Looks like the right time to take a look at postseason picture

January 20, 2020

Most of the area’s teams have played at least 11 games, meaning the regular season is more than half over. So let’s take a peek at where the teams in the Mirror’s coverage area stand and where they might be by the time the playoffs begin. We’ll start on the girls side where once again the most intriguing race is in Class 2A. The field isn’t as deep this year with teams like Blairsville and Bishop McCort taking steps back, but the top four are as solid as ever. Bellwood-Antis is at No. 1 and seems like a good bet to stay there. The Lady Blue Devils turned down an ...

Giger: Lions right ship in crucial game

January 19, 2020

UNIVERSITY PARK — Most coaches won’t admit publicly that one contest is a must-win game, even when it’s pretty obvious. Like the game Penn State played Saturday afternoon. “Was it a must win?” Patrick Chambers replied when asked. “I don’t believe in that. I believe there’s a lot of basketball left to be played. There’s still a lot of time.” Be that as it may, Penn State would have been in a world of hurt had it lost to Ohio State in front of a packed house of 14,785 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Everybody knew it. Including Chambers. “For my sanity,” he said ...

Bellwood-Antis star maintains humility

January 15, 2020

CLAYSBURG — When Tuesday’s game at Claysburg-Kimmel was briefly stopped to honor Alli Campbell’s Blair County scoring record-breaking basket, it may have been the only moment Campbell felt out of place during the game. She was trying to get back on defense. Suddenly, teammates were mobbing her, Campbell’s family was on the court and even Claysburg-Kimmel’s players were presenting her with balloons and flowers. “It kind of snuck up on me, and I’m just taking it all in,” Campbell said. “It wasn’t really one of my top goals or focuses in the first place. This is ...

High school blowouts can be awkward both ways

January 13, 2020

BELLWOOD — Friday night was a special one for Bellwood-Antis coach Jim Swaney, who won his 500th game as a head coach. But as happy and emotional as he was after the game, he likely felt somewhat awkward during it. His Lady Blue Devils overwhelmed a rebuilding Moshannon Valley team that was devastated by graduation after earning home games in the District 6 Class 2A playoffs the past two seasons by 89 points. The Damsels are learning on the fly at the varsity level due to a lack of numbers, and they aren’t alone. “We don’t have a JV team, because we only have nine ...

Giger: Bad week, bad signs for PSU basketball

January 12, 2020

UNIVERSITY PARK — There was a distinct sound of bricks being thrown at the basket as Penn State started Saturday’s game 0-for-12, and the end of the disappointing loss to Wisconsin brought about the sound of people starting to jump off the Nittany Lion bandwagon. Maybe that’s unfair — to start getting serious doubts about a solid team that’s done a lot of good things this season. This is still a team that has a very good shot at making the NCAA Tournament. But this is Penn State basketball. It’s hard for casual fans to get interested in the team in the first place because ...

Goodman Shaffer: Hikes inspire celebration of state parks

January 7, 2020

Another new year (and an exciting new decade) is under way. For many of us, 2020 began with a hike at a Pennsylvania State Park. The First Day Hike initiative has become a tradition in our region and around the nation, one that’s growing every year. By the numbers: since 2012, all 50 states have cooperatively sponsored First Day Hikes. This year, 39 Pennsylvania parks hosted events, topping the 2019 total of more than 7,755 miles hiked by nearly 3,000 human participants (plus more than 130 dogs). Local events have been supported by “Friends” chapters of the Pennsylvania ...