MBB: MAC Freedom League

[ColonelJohn4Life]

Prelude to a Championship...

The story has been written, adversity has been faced, and overcome.  Which team gets their name engraved on a trophy this afternoon??

Scranton - An embattled coach, and an injury plagued team.  With a loss, at home, to then 0-10 Chestnut Hill, all seemed lost.  But Randy Arnold and his band of merry men respond.  A #1 seed, and two home playoff games.  Does the story end with the opportunity to cut down nets in front of the purple faithful?

Wilkes - The first chapter in this story is arguably the best - down 9 with 1:30 to go against the crosstown rival, Chris Shovlin single-handedly wills his team to an OT win.  A legendary coach battles with his strong-willed all-star, a 7-0 start becomes a 1-5 stumble down the stretch.  But another win against King's, and the story might end another Colonel looking to put his name next to Turner, Barrouk, and Jannuzzi.

The story has already been written - how does it end?

[Section J Guy]

64-63 Scranton with the comeback victory. Instant Classic.


NCAA bound.

[Section J Guy]

Cutting down the nets as we speak....

[Leo The Lion]

I missed the second half on radio, was it good?

Apparently CS had alot of foul trouble, limited to 8 points. 

[ronk]

    Listening over the internet but had to leave also with 3 min left, Wilkes up 63-59 and Gould on foul line.  Wilkes didn't score for the remainder. It was exciting up to that point but both sides had missed half their foul shots. believe cs had at least 2 offensive fouls and got his 4th early in 2nd half, missing much time.
   Hopefully, someone who was there will give us an eyewitness account.

[kingjames]

The Colonels had the game all but won, and the refs kepts the royals in it.  A pitifully officiated game.  CS got into foul trouble but didn't deserve it.  Kid makes his move around the defender, drives the baseline, hangs in the air, scranton player comes in late and fouls, but three blind mice call it offensive, twice!  I think the real refs couldn't make it so the got 3 drunks from farley's to wear the striped shirts.  Wilkes deserved the win  IMO but as is often the case scranton gets a gift.  Evan Walters had a great game and outplayed Bicknell in every facet of the game.  He was "man of the match".  Scranton couldn't handle Shovlin so they got some help.  No way were they offensive fouls, no way.  Kable had another strong game coming off the bench.  It's a sad day in the diamond city.  The MAC is just an entirely corrupt organization.

[adam]

Great game at the Long Center today.  As a Wilkes supporter, I was disappointed with the outcome.  As far as blaming referees despite a close finish and some questionable calls, I think the zebras did a decent job today.  One call I would question is Shovlin's fourth, but Chris on the bench didn't hurt the Colonels.  Sure, you'd love him in there, but Wilkes extended the lead with him in foul trouble. 
Great comeback for the Royals today as their patchwork line-up proves to be better than all of the solid line-ups in the Freedom.  I wish them well in the tournament and certainly would rather see the Royal faithful in the dance instead of those clowns from Kings
Congrats to the five Colonel seniors who will be missed.  Great group of gentlemen from top to bottom, Mike Constantine, Drew Amoroso, Evan Walters, Greg Cardamone, and John Sclafani.

[cold_case]

kingofcrybabies,
Maybe, just maybe, it's time you make a life for yourself.
Pitifully officiated game? It's always that way when Wilkes loses.
Evan was "man of the match?" He had ZERO points and ZERO rebounds in the second half.
All you ever do on this board is cry about officiating and how "CS" gets the short end of the calls.

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject. -- Sir Winston Churchill   

[naismith]

I'm sure most of the Royal contingent are taking in the girl's final tonight and will surely check in later. To them, Congratulations on a hard fought and well deserved victory.

As for the game , someone forgot to remind the Colonels that the game is forty minutes and not thirty.
Wilkes came out very very sloppy making 5 unforced errors in the first few minutes. Scranton pulled out to a quick 7 point lead (9-2) at the 16 minute mark or so.
The Colonels woke up and tied the game quickly.
Wilkes managed a 5 point lead on a buzzer beating '3' from Constantine. (that was a long 2.1 seconds). Fair to say that both teams defensive efforts overshadowed their offense. The half remained nip and tuck.
Neither 'team' shot their foul shots well.
Wilkes continued to have the upper hand in the 2nd half despite the absence of Shovlin for 14 1st half minutes and 12 2nd half minutes. Evan Walters was doing it all (except free throws)...Kable had some timely shots as did Constantine. Sclafani also nailed a clutch '3'.
Wilkes upped  the lead to 10 and seemingly had the game  in hand.....so it appeared.

But there is one thing you have to admire about Scranton......Consider:   Both big men are plagued with fouls. Randy Arnold can't get a shot off. ....Cannon has airballed one '3' , bricked two ft's and had another jump shot blocked twenty feet from the basket.. ......................
Yet, they remain composed. They don't panic....they actually seemed to thrive on this adversity deriving even more energy and determination.

Next thing, they get some inside play from their backup big man. Arnold gets two nearly uncontested layups and Cannon hits a clutch '3' from the rafters. And Irish Ryan Fitzpatrick hits nothing but net on crucial ft's. Scranton did what they needed to do and prevailed.

