Penn State’s Improbable Season

Kyle Lynch and David Shonis

Staff Writers

Five years ago, Penn State football went through a very hard time. It was when Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky convicted of child sex abuse and long-time head coach Joe Paterno passed away soon after he was let go by the University in the wake of the scandal. With the death of Paterno and Sandusky pleading guilty, the football team floundered. The NCAA banned the team from bowl play for the next three years. The NCAA dropped the ban on the team in 2014. However, many players who had committed to play football at Penn State had uncommitted and the university’s recruiting efforts went downhill in the midst of all the issues facing the institution.

 After being banned from bowls, the Nittany Lions posted a 7-6 record (2-6 in Big Ten) in their 2014 season, and advanced to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College. Penn State came away with a tough overtime victory, 31-30.

 Their 2015 season looked almost identical as their 2014 as they yet again posted another 7-6 record (4-4 in Big Ten) and advanced to yet another bowl game. They were put up against a tough Georgia Bulldogs team in the TaxSlayer bowl and were beaten 24-17.

 Recruiting started to take off at the end of last year, with head coach James Franklin brought in a 2016 freshman class that ranked in the top 20 in the nation. Penn State went into this season with some expectations, but no one expected them to perform at a high level.

 Penn State started the season 2-2 and was defeated by #4 Michigan in week 4 by a score of 49-10. Head coach James Franklin expressed his anger to the team after the loss and knew that his players were better than that. They sure were better than that because since then the Nittany Lions have won eight in a row and defeated #2 Ohio State on their home turf. The Nittany Lions finished the season 10-2 (8-1 in Big Ten) and clinched the Big Ten East regular season title.

 Penn State just faced a Wisconsin Badgers team that finished first in the Big Ten West and finished the season at 10-2 (7-2 in Big Ten) for the Big Ten Championship. The Nittany Lions were down 28-7 to Wisconsin but somehow managed to storm back and take the lead 35-31 with 13 minutes left in the 4th quarter. Penn State went on to win the game, 38-31, and capture the Big Ten title.

 The conversation started immediately whether Penn State deserves to be put into the playoffs to try and go after a national championship. The playoff committee did not choose Penn State. Instead, they put them in the Rose Bowl against #9 USC. The season that Penn State had went from starting the season off at 2-2 and not being ranked, to a team who finished #5 in the nation and playing in one of the biggest bowl games that are offered. Will Penn State maintain the success for the years to come? The Nittany Lions do have lots of potential for the next few years and will try to repeat the historic season that they just had this year.

NFL Late Season Update and Pro Bowl Predictions

Tommy Lupo

Danny Doherty

John Sharkey

Sports Editors

After week 13 the NFL has shaped up with some teams flourishing while others falling apart. This past week posted the last two bye weeks for the season, meaning the final month long haul is upon us. Some huge names last year have been nothing more than last place struggles this year like the Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals,  who look to be heading home early this year. Meanwhile some surprise teams like the Chiefs and Raiders are shaping up to make a super bowl run.

 Heading into the cold, wintery month of December, most teams are going to want to stay away from Tom Brady and the Patriots (even without Gronkowski) and the Seahawks in Seattle with the 12th Man. With the season’s end right around the corner, the discussion of who will be the league's MVP is on the minds of everybody.

 Some believe that Derek Carr has propelled the Raiders to their incredible season while others feel that Ezekiel Elliott has run the Cowboys straight into the playoff. Quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Tom Brady are also making a case for MVP with their stellar play throughout this season.

 The season is still wide open, even with the regular season wrapping up. The only certainty left in the NFL is that it is unpredictable, only time will tell who comes out on top and who falls short.

 

Projected All-Pro Nods for Offensive Playmakers:

QB: Derek Carr

RB: Ezekiel Elliott

RB: David Johnson

FB: Danny Felton

WR: Julio Jones

WR: Antonio Brown

TE: Delanie Walker

Projected All-Pro Defensive Playmakers:

OLB/DE: Von Miller

OLB/DE: Khalil Mack

LB: Sean Lee

LB:  Zach Brown

LB: Bobby Wagner

CB: Patrick Peterson

CB: Casey Heyward

S: Eric Berry

S: Landon Collins

Project All-Pro Special Teamers:

K: Adam Vinatieri

P: Marquette King

PR: Tyreek Hill

KR: Cordarrelle Patterson

Temple Basketball scores impressive stretch of wins

Thomas Muzekari

Staff Writer

The Temple men’s basketball team has put together a nice stretch over the past few weeks and has won 6 of the last 7 games. The Owls (7-3) have been led by junior forward Obi Enechionyia who is averaging 19 points, about 8 rebounds, and over 3 blocks per game while shooting 47.3 percent from three-point range.

 Head coach Fran Dunphy’s Temple team, after starting 1-2, won five straight games, including two straight wins against ranked opponents to improve to 6-2. On Thanksgiving, the Owls defeated the then 25th-ranked Florida State Seminoles 89-86 after coming back from an 18-point deficit. Then, the next day, Temple beat the then 19th-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers in a game in which Temple had a 20-point halftime lead, then briefly gave up that lead in the second half, before closing it out to get a 81-77 win as Temple won the NIT Season Tip-off.

