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Boys Basketball, Sports

Bagpiper sports writer makes NCAA predictions

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By Luke Geraghty

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No I’m not talking about Christmas; I’m
talking about the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Each year this event brings upsets, tons
of excitement, and occasionally some game winning shots. This year should be the most
exciting, given the fact that there are now 68 teams instead of the typical 65.
Last year, Duke won a thrilling National Championship after defeating a
surprising Butler team which had a number five seed. Experts have said that some of the
top seeds this year are weaker then some of the ones in the past, which means this year
could bring out more surprises. So with that said, it’s time to pick apart the bracket and
break down every region.
In the East region, the top seed is Ohio State. Led by Freshman Jared Sullinger,
the Buckeyes have tasted defeat only twice. Some of the other teams that stand out in the
region are North Carolina, Syracuse, and Kentucky. North Carolina had been playing
lights out up until getting blown out by arch-rival Duke in the ACC Championship.
Syracuse and Kentucky both seem to playing their best basketball of the season right
now. In my mind, the East region is the toughest region. I have the four teams as
mentioned all playing in the sweet 16. Ohio State has an advantage inside, so I’ll take
them over Kentucky. Syracuse and North Carolina will be another great game. Both
teams always play hard, but I think Orange will squeeze out a tight win. This brings up a
showdown between Ohio State and Syracuse. I’ll take Ohio State because of their solid
outside shooting.

East champion: Ohio State

The West Region is headlined by the defending champion Duke. Even without
their star freshman Kylie Irving, the Blue Devils are still a legitimate threat to take the title again. However, Kemba Walker and the Connecticut Huskies will be standing in their way. The Huskies are coming fresh off a Big East championship in which they won five games in five days. Four of those wins were against ranked teams. Don’t sleep on San Diego State, though. They have had the best regular season in school history. Some upsets I have in the first round include 13th-seeded Oakland over Texas and tenth-seeded Penn
State to keep up its momentum with a win over Temple. In the end, I have Duke and Connecticut both making a run to the Elite 8. The Huskies will finally run out of gas and Duke will get the win.

West Champion: Duke

Kansas is the number one seed in the Southwest Region. Last season as the top overall seed, the Jayhawks were upset in the second round. This year they are looking to rebound. The number two seed in the region is Notre Dame. The Irish are led by a talented senior class that includes Big East Player of the Year Ben Hansborough. After making a run in the Big East tournament, Louisville finds itself as a number four seed. Their run and gun approach could give teams trouble in the tournament. I believe Purdue will also join those teams in the Sweet 16 despite the fact they are on a two-game losing streak. In the end, Kansas and Notre Dame will both head to the Elite Eight and Kansas’s balance will send them to the Final Four.

Southwest Champion: Kansas

The Southeast Region appears to be the weakest region. It is led by Pittsburgh, who is coming off an early exit in the Big East conference tournament. Assuming they win their first game, they will have tough test against Butler and Old Dominion. Florida is the number two seed, although some people believe they don’t deserve it. If they win, they will have a tough time stopping Michigan State. Despite their disappointing season, the Spartans always seem to be threat in the NCAA Tournament. The number three seed is BYU, which is led by Player of the Year candidate Jimmer Fredette. The number four seed is Wisconsin. The Badgers don’t score a lot of points, but they seem to give some of the big teams trouble. In my sweet 16, I have Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, BYU, and my surprise pick, Michigan State. In the end, Wisconsin and Michigan State will each pull off an upset. In the end, Wisconsin wins a hard-fought game that sends them to the Final Four.

Southeast Champion: Wisconsin

My Final Four features three one seeds. The Duke-Ohio State game will be a highly competitive game that will go down to the wire. I think Duke’s experience will send them to the National Championship. In the second game, Kansas matches up against Wisconsin. Wisconsin’s great run will come to an end, as Kansas wins. The National Championship game features to of the best college basketball programs in the country. It will be a battle, but Kansas’s balance will help them yet again.

National Champion: Kansas

Boys Basketball, Sports

Hardcourt tip-off

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Ty Elliot,

Co-sports editor

With football season now over, players start to take the basketball court as the new season is underway.  As the basketballs bounce high so do the upcoming hopes and goals for the Highlanders this season.  With the success of last year, this year’s team looks to build on and try to continue the winning tradition.

            Last year the Highlanders finished with a record of 15-8.  Losing key players like Cody Banet, Brandon Codey, and Jeffery Thompson detracts from the overall experience of the team, this year’s team appears to be just as experienced with six seniors and six juniors on this year’s squad.  Filling the void left behind by those seniors will not be easy, but returning a core group of players will help ease the role. 

The Highlanders will have an easier task because they have now gone through one more year of head coach Randy Gianfagna’s system. Based upon last year’s results, it seems to be working.  Gianfagna has had great success as a head coach with a 161-134 overall record.  His 33-53 record as head coach of the Highlanders though does not accurately represent his overall success.   Despite the record as Highlanders coach, Gianfagna’s Highlanders had a lot of success last season.  His players have continued to grow and gain valuable experience playing in his system. 

            “We played in tournaments at Purdue, Salem, and in Louisville.  We have really worked on our skill work and our weight training,” said Gianfagna.

This year’s squad appears to have a significant athleticism and overall depth advantage compared to other teams in the past.  Juniors Jordan Thompson and Nick Bombersbach are two athletically gifted players on the team.  Adding multi-talented players like senior Jeremy Jefferies and junior Tanner Wortham will add more depth to the bench. 

“Our overall depth is good.  I think 1-19 Junior Varsity through Varsity is the deepest we have ever been.  With our depth, it makes our practices more competitive,” said Gianfagna.

            Last year the Highlanders made strides in big games, but when they played tough competition they struggled.  When the Highlanders played their heated rival the New Albany Bulldogs last season at FC, the Bulldogs brought their A game.  The Bulldogs and their dynamic duo with Donnie Hale and Chris Whitehead defeated the Highlanders.  This season New Albany and Jeffersonville seem to be two of the better teams the Highlanders will play this year. 

            “We have to cut down on the turnovers.  We also need to rebound the basketball better,” said Gianfagna.

            The Highlanders will have to plug in a lot of new players into key roles.  The team has to replace 67% of their scoring, rebounding, and assists from this past season.  The team lost their top three leading scorers, top four assists leaders, and their leading rebounder from last year’s squad.  Gianfagna said he believes that two players in particular will ease into those roles.

            “I think Barret will step up a lot.  He’s a three year part time starter and we hope he will average a double-double.  Connor will help in scoring, and a lot of other guys will surprise people,” said Gianfagna.

            Gianfagna said that junior Connor Schellenberg will help this team with his scoring ability.    Schellenberg indeed has a great ability to score, and he said he has worked a lot in the off-season on his game.

            “I have done a lot of personal workouts with my AAU coach, and I shoot for a couple hours almost everyday,” said Schellenberg.

            The team has its eyes set for a sectional championship.  Because they will have to play a lot of great teams, their goals are set high.  Junior Jordan Thompson said he and his teammates have high hopes and expectations for this season.

            “We want to win sectionals, beat our rivals, and become better basketball players,” said Thompson.