#14 you make me proud.

CE won by 2 it was a great game

 

I don't think anyone would say St Pius 8th grade isn't a great team with one of the top players around in Michael Maher, but it sounds like they have struggled a little bit this year compared to years in the past. Does anyone know their record this year?

I don't think anyone would say St Pius 8th grade isn't a great team with one of the top players around in Michael Maher, but it sounds like they have struggled a little bit this year compared to years in the past. Does anyone know their record this year?

Not really for sure there record but didn't they go into OT at highlands this year and that was when highlands was healthy and had salter and Huddleson playing along with Ahlfeld?

CE won by 2 it was a great game

 

Give us a brief summary of the game. I heard it was tied after 3.

Not really for sure there record but didn't they go into OT at highlands this year and that was when highlands was healthy and had salter and Huddleson playing along with Ahlfeld?

 

Yes, but the year prior they beat Highlands by 17. They've lost more games than they have in the past. It is a fair question.

Yes, but the year prior they beat Highlands by 17. They've lost more games than they have in the past. It is a fair question.

 

I agree it was a fair question. I guess I kinda answered the question with a question. I just haven't noticed a difference in the st. Pius team but CE beat them last year by 2 also as 7th graders but they have split the last two years each team winning at there place

Not really for sure there record but didn't they go into OT at highlands this year and that was when highlands was healthy and had salter and Huddleson playing along with Ahlfeld?

 

Deep breathes...It wasn't a dig against you guys. Your so sensitive these days. LOL jk Buddy! Yeah, we ended up beating St. Pius on a last second shot. It just had me thinking that I was surprised they are losing as much as they are this year, that's all.

 

I consider HMS, CE, St Pius, and Beechwood(haven't played them yet) all top tier 8th grade teams in the area right now.

 

SVM is there too but with missing one of the top scorers it will be hard for them to hang right now at the top but I hear he will be back for the end of season tourney.

 

I hear Ockerman is playing some better basketball too.

Deep breathes...It wasn't a dig against you guys. Your so sensitive these days. LOL jk Buddy! Yeah, we ended up beating St. Pius on a last second shot. It just had me thinking that I was surprised they are losing as much as they are this year, that's all.

 

I consider HMS, CE, St Pius, and Beechwood(haven't played them yet) all top tier 8th grade teams in the area right now.

 

SVM is there too but with missing one of the top scorers it will be hard for them to hang right now at the top but I hear he will be back for the end of season tourney.

 

I hear Ockerman is playing some better basketball too.

 

Lol. I didn't mean to sound like I was being a jerk sorry. I just honestly didn't no that pius was struggling this year I figured they were the same as always

Mayer is a beast. A very good player. But the gap between him and others has shrunk. He is now able to be defended. He is still a load and very hard to guard, but it's doable. He is also asked to do a bunch for his team. In yrs past, he has physically dominated others on the block and in the paint and rebounding. He is still one of the Top 2 or 3 8th graders in this area, but others have closed the distance between his skill set and their skill set.

I think it is called parity. Any of these teams can beat others on a given night. It comes down to who gets the higher percentage of shots.

 

There are many good teams with good players. Many players are just now developing and starting to ascend forward. I have seen StPius play twice this year. The first time was against Gray with out Mayer. They dominated with out Mayer winning by 3X. Last night Mayer was really good he did all he could. However, last night the game was controlled by Kevin Centers of Camp Ernst. If it were not for a couple of three's by StPius the game wouldn't have been as close. CE seemed to be in control of the game pretty much start to finish. The supporting cast at CE made a big difference. They were very aggressive in all aspects of the game and got many transition layups. Depth is another issue. Pius played 7 while CE played a core of 8. I've watched CE play the last two nights and can NOT recall ever seeing them as patient as they were last night. There were many half court possessions that they made 15 or more passes.

 

Basketball is about making shots. Camp Ernst took shots in the paint while StPius took more three's. In the end the percentages won out.

I saw the Beechwood freshman team play a couple of nights ago, and I noticed that Jefferson is now playing freshman and Bieger did not play. Has that changed the eighth grade personnel?

I saw the Beechwood freshman team play a couple of nights ago, and I noticed that Jefferson is now playing freshman and Bieger did not play. Has that changed the eighth grade personnel?

 

Jefferson and Draud are both now playing frosh only. They seem to be finished with the challenging part of the 8th grade schedule so they were moved up.

 

Bieger plays JV.

In my opinion, while Pius has good skilled kids 1 through 8, they lack team size in comparison to some schools.

Beyond Mayer & Powers, the other boys are relatively lesser in stature. Some have not yet hit growth spurt, while others may have

been early growers. They won region in 6th, lost a tight one in the finals in 7th . . . I'm betting they will return for a 3rd time.

In my opinion, while Pius has good skilled kids 1 through 8, they lack team size in comparison to some schools.

Beyond Mayer & Powers, the other boys are relatively lesser in stature. Some have not yet hit growth spurt, while others may have

been early growers. They won region in 6th, lost a tight one in the finals in 7th . . . I'm betting they will return for a 3rd time.

 

Pius coach was not present last night I heard and there has been some whining about kids playing time so you saw some PT for kids who do not usually get it. By time Pius was down 10 last night the others came in. Again, this is what I was told. I wasn't there. I also heard about a CE crowd who was all over Mayer and calling him "spray tan" as he is tan from the CCH Florida trip. CE was dressed up as nerd night as well. Is this true for a 8th grade game? I hope the name chanting is false as I would expect any administration would be embarrassed to allow that

 

The difference right now is Pius teams do not practice but 1-2x a week due to the many 3rd-8th grade boys and girls teams and limited open times. Per the same contact today come a few weeks they will get more practice time in to prepare for the run. But for sure at this age these boys are starting to develop and catch up. will be a very fun 2016 tourney this year.

Pius coach was not present last night I heard and there has been some whining about kids playing time so you saw some PT for kids who do not usually get it. By time Pius was down 10 last night the others came in. Again, this is what I was told. I wasn't there. I also heard about a CE crowd who was all over Mayer and calling him "spray tan" as he is tan from the CCH Florida trip. CE was dressed up as nerd night as well. Is this true for a 8th grade game? I hope the name chanting is false as I would expect any administration would be embarrassed to allow that

 

The difference right now is Pius teams do not practice but 1-2x a week due to the many 3rd-8th grade boys and girls teams and limited open times. Per the same contact today come a few weeks they will get more practice time in to prepare for the run. But for sure at this age these boys are starting to develop and catch up. will be a very fun 2016 tourney this year.

 

I'm starting to see a few schools that now have cheering sections. Good to see. "Spray tan" wouldn't get my attention if I were the administrator for CE. Harmless.

 

Practice time at Pius is a challenge especially for the 8th grade team . Between the number of games they play in their two leagues plus the tournament games they play AND the other 30+ teams that need gym time it's really tough to get practices in.