NWOAL Title Holder Predictions
- Thread starter RW&B
- Start date
Rolly67
Well-known member
They are very young and their best returning player is out for the time being. Plus PH, Swanton and Wauseon are all looking pretty strong right now.
I love P.H.'s defensive effort this year and they now work 9 guys into their rotation so I also like their depth. They need to sharpen their passing game though when facing a strong full court press. They also could use more scoring in the paint.
Last year was the first time in 17 years where P.H. managed to beat both Archbold and Wauseon.
They have a huge home game with Swanton on 1-5-23 to start off the NWOAL season.
Last year was the first time in 17 years where P.H. managed to beat both Archbold and Wauseon.
They have a huge home game with Swanton on 1-5-23 to start off the NWOAL season.
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I had a person in the know from Archbold tell me that the Streaks will be down for a few years. They have some talent in Jr High but as we all know that doesn't always equate to great teams in high school. They thought getting out of the Sectional would be a great season. That is unheard of in Archbold.
NWOobserver
Member
You are counting out Archbold far to early. They have some really good shooters and play very hard. Don't count out the Streaks just yet. They may be a little down from past years but they will still hold their own and have a shot to win the NWOAL this season.
That is correct.
I think this could be a wild year in the NWOAL.
Archbold, Delta, Liberty Center, Patrick Henry, Swanton, and Wauseon all have very solid squads. All 6 teams have certain strengths/weaknesses that could provide worthy games every league night.
Rolly67
Well-known member
Evergreen and Bryan can also step up and surprise someone if they are having an off night.
Rolly67
Well-known member
Wauseon @ LC
Liberty has depth to throw at teams rotating 11 players, Wauseon seems like they stick with their main 6 maybe 7. LC was within 6 of Napoleon in the final minutes and led Wayne Trace by 5 at halftime. Wauseon has several good wins but has let lesser teams hang around with them at times.
Common Opponents:
Tinora LC 60-50 Wau 44-35
Napoleon LC 51-61 Wau 42-44
Liberty has depth to throw at teams rotating 11 players, Wauseon seems like they stick with their main 6 maybe 7. LC was within 6 of Napoleon in the final minutes and led Wayne Trace by 5 at halftime. Wauseon has several good wins but has let lesser teams hang around with them at times.
Common Opponents:
Tinora LC 60-50 Wau 44-35
Napoleon LC 51-61 Wau 42-44
NWOobserver
Member
That was a fun first night! We got about what we expected with all games being close.
PH is definitely the team to beat. I would not be surprised to see them run the table. You heard it hear first
PH is definitely the team to beat. I would not be surprised to see them run the table. You heard it hear first
Rolly67
Well-known member
LC was up 2 or 3 going into the 4th quarter. Archbold got it done in the 4th quarter and I think I heard shot something like 90% from the free throw line and the refs were more than happy to call the soft stuff. LC played without a key starter in Chambers, really missed his slashing and playmaking so ended up settling for too many threes.
Makes sense...Archbold doesn't play a physical style of basketball...it's probably been like 8-10 years since they have had any physical guard play even.
Badenhop is in a tough spot with LC...from the outside looking in, it seems like Basketball is 3rd or 4th level of interest in that town.
Badenhop is in a tough spot with LC...from the outside looking in, it seems like Basketball is 3rd or 4th level of interest in that town.
Rolly67
Well-known member
May have to go back to the Walker twins in the early 2010's for truly physical play at Archbold.
Badenhop is often behind the 8 ball especially lately with football making a run 3 of the last 5 years and only one of his 12 varsity players not playing football. Coach has improved his schedule the past couple years also, phasing out most of the BBC teams and replacing them with teams like Cardinal Stritch, OG, St Francis and Liberty Benton.
Last year, LC played a tough schedule and it paid off as they ended up with the 10 seed that upset the 5 and 6 seeds before running into Eastwood. The latest Martin RPI has LC(5-6) at 10th again right now with the 8th highest OWP%, but the #1 OOWP% and the #2 SSF. So, scheduling bigger teams who also play tough schedules.
On the flip side a team like Delta(9-2) sits at #3 with the 13th(last place) OWP%, 10th OOWP% and 11th SSF. Delta has a very good chance of staying in the top 3 as only 1 of their 14 out of conference teams has a winning record.
Martin does factor in strength of schedule a little but I think it takes away some of the incentive to schedule up, specially when close losses don't help. Before, a coach could emphasize close losses to high level teams but not the case anymore.
NWOobserver
Member
There were a couple of surprises in my mind. The craziness continues. PH emerging as the clear class of the league. Delta is better then I thought they were.
Let's not forget it took 2 overtimes for PH to defeat Swanton and 1 to defeat Evergreen. PH's best player, Lincoln Creager, will not be playing against Antwerp tonight after suffering a head injury in the first quarter of the Bryan game last night, per the NWS article in today's newspaper. I've not heard a diagnosis regarding if he suffered a concussion or not. PH is an outstanding defensive team that also rebounds well but is often challenged by inconsistent shooting accuracies.