MEADVILLE —
It’s the same round, the same venue, and the same two combatants as the General McLane and Beaver boys basketball teams meet up in the PIAA Class AAA second round for the second year in a row today at 7:30 p.m. at Sharon High School.
Last season, McLane ousted Beaver 68-54 to advance to the state quarterfinals.
This year, Lancers head coach Andy Schulz is careful not too count any unhatched chickens. Beaver can be tricky.
“They’re just a different type of team than we’ve seen,” said Schulz. “It’s always about matchups at this point. And (Beaver) is a very up-and-down team. They’re very offensive minded. They like to push the ball as fast as they can.
“Hopefully,” he added, “we can play with any style. (Today) it’s going to be a faster pace than we’ve seen in quite some time, probably since the East game.”
Beaver comes into the game with a record of 20-4 and the fourth seed out of the WPIAL. The Badgers advanced to the second round with a 60-46 victory over District 9 champion Bradford this past Friday.
Beaver’s senior guard Austin Logan scored a game-high 20 points against Bradford. Senior forward Corey Nesmith followed with 13.
Both of those guys had decent games against McLane last year. Nesmith scored 11. Logan had seven.
Leading the Badgers in last year’s showdown was 6-foot-5 center Aaron Barlow, a senior this season, who scored 16.
“They have a big kid inside, Barlow,” said Schulz. “He’s 6-5, 220-pounds or something like that. He’s a big strong kid. He’s really good on the offensive rebounds. And their swingman, Nesmith, is explosive to the basket.
“It’s going to be a different type of game — not possession-to-possession, but more open court. We’ll have to do a good job defending and a good job on the boards.”
The Lancers (21-5) should have a good counter for Barlow with 6-5 senior Quinn Thompson getting the start under the hoop and 6-5 junior Brett Kulka coming in off the bench.
And the Lancers certainly have the wheels to keep up in a fast paced game. Guards Marcus Erdman, Lucas Hallett and Clay Smith can each move well. And there are few faster than McLane senior phenom Jaymon Mason, who is coming off a 32-point game against Thomas Jefferson in Friday’s first round.
Mason, who is good to go today after injuring an ankle on Friday, is averaging 26.0 points per game in four postseason appearances this year.
The 6-foot-3 senior also led the way last year against Beaver with 22 points. Thompson scored 12.
McLane had two other players in double digits in that 2012 game — Chad Kulka scored 14 and Josh Ponsoll scored 10 — but they both graduated after last season.
Yet, it’s not so much points that Schulz is concerned about. He’s looking more for a responsive effort on defense and an aggressive approach off the glass for the rematch with the Badgers.
“The two keys for us will be getting back on defense and limiting them from taking easy shots or getting layups on the transition,” said Schulz, “and getting on the boards. Those are the two areas we need to concentrate on.”
Local Sports
BOYS BASKETBALL: Lancers, Badgers meet in rematch
- Local Sports
-
-
No Triple Crown: Oxbow upsets Orb at Preakness
Right from the start, a horse trained by one not so over-the-hill Hall of Famer and ridden by another took control of the Preakness. The result: a huge upset and the end of any hopes for a Triple Crown attempt at the Belmont Stakes.
-
H.S. BASEBALL: Rockets too much for Bulldogs in season finale
TITUSVILLE — Year one of the Bruce Stewart era as the Meadville baseball head coach is officially in the books. Unfortunately it came with a defeat to the hands of Titusville. The Bulldogs committed three errors and allowed five unearned runs to cross the plate in a 7-3 loss at the Ed Myer Recreation Complex on Friday.
-
H.S. BOYS VOLLEYBALL: Cards clinch No. 2 spot for D-10 tourney
It took them until the final day of the regular season, but the Cochranton boys volleyball team now knows where they stand for next week’s Class AA District 10 playoffs.
-
H.S. TRACK & FIELD: Sternby runs away with gold at D-10 meet
HARBORCREEK — It was sweet redemption for Meadville’s Heather Sternby during Wednesday’s Class AAA District 10 Track and Field meet at Harbor Creek High School’s Paul J. Weitz Stadium.
After falling in the 100-meter dash to Grove City’s Courtney Corbin in last year’s meet by .09 seconds, Sternby got her revenge by defeating Corbin by .10 seconds in this year’s event. -
H.S. SOFTBALL: Two-run sixth lifts Saegertown in Region 3 battle
With the playoffs looming, Saegertown head softball coach Mark McKissock hoped to get his girls an early taste of that intense postseason atmosphere.
-
TRACK AND FIELD: ’Dogs prepare for districts
It’s amazing how much difference a year can make. Last year at this time, the Meadville girls track and field team was the Region 3 champion and a serious contender to dethrone Grove City as the District 10 Class AAA champion.
-
H.S. BASEBALL: Saegertown rolls to sweep of Conneaut
Nothing could get in the way of the Saegertown baseball team picking up a pair of wins on Friday. Not even Mother Nature. With a dark cloud hanging over Ed Acker Field, the Panthers made quick work of Conneaut with a run-shortened 12-0 and 11-1 win in non-region play.
-
H.S. Baseball: Mother Nature interrupts Conneaut winning streak
Most years the most devastating opposition for area softball and baseball teams is old Mother Nature.
This year has been no different. The wrath, however, has been a little less traumatic. -
H.S. TRACK & FIELD: ’Dogs close regular season with sweep
The Meadville track and field team ended the season with a bang on senior day and will be rolling into next week’s District 10 Class AAA Championships at Harbor Creek High School after sweeping Central Tech on Thursday at the Barco-Duratz Athletic Complex.
The boys (1-5) delivered a nail-biting 75-70 win, giving them their first win of the season, while the girls (3-3) cruised to a 120-26 victory. -
H.S. BASEBALL: Oilers too slick for Eagles
LINESVILLE — The Oil City baseball team simply has Conneaut’s number this year.
“And that’s the only number we’ve had so far this year,” said Oil City head coach Adam Best. His team is now 2-12 on the season, 2-5 in Region 6. And both of those wins were against Conneaut. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
No Triple Crown: Oxbow upsets Orb at Preakness
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
