Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:54:42 +0000

PIAA CLASS AAAA SECOND ROUND:

Mount Lebanon Blue Devils (25-2) vs Erie Strong Vincent Colonels (17-4) AT Kennedy Catholic High School on Tuesday, March 16th at 7:00pm

State College Little Lions (19-6) vs Baldwin Highlanders (21-5) AT Richland High School on Tuesday, March 16th at 7:30pm

Cheltenham Panthers (26-2) vs Nazareth Eagles (20-7) AT Spring-Ford High School on Tuesday, March 16th at 6:00pm

Central Dauphin Rams (24-6) vs Cardinal O'Hara Lions (17-8) AT Governor Mifflin Intermediate School on Tuesday, March 16th at 7:30pm

Abington Galloping Ghosts (24-4) vs Central Bucks East Patriots (23-5) AT Norristown High School on Tuesday, March 16th at 7:30pm

Red Lion Lions (25-4) vs Council Rock South Golden Hawks (21-7) AT Governor Mifflin Intermediate School on Tuesday, March 16th at 6:00pm

Archbishop Ryan Raiders (19-7) vs Bethlehem Liberty Hurricanes (24-3) AT Norristown High School on Tuesday, March 16th at 6:00pm

Northampton Koncrete Kids (25-3) vs Council Rock North Indians (23-5) AT Spring-Ford High School on Tuesday, March 16th at 7:30pm

PIAA CLASS AAAA FIRST ROUND:

Mount Lebanon Blue Devils 63 - Fox Chapel Foxes 33

Erie Strong Vincent Colonels 42 - Bethel Park Black Hawks 38

State College Little Lions 47 - Peters Township Indians 38

Baldwin Highlanders 61 - Allderdice Dragons 39

Cheltenham Panthers 65 - Central Dauphin East Panthers 49

Nazareth Eagles 45 - Frankford Pioneers 28

Central Dauphin Rams 37 - North Penn Knights 36

Cardinal O'Hara Lions 33 - Downingtown East Cougars 23

Abington Galloping Ghosts 42 - Hershey Trojans 38

Central Bucks East Patriots 59 - Philadelphia Central Lancers 36

Red Lion Lions 44 - Hazleton Cougars 35

Council Rock South Golden Hawks 58 - Reading Red Knights 51

Archbishop Ryan Raiders 56 - Great Valley Patriots 39

Bethlehem Liberty Hurricanes 52 - Harrisburg Cougars 47

Northampton Koncrete Kids 45 - Downingtown West Whippets 35

Council Rock North Indians 51 - Mechanicsburg Wildcats 35

PIAA CLASS AAAA PRELIMINARY ROUND:

Fox Chapel Foxes 63 - Hollidaysburg Golden Tigers 45

Bethel Park Black Hawks 57 - Schenley Spartans 31

Peters Township Indians 49 - Erie McDowell Trojans 48 (MSA)

North Penn Knights 51 - Wyoming Valley West Spartans 39



PIAA CLASS AAA SECOND ROUND:

New Castle Red Hurricane (22-3) vs Indiana Little Indians (22-2) AT Butler High School on Wedensday, March 17th at 7:30pm on msasports.net

West York Bulldogs (28-2) vs Forest Hills Rangers (19-6) AT Chambersburg High School on Wednesday, March 17th at 7:00pm

Chartiers Valley Colts (21-5) vs Saint Mary's Flying Dutch (22-2) AT Hollidaysburg High School on Wednesday, March 17th at 7:30pm

Hopewell Vikings (26-1) vs Slippery Rock Rockets (23-2) AT Butler High School on Wednesday, March 17th at 6:00pm on msasports.net

Camp Hill Trinity Shamrocks (23-6) vs Villa Maria Academy Hurricanes (16-11) AT Reading High School on Wednesday, March 17th at 6:00pm

Allentown Central Catholic Vikings (26-2) vs Abington Heights Comets (24-2) AT Weatherly Middle School on Wednesday, March 17th at 7:00pm

Archbishop Carroll Patriots (24-3) vs Oley Valley Lynx (25-3) AT Spring-Ford High School on Wednesday, March 17th at 6:00pm

Shikellamy Braves (22-4) vs Archbishop Wood Vikings (22-5) AT Milton Hershey High School on Wednesday, March 17th at 6:00pm

PIAA CLASS AAA FIRST ROUND:

New Castle Red Hurricane 43 - Mercyhurst Prep Lakers 42 (MSA)

Indiana Little Indians 75 - Sharon Tigers 53 (MSA)

West York Bulldogs 42 - Mount St. Joseph Academy Magic 38

Forest Hills Rangers 48 - Manheim Central Barons 42

Chartiers Valley Colts 65 - Perry Commodores 22

Saint Mary's Flying Dutch 64 - Hampton Talbots 55 (MSA)

Hopewell Vikings 63 - Bellefonte Red Raiders 23 (MSA)

