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| Brittany Moore and District 1-AAAA champion Spring-Ford take on District 3 No. 7 seed Hershey in a state tourney opener Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Norristown |
By The Poopster
@BigPoppy_G on Twitter
Ever since the Poopster got his paws wet making the Week 5 picks last football season, he's been champing at the bit to get back in the prognostication business.
With three Mercury-area teams competing in the 32-team PIAA Class AAAA Girls Basketball Tournament, which begins Friday, the Poopster is raring to do some bracketology. Here's his take on all the first-round action:
Spring-Ford (27-2) vs. Hershey (21-5), at Norristown, 7:30 p.m.
The Rams' pressure defense creates turnovers like the Poopster creates empty cans of Fancy Feast. It should be no different against the District 3 No. 7 seed Trojans. ... Spring-Ford 62-39
Wallenpaupack (21-4) vs. Parkland (20-7), at Scranton High, 7:30 p.m.
The Poopster recalls a former sports editor of his owner repeating the mantra "Parkland's good" over and over. The District 11 No. 3 seed Trojans did beat Boyertown by 11 at Spring-Ford earlier in the year and get the nod in what should be a tight affair over the District 2 champ Buckhorns. ... Parkland 45-41
Rustin (20-7) vs. Dover (25-3), at Norristown, 6 p.m.
The Poopster is a big fan of the Rustin coaching staff. Unfortunately, after winning 18 in a row the District 1 No. 4 seed Golden Knights head into states having lost two straight. The District 3 No. 4 seed Eagles, likewise, are 2-3 since a 23-0 start. Call it ... Rustin 52-51.
Nazareth Area (21-5) vs. Pennsbury (14-13), at Catasauqua, 7:30 p.m.
Twin sisters Morgan and Molly Calabrese lead the way for the District 11 champ Blue Eagles, while the District 1 No. 8 seed Falcons head into states on a three-game losing streak. ... Nazareth 39-31.
Twin sisters Morgan and Molly Calabrese lead the way for the District 11 champ Blue Eagles, while the District 1 No. 8 seed Falcons head into states on a three-game losing streak. ... Nazareth 39-31.
Cardinal O'Hara (21-5) vs. Methacton (24-6), at Monsignor Bonner, 7:30 p.m.
The District 1 No. 9 seed Warriors are one of the Poopster's favorite squads, since virtually the entire team and coaching staff follow @PottsmercSports on Twitter. Unfortunately, this is not a good draw. Methacton will have to rely on the experience of its three games against Spring-Ford and have to play a nearly flawless game to have a shot at the upset against the District 12 champion Lions. .... O'Hara 45-31
C.D. East (20-6) vs. C.B. West (20-7), at Milton Hershey, 6:30 p.m.
The Poopster sometimes gets confused with the alphabet-soup abbreviations of some of these schools, but he'll give the edge to the District 3 No. 3 seed Panthers and 5-9 junior guard CaLee Gelbaugh (19.5 ppg) against the District 1 No. 5 seed Bucks. ... C.D. East 55-47
Upper Dublin (25-2) vs. Archbishop Carroll (17-7), at Cheltenham, 6 p.m.
The District 1 No. 3 seed Cardinals reeled off 23 straight wins between a season-opening loss to C.D. East and a District 1 semifinal defeat to Mount St. Joseph Academy. Their reward? A first-round tussle with District 12 No. 3 seed Carroll, which incurred heavy graduation losses from last year's state champion squad but is nonetheless a tough out. ... Carroll 40-39.
The District 1 No. 3 seed Cardinals reeled off 23 straight wins between a season-opening loss to C.D. East and a District 1 semifinal defeat to Mount St. Joseph Academy. Their reward? A first-round tussle with District 12 No. 3 seed Carroll, which incurred heavy graduation losses from last year's state champion squad but is nonetheless a tough out. ... Carroll 40-39.
Central Dauphin (20-6) vs. Boyertown (19-9), at Milton Hershey, 8 p.m.
The Poopster has much love and respect for the District 1 No. 7 seed Bears, but has a bad feeling it will be the end of the road for Kaitlyn Eisenhard and Co. against the District 3 runner-up Rams and sisters Precious and Perfect Martin ... Central Dauphin 52-47
Wilson (26-2) vs. Garnet Valley (20-8), at Garden Spot, 6 p.m.
The District 3 champion Bulldogs are coached by Doug Myer (an old acquaintance of the Poopster's owner), while star forward Carley Brew has one of the Poopster's favorite names. ... Wilson 65-41
Pocono Mountain West (23-4) vs. North Penn (21-5), at Pleasant Valley, 7 p.m.
Tough call here, says the Poopster, but he'll take the District 11 runner-up Panthers against the District 1 No. 6 seed Maidens, coached by former Lansdale Catholic coach Maggie deMarteleire. ... Pocono Mt. West 42-37
Mount St. Joseph Academy (25-3) vs. Cumberland Valley (22-6), at Cheltenham, 7:30 p.m.
