Boys Sectional Preview

Well it's been a while since I've done anything on here, but I figured I'd get a little bit going since ccSCOOP is updating just once a week....and that's supposed to be Monday yet my stuff doesn't get up til the end of the week. So anyway, brackets came out today on both the Boys and Girls side so I figured I'd do a little preview.

Here is the Boys breakdown...

CLASS AA

We have no local teams in AA so I'll skip this although I will say that after looking over it I have a weird feeling Shen could pull the big upset over CBA to win this title, but in order to do it Shen would have to go through probably a watered down Schenectady team but more importantly Maginn or Alb Academy and that is awfully tough to predict this early. If they do make a run to the finals, I think they could be in good shape to pull the major upset.

CLASS A

Just one team here and that is ICC. The Riders got the 5 seed, right about what I expected after their loss to Catskill. The top 3 (SGF, Burgh and AP) were locks in some order, and then I think the argument could have been made for ICC or Scotia, but since it's on a nuetral court it doesn't matter a lot. Scotia is a good team, but lack of the size of last year. Their core is 4 guards, led by Terrell Winney. Do they have other players who can step up? Sure they do but Winney is the key as he averages over 20 a game and nearly 4 triples. If ICC can control the tempo and get the ball inside they'll be able to score, the problem is you can often give up 3's in a zone and that's what the Riders like to do. I wonder if they'll go man and put Ingham on Winney? Only trouble with that is can the big guys of ICC keep up the Scotia guards? Maybe a box and 1? I don't want to pick ICC b/c they are the local team but I think this is a favorable match up for them.
If they do win they'll likely face Lansingburgh in the next round and again out of the big 3 this is the team I'd want to face. Tyler Hammet is a monster at 6'10 but he can't move all that well. They've got two good wings in Pryor and Knight, but I think this is the opposite of Scotia in that ICC should be trying to run and push the tempo to score in transition. Definitely come in as the underdogs here, and they haven't run as much this year as in the past but don't think an upset is out of the question.
Don't want to pick preview past there b/c the potential finals match ups could be against any of four different teams. If i was forced to pick a Class A winner now I think it's between SGF and AP and I'd lean towards South Glens Falls.

CLASS B

Three local teams in Class B and sadly the commitee opted to pit two teams against each other in the first round (CD-Cat) and if they win and Hudson were to win, they'd then face in the next round. Cairo comes in very hot right now, winning their last 5 I believe and they are a great defensive team who has some guys who can attack and score (Zimmerman and McGeever) and some kids who can shoot (the Halligans) but I think they'd struggle to stop Catskills up tempo attack. It's tough to beat a team 3 times in one year, but I'd give the edge to Catskill here.
The other team, Hudson, must head to Johnstown in the first round and just like with ICC, I'm not picking Hudson here b/c they are the local team, I honestly believe they are the better team despite their inconsistencies this year. Johnstown has two decent guards but between Nevin Sheldon, Lindon Alert and Jeff Crank they should be able to contain them. The Sir Bills live and die with big man Ian Yost and the key for Hudson is to have Barksdale at least slow him down. Hudson has been playing a zone most of the year (which I hate by the way for this team) and if they do again they must just deny the entry pass into Yost. Offensively they should have no problem scoring, but they've been wildly inconsistent the whole year. I'd hate to see the season end here when it doesn't really need to so I think Hudson can pull it off, maybe even OT although I think there is a better chance if they just pull it off in the fourth.
The next round of Hudson-Catskill would clearly favor the Cats although like I've said I am a fan of Hudson's talent, even if they haven't played up to it this year.
Again if I were to make a pick for Class B right now my gut says one of three teams, Fonda, Vliet or Schuylerville. I think Vliet is the most talented but I'd lean towards Schuylerville over them due to experience. I'd take Schuylerville close over Fonda in the finals.

CLASS C

Two more teams here, Maple Hill and Rensselaer. The Wildcats got the top seed which to me makes sense. Hoosick Falls and Voorheesville had to be in the discussion but I think MH deserved it. The Rams on the other hand were the real shocker. Yes they probably lost Mico Perez-De Los Santos for the rest of the season, but that isn't their fault, this team should be seeded based upon their season and their season showed them to be a top tier Class C team. I wouldn't put them in the top 3, but they had to be in the discussion with Schoharie and Canjo. Their records were similar and Rensselaer played in the tougher conference, giving them the 7 seed is an insult in my opinion.
Maple Hill doesn't even know who they'll play first but they know it'll be either Berne-Knox or Hadley-Luzerne. Both come from weaker leagues and didn't have great years so both should be good match ups for MH. B-K has two double digit scorers but do give up points while H-L is limited in terms of offense. The Wildcats would be heavy favorites against either one and would have an interesting next round match up. The 8-9 match in Class C is a really good one with Hoosic Valley heading to Lake George. HV plays in a tough league and they've got some kids who can shoot and a little bit of size while LG has two big guys who can both put up some points. Neither is a huge problem for MH who can certainly get up and down the court and score with the best of them, but the game could be interesting for sure.
Rensselaer as the 7th seed will host Mayfield in their opening round contest. Mayfield comes out of the WAC and has a bit of size and some scorers. If Mico was back I'd take the Rams, but without him it's tough. I'll take the Rams b/c I think Britt is that good but the next round against Hoosick Falls should would be a tough one.
My pick in Class C again comes from three teams. I think MH makes it to the finals, the question is which dominate big man do they get, McMahon from HF or Mackey from Voorheesville. Voorheesville has a tougher league, but I like HF's supporting cast better. I'll take HF and I like Maple Hill to top them in the finals. Both have good big men, but I think MH has the better supporting cast here.

CLASS D

Three teams here in Class D headline by #2 Germantown. They got seeded right where I thought they would and must feel comfortable with a first round bye. New Lebanon also got seeded where I thought with the fourth seed while Hawthorne Valley will head to the road as the 10th seed.
Germantown will get that bye then face off with either HV or Northville. They'd feel very confident against HV as they know what it takes to beat them while Northville has two very talented forwards who can score. HV is playing well right now and Northville has some dangerous talent, but a loss in this round would still be an upset and a major disappointment for the Clipps.
Like we just mentioned HV faces Northville and their talented twosome of Groff and Van Nostrand. HV has size and length and if they play with defensive intensity could pull the upset. Still it's a long trip and their guards aren't super strong, I think Northville escaps at home but it could be close.
New Lebanon got the fourth seed and will host Hartford in the first round. Hartford lacks ideal size or scorers so Potter should have a field day and move the Tigers on. The next round looks like it'd be Fort Edward. If Doane Stuart got through NL would feel good knowing they just have to stop big man Lucas Wager which they've done twice this year. FE isn't nearly as good as they've been in the past but they are disciplined and can defend. I think NL is strong enough to get through here and set up a big semi's match with #1 Argyle.
My pick for Class D is one of two teams, Germantown and Argyle. I think NL has a great player in Potter but lack depth while #3 Sharon Springs has a well balanced attack but who leads them? Argyle is deep and dangerous and has size while Germantown doesn't have great size but man oh man do they have scoring options. They defense wins titles and GTown would rather score than defend so I think Argyle takes it, but it wouldn't shock me to see the Clipps win this one. Watch out next year though, could a state title be in the cards for the Clipps? I could see it happening.