 Along with Enechionyia’s strong performances, many others had big games in the tournament for Temple. Quinton Rose had 26 points off the bench against Florida State, then scored 12 against West Virginia. Shizz Alston Jr. had 22 against Florida State, then followed it up with another good performance against West Virginia. Alani Moore II, in the championship game, scored 18 points, including big free throws and defensive plays. Also, Daniel Dingle scored 15 points in that game for Temple.

 After the tournament win, Enechionyia, who was awarded Most Outstanding Player of the two-day tournament, said: “It’s a confidence boost” for the Owls.

 The following week, on Nov. 30, Temple was able to build off its momentum against city rival Saint Joseph’s in a tough-fought Philadelphia Big 5 matchup, as the Owls were able to come out on top with a 78-72 road win, led by Enechionyia’s game-high 26 points. Last year’s starting point guard for Temple, Josh Brown, made his season debut against the Hawks. Brown missed the first six games of the season due to an Achilles injury he suffered in the offseason. Temple then beat another city rival, Penn, 70-62, led by Alston’s team-high 14 points. However, Temple then lost a tough one to George Washington, 66-63, before rebounding for a 74-65 win over Depaul.

 Enechionyia has been a focal point of the offense for Temple. Meanwhile, Josh Brown, a senior, who is back from injury, may continue to be limited for some of Temple’s upcoming games, but could be a big factor as the season progresses. Also, freshman Quinton Rose has shown his explosiveness and athleticism and has been essential during this stretch. Meanwhile, the starting backcourt of Alston and Moore along with Dingle, are also key players for Temple.

Season in review: New Hope-Solebury Boys’ Soccer

Isaac Zucker

Staff Writer

The New Hope-Solebury Boys’ Soccer team had a great season this year. Although the team's record wasn’t exceptional, it was still an impressive achievement to do as well as they did— considering moving from a Single A Bracket to a AA Bracket. All of their games were very close, but the team did not follow past years’ footsteps and unfortunately did not end up making it to the district finals. On Dec. 6, a final meeting of all players and parents to conclude the 2016 season took place at the Cock N’ Bull in Peddler's Village.

 Players who did an outstanding job this season were given special awards for their exceptional effort and hard work. At the banquet, goalie Andrew Mardirossian and midfielder Jake Zimmerman won First Team BALs  MVPs. For Second Team  BALs, midfielder Nolan Curran and Ryan Meyers won MVP. Congratulations to them for their outstanding seasons!

 As past years’ tradition persists, a single freshman who made it to the varsity field spoke up and talked about their experiences in unfamiliar territory. This year, Ben Koeppen expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to play on varsity as a freshman and insured a positive future with the team. Following his well-written speech, Captains Andrew Mardirossian and Nolan Curran shifted the tone of the room. Both seniors talked about their past experiences on the team as well as favorite overall moments throughout their multiple seasons on the team.

 With Mr. Bachart stepping into the shoes of the team’s head coach this year for the first time, he did a remarkable job coaching the team. Concluding his speech, Bachart gave his appreciation to the Boosters Club, admitting how difficult his job would have been without them.

The shocking beginning to the NHL season

Parker Cane and Will Kelley

Staff Writers

The beginning of the 2016-2017 NHL season has been quite shocking. In the very first game, rookie sensation Auston Matthews scored four goals.The Columbus Blue Jackets, who haven’t been close to the top of the Eastern Conference in almost a decade, have found themselves in 6th place through one fourth of the season. Another shocking team in the East is the Ottawa Senators, led by star defensemen Erik Karlson. Karlson is a former two time Norris Trophy Winner (NHL’s Best defensemen) and has really put almost all the weight on his shoulders with the help of Young forwards Bobby Ryan and Mark Stone. Another unexpected team that has really proven themselves is the New York Rangers. Last offseason the Rangers traded away arguably their best forward, Chris Kreider. Most hockey fans thought they were going to be a disappointment this year but New York proved them wrong. The Rangers find themselves 5th in the league overall. Also doing well, the Philadelphia Flyers made the playoffs last season and find themselves off to an average start. The progress of a dynamic duo Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux hasn’t slowed down at all. They combine for 61 points so far. 2nd in the league only behind Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby from the Pittsburgh Penguins, defending Stanley Cup Champs.

 The young Tampa Bay Lightning are set for the future, as they are built around the sharp shooting center Steven Stamkos, fast dynamic forward Nikita Kucherov and 6’6 defensemen from Sweden Victor Hedman. The Western Conference is looking weak this year. NHL analytics say the only teams in the Western Conference that can compete with the East are the Chicago Blackhawks, built around last year's MVP Patrick Kane and young Russian Artemi Panarin. The St.Louis Blues don’t have many solid players but veteran Defensemen Alex Pietrangelo has controlled the blue line for the Blues. Vladimir Tarasenko who also plays for the Blues is considered the most dynamic sharpshooter in the league, coming in third place for last year’s MVP race. The Edmonton Oilers are a rising young team. Connor McDavid  is currently the NHL point leader has carried his team to 3rd in the Western conference. McDavid, the 1st overall selection in the 2015 entry draft has lived up to his expectations. McDavid is not only good for himself, but he also makes the players around him better.

