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Panthers, Titans have opportunities

THE SCOOP: Northern Bedford and Tussey Mountain haven’t quite enjoyed the kinds of seasons that were expected of them, but there were good reasons for that. In both cases, injuries to star players for extended periods took key elements away from the team and made it take longer to gel again when those players got back.

Now, the Black Panthers and Titans are at full strength, and they could be a bear for the higher seeds that have to deal with them.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Berlin Brothersvalley

PLAYERS TO WATCH: McConnellsburg sr. F Chance Hawbaker, McConnellsburg sr. G Chase Novak, Conemaugh Township so. G Jordan Poznanski, Berlin Brothersvalley sr. G Nick Gooden, Rockwood so. G Troy Emert, Northern Bedford sr. G Jake Cherry, Tussey Mountain sr. F Andrew Bithell, Tussey Mountain sr. G Ryan Leonard

MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUPS: Tussey Mountain at Berlin Brothersvalley and Northern Bedford at Rockwood in the quarterfinals; Tussey Mountain or Berlin Brothersvalley at Conemaugh Township in the semifinals; Conemaugh Township vs. McConnellsburg in the championship

SLEEPER: Tussey Mountain

MIRROR’S TEAM TO BEAT: McConnellsburg

NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: Two

WHO THEY’LL PLAY IN INTERDISTRICTS: 5-1 vs. 6-3; 5-2 vs. 6-2;

ANALYSIS: Tussey grabbed the sixth and final seed in this bracket, and yet, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Titans playing in the finals at UPJ. With Bithell back, Tussey has big-time weapons both inside and out. You add long-range bomber Patrick Black to that mix, and the Titans’ potential is downright scary.

Tussey’s path to the finals isn’t overly undoable, either. Quarterfinal opponent Berlin and potential semifinal foe Conemaugh Township have combined for just 25 wins this season. They weren’t very far ahead of Tussey, all things considered.

Northern Bedford’s path is a little tougher, simply because the one team that really stands out in this field — McConnellsburg, with its terrific discipline — would encounter the Panthers in the semifinals. NBC winning at Rockwood in the quarterfinals wouldn’t be all that surprising. Northern has decent size and athleticism. Cherry’s return from injury eight games ago to team with Jacob Dasher inside and Isaac Drenning’s all-around prowess definitely makes the Panthers a team to watch for a first-game upset.

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