RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Loyalsock’s David Bjorkman and Montoursville’s Adam Shearer compete for management of the ball throughout a sport this yr. If the Warriors and Lancers each win their respective first-round district video games, the two rivals would face each other once more in the quarterfinals.
Since bringing again the boys soccer program in 2020, Montgomery’s continued to get higher yr after yr and it’s proven as the Red raiders are in the postseason for a 3rd consecutive season below coach Michael Sherman. Give Montgomery credit score, they’re turning the program into playoff contenders. The Red Raiders haven’t received a playoff sport but since getting a program again, and the Red Raiders have a troublesome first-round draw in opposition to Millville.
The Quakers have overwhelmed Montgomery twice this yr, however Montgomery has stored it shut. Montgomery’s offense runs via Dylan Sherman, a 50-goal scorer who has 25 for the yr and is an impressive participant who can discover his technique to seemingly all the time get open. And Camden Dalrymple is a pleasant addition to the offense as properly. Add in gamers like Porter Hall, and Montgomery can transfer the ball properly.
Sophomore Max Schloegel has led Galeton’s offense this yr with 12 objectives and 7 assists whereas fellow sophomore Trey Sykora has 9 objectives and 7 assists. Those two have helped Galeton attain the postseason, however the Tigers must compete in opposition to a gifted Benton workforce in the quarterfinals. Benton is 16-1-1 and has allowed simply six objectives all yr, whereas outscoring its opponents, 72-6.
Benton might be a troublesome workforce to beat in the area.
MARK NANCE/
Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Williamsport’s Connor Hofstrom and Lewisburg’s Eli Abunassar battle for management in the first half of a sport. The Millionaires are in the District 2-4 Class AAAA playoffs and Lewisburg is the high seed in Class AA.
PREDICTIONS–QUARTERFINALS: Benton def. Galeton; Southern def. Northeast Bradford; Montgomery def. Millville; Northumberland Christian def. Juniata Christian. SEMIFINALS: Benton def. Southern; Northumberland Christian def. Montgomery. FINAL: Benton def. Northumberland Christian.
CLASS AA
Midd-West is a gifted workforce. Central Columbia has plenty of nice gamers. Montoursville is great each offensively and defensively.
But Lewisburg? Well, the Green Dragons appear to be in a league of their very own. Lewisburg is 17-0-1 — its first undefeated regular-season since an ideal 22-0 file concluded in 2020 with a state championship — and have allowed solely three objectives all season. Teams don’t get many possibilities to attain in opposition to Lewisburg, and that’s a tribute to the protection.
Lewisburg’s Viktor Permyashkin has 21 objectives and 14 assists whereas teammate Isaac Ayres has 19 objectives and eight assists, forming a potent 1-2 senior duo. Keegan Crosby has seven objectives with 14 assists. Gabe Pawling has already etched himself in Lewisburg historical past as one in all the program’s high goalies ever and has 15 shutouts this season.
But the video games aren’t received on paper, they’re received on the area, and something can occur in any sport.
Montoursville has a first-round matchup with Lourdes and the Warriors have been enjoying properly all yr. The Warriors protection has been very good and isn’t permitting groups to get many photographs or objectives in opposition to them and have eight shutouts this yr as Mason Fry has performed properly in objective.
Bryce Winslow leads the offense with 17 objectives and has seven assists, CJ Lucas has 11 objectives and 16 assists and Quinn Winslow has 11 objectives and 19 assists this yr, making a gifted three-headed scoring monster up high.
Loyalsock received its season-finale in opposition to Shikellamy to qualify for the postseason and get a regular-season rematch with Wellsboro. The two tied 0-0 in double additional time and followers can count on one other nice matchup in the playoffs. The Lancers have loads of offensive playmakers similar to Logan Edmonds and in objective, Connor Lang has been enjoying nice late in the season. Wellsboro has been a gifted workforce defensively this yr with simply 18 objectives allowed this yr. The Green Hornets’ offense is probably not as potent because it was final yr, however Jonathan Carl has 12 objectives, David Seeling has scored seven and Jacob Strang has scored six.
