{"id":76571,"date":"2015-03-23T17:39:55","date_gmt":"2015-03-23T17:39:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sandbox.web.rcn.net\/rcntv\/?p=76571"},"modified":"2023-04-13T20:23:21","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T20:23:21","slug":"sportstalk-shop-state-basketball-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/sportstalk-shop-state-basketball-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"The SportsTalk Shop:  State Basketball Recap"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After shoveling snow out of my driveway for the final time this winter (even if we get more of the white stuff, I\u2019m just plowing through with my car from now on), I had a chance to witness some of the PIAA state playoff games.\u00a0 Unfortunately, none of the teams in our RCN-TV coverage area made it all the way through the state tournament, but that didn\u2019t stop us from seeing some tremendous efforts from our local teams in the postseason on RCN-TV.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a look at our final set of basketball highlight packages from our state playoff game broadcasts; then, a few of my own observations on the final weeks of the PIAA basketball season.<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZSfEbCvPc0I\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GasE69KBFIU\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ESUNRZW0BgY\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/K8tL7WrM08E\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h1><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Mm0esY-n0rI\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/h1>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-JEwSq4gTZQ\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XOLkHSj3fuU\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Now a few thoughts as we close out the high school basketball season for our Pennsylvania sports fans.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Becahi\u2019s Head Coach is a Stand-Up Guy<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<p>First of all, Jose Medina took over the Becahi girls basketball team very late (November) before this season started.\u00a0 There\u2019s no question this team had talent, but to keep all the pieces together and still win 27 straight games, an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Championship, a District XI 3A title, advance to the 2<sup>nd<\/sup> round of the state tournament and to be ranked in the top four statewide throughout the entire season, all were tremendous accomplishments.<br \/>\nOnce more, following a disappointing loss to Conrad Weiser and the controversial decision in which his star player, Kalista Walters, was left in the game with three fouls in the second quarter, he responded to my request to be on our \u201cSportsTalk\u201d show and address this and other issues with this year\u2019s team (this show is available through RCN On Demand).\u00a0 I cannot offer enough respect and support going forward for Coach Medina for tackling these topics head-on with me on our live show, and admire how he and his players have conducted themselves following their surprising, upset loss in the state tournament.\u00a0 I heard from a good source that their up-and-coming players like Tessa Zamolyi and Rebekah Recchio were quality, hard-working players even before this season started, and the way they addressed the ending of their season makes me think the future of this program is as bright as ever.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Speaking of Conrad Weiser\u2026<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Scouts from the Conrad Weiser girls basketball team made for one of the best stories in the entire state.\u00a0 While some did not count on Weiser to be a force entering the league playoffs\u2014let alone districts and states\u2014the Scouts fought their way into the Final Four in the Berks County playoffs, then followed that up with a trip to the district championship game.\u00a0 Then, after a mild upset win in the first round of states, they won back-to-back games against the best teams in the state to reach the PIAA quarterfinals.\u00a0 Head Coach Mark Owens called his team \u201cThe Little Engine,\u201d referencing the childhood story of the train that wouldn\u2019t give up.\u00a0 Despite being discounted multiple times, Owens\u2019 group of undersized players (their tallest player is 5-8, shorter than about a half-dozen players they faced in states) made for an exciting post-season experience and showed what hard work, dedication and determination can do on the scholastic level\u2019s biggest stage.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The \u201cFinal Pairs\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Here\u2019s a look at the final two teams in each classification of the PIAA tournament.\u00a0 See if something jumps out at you as readily as it did for many high school sports fans (this weekend\u2019s winning teams in <strong>BOLD<\/strong>).<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">State Basketball Finalists<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\nClass 4A Boys \u2013 <strong>Roman Catholic<\/strong>, Martin Luther King (Both District 12)<br \/>\nClass 4A Girls \u2013 CB West (District 1), <strong>Cumberland Valley <\/strong>(Dist. 3)<br \/>\nClass 3A Boys \u2013 <strong>Newmann-Goretti,<\/strong> Archbishop Carroll (Both District 12)<br \/>\nClass 3A Girls \u2013 Archbishop Wood (District 12), <strong>Black Hawk <\/strong>(Dist. 7)<br \/>\nClass 2A Boys \u2013 <strong>Conwell Egan (District 12),<\/strong> Aliquippa (Dist. 7)<br \/>\nClass 2A Girls \u2013 <strong>Newmann-Goretti (District 12<\/strong>), Seton LaSalle (Dist. 7)<br \/>\nClass 1A Boys \u2013 <strong>Constitution (Dist. 12<\/strong>), Farrell (Dist. 10)<br \/>\nClass 1A Girls \u2013 Old Forge (Dist. 2), <strong>Vicentian Academy<\/strong> (Dist. 7)<\/p>\n<p>If you noticed most of the teams reaching the state championship games were from the Philadelphia region (Districts 1 and 12) and that ALL the boys winners were from District 12 (first time that has EVER happened in Pennsylvania), give yourself a gold medal.\u00a0 It was common knowledge that once the District 12 schools were granted access to the PIAA tournament, the teams from the Delaware Valley would often be favorites in playoff match-ups.\u00a0 However, \u00a0I don\u2019t think many basketball fans not from the southeastern corner of the state anticipated just how dominate these programs are.\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019ve had the opportunity to see teams like Roman Catholic, Martin Luther King, Conwell Egan, Newmann-Goretti and Archbishop Carroll play at a high level for several years.\u00a0 Their successes is not a fluke, nor do I anticipate their quality of play dropping off any time soon.<\/p>\n<p>Is it right that most championship participants of a statewide tournament come from one area?\u00a0 I cannot argue against it and believe there are opportunities with this tourney for a team to have a chance\u2014although not a great one\u2014to compete for a crown.\u00a0 Whether it\u2019s envy, sour grapes or an unjust system, the debate will rage on until more teams from other parts of Pennsylvania start making it to the title games\u2014and for the boys teams, it\u2019ll mean winning championships on a more regular basis.\u00a0 One thing that cannot be disputed is that the success of high school basketball in Philadelphia is as strong as ever, and any sports fans left to watch the last three rounds of the PIAAs will continue to watch Philly\u2019s brand of basketball for years to come.<\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After shoveling snow out of my driveway for the final time this winter (even if we get more of the white stuff, I\u2019m just plowing through with my car from now on), I had a chance to witness some of the PIAA state playoff games.\u00a0 Unfortunately, none of the teams in our RCN-TV coverage area&#8230;<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"Yoast SEO Relevanssi index 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