York-Adams winter sports notebook: Parity is the early theme in local basketball
The thought entering this winter was that there was no clear-cut favorite in YAIAA boys' basketball.
In Division I alone, there seemed to be (at least) five teams competing for three league playoff spots.
Well, we're a week into the season. And while that is hardly enough time to make accurate predictions about what will happen in February, it does seem as though the early consensus was correct.
There are a good number of teams that could beat each other on any given night.
Just look at the meat grinder that is Division I.
After beating defending Division II champion Eastern York by 42 points opening weekend, Northeastern dropped its next game to Dallastown by 12 last Tuesday. It looked like a statement win by a Wildcats squad coming off another impressive victory over much-improved York Suburban.
Then York High — the league's biggest wildcard entering the season — knocked off Dallastown, 41-39, in an ugly but impressive defensive performance Friday.
Northeastern beat previously-undefeated Central York, 65-59, the same night.
Right now, those four teams and New Oxford all have winning records. And it seems like all of them could beat each other at some point.
"Not many teams go 22-0. It stings but we have to learn from it," said Dallastown coach Mike Grassel after the York High loss. "It wasn't pretty, but those are two teams that play extremely hard."
And it might not be a one-division race for the YAIAA title this year. Yes, we said that last season. But the league's only unbeaten team is Division II's Gettysburg (3-0), which secured a victory over New Oxford opening weekend. Heading into this week's games, there were five teams in Division II with winning records.
This week promises to provide plenty more intrigue. York High (3-1) goes on the road against Central York (3-1) and New Oxford (3-1) hosts Dallastown (3-2) on Tuesday. Eastern York (3-2) plays at Gettysburg while Central York goes on the road against New Oxford Friday.
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The 'best defensive' York High team yet?
As previously mentioned, York High was a complete wildcard entering the season.
The Bearcats graduated nearly its entire starting lineup and a lot of its bench from a team that won the league title a year ago.
But you just don't count out a program with the kind of history — five league titles and three District 3 crowns since 2009 — that York High has.
This much is clear: The Bearcats aren't going to be an easy out.
York started 3-1 with a loss to Philadelphia's Overbrook High on opening night. And as head coach Clovis Gallon Sr. admitted after the win over Dallastown, the Bearcats "struggle to manufacture points offensively." They've actually averaging 56.5 points per game, but have scored in the 40s twice.
But Gallon is very happy with the play on the other side of the ball.
"This is the most unique team I've ever coached in my life," Gallon said. "I just told them, they're absolutely the best defensive team I've ever coached."
Ever? As in including the many years Gallon spent as an assistant coach for powerhouse teams coached by Troy Sowers?
"That's going back ever. As a junior high coach, as a freshman coach, and a longtime assistant coach," Gallon said. "That (2015 District 3 title) group with D'Montie Shaw and Jahaire Wilson, that was a pretty tough group as well. But we just have a group of guards and forwards that can defend every position and switch every position. Our goal is to hold teams to under 60 points."
The Bearcats are giving up an average of 44.5 points per game so far. The most they've given up is 52 to Overbrook.
York High has good toughness and size with forward Branden X. Mutunga and wing Isiah Carroll to go with the athleticism and quickness provided by guards like Cameron Gallon, Antoine Beard and Tobee Stokes among others. Time will tell how far this group can get.
Girls' basketball off to competitive start
If last week's Central York-Red Lion game is any indication, it's going to be a fun year for York-Adams girls' hoops.
The two traditional powerhouses battled into overtime with Red Lion taking the contest, 42-41, at home.
That same day, West York beat Division II favorite Gettysburg 52-44 at home.
In total, there were four teams in the league still undefeated heading into Tuesday's games, and plenty of others off to strong starts.
Just like on the boys' side, don't be surprised if a lot of teams take turns beating each other this year.
In Division I, Red Lion and Spring Grove both remain undefeated and play at Spring Grove on Tuesday night. Dallastown is 3-2 but with loses to out-of-league opponents Central Dauphin and Governor Mifflin.
Division II seems especially competitive. Five teams (Eastern York, West York, Gettysburg, York Suburban and Kennard-Dale) have winning records. And that doesn't include Northeastern, which provided perhaps the most surprising win of the season so far with a 36-31 road win over Kennard-Dale.
But don't forget about Division III. Delone Catholic (5-0) looks scary good so far with five blowout wins, including a 20-point win over defending District 3 Class 2A champ Linden Hall and a 23-point win over West York. The Squirettes are ranked as the top Class 3A team in the state by TribLive/High School Sports Network.
Bermudian Springs has lived up to the hype with a 16-point win over York Catholic on Friday.
Other notable games to watch this week: Eastern York at Kennard-Dale, Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.; York Catholic at Delone Catholic, Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Gettysburg at Eastern York, Friday at 7:30 p.m.; West York at Central York, Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Wrestling dual meets about to heat up
The wrestling season has been filled with tournaments in its first few weeks.
But this should week should provide one of — if not the marquee — dual meet of the season.
Gettysburg hosts Dallastown on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. When the two teams met last season, Dallastown won 32-21 on the eighth tiebreaker — known as criteria H — for most first points scored.
Both teams look strong once again. Dallastown graduated a lot from a team that finished second in the District 3 Class 3A team tournament and reached states. But the Wildcats beat New Oxford 42-18 in its first dual meet last week and finished fourth at the Penn Cambria Panther Holiday Classic this past weekend, which features 43 teams.
Gettysburg, on the other hand, entered this season looking like the Division I favorite and beat South Western, 55-15, in its first dual.
Of course, this match won't decide the Division I title this week. But don't be surprised if the winner ends up in first at the end of the season.