Perhaps the best of the first-round matchups, this is a rematch of the season's second game, when the Eagles took a 55-50 decision. The Magic have lost only to Spring-Ford (twice) since, and though they took a 21-point beating in the District 1 final the Poopster feels coach John Miller will have Alex Louin, Carly Monzo and the troops ready to bounce back. ... Mount St. Joe's 49-46
Central (15-6) vs. Manheim Township (22-5), at Germantown High, 6 p.m.
The Poopster always pulls for any team with a Twin Valley connection, so with former Raider Kevin Raquet as the AD at Township he'll give the nod to the District 3 No. 6 seed Blue Streaks against the District 12 runner-up Lancers, who were held to 10 points by Cardinal O'Hara in their district final. ... Township 63-59
Bethel Park (23-3) vs. Mount Lebanon (22-3), at Baldwin, 6 p.m.
Maybe the most intriguing of the opening-round contests, since it will be the third meeting between the Black Hawks and Blue Devils. District 7 champ Bethel Park won the first meeting 60-54 before District 7 No. 4 seed Mt. Lebo won the rematch 49-35. The Poopster's going to say ... Mt. Lebanon 52-50.
Hollidaysburg (22-2) vs. Penn Trafford (19-5), at Altoona, 6 p.m.
The fact that the District 6 champion Golden Tigers have scored at least 70 points on ten different occasions perked the Poopster's ears up. He thinks they'll prevail in a shootout over the District 7 No. 5 seed Warriors. ... Hollidaysburg 77-67
Taylor Allderdice (12-13) vs. Chartiers Valley (19-7), at Carrick, 7 p.m.
The Poopster doesn't know Taylor Allderdice from Taylor Swift, but he saw that the Dragons lost to District 7 champ Bethel Park by 41 points, so he'll go with the District 7 runner-up Colts. .... Chartiers Valley 59-38
McDowell (14-10) vs. Gateway (20-5), at Gannon University, 5 p.m.
Though the District 7 No. 3 seed Gators will have a long trip, the Poopster still likes their chances against the District 10 champ Trojans. ... Gateway 48-39
Pocono Mountain West (23-4) vs. North Penn (21-5), at Pleasant Valley, 7 p.m.
Tough call here, says the Poopster, but he'll take the District 11 runner-up Panthers against the District 1 No. 6 seed Maidens, coached by former Lansdale Catholic coach Maggie deMarteleire. ... Pocono Mt. West 42-37
Mount St. Joseph Academy (25-3) vs. Cumberland Valley (22-6), at Cheltenham, 7:30 p.m.
Perhaps the best of the first-round matchups, this is a rematch of the season's second game, when the Eagles took a 55-50 decision. The Magic have lost only to Spring-Ford (twice) since, and though they took a 21-point beating in the District 1 final the Poopster feels coach John Miller will have Alex Louin, Carly Monzo and the troops ready to bounce back. ... Mount St. Joe's 49-46
Central (15-6) vs. Manheim Township (22-5), at Germantown High, 6 p.m.
The Poopster always pulls for any team with a Twin Valley connection, so with former Raider Kevin Raquet as the AD at Township he'll give the nod to the District 3 No. 6 seed Blue Streaks against the District 12 runner-up Lancers, who were held to 10 points by Cardinal O'Hara in their district final. ... Township 63-59
Bethel Park (23-3) vs. Mount Lebanon (22-3), at Baldwin, 6 p.m.
Maybe the most intriguing of the opening-round contests, since it will be the third meeting between the Black Hawks and Blue Devils. District 7 champ Bethel Park won the first meeting 60-54 before District 7 No. 4 seed Mt. Lebo won the rematch 49-35. The Poopster's going to say ... Mt. Lebanon 52-50.
Hollidaysburg (22-2) vs. Penn Trafford (19-5), at Altoona, 6 p.m.
The fact that the District 6 champion Golden Tigers have scored at least 70 points on ten different occasions perked the Poopster's ears up. He thinks they'll prevail in a shootout over the District 7 No. 5 seed Warriors. ... Hollidaysburg 77-67
Taylor Allderdice (12-13) vs. Chartiers Valley (19-7), at Carrick, 7 p.m.
The Poopster doesn't know Taylor Allderdice from Taylor Swift, but he saw that the Dragons lost to District 7 champ Bethel Park by 41 points, so he'll go with the District 7 runner-up Colts. .... Chartiers Valley 59-38
McDowell (14-10) vs. Gateway (20-5), at Gannon University, 5 p.m.
Though the District 7 No. 3 seed Gators will have a long trip, the Poopster still likes their chances against the District 10 champ Trojans. ... Gateway 48-39
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