FEB. 17
ICE HOCKEY!?!? (smile)
McDevitt 4, Plymouth-Whitemarsh 0
   After you first looked at the score you probably thought one of two things. Either these two teams set the high-school record for lowest combine score, or me the reporter really screwed up the score. Well if you thought either you'd be wrong because this is a special report on the McDevitt hockey team's latest win. Going into the game McDevitt could not help to be a little nervous. They knew a win would secure them a playoff spot and probably a seed in the Flyers' Cup. But a loss would not only hurt morale, but it would add another obstacle in front of their road to the playoffs. The game started off a little quite. Not many fans had showed up for the opening face off, and anybody that has been to a McDevitt hockey game knows how much of a help the Krazy Korner has been this year. Freshman Dom Manero started things off with a first period goal to break the tie at 0's. Shortly after Kevin Cleary added another to put the Lancers up 2-0. As the second period started so did the KK. We had the PW goalie right in front of us and we knew that if we had to get in his head. Although nobody score in the second the KK had done our job by flustering the Patriots. We had lit a flame under the lancers and they started playing very physically. Alex Lenertez (spelling), Brian Mitros, and Krazy Karl Kunda ( not to be mixed up with Krazy Karl Stout) led the Lancers in hits, with Paul Tompkins and Joe Smith right behind them. PW's goalie began to feel the pressure and as the third period started we knew he'd break. Mike Pisko took advantage of PW's sloppy passing! by intercepting a cross ice pass and taking off. It was a familiar scene, Pisko getting the puck, skating down, putting on the patent Bombay Triple Deke, then easily placing the puck into the back of the net. Later in the period Pisko added another goal ,off a Kevin Hannings pass, on an open net (not that the goalie would've helped). McDevitt's defense, commodore by Paul Fallis and Matt Wadell, played well also by not allowing PW to set up any real presence in the zone. McDevitt is a very young, athletic team but the player who hold the team together is Senior goalie Joe "Keys" Ring. Joe stopped 27-27 shots for the shutout, while he was sick. He showed a few very nice saves, including a breakaway save in the second. Joe shared goalie duty last year but this year it's all his and if the Lancers want to go anywhere in the playoffs or the Flyers Cup, he is gonna have to step it up.

FEB. 13
CATHOLIC NORTH
Dougherty 74, McDevitt 53
   As I arrived to the game a little late I took one look at the scoreboard
to realize my crazy feeling that we would be winning was crushed. I got
in halfway through the first quarter with Dougherty up 16-4. During the
first half you could see that McDevitt had abandoned its offense and
was just trying to get the score somewhat close. Shane Clark (15 pts.)
and DeSean White (16 pts.) kept capitalizing on McDevitt turnovers,
which led to some pretty impressive dunks. Timmy Smith (11 pts.) kept the
Cardinals together as the two teams went into halftime with the score
53-22. Now when games get out of hand like this one the losing team has
a decision to make. They can either go out and finish the game with
pride or perform like they don’t want to be there. McDevitt decided it
would finish with some integrity. They started the third with a few
points which lead to a Dougherty timeout. After the timeout both teams
struggled to score and the third ended with McDevitt trailing 64-31. The
fourth featured two big men that I have mentioned before as guys that
could fill the C position, Kyle Reese, and Mike “THE ENFORCER” Kelly.
Reese finished with 11 points, 8 boards, and 1 block. Kelly brought down
7 boards and swatted 3 cardinals. Jr. Leroi Taylor (7 pts.) started the
game at C, and did a commendable job. The only negative I found with
Leroi’s play is that he does not have the same drive as Reese and Kelly.
Reese and Kelly, both seniors, know that their high school careers are
coming to an end. This means these two are gonna put everything they
have out on the floor.
MY NOTES:
   Not much to say about this game , but I would like to send out a thank
you to the Looney Bin. As they were chanting for Bob Yost to be put in, my
friends and I got their attention and asked if they would do a Mike
Kelly chant. It must have worked because once they started, Mike Kelly
was on his way to the scorers' table.

FEB. 6
CATHOLIC NORTH
McDevitt 58, Conwell-Egan 51
   Well after months of waiting its finally here and I missed it. Yup that's right I had to work so consequently I missed McDevitt's first win in the PCL. I received an e-mail from Coach Rutter expressing his joy and it seems after all this time he finally got his first win of the season after taking my advice. As you can read in previous articles I stressed the need of a big man in the starting line-up. The big man came in the form of Kyle "Dancing Machine" Reese. He informed me on Tuesday that he would be starting and I told him that the team will do much better. Obviously I was right. I dont want to take all the credit but look what happened.
   Side note. I also heard that LaSalle fell to Wood. Personally I dont like either team but I have connections to La Salle so I would probably pull for them. But the crazy thing is I heard Marty J pulled all the starters and gave the game to his JV in the 3rd. What's up with that?

