Friday, February 22, 2008
Men’s basketball grabs AMCC division title
by Ryan Smosna
sports writer
rnssoos@psu.edu
The Behrend men's basketball team kept up their
winning ways this past week and will now host the
AMCC Tournament Friday. Feb. 29 and Saturday.
March 1. The latest victims of the Lions fury w ere
La Roche and Lake
Erie
Last Saturday, the
Lions played a tight
game against confer
ence foe La Roche. La
Roche came into the
game ranked No. 4 in
the AMCC confer
ence, but left with a
loss and serious jeop
ardy of not making the
AMCC Tournament.
The Lions had to fight
for every basket and.
once again, senior cen
ter and AMCC player
of the week Kevin
Buczynski played a
dominant game.
Buczynski scored 31
points, had 11
rebounds and three blocks in the Lions win 59
Buczynski said "we knew La Roche was going to
come out and play hard" and that they did. At the
end of the first half, the Lions were down by a score
of 27 - 24. However, in the second half the Lions
came out determined to keep their winning streak
going. The men turned up their defense to another
level and pounded the ball inside to a red hot
Buczynski. Senior forward David Gahan dropped a
game high three assists to help his teammate surpass
the 30 point mark. The win against La Roche set up
a heavy weight match against conference rival Lake
Erie.
On Wednesday nigh.t the Lions took sole posses
sion of the No. 1 spot in the AMCC and receiv ed the
NBA deals make second half interesting
by Kevin Eugene Forte
sports writer
kel'l69(o psu.edu
Trades, playoff races and of course, clashing per
sonalities. this is the NBA at mid season. Just a lew
days past the All-Star break, some teams are
muscling up and some teams are doomed to fall.
Lets travel across the country and see who is able to
make the run to the finals.
Lets begin in the so called "Junior Varsitv
League." the Eastern Conference. The "mean
green” Boston Celtics (41-11) and "the Big Three ',
including Ray Allen. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce
own the best record in the league and have been at
the top since the begin
ning of the season. They
seem to be a shoe in for
the conference's represen
titive in the NBA finals,
but as Lee Corso would
say. “not so fast." Can
these three aging stars stay
healthy and keep it togeth
er the second half of the
season? This is one ques
tion that will haunt those
Celtics
A drive northwest to
Motown we will see the
veteran and talented
Detroit Pistons. The boys
from the Motor City are Shaq an(J Kjdd wiM now match up jn lhe West
ranked at the top ot the
power rankings and geared toward another run at a
championship. Down the Ohio Turnpike to the
Quicken Loans Arena, the defending Eastern
Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers have
been turning the heat up and playing like a champi
onship-caliber team. With the recent acquisition of
Ben Wallace and with his highness King James
playing like he wants to be back in the Finals, the
Cavs look to be in good shape for the second half of
the season. Don’t forget the kid Dwight Howard
and the Magic, who only trail the conference lead
ing Celtics by six games and hold the No. 3 spot in
the playoffs.
Within the conference, trades have been changing
the make up teams. Teams such as the Miami Heat.
Chicago Bulls and New Jersey Nets have wheeled
and dealed, same with the emerging Atlanta Hawks.
The lonely Heat pick up Shawn Marion, a defensive
maniac and an all-around scorer. While they lose
Shaquille O’Neil to the Suns. Marion seems to be a
great fit and, not to mention, they do not have the
aging Shaq on their hands anymore. Now the
Atlanta Hawks, you are probably asking yourself
who are they? Here is who they are. a team that has
been the bottom feeder of the league for years
Straub w as
Senior Done
bid to host the AMCC Tournament. In front of the
largest crowd this year, the Lions came out with
energy and enthusiasm. Early on in the game, the
Lions were hot from the field; sophomore Adam
Kaiser was nailing 3-pointers like they were going
out of style. The Lions also got help from senior for
ward Dan Zeigler and sophomore forward Adam
Potter. Potter and Zeigler cleaned the glass through
out the game snatching rebounds when necessary.
Behrend again played
with intensity on defense
and, at the end of the first
half, the Lions were up 32 -
23. But the Lake Erie Storm
fought back in the second
half and generated turnovers
and open 3-point shots.
Once again, the Lions had
an answer for Lake Erie.
Each time the Storm got
within a handful of points
Behrend fought back and
got open looks at the basket.
Senior guard Doug Straub
stroked home three very
important three pointers in
the second half. Also senior
center Buczynski battled
ONTRIBUTED PHOTO . . , /, , ._
, _ . inside the paint to hit some
vita auainst Lake Erie , . , , , ,
*- clutch baskets.
The story of the game was the sharp shooting by
the guards. Kaiser and company continued to stroke
home 3-pointers all night. Kaiser had a game high
16 points shooting an amazing 5-for- 6 from the
three point line, while Behrend shot 12-for-22 from
beyond the arc as a team. Kaiser said “we knew we
had to play well and hit our shots to win” and the
win w as a huge one because the Lions will now host
the AMCC Tournament next weekend.
The men play a game on Saturday Feb. 23 against
Pitt Bradford in which a win or loss will not affect
them in the standings. Next week, the Lions will
rest up and prepare for what looks to be another dra
matic finish to the AMCC.