 This NHL season is  one to look forward to. The season is going to be action packed with all the young teams. Bone crushing hits are common from big hard hitting defensemen. The NHL season flies by, and we are already over a fourth into the season. Before you know it we will be weeks away from the playoffs, and the playoffs are the most exciting part  of the season. All of the best teams from the East and West all compete during a seven game series and all play their hearts out for the ultimate goal. The Stanley Cup will soon be decided.

 

The Sixers’ Process is Flourishing

Clay Asplundh

Oliver Colvin

Sports Editors

Over the past three years, the Sixers have been the laughingstock of the NBA. In 2013, led by Sam Hinkie, they traded away their only solid players Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, and Andre Iguodala in order to acquire future draft picks.

 Throughout the past three years, due to poor records and trading, the Sixers have acquired top prospects in every draft. Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, Dario Saric, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are all finally now with the Sixers and showing signs of improvement. Despite just four wins on the year, they have had some late collapses and easily could have had almost ten wins. Although the wins aren’t coming yet, fans have to be excited. Joel Embiid is frontrunner for rookie of the year and has been dominating when he is on the court, averaging 19.5 points per game, despite playing on limited minutes due to a foot injury. Dario Saric has also been playing well and will likely finish runner-up to Embiid in rookie of the year rating.

 Jahlil Okafor, now in his second year, is backing up Embiid and almost always shows his scoring abilities when he comes into the game, averaging 11.9 points per game. Although his defense is subpar he is a critical cog to a team that at times struggles to score.

 Possibly the crown jewel for the Sixers is point-forward Ben Simmons. Drafted number one overall in this years draft, Simmons is a great player offensively and defensively. When he joins the Sixers in January it will be fascinating to see how he works with Joel Embiid.

 With likely another top pick this year as well as the Lakers first rounder, the Sixers are in prime position to continue to develop the young talent that it takes to turn them into a contender. Although Sam Hinkie was criticized for his methods, you can’t argue with the fact that the Sixers are better off now compared to three years ago. Philadelphia will continue to trust the process.

Unfortunately, the Sixers have now fallen to 4-18 and seem to be in the midst of another long year. However, concern is not necessary because the future is looking very bright.

As The Birds Fail To Soar, Fans Should Take To The Sea

Lear Asplundh

Staff Writers 

With the Philadelphia Eagles out of the playoff race, if you're looking for another team to root for, tune into the Miami Dolphins. After a 1 and 4 start to the 2016 NFL season, the Miami Dolphins had lost hope in contention for the playoffs. The Dolphins felt some hope after two straight home wins against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Buffalo Bills. During those two wins running back Jay Ajayi joined OJ Simpson, Earl Campbell, and Ricky Williams as the only players to rush for 200 yards in back to back games. They ended their 3 game home stand with a win against the jets. These 3 straight wins gave life to the both the dolphins and the fans who have not seen a playoff game since 2008.  

  With two road games ahead, the dolphins were looking to extend their win streak to 5 against the San Diego Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams. The Dolphins hung on to a win over the chargers after a Kiko Alonso game winning interception for a touchdown. Next week's game against the Rams was a nailbiter. The Dolphins trailed 10-0 until 5 minutes remaining in the game when the Dolphins put together two scoring drives to Jarvis Landry and the game winner to Devante Parker to top the Rams 14-10 and extend their winning streak to 5. On November 27, the dolphins played the struggling 1and 9 San Francisco 49ers. Towards the end of the 3rd quarter the dolphins extended their lead to 31-10 but the 49ers never gave up. After two quick touchdowns the 49ers had all the momentum and the ball with 2 minutes remaining. After a big catch got them down to the six yard line with 10 seconds left the game came down to these last plays. After a quick slant incompletion the Dolphins had to stop them one more time to achieve victory. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and Linebacker Kiko Alonso stuffed Kaepernick short for the game-tying touchdown. After this win, the Dolphins went on to win six straight. Currently that sitting in the 6th seed in the playoffs. If Miami can keep this success, they could potentially make a run for the Lombardi trophy.

A New Chapter is Written for the Greatest Rivalry in College Football

Adrian Roji and Charlie Stadler

Staff Writers

The match-up between the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes is known as “The Game” across the country. These two powerhouse football programs first met in 1897, and have played annually since 1918. The schools have played each other a total of 113 times, with Michigan up in the all time series with 58 wins, 48 losses, and 6 ties. These are two of the most renowned schools for all college athletics, but football has always been at their heart. The divide between their fans encapsulates just how heated this rivalry is, so the atmosphere in these showdowns is nothing short of spectacular.

 This year, both programs were lead by two of the best coaches in the country, Urban Meyer (OSU) and Jim Harbaugh (MU), to national rankings of 2 and 3 respectively. This has been the highest each team was ranked in a meeting since 2006. Ohio State and Michigan were fighting to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff, as only the top 4 teams would get in and compete for a National Championship.

 The setting was at Ohio State’s mecca of football, Ohio Stadium, also known as “The Horseshoe”. With around 105,000 OSU fans watching and millions more on national television, the stage was set for a legendary clash. Ohio State’s star quarterback JT Barrett and Michigan’s electrifying Jabrill Peppers looked to build their Heisman resumes as the best player in the country.