JAN. 25
CATHOLIC NORTH
Wood 69, McDevitt 40
   McDevitt walked into this game knowing that Wood and themselves were
pretty evenly matched. Neither team was having that good of a year and
McDevitt knew that if they were to get their first league win, who
better to get it from than Wood. The first half was pretty close up
until the last 2 minutes when Wood started to pull away. The start of
the second half seemed a little more friendly with Greg Stitt and Tom Maha
hitting back-to-back threes and pulling McDevitt within 11. But after a
wood timeout, the Vikings regained their composure and slowly kept adding
to the lead. Matt Spadafora led both teams with 17 points. Crawford
and Maha evenly split 22 for McDevitt.
N   ow that McDevitt has seen each team once I think they will be able to
make some alterations and finish with a few wins. The Lancers are still
without a center. Thier starting five consists of 5 guards. If they want
to win they are gonna have to put a big man in the game. The last 7
games are a witness to that. Without a big man they have gone 0-7, so
obviously the 5 guard set is not working. Its worth a shot to change a
couple things up and see what happens.

JAN. 21
CATHOLIC NORTH
Dougherty 89, McDevitt 44
   With the way our Krazy Korner was acting you might have thought we were
pulling off a huge upset, but once you looked at the scoreboard reality
would strike. The Krazy Korner was in full attendance with 50+ and we
held nothing back. The game started with McDevitt putting in a quick
lay-up and for a few seconds McDevitt held the lead. We then started
turning the ball over and they did what they do best, score. The game was
well out of hand by halftime but the KK stuck by our team and stayed
till the bitter end. Dougherty just out played the Lancers, capitalizing
on thier blatant height advantage. Even without Bilal Benn, the
Cardinals towered over McDevitt. The only Lancers tall enough to cover
DeSean White (12 pts.) and Shane Clark (13 pts.) were on the bench. Crawford, who
dropped 12, led McDevitt followed by Tom Maha (10). Hopefully
McDevitt can rebound from this performance and surprise and very good
Ryan team.

JAN. 11
CATHOLIC NORTH
La Salle 77, McDevitt 41
   During the first quarter many people in the stands were surprised that not only was McDevitt holding the Explorers but they were tied up, 4-4, until La Salle went on a 11-0 run in the last 2 minutes of the first. The second started with McDevitt trying to crawl back but weak passes and poor V cuts led to the Explorers getting 8 straight points off easy break away lay-ups. At the half it was 36-11 in favor of La Salle. The third quarter followed the same script and La Salle extended its lead to 55-19. In the fourth both coaches decided to empty their benches and this may be McDevitt’s only positive they could take from the game. For McDevitt Kyle “Patrick   Flattly” Reese and Mike “The Enforcer” Kelly did a commendable job at grabbing 13 boards and putting up 9 points between them. These two played their hearts out and it might not be a bad idea to give them a chance when the game is a little closer. Most of the time I would rag the Sallies, but they played in pretty classy fashion up until the last ten seconds when they inbounded the ball and Mike Chapman raced down the court and threw up a buzzer beater. Why? I don’t know. If they were down, or if it was tied up it would have been acceptable, but when your team is ahead by 36, you just don’t do it.
My Notes:
   Although McDevitt lost, La Salle did not impress me that much. People are telling me that the Catholic North will be led by CD followed by La Salle. But unless the bench steps up I don’t see it. Also how will they get by Judge and North, two decent teams? Nick Shattuck finished with 11, not 14 points, along with Brian Hogan and Mike “Hair” Stanton. Stanton, my cousin, seemed to have more fans in da house than either team. If you went to the game you would see the La Salle fans on one side, the McDevitt squad on the opposite side, and in the middle you could see at least 30 of my relatives cheering Mike to do well. Also Mike’s older brother Dennis Stanton, a former sally, attended the game, he’s playing B-Ball on Ursinus College’s team, and I hear he’s averaging about 26 a game.
   Nothing could help the Lancers who are playing without their key player, Greg Stitt. He might be out 2 or even 5 weeks. This takes away the Lancers ability to drive and create open shots. Many people said before the game that in Greg’s absence other players will have their chance to step up and take a few shots. They also commented on how the turnover number will go down. They sounded all right before the game but after tip-off there was definitely a sense of loss. Without Greg the Lancers had no major scoring threat and were missing his knack for finding the open man, even if some of his passes are picked off.  Drew Crawford (9) tried to fill his shoes but just isn’t that kind of player. Steve Merlini (3) looked tentative all game; he might want to be a little more “greedy”, there were a few times where he could have taken a shot but tried to pass the ball. Joe Swoyer (7) and Bradley Tucker (4), who are the only seniors who get regular time, are going to have to step up and lead the team with Greg being out.
          I would also like to congratulate the Birds on their OT win over Green Bay. My prediction is after that game no one will stop them and the Carolina game will end with Philly coming out on top 27-17, featuring Duce Staley gaining over 100 yards rushing and Freddie “FredEx” Mitchell catching 1 TD and 75 yards.

