MID-PENN CONFERENCE BOYS’ BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
SEMIFINALS OUTLOOK
HARRISBURG (Commonwealth, 16-5) vs. BOILING SPRINGS (Colonial, 19-2)
At Big Spring High School, 7:30 p.m.
Harrisburg notes: Kirk Smallwood’s Cougars, who defeated Susquehanna Twp. 93-73 in last year’s Mid-Penn title game, are chasing their second straight championship and third overall. Harrisburg’s first Mid-Penn crown arrived in 2005, the first year the tournament was held. … The Cougars shared the Commonwealth Division crown with Carlisle and Cumberland Valley. … Harrisburg has won its last three games and six of its last eight. … The Cougars did not meet any Colonial Division teams during the
regular season. … Harrisburg’s top three scorers are 6-2 junior guard Jahaad Proctor (21.8 ppg), 6-3 senior forward James Ezell (15.0 ppg) and 5-11 junior guard Dejour Williams (14.2 ppg). … Smallwood’s club will go into the District 3-AAAA tournament as the No. 5 seed — the Cougars are the reigning champs — and will host No. 12 Hershey (15-7) in next Wednesday’s round of 16.
Boiling Springs notes: Pat Dieter’s Bubblers, who finished a perfect 12-0 in Colonial Division play, are back in the Mid-Penn tournament for the first time since 2010, when Boiling Springs lost to Red Land in the quarterfinals. That season (2010) was the last time the Mid-Penn tournament featured eight teams. … Boiling Springs has not lost in 2014, rattling off 12 consecutive victories. … The Bubblers did not meet any Commonwealth Division teams during regular-season play. … Boiling Springs’ top three scorers are 6-5 senior Eric Contreras (12.8 ppg), 6-2 senior B.J. McHenry (12.3 ppg) and 6-3 junior Garret McHenry (10.1 ppg). … Dieter’s outfit will enter the District 3-AAA tournament as the No. 3 seed. The Bubblers will host No. 14 seed York Suburban in next Tuesday’s round of 16.
BISHOP MCDEVITT (Keystone, 21-1) vs. STEEL-HIGH (Capital, 17-5)
At Cumberland Valley High School, 7:30 p.m.
Bishop McDevitt notes: Jeff Hoke’s Crusaders are making their first Mid-Penn tournament appearance. … McDevitt has won its last four contests, with an 80-68 victory over Steel-High coming during that streak. … Four Crusaders — Dyllon Hudson-Emory (25), Justin McCarthur (20), Donte Vaughn (13) and Milik Gantz (10) — reached double figures in that win. Hudson-Emory and Gantz also pulled down 10 rebounds or more. … McDevitt is 2-0 against Capital Division opponents. The Crusaders also own a victory over Middletown. … The Crusaders were listed at No. 9 (Class AAA) in PennLive’s latest set of
state rankings. … McDevitt’s top three scorers are 6-6 senior forward Hudson-Emory (19.6 ppg), 5-11 senior guard McCarthur (16.1 ppg) and 6-3 junior guard/forward Gantz (12.6 ppg). … Hudson-Emory and McCarthur both reached 1,000 career points earlier this season. … McDevitt will begin the District 3-AAA tournament as the No. 1 seed, hosting Northeastern or Wyomissing in next Tuesday’s round of 16.
Steel-High notes: Tramayne Hawthorne’s Rollers are making their second straight appearance in the Mid-Penn tournament. Steel-High tumbled to Susquehanna Twp. in last year’s semis. … The Rollers captured the 2008 Mid-Penn title. … Steel-High has won 11 of its last 13 contests. … Three Rollers — Anthony Wright (21), Jaki Bowman (15) and Jaki Haywood (12) — reached double digits in last week’s 80-68 loss to McDevitt. … Since Hawthorne’s Rollers downed Trinity in late December, Steel-High sports a 1-1 mark against Keystone Division sides. … Wright (18.1 ppg), Rameik James (12.7 ppg) and Bowman (10.4 ppg) are Steel-High’s top three scorers. … Wright needs two points to reach 1,000 for his career. … Hawthorne’s Rollers will enter the District 3-AAA playoffs as the No. 9 seed and will visit No. 8 Lancaster Mennonite in next Tuesday’s round of 16.
MID-PENN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME — Thursday at Milton Hershey’s Spartan Center, 8 p.m.
PREVIOUS MID-PENN TOURNAMENT WINNERS
2005: Harrisburg
2006: Central Dauphin
2007: none (snow)
2008: Steel-High
2009: CD East
2010: Hershey
2011: Cedar Cliff
2012: Central Dauphin
2013: Harrisburg
2014: ???
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