 Early on, Michigan dominated the game as their defense suffocated the OSU offense and did not give Barrett any room to operate. Jabrill Peppers snagged his first career interception, and it seemed to be Michigan’s day. Ohio State had no answer and quickly went down 17-7, but they got back into the game because Michigan’s quarterback, Wilton Speight, threw two costly interceptions. One of them was taken back for a touchdown, and the other lead to an OSU touchdown later on. JT Barrett began to find room with his legs, as he had more success running the ball than passing. With Ohio State down 17-14 and less than a minute left in the game, they were faced with a fourth and one, and Barrett, in a Heisman moment, willed himself to stay up and get the necessary yard. This led to a last second field goal to send the game to overtime. How fitting.

 After trading touchdowns, Ohio State’s defense held Michigan to a field goal, meaning a touchdown would win it. At this point OSU’s offense was in rhythm, and after a couple of plays, their explosive offensive weapon, Curtis Samuel, ran untouched for the game winning touchdown. The crowd burst in excitement, for their Buckeyes had right then most likely secured a playoff berth, and more importantly, they beat Michigan. Urban Meyer, after 4 hours of pure anxiety, dropped to the ground in delight.

 Although this game was not the prettiest, both teams demonstrated how bad they wanted to win. Both teams deserved the victory, but OSU was just a bit more talented. JT Barrett did not have a great day, as he finished with more rushing yards than passing yards, but that did not matter. He led his team to a hard fought win and delivered in the clutch. This game will go down in the books as one of the best to have ever been played. There are many more to come.

 A new chapter was written in this historic rivalry.

New Hope-Solebury Fall Sports Wrap-up

Deven Smith
Staff Writer

The New Hope-Solebury Golf team had a stellar season, going 12-2.  Ben Wiseman ranked 4th in the state. Nina Kouchi won the girls’ BAL title and also won the girls’ BAL MVP.

  The NH-S Girls’ Tennis team also had a great season, going 8-3 on the year. Star player Larissa Borys achieved second place in the girl’s BAL singles and 2nd in district singles. Chloe Miller also got 3rd place in BAL singles.

  The New Hope-Solebury Girls’ Soccer team went 8-7-2 and earned 2nd place in the sub-regional division.

  NH-S Boys’ Soccer went 7-8 and lost in the District Semi-Finals to Lansdale Catholic High School.

  The New Hope-Solebury Girls’ Volleyball team went 14-6. They were the BAL Champions, the District Champions, and Regional Champions. Caleigh Roach won the league MVP award.

  The NH-S Lions Football team went 8-2 and were the 2016 Bicentennial Athletic League Champions.

  New Hope-Solebury Field Hockey placed 2nd in District 1, 2nd in the region, and lost in state quarterfinals. The team’s coach, Gwen Smith, won Coach of the Year.

  On the New Hope-Solebury Cross Country team, Matt Peshek and Eric Cammarata finished in 97th and 134th places, respectively, within the boys’ competition. Julia Mycek finished 99th in the state for girls.

Lions get set for Turkey Bowl

Brendan Shadle
Staff Writer

For many, Thanksgiving is a day of “thanks” and “blessings,” but not for the New Hope-Solebury High School football team…or at least not for the first half of the day. For the last five years, a “Battle of the Bridges” game has been played between New Hope Solebury and South Hunterdon to generally cap off the season in a Turkey Bowl game. After a big Lions’ win last year (14-7), the Eagles are leading the yearly tradition at 3-2. Seeking another win this year would push the Lions to 3-3 in the competitive and festive match and 9-2 overall to cap off another remarkable season.
  “The atmosphere when the two teams clash is noteworthy and like no other.” Senior lineman, Matt Fest stated. The “Battle of the Bridges” game produces the biggest crowd every year between students, local families, and alumni showing their support. Bleachers are always crowd-packed, forcing people to arrive 30 minutes to an hour before coin toss to reserve a seat, which is unheard of for most of the Lions games. Bodies loom around the fences while awaiting the early 10:30 a.m. start-time to kickoff the action-packed holiday.
  After the 14-7 hard-fought win last year at home, the Lions will travel back to Eagle territory to seek revenge after a brutal 31-0 loss two years ago.
  “They got lucky. They know they couldn’t have competed with us if we had all of our starters.” Danny Doherty noted after suffering through a career-ending shoulder injury. In 2014, eight Lion starters were benched for disciplinary action leading to the gruesome loss.
  The Lions are coming into this game with a record of 8-2, and are hoping to keep the Eagles winless this season. Their record is 0-8. The Lions have a 4-1 record at home and a 4-1 record on the road. After a Lion’s 36-13 loss to a powerful Del-Val Charter, which stopped their playoff run , the Lions’ seniors look to end their high school careers with a big Turkey Bowl win. With a week and half of practice, there is no reason why this talented New Hope team shouldn’t come out on top.

