going forward. Interesting opener against Holy Cross, which two seasons ago ousted a different Trinity group in the state semis.

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The Stars
​Elk Lake’s Bailey Newhart was averaging nearly 33 ppg after three District 2-AA outings, but was held to seven points by Meyers stopper Omar Kelly. Newhart is averaging just over 20 ppg and has canned 70 treys for John Warnero’s Warriors (21-5). … Two-time Tri-Valley League champion Upper Dauphin (23-4) features a pair of quality senior guards in 6-1 Jordan Gessner (13.5) and 6-0 Matthew “Mookie” Miller (20.4). Miller banked 34 points in the District 3-AA third-place game, including a last-second jumper that propelled Anthony Weaver’s Trojans past Lancaster Mennonite 69-68. … The play of returning all-state selection and 2,000-point scorer Nathan Davis (21.8 ppg/8.0 rebs/6.3 assts) is a significant reason why Bellwood-Antis (24-2) captured the District 6-AA crown and is poised for an opening-round scrap with Quaker Valley. The 6-4 Davis is headed to Seton Hill, where he’ll team with his older brother Noah. … District 6-AA runner-up West Branch (22-3) is fueled by 6-4 senior Kody Trude, who scored 21 points in the Warriors’ loss to Bellwood-Antis. A returning all-state selection, Trude led West Branch into last season’s second round. … Matt Popeck (18.7), Markel Pulliam (18.3) and Toledo football recruit Nate Swart (14.9) will lead Washington (19-7) into its opening-round scrap with District 10-AA champion Greenville. … Guards Coletrane Washington (18.0) and Amos Luptak (17.7) fuel a Quaker Valley side (20-6) that will square off against Bellwood-Antis. … Aliquippa’s Chucky Humphries will play basketball at West Liberty State. The Quips’ Kaezon Pugh, the Class AA player of the year, owns a football scholarship to Pittsburgh. ...Conwell-Egan’s Vinny Dalessandro (13.4 ppg) has accepted a scholarship to D-II Pace University (N.Y.); 6-3 shooting guard LaPri McCray-Pace (16.8 ppg) is still uncommitted but is a low D-I talent.

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First-Round Games to Watch
Bellwood-Antis vs. Quaker Valley: Slated for Hollidaysburg High School — not all that far from B-A — this figures to be an intriguing encounter between the District 6-AA champs and the No. 6 seed from the WPIAL. And while much of the Quaker Valley defensive focus will center on Nathan Davis (see above), Bellwood’s Blue Devils also get plenty of production from the likes of Joey Padula (13.2), Jarrett Taneyhill (8.5) and Jake Burch (8.3). Another plus is B-A has won 16 consecutive outings since losing at state qualifier West Branch. Conversely, Quaker Valley needed to scrap its way into state play after losing to Bishop Canevin in the WPIAL semis. Mike Mastroianni’s Quakers feature high-scoring guards Coletrane Washington and Amos Luptak, but fellow backcourt mate Wolfie Moser netted 11 in the WPIAL’s fifth-place game.

Trinity vs. Holy Cross: Ticketed for suburban Harrisburg’s Central Dauphin East High School, Saturday’s matchup will be the first between Trinity’s Larry Kostelac Jr. and Al Callejas of Holy Cross since they squared off three years ago in the state semis at Pottsville’s Martz Hall and the great Josh Kosin led the Crusaders to the W. And while Trinity (19-6) earned its state berth by claiming a third straight District 3-AA crown behind a combined 33 points from Jack Bucher and Timmy Edwards (see above), Holy Cross (16-9) needed to best Riverside 47-36 in the District 2-AA third-place game to qualify. Senior guard Billy Trainor averages just under 14 ppg for the Dunmore-based Crusaders, while 6-6 junior Malachi Phillips (12.0) might have the size needed to deal with Trinity’s giant front line. Guards Matt Nelson, Patrick Galvin and Chad Yurkovic complement Trainor nicely, while 6-4 Bailey Simrell will work alongside Phillips up front.