Slippery Rock Rockets 59 - Blackhawk Cougars 48 (MSA)

Camp Hill Trinity Shamrocks 52 - West Scranton Invaders 41

Villa Maria Academy Hurricanes 32 - Philadelphia Prep Charter Huskies 29

Allentown Central Catholic Vikings 36 - Shamokin Indians 22

Abington Heights Comets 53 - Palmyra Cougars 36

Archbishop Carroll Patriots 61 - Daniel Boone Blazers 36

Oley Valley Lynx 60 - Holy Redeemer Royals 46

Shikellamy Braves 50 - Northern Lehigh Bulldogs 46

Archbishop Wood Vikings 51 - St. Basil Academy Panthers 48

PIAA CLASS AAA PRELIMINARY ROUND:

Mercyhurst Prep Lakers 53 - Punxsutawney Chucks 37

Blackhawk Cougars 46 - Westinghouse Bulldogs 31 (MSA)



PIAA CLASS AA SECOND ROUND:

Jeannette Jayhawks (25-2) vs Avonworth Antelopes (23-2) AT Hempfield High School on Tuesday, March 16th at 6:00pm on msasports.net

Southern Huntingdon Rockets (23-3) vs South Fayette Lions (18-7) AT Richland High School on Tuesday, March 16th at 6:00pm

Marion Center Stingers (23-3) vs Seton-LaSalle Rebels (21-6) AT Butler High School on Tuesday, March 16th at 7:30pm on msasports.net

North Star Cougars (25-1) vs Villa Maria Academy Victors (24-2) AT Butler High School on Tuesday, March 16th at 6:00pm

Delone Catholic Squires (21-5) vs Tamaqua Blue Raiders (25-2) AT East Pennsboro High School on Tuesday, March 16th at 7:00pm

Lancaster Mennonite Blazers (23-5) vs Loyalsock Township Lancers (21-6) AT Martz Hall in Pottsville on Tuesday, March 16th at 7:00pm

Dunmore Bucks (23-4) vs Pen Argyl Green Knights (18-9) AT Hazleton High School on Tuesday, March 16th at 6:00pm

Springfield-Montco Spartans (16-9) vs York Catholic Fighting Irish (25-3) AT Coatesville High School on Tuesday, March 16th at 6:00pm

PIAA CLASS AA FIRST ROUND:

Jeannette Jayhawks 67 - Cambria Heights Highlanders 57 (MSA)

Avonworth Antelopes 49 - Greenville Trojans 44 (MSA)

Southern Huntingdon Rockets 63 - Beaver Bobcats 47 (MSA)

South Fayette Lions 44 - Cranberry Berries 42

Marion Center Stingers 55 - Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions 53 (MSA)

Seton-LaSalle Rebels 62 - North East Grapepickers 59

North Star Cougars 42 - Sto-Rox Vikings 37

Villa Maria Academy Victors 60 - Bishop Canevin Crusaders 24

Delone Catholic Squires 50 - Philadelphia Freire Charter Dragons 39

Tamaqua Blue Raiders 51 - Mount Carmel Red Tornadoes 36

Lancaster Mennonite Blazers 56 - Philadelphia Carver E&S Engineers 38

Loyalsock Township Lancers 49 - Mid Valley Spartans 43

Dunmore Bucks 54 - Towanda Knights 43

Pen Argyl Green Knights 51 - Kennedy-Kenrick Wolverines 30

Springfield-Montco Spartans 54 - Lake Lehman Knights 48 in Double Overtime

York Catholic Fighting Irish 59 - Bodine Ambassadors 22

PIAA CLASS AA PRELIMINARY ROUND:

Cambria Heights Highlanders 61 - Everett Warriors 46

Bishop Canevin Crusaders 58 - Kane Wolves 39

Philadelphia Carver E&S Engineers 62 - St. Pius X Winged Lions 44



PIAA CLASS A SECOND ROUND:

Vincentian Academy Royals (17-7) vs West Forest Indians (23-4) AT Kennedy Catholic High School on Wednesday, March 17th at 6:00pm

Quigley Spartans (20-3) vs Farrell Steelers (18-5) AT New Castle High School on Wednesday, March 17th at 6:00pm on msasports.net

Tussey Mountain Titans (23-3) vs Conemaugh Valley Blue Jays(19-6) AT Hollidaysburg High School on Wednesday, March 17th at 6:00pm

Bishop Guilfoyle Marauders (26-0) vs Rochester Rams (20-4) AT Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, March 17th at 6:00pm

Steelton-Highspire Steamrollers (24-4) vs Girard College Cavaliers (16-9) AT Governor Mifflin Intermediate School on Wednesday, March 17th at 6:00pm

Tri-Valley Bulldogs (21-5) vs Delco Christian Knights (24-4) AT Governor Mifflin Intermediate School on Wednesday, March 17th at 7:30pm