The simple fact is that Wilkes only score in the last four minutes was a Steve Kline layup. So, in the game's first 4-5 minutes, Wilkes scored 2 pts. In the last 4 to 5 minutes, they scored  2 pts. Eight to ten minutes of play and 4 points.

The defensive effort was there for both teams. Scranton appeared to have game planned  to stop CS on the base line drive. They dropped a second defender to plant for the charge and got the call twice.
Other than that adjustment, I thought Scranton played to take away the Wilkes outside threat, drop a guard down on Walters when he posted. (they did those same things in both previous games) and let the Colonel forwards beat them if they could.

On defense, Wilkes focused on stooping the 3 point shooting of Scranton as well. They did a pretty solid job. Arnold earned everything he got as Gould put forth a big effort. With CS out of the game, no other Colonel could contain RA on the drive and he did make some really fine passes on the interior.
Walters defended the post well but whenever he sat, the Royals seemed to dominate inside. No. 53 (backup center) had an excellent offensive game and hurt Wilkes.

I know some are smarting over the officiating....I didn't think the game was called all that crisply but the calls went both ways. (didn't you think EW strangled RA out of bounds with 10 seconds to go)? And if JK's shot had dropped,  that Zebra may have needed an escort from the Long Center.
Spoke with a local HS official who had called a lot of big games in his day. He rarely attends D3 games....he asked me (at the half)  if the officiating was representative of the MAC. When I told him it was usually much worse, he looked stunned. He did not think the officials coordinated well, made too many marginal calls (pointed out the first Shovlin 'O') and missed the obvious ones.  
By the way, Royal fans, he was clapping for your team....and he loves Darrin Cannon's game ---but said he should be playing in the Ivy League!!!

Overall, it was what it was....a hard fought game....a bounce here or a bounce there. Someone was going to win it.  I think both teams were deserving. It is Scranton's year. Best of luck in the NCAA's. If they get a home game, I will be there pulling for the locals.

Naismith  

[loyalroyal]

Great games on the part of the Royals and Lady Royals (also good I could rest my voice during the girls game).

Interesting fact about today.  The Royals and Lady Royals both win the MAC Freedom and both were #1 seeds.  The last school that I know of to win both the men and women's conference championship as one seeds was Scranton in 1993 when both the men and women had two losses during their entire seasons.  The only years where another school could have accomplished this feat since 1993 was 1995, 1998, 2001, and 2003 (as being the only four years since then the Lady Royals have not won the conference championship)

As for the game today.  I was sitting in the student section and boy was it rowdy.  Officiating was hit or miss and they dropped calls both ways.  It was obvious that the student section was getting to Wilkes as Shovlin flipped the student section the finger going down to the lockerroom  and Rickrode jawing with a student in the student section at one point.  As usual, Rickrode used too much attention focusing on bad calls than his players.  And to be able to come back from 10 points down with less than 10 minutes to go is a testament to the heart the team has.  Danzig IS the COY no matter what anyone else says.

Good luck to both the men and women in the NCAAs!

[cold_case]

Nais,
I'm wondering if Scranton hosts Keystone in the opening round? That would be the first time two college's from Lackawanna County met in an NCAA game.

[naismith]

kingofcrybabies,
Maybe, just maybe, it's time you make a life for yourself.
Pitifully officiated game? It's always that way when Wilkes loses.
Evan was "man of the match?" He had ZERO points and ZERO rebounds in the second half.
All you ever do on this board is cry about officiating and how "CS" gets the short end of the calls.

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject. -- Sir Winston Churchill  

CC,

Sic 'em boy u sic 'em

Now take a deep breath....relax. Please let all Colonel contributors vent for a post or two. Some of us continue to forget that these are kids and it is really just a game......

By the way, word is out that you sent a letter to Tagliabue congratulating the NFL on the fine officiating in the Super Bowl.   Seems you singled out that 'illegal blocking tackel' as the a HOF worthy call....lol

Let me know when you want to go to Bruticos for a veal T-bone or, for that matter, any establishement of your choice in the Pizza Capital of the World.

On me.......

We'll shoot ft's for the tip.

Naismith

[cold_case]

I'm taboo at Brutico's. I graduated with the owner. Seems he never forgave me for fumbling at the goal line in our annual Thanksgiving battle with Riverside.
However, if you want a good antipasto, we'll stroll next door to Rinaldi's. None better in this world. Perhaps the best kept secret in fine Italian Cuisine resides up the road at Pat Mishello's place (Anthony's). Very reasonable and very good. No way you leave without a doggie bag.
I'm game for dining out with you. We'll make a night of it, you bring the wife and I'll bring the woman. Don't sweat it, we'll dutch it and I'll pick up the tip too.

[gordonmann]

Keystone is a provisional member of Division III so they can't play in the NCAA tournament.

Baptist Bible could if they wanted to, I think.  And they'd have a very strong case for a Pool B bid.

It's a shame they played in the NCCAA instead .  At some point it'd be fun to see them play in the NCAAs instead of destroying Davis College, Valley Forge Christian and Philadelphia Biblical.

[cold_case]

Hey, Barney Fife died. Not a good day!