EC Winter Sports Mid-Year Update
BOYS BASKETBALL (7-7, 4th Place)
Boys Basketball has had its ups and it downs this season, with a path that has them splitting their record. The Boys team started off strong, picking up some Lawrence and Beaver County victories over Rochester, Union, and Laurel at the lower classifications. EC’s first two tests of the year came from Washington and Hopewell, two teams that are seen as upcoming - or may already be there - teams in terms of their respectful sections. Since the first two weeks of games, EC has pretty much split, back-and-forth their games during the weeks of play. Primary victories over Freedom, New Brighton, and Beaver Falls have them above .500 in section play. Tough battles with Mohawk, D10 foe Lakeview, and 5A Thomas Jefferson keeps EC close to the vest, but can easily say that they have been tested during the season. The “punch on the chin” moment so far has been EC’s first battle with Riverside, where a 49-47 overtime loss has Riverside just ahead of the Wolverines in section play. EC will need to tighten up on defense and continue their success on offense - averaging over 60 points per game - to help them into playoffs and hopefully get a better seed come playoffs.
GIRLS BASKETBALL (2-13, 7th Place)
Losing several Senior starters and a couple injuries along the way, most involved with the Girls team knew this year would be an up-hill battle during the season. However, with WPIAL taking 5 teams from section play to playoffs, EC fans are still optimisitc and patient with the outcome of games. At the current moment, EC is just 2 games back in section play and will need to pull an upset or to on the back end of the season, but with it being high school sports, you just never know. EC started off the season with some tough games in non-section play, including Lincoln Park, Washington, and Union. The Lady Wolverines picked up their first victory against Freedom in dominating fashion. However, the win streak was kept at one as EC would drop their next three games, including a loss to their rival Riverside. EC defeated New Brighton fairly easily for their second win of the season, but more importantly their first section win of the season. EC has lost 6 games in a row since then, but continue to battle against teams that are considered in the top 10 of 3A classification. EC showed great team play against Beaver Falls and followed that up with a good battle with Quaker Valley. EC will still have Riverside, New Brighton, Sto-Rox, and Mohawk on their schedule, but will have to be nearly perfect in those games to have a shot at playoffs.
BOWLING (Boys: 4-2, 2nd Place | Girls: 0-6, 6th Place)
Bowling is back in action at Ellwood City, with the teams just passed the half way mark. The Boys team has shrown great success against their foes, having a 4 match winning streak between their two losses. Their two defeats came at the hands of Blackhawk, which most likely means a section title is out of hand. However, EC Boys are still out for team playoffs, and can wrap things up in the next two weeks with big matches against Montour and Quaker Valley, along with Ambridge the last match of the season.
The Girls team continues to pick up momentum during the season, taking points against West Allegheny and Quaker Valley. The girls team has had more consistent games the past couple of weeks, and will look to play spoilers in the last couple weeks of play as Montour continues to be the team to beat at the top.
WRESTLING (5-3, 2nd Place)
The Wrestling team this year has had a season similar to that of the Boys Basketball team - ups and downs. So far, the wrestling team is sitting above .500 and just had a big victory over Summit Academy just last week. Sitting in second place, the overall record looks great. Unfortunately - and very similar to last year - in a section that only has 5 teams, EC has to be nearly perfect the rest of the way out which includes a match against Laurel. At the same time, Knoch who is technically right behind EC, does own the head-to-head matchup as they defeated EC in the first match of the season. EC will have to pull of a major upset of Laurel to qualify for playoffs, or will have to hope they do enough during the season with two wildcard spots possible. Either way, wrestling fans will get a treat this week as EC hosts Mohawk in a Lawrence County non-section showdown that includes the Warriors’ wrestlers in their innagural season of play for wrestling!
BOCCE BALL (Team 1: 2-2 | Team 2: 1-3)
Bocce continues to battle in the Winter sports season as they progress through the Lawrence County schedule. EC started off strong with a big victory over Union, with Team 1 going 2-0 and Team 1 splitting at 1-1. Tough battles with the teams in red - New Castle and Moahwk - has EC back at the drawing board with 0-2 matches for each respectful team. EC will have to battle in the last weeks of the season later this month against Laurel and Shenango for a chance of team playoffs going forward.
HOCKEY (4-7-0-0, 5th Place)
Welp, you guessed it. Just like wrestling and boys basketball, hockey for the co-sponsored team Wilmington has had its ups and downs. Wilmington sits in 5th place, just on the lower end of section play. However, The Greyhounds have had some exciting games during the season, including a huge victory over rival Neshannock before Christmas break, the first time in twelve tries. That victory was between two other victories over McDowell and Sewickley Academy, giving them a three game winning streak during the season. Wilmington will have nine more games to clsoe out the season, including a postponed game this week due to ice condintions with a zamboni. With a little luck of the ice (and the zamboni for that matter), the Greyhounds could make things interesting in section play the rest of the season.
SWIMMING (2-1, 0-0)
Swimming has gotten underway for the co-sponsored team Riverside, with a couple non-section games completed. Victories over Shaler and Cornell has helped post some early scores for the Panthers. A tough battle against higher classification Seneca Valley leaves room for improvement before section play begins. Riverside battles Beaver, Blackhawk, Hopewell, Quaker Valley, Beaver Falls, Central Valley, and West Allegheny in section meets coming up in the next few weeks.
