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4-point play: Dist. 3 releases boys hoops brackets


This summer, the PIAA underwent a major reclassification, and like most sports in the fall season, basketball was seriously effected.

Boys hoops in Pennsylvania moved from four classes to six classes, meaning the districts needed to come up with new playoff systems. Last week, District 3 released postseason brackets for boys basketball, and it's not going to be easy for a pair of local teams.

In Class 6A, under which Chambersburg falls, only 12 teams make the postseason, and in 4A, James Buchanan's new class, just 10 teams advance.

Although Shippensburg, Greencastle-Antrim and Waynesboro moved up to 5A this season, their playoff chances remain relatively similar. Sixteen teams from the district will move on.

Though it's still early, four of the five Franklin County teams currently sit in the top 10 in the power rankings. The Trojans are fifth in 6A, while Waynesboro, Greencastle and Shippensburg are fourth, fifth and ninth, respectively.

Unsung hero: With a scoring production of a staggering 49 points late last week, it's no surprise that most of the focus for Fannett-Metal so far has been Mikell McGee.

But don't count out Lucas Wingert, who has emerged as a fine secondary scoring threat. In just two games, Wingert has scored 35 points for the Tigers.

Now a junior, Wingert averaged 11.9 points per game last season and was F-M's second-leading scorer.

Workhorses: Mercersburg Academy has gotten off to a fine start, earning three wins and losing just twice in narrow fashion to begin the season.

Three players have proven themselves as top scorers for the Blue Storm, especially after a 47-45 loss to St. James. In that game, John Miller, Carlos Austin and Daniel Ogoro combined for 40 of the Storm's 45 points.

Ogoro has been the obvious leader, averaging 15.4 points per game and scoring fewer than 10 just once. Austin has had three double-digit performances, and Miller had two.

1,000-point watch: Two area players are chasing down the 1,000th point of their careers.

Greencastle-Antrim's Casey Hoover is a mere 12 points away, and will be hoping to hit the mark in Monday's home game versus Northern York.

Chase Novak, of McConnellsburg, may have to wait until after the Christmas holiday to earn the milestone. With two games left this week, Novak is 47 points from 1,000. Look for him to achieve it during the Fannett-Metal Christmas Tournament.

Also, three locals are knocking on the door of their school scoring records. McGee, Shalom Christian's Jonah Stains and Southern Fulton's Dylan Gordon are all within 200 points.