Hughesville certified for the first time since 2019 this yr and the Spartans get a troublesome take a look at in the first spherical below first-year coach Cole Lesher in opposition to Danville. Carter Gormont has been having a breakout sophomore yr as he leads the workforce with 14 objectives and 6 assists and Sam Haddon, a senior, has 10 objectives. Defensively, the Spartans should try to restrict Danville senior Jacob Marks, who leads the Ironmen with 16 objectives. Adam Elbetagy has scored 5 objectives, as that duo account for 21 of the workforce’s 27 objectives.
Warrior Run faces North Penn-Liberty in the first spherical. The Mounties don’t have any standout scorers who put up a ton of objectives, however reasonably a scoring by committee offense. Seven gamers have at least two objectives scored and David Graf and Parker Jackson lead the workforce with six objectives apiece. Deakon Valentine has been strong in objective as he’s averaging 7.1 saves per sport and has 128 for the season with six shutouts.
Gideon Kennel leads Warrior Run with 12 objectives and has 9 assists and Ori Kennel has 10 objectives with 12 assists. Ryan Kemock has eight objectives and 4 assists. That trio might be a focus of the Mounties’ defensive sport plan.
Milton faces Williamson and the Black Panthers are led by Tobin Strous (10 objectives) and Orrie Godown (seven). Williamson enters with an 11-6 file this yr and the Warriors have had a bumpy finish to the season, going 4-3 in its last seven video games, alternating wins and losses each different sport.
PREDICTIONS–FIRST ROUND: Warrior Run def. N.P.-Liberty; Montoursville def. Lourdes; Loyalsock def. Wellsboro; Danville def. Hughesville; Milton def. Williamson. QUARTERFINALS: Lewisburg def. N.P.-Liberty; Montoursville def. Loyalsock; Midd-West def. Danville; Central Columbia def. Milton. SEMIFINALS: Lewisburg def. Montoursville; Central Columbia def. Midd-West. FINAL: Lewisburg def. Central Columbia.
CLASS AAA
Athens is the high seed in the boys Class AAA area after going 10-5-2 this yr. Athens’ greatest energy has been its protection, permitting simply seven objectives all yr. Athens goes into the postseason on a two-game skid, nonetheless, with back-to-back one-goal losses to North Penn-Liberty in additional time and a 1-0 loss to Horseheads.
The Wildcats will face Shikellamy. The Braves have allowed greater than 50 objectives this yr and have struggled a bit defensively, however Shikellamy’s hoping to shake that off in the postseason. Jaden Garcia leads Shikellamy with 12 objectives and eight assists.
Selinsgrove faces Mifflinburg in the different semifinal. The Seals have an offense that runs via Nick Bisaccia (13 objectives) and Bobby Bruskie (eight objectives, two assists). Mifflinburg, like Shikellamy, enters districts on a two-game skid with losses to Loyalsock (3-1) and Juniata (1-0) to shut out the yr.
PREDICTIONS–SEMIFINALS: Athens def. Shikellamy; Selinsgrove def. Mifflinburg. FINAL: Athens def. Selinsgrove.
DISTRICT 2-4 CLASS AAAA
Williamsport wrapped up the season with a 6-9-1 file and are the fourth seed in the boys tournament. Wyoming Valley West (11-5) is seeded No. 1, Wilkes-Barre Area (10-6) is seeded No. 2 and Delaware Valley (8-7-3) is seeded third as Williamsport hosts Scranton at Balls Mills on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
The Millionaires have confirmed they’ll compete with plenty of powerful groups and have been greater than battle examined all through the yr with a troublesome schedule. Coach Brett Hofstrom and Williamsport hope that results in postseason success.
The Millionaires fell in the District 2-4 Class AAAA quarterfinals final yr to Wilkes-Barre space and haven’t reached a district last since 2020.