Tuesday night at the Giant Center, all of the fans witnessed some interesting things.... The first thing they witnessed was that The York Bearcats are "FOR REAL"...... The 2nd thing they witnessed was The Harrisburg Cougars just might have their hands full.... Not just against York, but as soon as they get to the State tournament as well.....
I've been in the Central PA area since 1998 so I was able to witness some really good Harrisburg teams.... The 1998 team was just an incredible group of young men who were all on the same page... There was nothing that anyone was going to do to stop them from getting a State title..... They had an identity and the had role players who accepted their roles, for the good of the TEAM..... Guys like Damone Maxwell and Micah Davenport led the way and everyone knew and understood that.... They made the Team their priority.....
I also witnessed the 2002 team... That team kinda snuck up on people because the 2001 team with Andre Henry and Anthony Thompson was supposed to be the group to win it all.... The talent was incredible... But actually the 2002 team was just a better TEAM so they ended up winning it all.... They had a fearless leader in Alphonso Burnett and he made sure that EVERYONE had one goal, and that was to win a STATE TITLE.... It never mattered who was the leading scorer, who only played 10 mins or anything else.... All that mattered was whoever stepped on the floor, give the TEAM everything you have for the time that you play.... Even if it meant a guy like David Collier coming in for 5 mins and diving into the scorers table and then not playing anymore, it was fine.... or a guy like Lawrence Hamm getting most of the shot attempts in the final game because he was the hot one.... it was fine because the TEAM wanted to win....
What I see with this team is they are the most talented team from 1 to 12 that Harrisburg has had since 2007 but this group will not go as far as any of those teams I mentioned because of one thing.... THEY DON'T SEEM TO PUT TEAM FIRST!!!!!
See, I'm a neutral guy and like to call it how I see it.... I could be wrong, and a lot of times I am... but that performance I watched yesterday just wasn't Harrisburg basketball.... I don't want to take anything away from Wilson, they played a very good game.... The problem is, Wilson really did nothing special to stop Harrisburg, it was the play of Harrisburg that only limited themselves to 58 points.....
I saw guys over dribbling, too much one on one basketball, not much dribble-drive-kick or post entry passes......
Steven Stoney was absolutely incredible... His passion to win and play the right way has to be contagious in order for Harrisburg to go far....
Guys like Jahaad Proctor has to be more involved in the offense.... His touches last night were limited and I don't think it had anything to do with Wilson's defense... When Proctor and Don Rawls are hitting from the outside, it opens up the lane for guys like Ashton Cooksey Easter, Jerel Patterson, Jamaal Carter, Stoney and James Ezel.... but they can't hit from the outside if guys don't look in their direction when they're open....
I even think at times Harrisburg could even do a high pick and roll with Patterson just to open up the floor so he can use he creativity to make plays.....
Whenever Shoop is in the game, he should touch the ball almost every trip down court.... most teams can't defend him one on one plus he's smart enough to find the open man if he's double teamed....
Dom Lewis and Chris Britton seem to really understand their roles on the team and they give their bodies up for their TEAM!!!!
The bottom line is, do THIS Harrisburg team really have what it takes to be a District or State Champion? I don't know!!!!! That is entirely up to the players now.... The coaches have given them everything they need up to this point.... The players will have to come together as one unit, put everything else aside, and win the title for their CITY, PARENTS, COACHES, SCHOOL and most of all, TEAM!!!!!!!
Coach Little
Here's a look at how the State Tournament will look...... State Tourney Brackets
I've been in the Central PA area since 1998 so I was able to witness some really good Harrisburg teams.... The 1998 team was just an incredible group of young men who were all on the same page... There was nothing that anyone was going to do to stop them from getting a State title..... They had an identity and the had role players who accepted their roles, for the good of the TEAM..... Guys like Damone Maxwell and Micah Davenport led the way and everyone knew and understood that.... They made the Team their priority.....
I also witnessed the 2002 team... That team kinda snuck up on people because the 2001 team with Andre Henry and Anthony Thompson was supposed to be the group to win it all.... The talent was incredible... But actually the 2002 team was just a better TEAM so they ended up winning it all.... They had a fearless leader in Alphonso Burnett and he made sure that EVERYONE had one goal, and that was to win a STATE TITLE.... It never mattered who was the leading scorer, who only played 10 mins or anything else.... All that mattered was whoever stepped on the floor, give the TEAM everything you have for the time that you play.... Even if it meant a guy like David Collier coming in for 5 mins and diving into the scorers table and then not playing anymore, it was fine.... or a guy like Lawrence Hamm getting most of the shot attempts in the final game because he was the hot one.... it was fine because the TEAM wanted to win....
What I see with this team is they are the most talented team from 1 to 12 that Harrisburg has had since 2007 but this group will not go as far as any of those teams I mentioned because of one thing.... THEY DON'T SEEM TO PUT TEAM FIRST!!!!!
See, I'm a neutral guy and like to call it how I see it.... I could be wrong, and a lot of times I am... but that performance I watched yesterday just wasn't Harrisburg basketball.... I don't want to take anything away from Wilson, they played a very good game.... The problem is, Wilson really did nothing special to stop Harrisburg, it was the play of Harrisburg that only limited themselves to 58 points.....
I saw guys over dribbling, too much one on one basketball, not much dribble-drive-kick or post entry passes......
Steven Stoney was absolutely incredible... His passion to win and play the right way has to be contagious in order for Harrisburg to go far....
Guys like Jahaad Proctor has to be more involved in the offense.... His touches last night were limited and I don't think it had anything to do with Wilson's defense... When Proctor and Don Rawls are hitting from the outside, it opens up the lane for guys like Ashton Cooksey Easter, Jerel Patterson, Jamaal Carter, Stoney and James Ezel.... but they can't hit from the outside if guys don't look in their direction when they're open....
I even think at times Harrisburg could even do a high pick and roll with Patterson just to open up the floor so he can use he creativity to make plays.....
Whenever Shoop is in the game, he should touch the ball almost every trip down court.... most teams can't defend him one on one plus he's smart enough to find the open man if he's double teamed....
Dom Lewis and Chris Britton seem to really understand their roles on the team and they give their bodies up for their TEAM!!!!
The bottom line is, do THIS Harrisburg team really have what it takes to be a District or State Champion? I don't know!!!!! That is entirely up to the players now.... The coaches have given them everything they need up to this point.... The players will have to come together as one unit, put everything else aside, and win the title for their CITY, PARENTS, COACHES, SCHOOL and most of all, TEAM!!!!!!!
Coach Little
Here's a look at how the State Tournament will look...... State Tourney Brackets
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