DISTRICT 3-AAA BOYS’ BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
(7) Manheim Central (L-L, 24-3) vs. (5) Susquehanna Twp. (Mid-Penn, 18-7) at Giant Center, 8 p.m.
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ABOUT MANHEIM CENTRAL
Probable starters
15 Matt Walsh 6-4 jr (16.9 ppg)
23 Tony Staffieri 6-0 jr (6.5 ppg)
24 Tanner Brenize 6-0 jr (3.1 ppg)
25 Dan Wiederrecht 5-11 jr (10.9 ppg)
33 Taylor Funk 6-7 fr (12.0 ppg)
Top reserves
13 Colin Brubaker 6-0 jr (1.9 ppg)
21 Josh Flanagan 6-5 sr (5.5 ppg)
31 Steve Young 6-0 sr (1.9 ppg)
About the Barons: Making their first appearance in a District 3 boys’ basketball championship game. … The Barons, in fact, never advanced past the round of 16 until this season. … Claimed the Lancaster-Lebanon League’s Section 3 title — Central’s first section crown since 1980 — and reached the semifinal round of the L-L tournament before losing to Lebanon 48-41. … To get here, Chris Sherwood’s Barons defeated Conrad Weiser (52-50, OT), West York (51-49) and Bermudian Springs (43-39). … Have won 21 of their last 22 games. … Walsh is averaging 18.7 ppg in 3-AAA play, while Funk checks in a 10.3 ppg and Wiederrecht 7.3 ppg. … Brenize won the West York game with a buzzer-beating trey, then sank another trey that tied the Bermudian Springs contest at 30-all. … Brenize is Central’s best defensive player. … Sherwood likely will unveil a number of defensive looks. … Funk leads the Barons with 51 treys, while Walsh has knocked down 31. … Defeated L-L 3 rival Northern Lebanon twice during the regular season by a total of three points. Township opened 3-AAA play by toasting the Vikings by 24. … The Barons sport a 9-2 record against teams that qualified for postseason play.
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ABOUT SUSQUEHANNA TWP.
Probable starters
3 Nehemiah “Bud” Mack 6-0 so (17.6 ppg)
4 Gabe Mack 5-10 sr (11.0 ppg)
5 Takhi Turner 6-1 sr (5.8 ppg)
15 Joe Marshall 6-4 jr (8.7 ppg)
22 Quintin Ward 6-6 jr (8.7 ppg)
25 Roman Letterlough 6-5 jr (5.8 ppg)
Top reserves
1 Jaquan Blair 6-3 jr (3.9 ppg)
2 Jordan Millberry 5-8 sr (2.9 ppg)
10 Lawrence Holley 6-3 sr (2.8 ppg)
About the Indians: Susquehanna Twp. is appearing in its 15th District 3 championship game. The Indians, who last won in 2008 (AAA), are just 5-9 in title scraps. … Tied for second in the rugged Mid-Penn Keystone Division, which sent seven of its nine teams to postseason play. Four Keystone programs, including Township, have qualified for state tournaments. … To get here, Vince Rogers’ Indians defeated Northern Lebanon (71-47), two-time defending champ Berks Catholic (52-38) and Bishop McDevitt (60-57, OT). … Susquehanna Twp. has won 14 of its last 17 outings. … Bud Mack is averaging 22.0 ppg in 3-AAA action, while Letterlough is plugging away at a 9.0 ppg clip, Ward at 8.3 ppg and Marshall at 8.0 ppg. … Holley will play college football at Old Dominion, Millberry at St. Francis (Pa.) and Turner at Indiana (Pa.) … Like Central, Susquehanna will showcase multiple defensive sets. … Bud Mack has tossed in a team-high52 treys, while Gabe Mack is next with 39 treys. … Only common opponent is Northern Lebanon, which Township toasted by 24 and Central edged twice by a total of three points. … Susquehanna owns a 5-3 mark against state-ranked sides. … The Indians are 10-7 against teams that qualified for postseason play.
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MOVING FORWARD: The winner of tonight’s game will meet reigning PIAA Class AAA champ Imhotep Charter, District 12’s fourth-place team. … The loser of tonight’s game will collide with 2013 PIAA Class AAA runner-up Archbishop Carroll (21-4), District 12’s third seed. … Both games will be played at District 3 venues.
ANALYSIS: For those wondering why six probable starters were listed for Susquehanna Twp., that’s a simple question to answer. Rogers & Co. plugged Letterlough into the starting unit when the Indians faced Berks Catholic in last weekend’s 3-AAA quarterfinals and had to deal with the Saints’ giant frontcourt. When Township collided with top-seeded McDevitt in Monday’s semis, the rugged Turner received the starting nod. Since Central probably will trot out a multiple-guard look, Turner likely will get the call. He’d be more comfortable on the perimeter chasing Walsh and Funk — despite their edge in length — since both can and will fire up a 3-ball without prompting. If the Indians decide to go big, Ward, Marshall and Letterlough should be able to dominate the glass since Central isn’t as powerful up front. Will be curious to see if Sherwood attempts to collar Bud Mack with a gimmick defense such as a box-and-one or triangle-and-two. Should he opt to go in that direction, Brenize will be the chase guy. As for Central, the Barons need to find another consistent scorer to park alongside Walsh and Funk. Wiederrecht brought it late against Bermudian in Monday’s semis, but had been ineffective since dropping in 19 against McCaskey in the L-L quarterfinals. Flanagan also could get plenty of PT as well, particularly since he provides the Barons with another big body to run in there against Susquehanna’s imposing front wall. Flanagan also performed really well at the head of Central’s 1-2-2 zone press, a defensive look Sherwood opted for after the break that allowed the Barons to climb back into it against Berm.
THE PICK: While Susquehanna Twp. has had to hammer it out with two-time defending champ Berks Catholic and top-seeded McDevitt the past two outings, the Barons have been embroiled in three taut, come-from-behind affairs. So, both sides should feel comfortable in tight quarters down the stretch. Getting good vibes from the Indians, who had an awful time trying to get into a rhythm during the regular season since school was closed on multiple occasions. Well, they are now. And the bullet-bodied Bud Mack has been on an uptick lately and figures to cause all sorts of problems for the Barons. Brenize will give it a go defensively, but Mack is capable of beating opponents from deep or by getting to the hole off the dribble drive. So is his older yet smaller brother, Gabe. Since the Indians can spread the ball around — inside and out — we’re giving them the nod. Susquehanna Twp. by 8.
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