Girls’ Basketball aims high in 2016

Chloe MacGillvray
Staff Writer

On Nov, 18, the girls’ basketball team began training for their upcoming season. In previous years, being one of New Hope’s finest winter sports teams, the basketball team excelled in BAL, district, and state competitions. The girls were undefeated for most of last season, and constantly proved themselves the best by playing hard as a team throughout the entire season.
  Bella Devito, one of New Hope’s most important players, said of her previous season; “Last year was such an unforgettable year with my ‘winter best friends.’ We spent so much time together and accomplished so much that I never wanted the season to end. However, even saying that, I am even more excited about my senior year season and what’s to come. I’m going to cherish every moment of this year to have the best final season ever.”
  Kelly Hyland also discussed the closeness of her team: “‘13 hearts beating as one’ is a quote our basketball team lives by. We don’t focus on winning and that’s what makes it so fun! We accomplished so much last season and we hope to do the same this year. We have very talented new players and I think that if we work hard we can be super successful.”
  It is obvious that the girls have big plans for the seasons, and winning states this year is high on their agenda.

Boys’ Basketball will get rowdy

Kevin Dougherty
Staff Writer

This week marks the commencement of the 2016-17 New Hope-Solebury basketball season. With their first practice on Friday, Nov. 18th, the team will be working throughout Thanksgiving break to prepare for a successful season. Everyone is getting pumped for the upcoming season, including junior Matt Benda, school spirit superlative, who says: “New Hope basketball...nothin’ better. We’re going to get rowdy this year.” However, with all this hype, what should fans truly expect from the Lions?
  After a subpar season just a year ago, the Lions look to embark on a more successful campaign this year, which they hope will include a run at a regional championship. The squad this year features three returning starters: juniors Nick Garritano and Kevin Dougherty, and senior Brendan Shadle. A fierce presence will be at hand inside as 6’6” sophomore Topher Taylor looks to have a breakout season. Senior Captain Brendan Shadle, who is optimistic about the upcoming season, says: “This is the year. Watch out for us playing deep into February, maybe even early March [when states begin].”
  The New Hope student body expects great and plentiful turnouts at all the home games this year. Home court advantage plays a key role in high school basketball, and a wild crowd coming out for every home game could lead to a few more games in the win column this year. But when are these home games? After a few tournaments and scrimmages, the first game at home is on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 7p.m. versus Church Farm School. The Lions’ Den has to be packed for this tough matchup. Exactly a week later, the Lions will take on Valley Forge Military Academy on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m., followed by the annual “Over the River Challenge,” which will be played at home on Dec. 27 and 28. Mark your calendars; the season is upon us, and attendance is mandatory.

Cubs win: 108-year wait is over

Connor Fitzgerald and Justin Horak.
Staff Writers

On Nov. 2, 2016, the Chicago Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians in game seven of the world series. The Cubs had come back from a 3-1 lead vs. the Cleveland Indians. After a long, slow, 108-year wait, the Chicago Cubs had won a world series. The Cubs last won the World Series in 1908 against the Detroit Tigers. The Cubs won their final game against the Indians 8-7 in the tenth inning. David Ross is the 39-year-old catcher for the Chicago Cubs. It was the fifth inning of game seven and the Cubs were up 5-3. David Ross was up to bat. He went down in a 1-2 count. The next pitch, he hit a home run against Cleveland’s pitcher, Andrew Miller. As a result, Ross became the oldest person to hit a homerun in a world series game.
  The game had ended in an 8-7 score leading by the Cubs. The second basemen for the Cubs, Ben Zobrist, won the most valuable player award for the 2016 world series. Ben Zobrist stuck out to the stands when he got an RBI double in the tenth inning. The RBI was the winning run for the Cubs. Cleveland put up a hard fight. It was tied 6-6 in the 9th. The Cubs pulled through to score their final two runs in the 10th. The Indians also scored in the tenth, making the final score 8-7.