Old Forge Blue Devils (17-6) vs Greenswood Wildcats (22-5) AT Danville High School on Wednesday, March 17th at 7:00pm

Pottsville Nativity BVM Hilltoppers (20-5) vs Northern Cambria Colts (21-5) AT Lewistown High School on Wednesday, March 17th at 7:00pm

PIAA CLASS A FIRST ROUND:

Vincentian Academy Royals 74 - Otto-Eldred Terrors 37

West Forest Indians 52 - Southern Fulton Indians 19

Quigley Spartans 67 - Shade Panthers 45

Farrell Steelers 73 - Coudersport Falcons 31 (MSA)

Tussey Mountain Titans 60 - Monessen Greyhounds 43

Conemaugh Valley Blue Jays 54 - North Catholic Trojanettes 49 (MSA)

Bishop Guilfoyle Marauders 64 - Kennedy Catholic Golden Eagles 44 (MSA)

Rochester Rams 34 - Elk County Catholic Crusaders 32

Steelton-Highspire Steamrollers 68 - Bishop Carroll Huskies 53

Girard College Cavaliers 59 - Philadelphia Academy at Palumbo Panthers 26

Tri-Valley Bulldogs 49 - Cowanesque Valley Indians 30

Delco Christian Knights 56 - Bible Baptist Bobcats 26

Old Forge Blue Devils 58 - Mansfield Tigers 22

Greenwood Wildcats 55 - Faith Christian Academy Lions 19

Pottsville Nativity BVM Hilltoppers 58 - Lourdes Regional Red Raiders 43

Northern Cambria Colts 59 - Camp Hill Lions 37

PIAA CLASS A PRELIMINARY ROUND:

Bible Baptist Bobcats 41 - Philadelphia Math, Civics & Sciences Mighty Elephants 21

Girard College Cavaliers 50 - Forest City Foresters 42

MSA SPORTSNET
It is "March Madness" in NCAA College basketball and this year has been captivating in terms of the number of bracket busters, buzzer beater games, and Cinderella teams in the Sweet 16. Unfortunately, the Texas Longhorns did not come out on top after their 1 point loss to Wakeforest in round one.

So, how does this relate to college admissions? Through history from the past 30 years, college basketball teams that make the cut for the Sweet 16 may boost the number of students applying to their schools by as much as 3 percent next year, while the winner of the NCAA basketball tournament, often called "March Madness," may see a 7 percent to 8 percent jump in applications, according to a Virginia Tech researcher.

March Madness creates heightened emotions amongst college and high school students across the country. Let me take a brief moment to educate the virgin to "March Madness."
Primarily held in March, this is a tournament where the top 65 division 1 basketball teams compete against each other, single elimination style and there are no consolation games for the NCAA Basketball Championship title. The single-elimination format produces opportunities for Cinderella teams to advance despite playing higher seeded teams and it is broken up into four regions. Despite the numerous instances of early-round Tournament upsets, including four instances of a #15 seed defeating a #2 seed, no #1 seed has ever lost in the first round to a #16 seed. The 2010 "BIG DANCE" did not produce an upset of that magnitude either. However, we have many surprise "no name" basketball teams in this year's Sweet 16.



How will this year's Sweet 16 appearance impact St. Mary's or Cornell's admission statistics? Cornell already receives approximately 34K undergraduate college applications every year for less than 6600 spots in their freshman class, producing about a 19% acceptance rate.* Will they move up in the rankings next year due to an increase in alumni donations and selectivity? Until this year's Big Red victory against basketball powerhouse Wisconsin, an ivy league school had not made an appearance in the Sweet 16 since Penn in 1979. The results will probably not truly be revealed until the completion of the 2010 - 2011 college application season.

Time tells all. I do think a Sweet 16 victory for Cornell will convert to higher ticket sales for next year's basketball season and greater alumni dollars devoted to their basketball program. Although, Cornell's win over Wisconsin completed the demise of my already debilitated bracket, I could not be happier about the Cinderella story. 

Jaren Pope, assistant professor of agricultural and applied economics in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has co-authored a paper to be published in Southern Economic Journal that finds a link between college sports success and college admissions around the country. "We looked at how high-profile sports success influences where students choose to apply for college," Pope said. "Anecdotally, college administrators have known for some time that basketball and football success translates into increased applications. What we have done is to move a step beyond previous research and anecdotal evidence by quantifying the average effect across all NCAA Division I schools using a credible empirical methodology," he said. (Virginia Tech and Newswise)

I surmise that a small "no name" academic and sports school like St. Mary's or Northern Iowa, a medium sized public school from the mid-west, will gain larger increases in their applications than an Ivy league school. The Northern Iowa Panthers have appeared in the NCAA tournament five other times, but have never made it past the second round until now. University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and has an undergraduate population of approximately 13K, with a 85% acceptance rate. Perhaps, they will have the opportunity to be more selective next year.