http://www.philly.com/r?19=960&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports The latest news from the world of Philly sports. en-us Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z en-us http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168316&44=35589669&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2F20081205_Phil_Sheridan__Giants_stick_with_a_plan_and_succeed.html The visiting locker room at FedEx Field is divided into two cramped spaces. When the Eagles play there, the offense is in one room, the defense in the other. So it was natural last Sunday to assume that the mammoth, scowling Giant near the shower entrance was a linebacker or defensive end. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 96e154d4a13011bc9019a8452fd5e23a 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168316&44=35588934&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2F20081205_Rich_Hofmann__Playcalling_not_the_problem_with_Eagles__running_game.html ANDY, MARTY: Run the ball. Do it even if it doesn't work. Do it even if it means beating your head against a brick wall. Do it even if it results in fewer points being scored. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 585779eb15fd5f01dfbac02a01e390d7 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168316&44=35589679&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2F20081205_76ers_will_be_without_ailing_Elton_Brand_tonight.html As if the 76ers' season were not strained enough, they now must deal with Elton Brand's right hamstring. The power forward, signed by the Sixers for $80 million this off-season, did not travel with the team to Detroit yesterday after straining his right hamstring during Wednesday night's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 0e273b299566addfea6e496a1e205ae8 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168316&44=35589659&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2F20081205_Phillies_consider_alternatives_to_Moyer.html The Phillies want Jamie Moyer back, but as contract negotiations move slowly, they are looking at alternatives. The Boston Globe reported yesterday that the Phillies had made an offer to free-agent righthander Derek Lowe. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. would not confirm or deny the report, but a source said yesterday that the Phillies had not made Lowe an official offer. It is likely that parameters have been discussed. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT fc628cbf6458af08fd39fe91231da2d3 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168316&44=35589624&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2F20081205_Coughing_It_Up.html The Flyers, shorthanded because of injuries and illness, collapsed at the finish line last night. They blew a late one-goal lead and dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to the New Jersey Devils at the Wachovia Center. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT c58872a2bc62143caae8ceaa5cf9dee0 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168336&44=35589159&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolleges%2F20081205_A_rivalry_with_no_rivals.html For Midshipmen and Cadets, the bright pageantry of Army-Navy day will commence in the dark. At 3:30 a.m. tomorrow, their white hats glistening like stars in the predawn blackness, the 4,400-strong U.S. Naval Academy brigade will begin assembling outside Bancroft Hall, the 1,700-room Beaux-Arts dormitory on the Annapolis, Md., campus. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 41007ef5856ef8babb6c0efef1ae2eff 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168421&44=35589729&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fnew_jersey%2F20081205_S__Jersey_Scoreboard.html Yesterday's Results Boys' Basketball NONLEAGUE King's Christian 47, Doane Academy 45 (OT) Girls' Basketball PENN-JERSEY LEAGUE Villa Victoria 42, Life Center 24 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 6967ddd828b2728e5814345805bfdd0b 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=35589724&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20081205_Phil_Anastasia_.html Sometime tonight, Shawnee senior Chris LaPierre likely will set the state record for points in a football season. Dylan Petkus and Ethan Lechner will be happy. They might be hungry, too. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 03c4b0e7e5b150d9fa8e79d37d945b80 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168421&44=35589709&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fnew_jersey%2F20081205_This_week__it_s_for_all_the_marbles.html This is the moment many readers have been anxiously awaiting - the season's final football predictions by this reporter. It's been a rocky year on the predicting front, but, fortunately, the teams have played at a much higher level. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT ed00ab05de6f883b1373af861a5bde84 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168421&44=35589719&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fnew_jersey%2F20081205_Changed_Holy_Cross_to_defend_title.html So much has changed in the last year for the Holy Cross football team. One thing is the same: The Lancers are back in the Non-Public 2 state championship game. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 6d7092a77e1e71148eb9176395e3927d 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168421&44=35589714&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fnew_jersey%2F20081205_Group_4_title_clash_a_test_for_Mainland_s_QB.html When Southern Regional battles host Mainland at 1 p.m. tomorrow for the South Jersey Group 4 football crown, Brent Caprio will be attempting to break another school record while lifting his team to victory. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT fb383efec0e04d2cceb7d32dbd654877 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168421&44=35589704&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fnew_jersey%2F20081205_Advice_for_winning_football_titles.html Since all the playoff games have been dissected, we decided to give our formula for success in this weekend's championship contests, and all it costs is the price of The Inquirer. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT dee170fd80c531712c89a8e9e9091a99 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589989&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Villa_Maria_coach_knows_greatness_worth_waiting_for.html The Villa Maria Academy girls' basketball team doesn't open its season until Thursday, almost a week later than most PIAA member schools, but the later start doesn't bother coach Kathy McCartney. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT fe49f6059cee8f174dd48471e179ded1 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589734&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Boys__Notebook.html Dynasty? Girard College's John Johnson is only a sophomore but already college recruiters have him on the big-time radar. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 56a3bb63508ea68900a508add6abdbc3 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=35589984&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20081205_Keith_Pompey__With_the_season_starting__all_is_well.html Admit it. Take a moment and tell people how you really feel. You're overjoyed that today is Dec. 5. You're overjoyed, because this is the first day that PIAA teams can play their openers. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 010d7d324f7b0ac98017550169034abc 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589849&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Lions_ready_for_banner_season.html Having talent-rich basketball teams is nothing new for Linus McGinty. The veteran coach, entering his 15th season as the boss at perennial power Cardinal O'Hara, has had at least a handful of especially dominant squads. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT b106c036232deb18f1590af66bc8fd19 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589999&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_New_challenge_for_Methacton.html When Methacton announced more than a year ago that it was moving from the Suburban One League's American Division to the Pioneer Athletic Conference, Warriors girls' basketball coach Craig Kaminski expressed some disappointment. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 5b141fcf6226c97856d71cbbf3d109d8 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589879&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Girls__Notebook.html Strong bet. With one 1,000-point scorer and another fast approaching the magic number, Lower Moreland looks like a strong bet to win another Bicentennial League Independence Division championship. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 1d074ecdc868c920337fc49820dbd837 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589869&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Blizzard_of_hype_for_Penn_Wood.html There's a lot of excitement and hype surrounding the Penn Wood boys' basketball team. The Panthers are the nation's 40th-ranked team, according to ESPN Rise. USA Today lists them as the ninth-ranked team in the East region. And they're second in Southeastern Pennsylvania in The Inquirer's preseason rankings. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 88991a64007a733f7acddee0046119b3 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589979&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Guards_a_force_in_the_Inter-Ac.html If the Inter-Academic League coaches were to put together a traveling all-star squad of five players, they might be tempted to overlook the height factor and assemble an all-guard lineup. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 5ff50b62455286f14923a9b05ab0f747 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589814&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Boys__Notebook_7.html Welcome newcomer. A college recruiting Web site note on former American Christian player George Harper says he's a "long athletic forward whose massive hands engulf the ball and make for soft shots." Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 5346a3604dac9127a3da1c0172235084 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589804&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Boys__Notebook_6.html A in Chemistry. Jim Fenerty has a good feeling about this season. And it's easy to understand why. The Germantown Academy coach returns eight contributors from last season's Inter-Ac League co-championship squad. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 9df62f0bb3486a1a9f0f8198e7d4a988 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589919&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Girls__Notebook_4.html Preseason favorite. Chester, runner-up to Sun Valley in the Del-Val League last season, is favored to claim the 2008-09 title. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 7641c04ac169269c69d1138d59c19469 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589899&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Girls__Notebook_2.html Everybody's back. Lower Merion coach Lauren Pellicane calls it "unique." Others might say it's lucky. "It doesn't very often happen that you have everybody back in high school basketball," Pellicane said. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 68ef9d776bbb94d05305b33df153e347 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589744&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Boys__Notebook_1.html Heavy favorites. It won't be a worst-to-first situation. But the Neumann-Goretti boys' basketball team still has a chance to do something special. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 511c0355130ac7c296a2e6b52cef317a 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168316&44=35589654&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2F20081205_Houston_Baptist___Nova_romps_to_warm-up_win.html Golfer Colin Montgomerie is one of the more famous graduates of Houston Baptist, and being a golf aficionado, Jay Wright probably would love to get some pointers from Montgomerie someday. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT fa06fcb7b58c928741cca8fa7c6e23b0 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589764&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Boys__Notebook_3.html Big shoes. John Roe has some big shoes to fill as Downingtown West's new coach. Roe succeeds Damien Blair, who left to take over the men's program at West Chester University, where he is the school's second all-time leading scorer. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT bc224548013d3ee0333d2226bc985ab4 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35590029&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_When_height_meets_great.html In girls' basketball, in which tall players are a luxury and not the norm, coaches usually plant 6-foot players in the paint on offense and leave them there to score easy layups or put-back baskets against smaller foes. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 2f0506d0a201448894b61fb039f788a5 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589874&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_A_league_deep_and_strong.html When it comes to Friends Schools League basketball, the words talent and parity now apply. "The perception when I came in was that the league was very weak," said Kevin Givens, a 14-year coach at the Academy of the New Church. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT a0d0e2b653c04ee15aeaa94bb2469f42 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589864&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Championship_Choices.html The Chester boys' and Mount St. Joseph girls' basketball teams are both admiring state championship trophies these days. Chester defeated Norristown in March to win its fifth PIAA Class AAAA state title and sixth overall. (The Clippers also won the Class AAA state championship in 1983.) Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 468c12dfc87f6bcf57b31c8cde7a643c 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589859&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Feeder_program_lifts_Great_Valley.html The Great Valley girls' basketball team finished 26-5 last season, best in the school's history, and made it to the second round of the PIAA Class AAAA playoffs before losing to Wilson of West Lawn. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 5e69d531fa9f693e8599c29be1023721 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589794&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Holy_Ghost_still_counts_on_Chapman.html It's as if Tony Chapman never left Holy Ghost Prep. After graduating from the Bucks County school in 1972, Chapman spent the next four years at La Salle University, only to return to Holy Ghost to teach after receiving his degree. He also became the freshman basketball coach. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT b19f86fd994a76f31186d91b860d4de3 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=35590009&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20081205_Rick_O_Brien__The_season_from_Alexander_to_Zisengwe.html Sizing up another high school girls' basketball season, from A to Z: A is for Alexander, as in Lindsay Alexander, a hard-working and versatile point guard for Lower Moreland. The 5-foot-11 senior averaged 16 points per game last season and enters the 2008-09 campaign with 1,222 career points. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 05a1d0bdf20edd16df3ad0aeb86353c6 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168316&44=35589694&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2F20081205_You_Talking_to_Me___Manuel_for_Sportsman_of_Year_.html From: Gonzalez, John To: Fox, Ashley; Sheridan, Phil Subject: Sportsman of the Year Michael Phelps is Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year. Hardly surprising. He beat out Barack Obama, Usain Bolt, Tiger Woods and Bernard Hopkins. Phelps also took down another local candidate dear to Philly - Charlie Manuel. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 76805e12e3345cc57118b93096dbed70 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35590004&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_C_Division_atop_the_league_s_A_list.html Call it what you want - the Black and Blue Division or Competition Conference. You still may not come close to describing the high level of play in the Public League C Division. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT dce06b9ac4882c5a3260da93bda56b3c 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168316&44=35589639&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2F20081205_Gonzo___Burress_is_butt_of_Gocong_s_humor.html Chris Gocong is funnier than anyone realized. He's funnier than he realized, too. Earlier in the week, the Eagles linebacker was talking to a Comcast SportsNet reporter about the gravity of Sunday's repeat clash with the New York Giants. There was a grave this-is-a-must-win discussion before things inevitably turned to wide receiver Plaxico Burress. You may have heard that Burress is fond of firearms (as well as wearing sweatpants to nightclubs and maiming himself). Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 1ca85c3160ae5d910cbe5b84ca06b281 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589839&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Boys__Notebook_9.html Surprising Pennsbury. What's up with these Falcons? Don't they understand that they're not supposed to be this good? Pennsbury doesn't have a player taller than 6-foot-6. And of the players the Falcons do have, none honed their skills on the blacktops of Philadelphia or Chester. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 2a67d6c67af5c082fe968424ff53330b 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168316&44=35589614&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2F20081205_Even_without_Burress__Giants_have_plenty_of_weapons.html Unlike the New York Police Department, the Eagles were never able to put the handcuffs on Plaxico Burress. When it comes to Eagles tormentors, the 6-foot-5 Giants receiver with the stork-like reach and soft hands ranks right up there with the best of them. Or worst, depending on your perspective. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT e558c132221e53cae07ba5996f2e25ac 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168316&44=35589644&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2F20081205_NFL___Chargers_continue_dominance_of_Raiders.html SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Chargers finally looked like the world-beaters they were predicted to be, but it's probably too late. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT eacc1a1e56f1b2ec4b53b238bad704ef 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35590019&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_When_history_leads_to_glory.html When it comes to motivating his girls' basketball team, Downingtown East's Bob Schnure occasionally will pull out the state-championship card. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT e21afb4a1340edfa10c572393be806d2 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168316&44=35589594&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2F20081205_Cadets_seeking_a_breakthrough.html It's the moving postgame tradition of the annual Army-Navy game - players from each team standing at rigid attention side by side after nearly three hours of fierce competition while the anthems of the two academies are played. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT c119fce65d612490e7a3ca5ade660d29 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35590014&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_3_teams_left__and_all_have_good_shot_to_win.html And then there were three. With the smoke almost cleared on the 2008 football season, a trio of area teams remains alive in the hunt for PIAA state championships: North Penn, Archbishop Wood and West Catholic. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 21ff5bd72e50f517728577081a9e5c78 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589994&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_In_the_Area.html Looking to improve. Church Farm, which joined the PIAA this year, is aiming to turn around a 5-17 mark it posted last season while playing in the now-defunct Keystone Conference. The conference had dwindled to three teams. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT f1206f5be738a5e711841e5dafb26f80 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589969&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Girls__Notebook_9.html Rare absence. After not qualifying for the PIAA Class AAAA state tournament, a rare happening under coach Tom Lonergan, Central Bucks East is hoping to reach that goal and others this season. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 64c2f4f7492164df48b90dce8df01377 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589959&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Girls__Notebook_8.html Return to glory? Central had a string of six consecutive Public League championships snapped last season by Engineering and Science. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 64874bc429959993c0b8badcb4afb3f0 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589974&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Girls__Dream_Team_9.html Shayla Felder, Cheltenham, guard, junior Jaime Donovan, Central Bucks East, guard, senior Emily Leer, Abington, forward, senior Shakia Robinson, North Penn, forward, senior Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 64463fbebd74276c49149a1c6a5d2ace 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589964&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Girls__Dream_Team_8.html Janaiah Elum, Northeast, guard, junior Brittany Hrynko, Engineering and Science, guard, sophomore Renee Deas, Central, guard, senior Janaa Pickard, Central, center, senior Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 68deff488b742fdf28e4298d789dd91a 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589949&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Girls__Notebook_7.html Small school, big goal. One big goal at St. Pius X is to qualify for the Pioneer Athletic Conference playoffs - a tough task when you are the smallest school in the league. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT f4572ba363cf400dac24b7eb9973888e 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589954&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Girls__Dream_Team_7.html Jordan Pasik, St. Pius X, guard/forward, senior Melissa Mansur, St. Pius X, forward, senior Ashley Wood, Spring-Ford, guard, senior Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 35418fa0f47989899eec88b9621b7ab6 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168426&44=35589944&32=3796&7=195227&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2Fpennsylvania%2F20081205_Girls__Dream_Team_6.html Jesse Carey, Germantown Academy, guard, senior Maggie Lucas, Germantown Academy, guard, junior Devon Kane, Notre Dame, guard, senior Katie Rutan, Springside, guard, senior Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT 253f9eabc91e3a88681647a64c7f0510 2008-12-05T08:01:00Z