76ers are in ‘process’ as the rest of the NBA reaches for gold

Will Kelley and Parker Cane
Staff Writers

The finish of the 2015-2016 NBA season was quite unexpected. The high rolling Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers made it to the NBA finals two times in a row. The Warriors squad consisted of many stars: two-time MVP Stephen Curry, all-star shooting guard Klay Thompson and small forward Draymond Green. While the Cavaliers also had many stars, three- time MVP Lebron James, all-star point guard Kyrie Irving and power forward Kevin Love all combined and  made for an interesting finals. The Warriors dominant offense led them to a 3-1 lead but the Cavaliers came back and won the championship title. With the resiliency and leadership of Lebron James, The Cavaliers could not be stopped at the end. After this historical comeback, Lebron James is considered one of the best to ever play the game. Days after this heartbreaking loss for the Warriors,their fan base was still devastated. An off-season signing of arguably one of the best small forwards in the game, Kevin Durant, the Warriors are now known as a “Super Team.”
  The 2016-2017 will be the 71st season of the NBA. The first game was on Oct. 25, with the NBA champions, Cavaliers facing the New York Knicks. The Knicks during the off-season acquired former MVP Point Guard Derrick Rose. A couple of seasons ago, Derrick Rose was a star on the Chicago Bulls, until he tore his ACL and was out for four years. The Knicks have a great combination of Veterans, young players, and stars and are set up for a good season. Star small forward Carmelo Anthony has a veteran presence around the Knicks, keeping young cocky stars in check. An upcoming future players you should keep an eye on from the Kicks is Power forward Kristaps Porzingis. Unfortunately for the Knicks, the former NBA champs rolled over them in the NBA opener due to the arsenal of star power the Cavaliers have. Tim Duncan had officially announced his retirement after 19 seasons on the San Antonio Spurs, winning five championships. Another future hall of famer, Kobe Bryant also retired after 18 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers winning five championships. Center Kevin Garnett also retired. Though he did not get as much recognition as Duncan and Bryant he was still a dominant force ever since 2001.  All of these players are substantial losses to each team. The San Antonio Spurs are headed in the right direction with a record of 8-3 having young superstar Kawhi Leonard, 2016 Defensive Player of the year.
  Currently, the Toronto Raptors shooting guard C.J. McCollum leads the league in points per game with 32.3 followed by Russel Westbrook and Damian Lillard. Young center Hassan Whiteside from Miami has made his NBA presence by leading the league in rebounds with 15.9. All-star shooting guard James Harden from the Houston Rockets has changed his style of play over the off-season. During 2016 he was a shoot first kind of player not really racking up that many assists but over the off-season the Rockets transformed him into an all-around player and it worked. Harden is now the league leader in assists and 4th in points. The tall 6’11” center, Anthony Davis, leads the league with the most blocks. Veteran point guard Chris Paul has led the league in steals due to his quick hands and speed. Paul has led the league in steals for the past three years. It is no surprise that the Golden State Warriors lead the league in points per game with 116.4 due to all of their star power. Four out of the five starters for the Warriors were all within the top 25 in scoring last year.
  Some young underrated teams from the Eastern Conference are the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers. From the Western Conference, the Portland Trail Blazers are off to a slow start but expected to be a serious playoff contender. Meanwhile the Philadelphia 76ers are in the middle of something called “The process.” This process is where the 76ers purposely become the worst team in the league in order to obtain high draft picks. 3 years ago the 76ers drafted Center Joel Embiid. Embiid broke his foot in his preseason rookie debut and has been out for the past two years. The 76ers last top draft pick was the 6’10 point forward Ben Simmons, considered to be a future top NBA player. The 76ers are headed in the right direction.

Girls' soccer goes further than ever before

Laura Nagg & Shayna Berman

Staff Writers

The girls’ fall soccer 2016 season is nearing the finish line but there are plenty of memories and victories that will be enjoyed. The girls have had an extremely successful season, one of their best in the past five seasons.

 They started out the season with six consecutive shutout games thanks to the efforts of goalie Hannah Reszka and the defensive line. The first goal scored against the Lady Lions was by Palisades, and the game ended in a tough loss for New Hope. However, the girls did not let this bring them down, and continued to practice hard everyday after school. With their power, strength, and team unity the girls were able to create a six-game winning streak as they played the second half of the season. Much of this can be credited to the offensive powerhouses and top scoring players, Kelly Hyland, Chloe MacGillvray, and Maddie Hausner. Credit can also be given to the girls controlling the midfield and defense, including Morgan Amberson and Bella DeVito.

 Senior night was celebrated on Oct. 18 2016. The team, especially the seniors, played their hearts out, as they tried to make up for their devastating 0-1 loss against Dock the week prior. Although the outcome of the senior night was not in favor of the Lady Lions, everyone left the field with their heads held high.

  Although the team has a passion for the sport itself, the overwhelming vote shows that the girls’ favorite part about New Hope-Solebury Girls’ Soccer is the people on the team. They’ve created a special bond over many years with corn mazes, haunted hayrides, pool parties, picnics, Chick-fil-A feasts, and the four-hour round trip bus rides to DelCo. Senior captain, Bella DeVito, emphasizes that this year’s team, specifically,  is “[her] favorite girl’s soccer team [she’s] ever been on at New Hope!”    

 The girls will play their semi-district game on Wednesday Nov. 2, 2016. If they win they will play again for the BAL district final on Saturday Nov. 5 2016. Good luck to everyone and congratulations to the seniors on an amazing season!

Returning Home Empty Handed

Oliver Colvin and Clay Asplundh

Staff Writers

The New Hope Solebury golf team finished up their season on Wednesday, Oct. 26, ending with a disappointing loss in team states. The team ended up placing fourth, shooting a score of 329. The eventual winner was Lancaster Catholic, who shot a score of 309. The score of 309 was a record score and broke the previous state record of 324. However the NHS team did well considering last year they shot a 343, and this year they shot a 329. The team was able to improve their score by 14 strokes.

 Although the loss was unfortunate, it was another great season in what has been a historic run for the Lions. After winning states in 2014, the team was runner-up in 2015 to Sewickley Academy. The three-year stretch represents the best results in golf team history, led by Coach Demby. Leading the team were seniors Nate Hiriak and Clay Asplundh, along with impressive juniors such as Nina Kouchi, Ben Wiseman, and Bobby Wannamaker. It will be hard to let the seniors go yet again; however, the team will continue to work hard in the future. In fact, junior Nina Kouchi came in 8th in states for the AA Girl’s Division along with winning districts and regionals.

