Where they are, with districts on the horizon

Who remembers multiplication timed tests as a kid?

There were those of us who dreaded them, and those who relished the pressure.

There were different strategies. Some kids started off strong but fizzled at the end. Other kids, sensing time was about to expire, would scribble furiously and sometimes did their best work, while there was always that segment who went along at their own pace and didn't miss a beat.

If you've had nasty third-grade flashbacks and are openly weeping into your coffee at the memory of it, we apologize, but this year's basketball season has been a lot like a timed test.

All of our teams have five or less games to play in the next two weeks before district playoffs start, and only then will we find out if it's better to start out quick or catch fire at the end of the regular season, but all of our teams fit into one of the archetypes.

The bottlerockets

Who was off to a faster start than Shamokin and Lourdes? Answer, no one.

The Indians started off 15-2, the Raiders 13-1; both were looking good for top seeds and the rest of the season was a formality.

Well, the hopes for No. 1 seeds aren't yet in formaldehyde, but combined, the teams have lost four of their last five games.

Shamokin hasn't even been close in its two losses, both away from the friendly confines of, as Joe Bordell calls it ­­- The Purple Palace. The first was a 68-51 loss to a streaking Mount Carmel team (more on the Tornadoes later) and at a 66-43 drubbing at the hands of Shikellamy. Mount Carmel is a rivalry that can be explained away, but after Shikellamy, the Indians will need to regroup, since the chance they'll meet again in the Class AAA playoffs is better than not.

Lourdes also has excuses to use if it wants to explain away its two losses; they came to a couple of very good teams. Both Nativity and Tri-Valley are excellent programs on hot streaks, but despite being in a different district, Lourdes will always be measured by how it does in games against the Schuylkill County Class A teams because they're a cut above everyone else in the state.

It will be interesting to see how both the Indians and Raiders come out this week after having a long weekend to stew over their most recent losses. For the sake of their playoff hopes, they need short memories.

Steady eddies

Line Mountain and Southern Columbia have similar records, and both have had winning and losing streaks this season. Likewise, both will have to contend with a loaded Class AA bracket in District 4 if either has hopes of running the table and winning a title, although both might be a year away from such lofty goals.

For either to seriously make a splash in the playoffs, there are key players on each team who have to play to full potential, although the same could be said for any team.

Line Mountain (11-7) will seemingly get its points from Kasey Long, although like her team, she has been scattershot with her scoring. One game she scores only three points, the next she lights it up for 23, and that's expected for a sophomore. The key for the Eagles is finding matchups to use their speed while not exploiting their lack of size. The crux of their attack falls on Paige Swineford. Swineford is averaging 9.5 points per game, but in the games she scores in double digits, the Eagles are 5-1.

At Southern Columbia, Cynthia Adams is playing the best basketball of her career, and it's showing in her 13.7 ppg average, but she'll need help from Jordan Marks. When the pair of low post players score in double figures in the same game the Tigers are 7-1. Add in Ali Oley's area-leading 26 3-pointers, and the Tigers are 6-1 when all three players are over 10 points for the game.

Late and lucky?

Mount Carmel and North Schuylkill have something none of the other teams do, late-season momentum. It's great to be playing good basketball in December, but late January and February are when teams really start to come together.

Mount Carmel is 3-1 in its past four games since losing to Lourdes, and 5-2 if you go back to a 14-point loss at Southern in the middle of January. Who can say what the difference is, but the Tornadoes wouldn't hurt from a couple more wins for seeding purposes. The added cohesiveness could result in a win or two in districts this year.

North Schuylkill is 8-2 in its last 10 games, and if not for a lack of size in the post, would be a serious contender in any district race. The Spartans are a little bit like Line Mountain, a lot of running, a lot of gunning, and hopefully their legs are fresher at the end of the game when it matters most. If they'll be fresh enough in the playoffs is anyone's guess.

Leaders

The numbers have been crunched, the midnight oil burned and the adding machine has been on red alert, and we're not even at the tax deadline yet. We have a new set of scoring leaders for our area teams, although many of the names we've come to expect are still on it.

Name, school PPG

Tara Sabotchick, Shamokin 16.0

Ali Oley, Southern 14.8

Cynthia Adams, Southern 13.7

Jen Kalinowski, Lourdes 13.3

Kim Andruscavage, Mt. Carmel 12.6

Ranotta Ahrensfield, Mt. Carmel 11.0

Kasey Long, Line Mtn. 11.0

Jordan Marks, Southern 10.8

Summer Reigle, Shamokin 10.5

Shelby Weikel, North Sch. 9.7

Name, school No.

Ali Oley, Southern 26

Heather Bolick, Mt. Carmel 25

Tara Sabotchick, Shamokin 21

Paige Swineford, Line Mtn. 20

Mikhail Whitcomb, Line Mtn. 19

Kim Andruscavage, North Sch. 16

Mary Kate Kelley, Shamokin 12

Sara Getchey, Lourdes 12

Tanika Gonzalez, Shamokin 11

Kayla Lavella, Southern 9

Cassie Grow, Shamokin 9

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