JAN. 4
CATHOLIC NORTH
Judge 80, McDevitt 46
   Due to a certain Mr. Mineri paper, I was unable to make the game on time and arrived at halftime. The Crusaders dominated most of the half and the most noticeable reasons for that were rebounds and easy turnovers. After the last game you might expect McDevitt to come in with everyone trying their hardest to box someone out whenever there was a shot. But that’s not the way it was. The Lancers kept trying to outjump people, which doesn’t work when your opponent is a well disciplined team that always boxes out. Next to that the Lancers kept shooting from well behind the arc, due to poor ball rotation. Also when someone would try to drive, usually Greg Stitt (8 pts.), he would be swarmed, which denied him a decent shot or pass. Due to his numerous A.I.esque drives Stitt was forced to leave the game with a beat up knee and ankle. Art Livingston of Judge led both teams with 18 pts. followed by teammates Steve Wolf 16 pts., and John King 15 pts. McDevitt was led by Steve Merlini who finished with 13, 9 coming for downtown. Andrew Crawford added 10. Having kids that can score is an essential part of basketball, but what McDevitt really needs are rebounds, solid D and some team unity. They don’t look too comfortable with each other, and as I have said before they’re gonna need to bring it together if they want to win.

JAN 2
NON-LEAGUE
Plumstead Christian 73, McDevitt 66
   From the time the Plumstead Christian Panthers walked in the gym the McDevitt Lancers knew this was not a very good team. They didn’t have a kid over 6’2” and during warm-ups they hit maybe 20% of their shots. The game started with the Panthers making a few easy baskets and the Lancers found themselves down early. The game dragged on like this for a while and the half ended with the Panthers leading 36-29. During the first half McDevitt guard Greg Stitt could not be found. His shot selection was poor and ended the half with 1 point. Knowing Steve Merlini (10 pts.)and Tom Maha (8 pts.) could not do the scoring all by themselves, Greg stepped it up and dropped 24 in the second half. The Lancers were moving the ball a lot better and getting open looks. They started to fight their way back but every time they came close to taking the lead the Panthers would hit a big shot or work the glass until the ball went in. As the game was coming to a close, the Lancers found themselves down by one when they decided to take a foul and send a Panther to the line. Pervious to this the Panthers were shooting 20% from the line, but in the last two minutes they shot 8/9 to put the nail in the coffin.
My Notes:
            There are two things every basketball team must do if they want to compete. One play defense, two rebound. Today McDevitt did neither. On D the Lancers find themselves out of position after going after a steal, and boxing out seems to be something McDevitt disregards. Another hurdle in McDevitt road is the loss of defensive specialist Tyrell Norton, who left the game with a bruised patella. This injury is a big loss coming to a team that is already weak on the defensive end of the court. On O with their 3 guard sets the Lancers consistently have 3-4 players around the perimeter. With only one man under the glass odds of getting an offensive board are slim. The sad thing is, is that McDevitt is a very talented team. If they are able to find some chemistry they could defiantly pull out a few wins and every game counts in a league as tough as the PCL.

DEC. 21
NON-LEAGUE
McDevitt 77, O'Hara 75
    What a game! You walked in knowing McDevitt should not only lose but get distroyed, but nothing is set in stone and McDevitt proved that this afternoon. The game started out with no score until 5:00 remaining in the first quarter O'Hara guard Gabe Diaz broke the 0-0 tie with an easy lay-up. The first ended with McDevitt up 13-12. With the start of the second the game began to pick up with Greg Stitt and Andrew Crawford tear apart the Lions with their street ball passes and finishes. After watching McDevitt run an Offense, they looked like a completely different team that lost to Sun Valley. They stayed under control and got some bench players more time, allowing the starters some well deserved rest. At the end of the first half the score was 32-31 in favor of the Lions of O'Hara. The game stayed close all through the third, but with the score at 55-53 Leroi Taylor came up with a steal and managed to truck down the court and throw down a two-handed slam that not only tied it up but got the McDevitt fans back into the game. When the third ended the score was 45-43. O'Hara came out and hit a three to start off the fourth. It did not look good when the Lancers were down 6 with 1:30 left, but with a little hustle the lancers tied it up at 65-65 with 15 seconds remaining. The Lions missed the would-be game-winner and it was sent into overtime. Overtime, although close, was dominated by McDevitt, and with Stitt's two free throws the game was sealed. The Lions missed their prayer of a shot and McDevitt had done it, Captian Jack Rutter finally beat a Southern Division team.
   This game can be taken as a message to the PCL north that McDevitt can not be taken for granted. Although undersized and slightly less athletic than last year's team, these kids have heart, which has to count for something.
   McDevitt was led by Stitt who had 25 with 7 assists. Crawford added 19 and 3 blocks. Bradley Tucker dropped 10 and Steve "I'm Not a Mexican" Merlini put in 9. Although McDevitt won they still have a lot of room for improvement. Their shot selection needs to improve. With 23 missed treys, you need to think if only half of those misses were convirted into field goals that would add 24 points to your score. And when you paly a team that dominates the glass, you're not gonna get many second chance opportunities.