 The loss represents some disappointment to the team who has been eyeing the state championship title for almost a year. However the team is still strong and will continue to work hard to achieve another title. Next year, the Lions will be coming out with more fire and hopefully claim the state championship.

   

History in the Major Leagues: Indians vs. Cubs

Danny Doherty

Staff Writer

We’re getting close people. The improbable Cubs V. Indians World Series is knocking at America’s doorstep.

 It’s been over 100 years for the Cubbies, and more than 60 for the Cleveland faithful since the baseball title has been regained in their home. We’ve seen losing seasons, a play that ruined Bartman’s life, and everything in between. And up until two years ago, this matchup, these teams competing for a winning record, was something that was written up in fairytales.

 Joe Maddon and Terry Francona. Plastered with young talent, winning trades, huge free agents, and brilliant general managers, the keys in these teams success has been the men at the helm of the team. Francona came from a long, successful history in Boston, and in a few years has a taken a roster of misfits and built them up into a team that swept Boston in Big Papi’s finale just a week ago. Maddon took a handful of some of the best young talent in the game, and gave the Cubs the best rotation in the game, and one of the most dynamic and multidimensional lineups today. Without these two at the helm, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

 Now into the teams themselves. The Cubs have compiled two franchise starters, transformed a lackluster Orioles’ pitcher into a Cy Young winner, and turned an Ivy League pitcher into the statistically best pitcher in baseball. Not to mention having arguably the most sought after young lineup in the game (Rizzo, Bryant, Russell, Soler, Heyward), not to mention last year’s postseason star (Schwarber) has missed the entire year. The Indians have grown from the helm, making an inefficient starting rotation into one that makes the most out of every situation. Combined with arguably the best bullpen arm in the game today from a deadline trade with the Yankees, Francona didn’t need Jonathan Lucroy at the deadline to make the most fundamental lineup in baseball click, starting with the young talent of their own in Francisco Lindor.

 When it comes right down to it, on paper the Cubs have the edge. They’re due, they have the talent, the support, and have been in this place last year. The Indians are the underdogs. They look to bring Cleveland its second major title this year, but have a long ways to go, and with limited postseason experience on the team, an uphill battle will be fought to get there.

 The teams of Hollywood’s Henry Rowengartner and Wild Thing (further proving the insanity of this matchup) look to make for one of the most exciting postseason clashes in recent baseball memory.

*UPDATE They did it folks, and Indians took game one. Shutout the Cubbies. Indians in 6, betting on it.

Eagles and Carson Wentz defeat the Vikings

Will Kelley and Parker Cane

Staff Writers

Carson Wentz, the Eagles savior. Last year in the 2016 NFL draft Carson Wentz, the six-foot-six, 240-pound quarterback out of North Dakota State was drafted. In his college career, he lead his team to back to back NCAA Division 1 FCS national championships in 2014 and 2015. His record as a starter was 20-3 in the two seasons. Wentz went 2nd overall after Jared Goff the new addition to the newly moved Los Angeles Rams. Many people were sceptical about Carson Wentz because he didn’t come out of “Top line” colleges like other top five picks like. Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio State), Jared Goff (Cal), Joey Bosa (Ohio State), and top pick cornerback Jalen Ramsey out of FSU. The Eagles 3-0 hot start was no joke. Right now,  Carson Wentz has seven TDS, one interception, 1,186 yards and RPG of 99.9. Very good for a rookie quarterback in his first couple of games.  Carson Wentz’s play was exceptional, he passed for 770 scrimmage yards mostly to WR Jordan Matthews and led the Eagles to 3 straight wins.  The Eagles Offense was very good these first three games of the season but due to a recent suspension,  star Right Tackle Lane Johnson was suspended for performance enhancing drugs. He will miss up to week 14 of the Eagles season.

 Three Sundays ago, the Eagles faced the new young Detroit Lions, star receiver Marvin Jones and QB Matthew Stafford combined for 205 receiving yards. Carson Wentz had a very good game but late game pressure caused an interception to seal the game, many people called this a typical “rookie mistake.” Two Sundays ago the Eagles played the Redskins at Washington. The Redskins put tremendous pressure on Wentz even on the first play of the game. Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan sacked Wentz for a loss of six yards, in the process he ripped Wentz’s jersey almost in half. Throughout the game the Eagles offensive line struggled due to the loss of Lane Johnson and outside Linebackers had an easy path right to Wentz’s back.

 Last weekend the Eagles played the hot 5-0 Vikings at home at 1:00 PM. The Eagles played exceptional on the defensive side of the ball, allowing 10 points and only 282 yards, much better than the previous weeks. The defense sacked Sam Bradford six times and got hit 12 times. In the first couple minutes of the game, Wentz turned the ball over three times in 10 minutes and had two interceptions. He was picked off twice by star cornerback Xavier Rhodes. The game was almost scoreless heading into halftime, but a speech by head coach Doug Pederson, probably talked some pep into the Eagles. The Eagles came out on the second half very hot and hungry. They forced the Vikings to a field goal their first drive. On the following kickoff, Josh Huff, draft pick out of Oregon State returned the kick for a 98-yard touchdown. The Eagles defense continued to have success and force Bradford to throw away the ball. Dropped passes hurt the Vikings. The Eagles offense played well, chipping away at the Vikings’ defense throughout the game. Screen passes to Ryan Mathews and Nelson Agholor helped to the Eagles get big yardage gains. With the score being 24-3,the Vikings had a late game touchdown but the Eagles were able to hold them off and continue their playoff quest.

