H.S. EXTRA NOTEBOOK: Greencastle to host MPC boys soccer game
Don't look now, but it's already just about time for playoffs in fall sports.
The Mid Penn Conference playoffs are first in line. Greencastle-Antrim, which has won the MPC Colonial Division in boys soccer, will host a league playoff semifinal game Tuesday at 6:30 p.m, against the Commonwealth Division champion.
That division has not yet been decided.
The standings as of Thursday afternoon had Central Dauphin (10-2-0) first, Cumberland Valley (9-2-1) second and Chambersburg (8-2-2) third. However, the Trojans were playing CV on Thursday and CD on Saturday, so those positions are volatile.
Here is a rundown on when various District 3 playoffs begin:
• Boys and girls soccer – Play-ins Oct. 23-24, first round Oct. 26-27
• Field hockey – First round Oct. 24
• Girls volleyball – First round Oct. 29
For District 5:
• Boys and girls soccer – Oct. 31
• Girls volleyball – Nov. 2
NEW MEMBER >> Last year, the Mason-Dixon Christian Conference lost one of its members, New Life Christian.
But this year, the MDCC found a replacement in Shenandoah Valley Christian Academy. The Patriots are located in Winchester, Va. Shenandoah Valley had been an MDCC member quite a few years ago.
That brings the league back to eight schools, including local schools Shalom Christian and Cumberland Valley Christian.
STATISTICAL ODDITY >> James Buchanan is having a rough season in football, with an 0-6 record.
Naturally, the Rockets are pretty low in the District 3 Class AAA power rankings, but they aren't at the bottom. In fact, there are five winless teams and JB is the highest-ranked among them.
Why?
Look at the calculation for Oppponents WInning Percentage (OWP). The Rockets' opponents have won at a .723 clip. That's the highest number of all the Class AAA schools. In fact, the only other school with an OWP of at least .700 is Mechanicsburg, which is also 0-6.
In addition, of all the schools in District 3, only one team has a higher OWP – Chambersburg (.737).
STREAKING >> The McConnellsburg boys basketball team won its first 11 games of the season last winter before it dropped a game to Southern Fulton.
This fall, the boys soccer team – with many of the same kids playing – won its first 11 contests. Fannett-Metal ended that streak last Friday with a 3-1 victory.
Those teams have split this season; the Spartans won the first encounter 3-0. Interestingly, both wins came on the road.
McConnellsburg and F-M are currently ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in District 5, and that would make for an intense district championship game.