MBB: Landmark Conference

cold_case · February 27, 2008, 11:38:50 AM

Direct from the "Desk"

The 2007-2008 Landmark Conference award recipients are as follows:

1st-Team
Pos-Name Class
G-Randy Arnold, Scranton Sr.
G-Ryan Miller, Moravian Sr.
G-Josh Robinson, Susquehanna Sr.
C-Tom Bicknell, Scranton Sr.
F-Kevin Cuff, Susquehanna Sr.
F-Chris Earley, Moravian Sr.

2nd-Team
Pos-Name Class
G-Zach Ashworth, Scranton Fr.
G-Chris Lopez, Drew Sr.
G-Kyle Opitz, Juniata Sr.
F-Jason Banzhaf, Catholic Fr.
F-Brian Cannon, Juniata Sr.
F-Mark Franzyshen, Moravian Sr.

Player of the Year: Josh Robinson, Susquehanna
Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Earley, Moravian
Rookie of the Year: Jason Banzhaf, Catholic
Coaching Staff of the Year: Moravian College (Head Coach, Jim Walker)

No sophomores or juniors? Kooky.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 27, 2008, 12:50:04 PM

I am actually surprised Goucher's Darrin Boswell didn't make the teams... but I don't vote!

saratoga · February 27, 2008, 03:40:04 PM

Dave: Boswell looked pretty good in both games I saw him as did the shooting guard from USMMA who hails from Baltimore. A good friend tells me the Royals win by 7 tonight at Moravian & Juniata pulls one out at Susquehanna. If that happens...as unbelievable as it seemed 2 weeks ago, Scranton would host Sat. night for the championship. With that said, the Royals & Juniata probably both leave their games on the bus.

saratoga · February 27, 2008, 03:59:03 PM

Week 3 Regional Rankings just out...Scranton moves in at # 8. Can they further justify the move with another big road win tonight? If they are peaking...they certainly picked the right time.

NEPAFAN · February 27, 2008, 04:05:49 PM

Saratoga getting a little pumped up!

Matt Letourneau · February 27, 2008, 05:55:56 PM

Quote from: cold_case on February 27, 2008, 11:38:50 AM
Direct from the "Desk"

The 2007-2008 Landmark Conference award recipients are as follows:

1st-Team
Pos-Name Class
G-Randy Arnold, Scranton Sr.
G-Ryan Miller, Moravian Sr.
G-Josh Robinson, Susquehanna Sr.
C-Tom Bicknell, Scranton Sr.
F-Kevin Cuff, Susquehanna Sr.
F-Chris Earley, Moravian Sr.

2nd-Team
Pos-Name Class
G-Zach Ashworth, Scranton Fr.
G-Chris Lopez, Drew Sr.
G-Kyle Opitz, Juniata Sr.
F-Jason Banzhaf, Catholic Fr.
F-Brian Cannon, Juniata Sr.
F-Mark Franzyshen, Moravian Sr.

Player of the Year: Josh Robinson, Susquehanna
Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Earley, Moravian
Rookie of the Year: Jason Banzhaf, Catholic
Coaching Staff of the Year: Moravian College (Head Coach, Jim Walker)

No sophomores or juniors? Kooky.

Speaking of pumped...

(Kidding, guys.) Congrats to Jason..he deserved it. Glad Ashworth made second team, also, so that he got some recognition for his outstanding rookie season.

Matt Letourneau · February 27, 2008, 09:12:28 PM

What the hell happened to Susquehanna?

Scranton-Moravian must have been a great game.

NEPAFAN · February 27, 2008, 09:36:49 PM

Congrats to Banzhaf!

Scranton-Moravian was incredible. Down 10 with 6 minutes left, Scranton comes storming back to win.

I hope Dean Corwin didn't have a heart attack!

NEPAFAN · February 28, 2008, 10:07:48 AM

Last night's victory is a credit to Scranton's seniors. Randy Arnold and Tom Bicknell played great down the stretch. Also have to give alot of credit to Freshman phenom Zach Ashworth (who played like a Senior) and was great down the stretch. A couple key layups and hitting those all important free throws.

And how is there no write up in the Scranton Times?

TheGrove · February 28, 2008, 11:16:14 AM

Quote from: Matt Letourneau on February 27, 2008, 09:12:28 PM
What the hell happened to Susquehanna?

They read all the "Susquehanna can't win without Robinson" hype and believed it.

Credit to Juniata though. SU came out flat, Juniata was pumped, they jumped ahead and never looked back. I'd heard some Juniata fans muttering after Saturday's game that the refs gave it to SU, so I guess the Eagles came in ready for revenge.

That was a really hard way to see Cuff, Okanak, Gaebel and Marshall go out though.

cold_case · February 28, 2008, 08:11:19 PM

While rummaging though press releases and stat sheets, I noticed something very strange in the Juniata/Susquehanna playoff game. Sure Robinson didn't play for SU, but I didn't see Juniata's top scorer and rebounder, Brian Cannon, in the boxscore either. Unless it was a typo?
I checked all the scoring of the Juniata players and it totalled 77, with no Cannon listed.
Pat, any news on Cannon before I see a release tomorrow night?

Pat Coleman · February 28, 2008, 08:12:41 PM

Sorry -- we don't hear much from Juniata. Us desk guys just edit -- it's you reporters who are supposed to do the ... what's that called ... reporting.

cold_case · February 28, 2008, 08:19:36 PM

Never mind. The Altoona paper has a kid named Baker scoring 21 off the bench but the conference website has Cannon scoring 21. You just can't trust newspaper people these days.

Pat Coleman · February 28, 2008, 08:31:34 PM

Ain't it the truth.

NEPAFAN · February 29, 2008, 07:53:47 AM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on February 28, 2008, 08:31:34 PM
Ain't it the truth.

That is why we have the D3 Family of websites!

Okay on to the Inagural Landmark Conference Championship. Tip is set for 7:30 at the Long Center. I won't be able to attend or listen for that matter, but here is hoping that Scranton students come out and make some noise for both the women and the men. Scranton and Juniata split the season series with both teams blowing out the other in their home gyms. I do believe that Randy Arnold was far from 100% when the Royals played at Juniata. I think he only took 2 shots and scored 2 points.

However, Juniata's victory of Susquehanna was pretty impresseive. It was a romp, they stomped on the Crusaders and will come into Scranton with a lot of confidence.

Bottom Line

In a very close game (however not as close as the Scranton-Moravian semifinal):

I'll take the Royals +3.