Optimistic Hopes For The 76ers This Year

Lear Asplundh and Nathan Newman

Staff Writers

With the 2016-2017 NBA season upon us, the Philadelphia 76ers seem to be poised for a breakout year. First overall pick Ben Simmons, out of LSU, will be paired with rookie Joel Embiid to create an exciting front court. Hall of Fame players have touted Ben Simmons to be a LeBron James-type player. They share great court vision and a gifted passing ability, as well as excellent athleticism.

Combining Simmons with Joel Embiid, a very efficient post scorer, could create a dangerous pick and roll offense. The 12th overall pick in the 2014 draft, Dario Saric, is also coming over from Croatia. The 6’10 forward will bring a lot of potential and excitement to the 76ers this year. Saric, who has spent the past five years overseas, will bring a shooting and passing ability that the Sixers need desperately.

With a very young core of players brought to the team by former GM Sam Hinkie, the Sixers needed a veteran presence from free agency. Bryan Colangelo has done a great job filling this void by signing point guards Sergio Rodriguez and Jerryd Bayless. Although all of this talent has been added to the roster in such a short time, the team will probably continue to struggle. The young core of players has a lot to learn before they find success in the NBA.

As the 2017 draft nears, this year’s draft class is showing potential to be great. The Sixers have the rights to swap draft picks with the Sacramento Kings, which could potentially land them a top three pick. The Sixers also have the Los Angeles Lakers’ top three protected pick. The 2017 draft could be the last piece of the puzzle for the talented young Sixers team to become great.

Projected Starting Five:

1. PG Sergio Rodriguez
2. SG Jerryd Bayless
3. SF Robert Covington
4. PF Dario Saric
5. C Nerlens Noel

Projected Win Total:

27-55

NHS XC Update: Peshek PRs by a Minute; Chris Cammarata and Matt Firth Medal

Joshua House

Staff Writer

Congratulations to the Lions Cross Country Team on a strong start to the season at the Moravian and Ablington Invitationals. The boys’ team placed 3rd out of 18 at Moravian with strong performances by Junior Chris Cammarata medaling with a time of 17:19 in 9th and Senior Matt Peshek 17:22 in 11th. (That’s about a 5:30 pace per mile) The girls’ team had a great first race with the fastest time ran by Senior Tabitha Liucci (22:41) and a strong performance by Freshman Danielle Herbert (23:35). Also notable performance by JV medalist Matt Firth coming in the Top 10 with a time of 19:26 (6:15 per mile).

 The following week at the Abington Invitational performances were decent even with the brutal 90+ temperatures. Senior Matt Peshek ran a quick 17:43 on the hilly course which landed him 14th and a medal. Girls’ runner Julia Mycek came back from missing Moravian to run a strong 23:10 followed by another strong performance of Danielle Herbert (24:23). Injuries were a problem with Chris Cammarata dropping out due to a calf injury, and Tabitha Liucci did not run due to illness. The JV team only ran a 3k due to the these temperatures with notable performances by Seniors Evan Patrohay (11:29) and Eric Luo (11:30).

 Both the boys’ and girls’ teams have remained strong even with the loss of Head Coach Mike Clarke and four varsity runners on both teams.

 Varsity runner Eric Cammarata said: “All that matters is districts.”

 Also with the boys’ team being bumped up to AA it will make it even that much harder for states. They both look to make an impact on their big upcoming race on Sept. 24 at Hershey Park’s Foundation Invitational where over 130 teams will participate.

New Hope-Solebury Girls' Volleyball is ready

Brooke Black, Jacqueline Vergis, Caroline Maloney

Staff Writers

“The New Hope-Solebury Girls’ Volleyball team is looking fresh this season, quite literally” says senior Caroline Maloney.

 Coach Roy Watson has started his fourth season at NH-S by integrating the new freshmen talent that he has to work with. The team has played three games this fall season and has already won two out of the three. The loss was to Octorara High School, where our girls endured a nail biting five set fight that ultimately ended in favor of the Braves, a team who traveled two hours to the home of the Lady Lions just to play.

 Interestingly enough, unlike past years, this season the varsity lineup consists of almost half freshman players. Linked to this is the time and energy these girls have put into their club volleyball experiences out of season. Coach Watson has always encouraged the girls to go out for club, and this year we’re really seeing the impact of his tireless work ethic and passion to pass on his love for the game. Like previous years, several girls attended the Penn State volleyball camp along with the annual week-long skills camp held here at New Hope in July. A lot of the freshmen coming into the high school from the middle school had an opportunity to bond with the upperclassmen, including captains Skylar Sherman, Caleigh Roach and Rachel McMahon, before the season had begun.

 The team is currently represented by all four grades, with varsity captains in both senior and junior classes. The captains have enjoyed the mix of ages, giving them different skill sets and new knowledge added to the team. The team is confident that they will continue to succeed throughout the 2016 fall season with Coach Roy Watson and Coach Chris Marchok.