Take a look at the new Hawks who are not equipped
to snatch a playoff spot in the East. With the acquir
ing of Mike Bibby. now Joe Johnson and A 1
Horford have another weapon to help them. This
Haw ks team could be a surprise once May comes
around.
So lets cross the Midwest to meet and greet the
so-ealled elite teams. After the top two spots in the
rankings taken by Eastern Conference teams, it is
filled with West teams, that are at each others necks
to claim a playoff spot. The Utah Jazz, New
Orleans Hornets. Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix
Sims. San Antonio Spurs. Dallas Mavericks.
Golden State Warriors. Denver Nuggets and
Houston Rockets are all within four games of each
other. There could be
has made his way back to the big country, where he
will try to bring the Mavericks over that hump and
win them a championship. Can you see the trend
here? Shaq adds another dimension to an already
quick and fast paced Suns team. Along with guard
Steve Nash, could this duo be the one-two punch
the Suns need to have their time in the spotlight?
One more trade deal that is in the mix is the talent
ed Nuggets getting some defensive help from
Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest. This could
end up being a great deal for Denver or a disaster,
with too many egos and trouble in one locker room.
Can they come together and make it happen? Don’t
forget about the upstart Hornets and “CP3”, Chris
Paul. This is a very talented and well rounded team,
which could make others fearful once the post sea
son rolls around.
Of course "Timmy, Tony, Manu” and the NBA
champion Spurs are still the team in the crosshairs
and still the team to beat. This race in the west
should be interesting and enough to make you want
to tune in to see what happens. Can the aging star
be revived and take their new team over the top?
Only they can tell us.
OPT
some major movement
in the playoff races
because of the trades and
deals that have went
down.
The Lakers got Pau
Gasol, which made all
star Kobe Bryant happy
and gave the Lakers a
chance to be the greats
they used to be. Again,
not so fast my friends.
Bryant, with the bad fin
ger on his shooting hand,
could keep the Lakers
reeling once the post
season rolls around. Mr.
“J-Kidd”, Jason Kidd
This Weekend’s Schedule
Friday. Feb. 22
Behrend Hockey: vs. St. Vincent
University, 8 p.m. Valley Sports
Complex
Saturday. Feb. 23
Behrend TVack: @ Kent State Invitational, 10 a.m.
Behrend M. Basketball: @Pitt-
Bradford, 4 p.m.
Sunday. Feb. 24
Behrend misses nationals, CHE playoff boun
by Jess Carlson
sports editor
jlcsolS(fl psu.cilu
The Penn State Behrend Ice Hockey Team tailed played division rival Robert Morns m a grtr
to qualify for the American Collegiate Hockey match from the week before. On Feb. 10. Helm
Association (ACHA) National Championship, after was upset hv Robert Morris vl. setting up an in
going 1-1 in the ACHA Atlantic Regional that was esting first round matchup with the two at region,
held in Warwick. Pa. Behrend needed to go 2-0 to Trailing 3-1 after one period. Behrend came ha
gain a spot in the championship series, but were scoring six unanswered goals to a " 7 -3 victi
eliminated from con- Leading the wav
tention after a 7-3 loss Behrend was Crav
to Farmingdale State who finished with h
on Saturday, Feb. 16. goals and two ass
After a 2-1 lead late Freshman Josh lion
in the first period, chipped in with t
Behrend let their goals and two assist .
guard down by giving Simanic added li
up the next five goals assists lor Behrci
to Farmingdale State. Junior Justin Ditch
Behrend would count- scored the other goal
er with a third-period Behrend. E. l ilies^
goal by sophomore finished with 23 saves
Chris Simanic, but it the win
would be too little too This wcekei
late for Behrend. Behrend will travel
Simanic finished with New Kensington. Pa
two goals and one participate in the 3‘
assist in the losing Annual College Hock
effort. Freshman Nick East Plavofls. Behrci
Winarski grabbed a who is the No. 3 seed
goal and two assists the plavofls. will fa
and senior DJ Craven sixth seed St. Vincent
added three assists. Friday. I cb. 22 at Sp.
Sophomorenetminder If the favored Bchre
Frir Thiesspn «« CONTRIBUTED PHOTO . . .
trie lmessen was ■ squad is victorious
peppered throughout Behrend Hockey looks tor first CHE title
the game, finishing with 43 saves. Sunday. Feb. 24 at 1:30 p m. against second se
The loss left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Penn State Altoona. The C'HH Championship u
players, but they believe that advancing that far into be held the following week at the Airport lee Are
regionals is something to build off of. "For a pro- in Moon. Pa.
gram that has only been around for six years and to
be one game away from going to nationals is awe-
The Behrend Beacon
Behrend W. Basketball: @ Pitt-
Bradford, 2 p.m.
Behrend Hockey: winner of
Behrend/St. Vincent game @ Penn
State Altoona, 1:30 p.m.
Valley Sports Complex
some. I am just glad I could have been apart o
and I'm looking forward to this weekend." s;
senior Dan Thiessen.
In their first matchup at regionals. Helm.
he\ wt