District and PIAA classification: 3-AAA
Head coach: Joe Klazas (9th season, 172-61, 20th overall as a coach at his alma mater)
2012-13 record: 18-10 overall, 13-3 in Section 4, reached District 3 quarterfinals, PIAA first round
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Key players
Omar Lopez, 6-2 sr G
Eric Schneider, 5-8 sr G
Evan Purvis, 6-3 sr F
Harry Heise, 6-5 sr F
Jack Shedleski, 5-11 sr G
Grant Conway, 5-10 jr G
Josh Riley, 6-0 sr G
Back-door cuts: Klazas knows that to successfully defend the Section 4 crown this year, his Crusaders will need to navigate an improving division full of foes. And it won't be easy, which kind of goes without saying. But Lopez (14 ppg), Schneider, Purvis and Heise return with experience from a team that again found itself in the PIAA tournament. Depth is a plus, which is why we give them the slight edge to, in fact, defend their title.
Projected order of finish in L-L Section 4: 1st of 6
First game: Friday night, 7:30, at Governor Mifflin
First home game: Wednesday, Dec. 11, 7:30 vs. Hempfield
Song playing on Pandora when preview posted (completely meaningless stat!): "Wind Below" by Rage Against The Machine
MORROW CONTACT: gmorrow@pennlive.com
ON TWITTER: @RageAgainstGMo
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