Better start key for Berwick in first state game since 1980

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Our Opinion: Spelling bee featuring 22 area students will put you on edge of seat

<p>Meyers is back in the PIAA state boys basketball playoffs after having a streak of four consecutive trips there end last season.</p><p>These Mohawks, though, aren&#8217;t anything like past groups as they play District 4 third seed Hughesville (19-6) in the first round of the PIAA Class 2A state playoffs at 3 p.m. Saturday at Holy Redeemer High School.</p><p>Meyers&#8217; four-year state run included a trip to the semifinals in 2013-14. The success throughout those seasons was based on having big-time offensive threats. In most cases, several of them on the court at the same time.</p><p>Not so with this version of the Mohawks (19-6). Sophomore guard Omar Kelly was named the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 3 MVP. But it wasn&#8217;t because of his 9.5 point scoring average, tops among the starters. He earned it through his tenacious defense. In fact, the team philosophy is based on defense being a key, a long cry from the high-flying dunking displays of past players like Eugene Lewis and Tyriek Steward.</p><p>Even the other starters have modest scoring averages in WVC play &#8212; Matt Dessoye (9.2), Raheem Twyman (7.6), Ryan Gilgallon (5.5) and Ryan Wasley (4.6).</p><p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think this team has one go-to guy,&#8221; Meyers coach Pat Toole said. &#8220;If you look at our numbers, you&#8217;ll see a lot of our guys scoring the same number of points. Probably Matt Dessoye and Omar and Gilgallon all have about 200 points. (Levaugn) Soules, Wasley, Twyman, (Juwane) Buckner, even (Julian) Maffei all have about 150.&#8221;</p><p>The defense, though, has been impressive. Meyers allowed 75 points in three playoff games on the way to its third D2-3A championship in five seasons. The offense averaged 48 points in those games.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve played a lot of ugly games. This could be an ugly game,&#8221; Toole said. &#8220;Both teams are going to play up-in-your-face, man-to-man defense. Depending on how the game is going to be called, it&#8217;s hard to say what I&#8217;m going to do right now. At this point, you have to do what got you here.&#8221;</p><p>Hughesville is back in states for the first time since the 2010-11 season. The Spartans were state regulars from 2006-2011, coming within a game of the 2A state championship contest in 2009. During those five seasons, Hughesville was 4-0 against District 2 teams in the state tournament.</p><p>Trent Woolcock leads Hughesville with a 12-point scoring average. Alex Welch and Landon Henry toss in about 10 per game. The Spartans don&#8217;t have Meyers&#8217; size, measuring in at about 6-foot across the board. They do go big with 6-foot-9 sophomore Taylor Mason. Mason isn&#8217;t just tall, he&#8217;s huge. The size gives him an advantage in the paint, but hinders him running the floor based on some online highlights of the team.</p><p>The winner advances to the second round on Wednesday against the winner of Friday&#8217;s games between D3 runner-up Camp Hill (18-6) and D12 fourth seed Masterman (16-9). Those teams play at 5:30 p.m. at Central Dauphin East High School.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Meyers reserve guard Juwane Buckner goes up for a bucket against Elk Lake in the District 2 Class 2A championship game. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_d2_champ5_faa-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Meyers reserve guard Juwane Buckner goes up for a bucket against Elk Lake in the District 2 Class 2A championship game. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Defensive-minded Mohawks play Hughesville in 2A first round</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By John Erzar</p><p>jerzar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>PIAA BOYS BASKETBALL</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>CLASS 2A FIRST ROUND</strong></p><p>Meyers (19-6) vs. Hughesville (19-6)</p><p>3 p.m. Saturday, Holy Redeemer H.S.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Meyers back at states with different look