Basketball Coaches Still Hopeful for Playoff Berths

Published 01.07.2007

News
Wildcat Weekly

Vol. 6, No. 21

Schedule/Results/Records (Through Sunday, Jan. 7)

Men's BasketballOverall record: 2-11 PSUAC record: 2-4

Friday, Jan. 5 at Albright Sheraton Tournament vs. Albright, L, 73-48 Saturday, Jan. 6 at Albright Sheraton Tournament, consolation vs. Lycoming, L, 64-49 Thursday, Jan. 11 host Lancaster Bible College, 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13 at Penn State New Kensington, 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 at Penn State Abington, 3 p.m.

Women's BasketballOverall record: 2-8 PSUAC record: 2-2

Friday, Jan. 5 at Marywood University Holiday Classic vs. Polytechnic, L, 51-46 Saturday, Jan. 6 vs. Baptist Bible, 1 p.m. (Marywood vs. Polytechnic, L, 54-44 Saturday, Jan. 13 at Penn State New Kensington, 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17 at Alfred (N.Y.) University, 6 p.m.

'Cat TalesMen's Basketball Competing in a tournament at Albright University against NCAA Division III foes, the Wildcats dropped games against the host team in the opener and then fell to Lycoming College for the second time this season in the consolation.

Friday against Albright, Craig Flint (Port Allegany) was the only Penn College player in double figures with 13 points. Against Lycoming, Jameel McAfee (Williamsport) and Ryan Scott (Dallastown) scored 11 points each. Playing a more deliberate offensive game to control the tempo and using a zone defense paid dividends for the Wildcats despite the losses as they had allowed an average of 92 points per game during their first 11 outings.

Despite his team's 2-11 start, coach Gene Bruno remains hopeful of a wild-card berth in the Penn State University Athletic Conference playoffs, while his young players continue to learn his system.

Also during the second half of the season, Tony Flint, who played for the Wildcats the past four seasons, will serve as a graduate assistant coach replacing Matt Johnson, who took a teaching position in Arizona.

Women's BasketballIn the first round of the Marywood Holiday Tournament against NCAA Division III Polytechnic, Amy Fassett, of Athens, an all-conference honorable mention selection for the Wildcats last season (but joining the team for the first time this season following the semester break), scored a team-high 10 points. Amanda Ault (Milan) added nine points and grabbed 17 rebounds. Against Baptist Bible, also a Division III school, Ault had 10 points and 18 rebounds.

Coach Ron Kodish is hopeful that the return of Fassett and Brittany Blessard, of Renovo, an all-conference second-team honoree a year ago, will help get the offense on track and lead to a return to the PSUAC playoffs. "The kids have to keep their heads up. The conference is what we're gunning for," Kodish said.

(Complete rosters and season schedules are available on the college's Athletics Web site.)