DEC. 18
NON-LEAGUE
McDevitt 72, Mercy Catholic 41
   After a disappointing loss to Sun Valley you may have
expected for McDevitt to come out a little tentative,
but from the beginning they were in control. The Krazy
Korner was slightly larger due to the early start of
the game and made their presence known to the visiting
Mercy team. In the first half the Lancers were lead by
Greg Stitt, who dropped 14 pts. (17 on the game) and 6
steals. Tom Maha added 3 treys and at the end of the
half McDevitt was in control with a commanding lead of
43 - 19. As the Korner members were talking during
Halftime a few of us noticed a pretty weird thing.
McDevitt Coach Jack Rutter P.I. had put in some sort
of an offense. It almost resembled a motion O that
many teams in the PCL run. We were shocked that Coach
Rutter had dropped his infamous "run and gun"; true it
didn't work but it was fun to watch. At the start of
the second half McDevitt came out fired up and started
to put the nail in the coffin. It also gave us a chance
to see the return our favorite Mexican-American, Steve
Merlini. He was out at the start of the half and put
up 11 pts. He was also a key factor in having Mercy's
best player, Quindell Duncan, give up. Merlini helped
shut him down and at the end of the third Duncan had
thrown in the towel. He stayed in the game, but you
could see he did not really care. Overall McDevitt
looked pretty solid: Bradley Tucker added 11 pts. and
5 assists and Joe Swoyer brought down 12 boards. Kyle
Reese and Mike Kelly saw a little more time, but if
they want to be key factors on the team they're gonna
have to show Coach Rutter they are able and willing to
give him 110%. GA is our next game and I'm sure this
will be the real return of the Krazy Korner.
   I'm gonna borrow Wood's idea and keep the McDevitt
tradition of giving...
Chant of the Game:
   I, I believe, I believe that, I believe that we, I
believe that we will, I believe that we will win.
Chanter of the Game:
John Cochrane

DEC. 16
NON-LEAGUE
Sun Valley 97, McDevitt 67
   The Lancers came out with dazzling moves and a quick run and gun O, but Sun Valley slowed them down with a patient offense and by controlling the boards all night. When the players first took the court they were in complete silence after they noticed Jesus was playing for the opposition. I mean, seriously, this kid could have been Jesus in his second coming -- beard, long-hair, it was like going back in time 2000 years ago. It definitely affected our players because after the initial shock we were trailing Valley at the end of the first quarter. McDevitt had a few spurts in the second quarter, led by Greg Stitt's passing and Andrew Crawford's ability to finish down low. Some of the passes by Stitt were right out of the And 1 mix tape, but without solid D and boards no one can come out with a W. At halftime the score was Valley 46 McDevitt 31. With the start of the third McDevitt came out slow turning the ball over the ball several times which were converted into easy baskets. Valley kept working the open shots and when they didn't fall they counted on one of their three big men. Fields, who dropped 18 was a mountain in the lane and basically gobbled up anything coming off the glass and finished with a double-double. If he didn't get it either a John Ritchie look-a-like or Shaffer (lunch box) brought it down. Both were unskilled oafs but were able to box out the undersized McDevitt team. The visiting Griffens were led by their senior point guard Chris Furey, who put up 24 points and 5 assists. The game finished without much delay, because of the point difference but it was nice to see that McDevitt did not give up and played to the end but if they want to win in the PCL they're gonna have to put in a lot more practice.
   Some positives to take from the game are Stitt's team leading 27 points along with 8 assists. It was also promising to see Tom Maha, a sophomore, contribute 11 points. Joe Swoyer looked good underneath even though he's a mere 5' 10". I don't see Joe staying there all season, either Kyle Reese or Mike "The Enforcer" Kelly is gonna have to step up and allow Coach Jumpin’ Jack Rutter to move Joe to the 4 or maybe 3.
   In regards to the Krazy Koner. We need as many students as possible to be at the games. Home court advantage is McDevitt’s biggest advantage and McDevitt students know the KK is a tradition and the team needs us to get their back. So if you're not doing anything, get to the game and have a good time.