BY CORY ISENBERG
JOHNSTOWN — Six area boys basketball squads, including three district champions - Conemaugh Valley, North Star and Johnstown - remain alive in the PIAA playoffs with games set for today and Saturday.
Conemaugh Valley (22-3) captured its first District 6 crown since 1979 in a 51-50 Class A nailbiter over Homer-Center. The Blue Jays will take on District 10 runner-up Linesville (17-7) at
6 p.m. tonight at Richland High School
“We have to stay with what we’ve done all year and make our strengths better,” Jays coach Garry Lupek said. “What goes on out on the floor, we have to use what I call AAI, adapt, adjust and improvise. Most of our seniors have played together for a while and they have progressed.”
Conemaugh Valley’s senior-led squad goes eight-deep on the depth chart. Four Blue Jays score in double figures led by 6-foot-4 senior guard/forward Jimmy Lupek, who averages 17.5 points a game. Jason Preuss, a 5-9 senior guard, adds 13.9 points a game while 6-2 senior center/forward Cody Kushner provides 11.3. Dalton Uncapher, a 6-4 sophomore center/forward, adds 11.4 points a game. The other Blue Jays regulars, all seniors, include 6-1 Alex Roberts, 6-4 Jesse Uncapher, 6-1 Russell Turner and 5-11 Ryan Soflarsky.
For the Lions, who came on strong at the end of the year, on any given night, a different player steps up. Four seniors are part of Linesville’s starting rotation including 5-10 Walter Litwin,
5-9 Trevor Litwiler, 6-0 Dane Laird and 6-1 Brennan Miller. Junior A.J. Thompson, who is 5-9, is the other starter.
n North Star vs. Greensburg Central-Catholic: North Star downed Chestnut Ridge
64-45 to win the Class AA title in District 5. The Cougars (21-4) will face District 7 sixth-place finisher Greensburg Central Catholic (18-4) at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Pitt-Johnstown Sports Center.
“Anything after winning districts is icing on the cake,” North Star coach Jack Loya said. “We will emphasize our inside game, which is one of our strengths. Our guard play is getting better. Our kids have been playing well. We are going to give it our all.
“I don’t know very much about them,” Loya continued. “I’ve been calling around to try to find out what I can.”
The Centurions’ leading scorer is 6-foot-4 junior Jesse Reed, who is averaging 17.5 points a game.
The lone senior on the roster, Trent Hurley - a 6-4 forward and future Bowling Green quarterback - has averaged 12 points and a team-best
8.5 rebounds per outing. Sophomore P.J. McLaughlin, a 6-6, 235-pound power forward is ranked second in scoring (13.5) and rebounding (7.5) while 5-9 sophomore guard Ben Klimchock adds 11 points a game and junior guard and team captain Jake Swan leads the Centurions in assists and 3-point shooting percentage.
“It’s always hard to get past a District 7 team,” Loya said.
“It’s a matter of numbers. We come from a small district where there are four teams and they’re from one that has 40 teams.”
The Cougars starting lineup includes a pair of senior guards - 5-10 twins Jordan and Joseph Zimmerman along with 6-4 junior forward Jacob Fleegle. Two freshmen, 6-6 center Tony Strasiser and 6-3 forward Wade Walker, round out the starting rotation.
n Johnstown vs. York Suburban: Johnstown (21-3), which is coming off its second straight District 6 Class AAA championship - a 72-54 win over Huntingdon - will take on District 3 sixth-place finisher York Suburban (22-5) tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Richland High School.
The Trojans have had a layoff since the title game.
“We had a long layoff of a week and a half,” Johnstown coach Neil Cobaugh said. “We’ve tried to do some different things. We did some light work against Hollidaysburg (the Class AAAA champ) and really focused on execution and fundamental work.”
York Suburban, also nicknamed the Trojans, is back in the state tournament this year despite losing four starters from last year’s squad that advanced to the state semifinals.
The lone returning starter for York is 6-5 Thomas McInerney, who averages 16.2 points and over 10 rebounds a game. Kevin Donahue averages 14.7 points a game and is the District 3 team’s main outside scoring threat.
“York causes a matchup problem for us,” Cobaugh said. “They have no true position guys.
“McInerney brings the ball up the floor but he can also be at the post. They have height and some shooters.”
Johnstown features an impressive arsenal of athletic talent highlighted by a strong corps of senior leaders including Richard Agurs, Quayshawn Thompson and Josh Konar.
Junior guard Cliff Eddins is the team’s top scorer, averaging 13.8 points a game while coming off the bench. Mark Watson adds 10.2 and Agurs,
10 points a game. The Trojans top rebounder is sophomore Alkwan Williams, who pulls down
9.3 a game.
n Northern Cambria vs. Reading Central Catholic: Today’s other game involves Northern Cambria (20-6), which lost to Penns Manor in the District 6 consolation game and is the 6-4 team, playing District 3 champion Reading Central Catholic (26-1) in a 7:30 p.m. game at Conrad Weiser High School in Robesonia.
The Colts scoring leader is senior Joe Yuhas, who averages 19.3 points and two blocked shots per game. Senior Josh Stiles adds 4.2 assists and 3.4 steals a game while senior Anthony Penksa garners 10.9 rebounds a game.
Two other Class AA teams will play on Saturday:
n Cambria Heights vs. South Fayette: District 6 runner-up Cambria Heights (15-9) fell to Penns Valley in the District 6 championship and now will play District 7 third-place finisher South Fayette (19-5) in a 2 p.m. game at Baldwin High School.
Senior Ian Vescovi, a 6-foot-8 forward, tops the Highlanders in scoring (17.2 ppg), rebounding (10.2), assists (5.0) and blocks (6.3).
n Westmont vs. North Catholic: District 6 third-place finisher Westmont (15-12), which won Tuesday’s play-in game 60-36 over District 5 runner-up Chestnut Ridge, will face District 7 champion North Catholic (23-2) at 3:30 at North Allegheny High School in Wexford.
With eight seniors on their roster, the Hilltoppers get valuable contributions from various players. Senior Johnny Valcheff is the scoring leader averaging 11 points a game while A.J. Rievel is the top rebounder, 10.7 a game.
