By Matthew DeGeorge
The postgame breakdown last Saturday didn’t take long from Tony Bacon.
His Glen Mills team didn’t compete early, got behind, and despite playing Octorara fairly even for the last three quarters until the starters exited, there was no hope of recouping a 16-point deficit after one quarter en route to an 80-54 loss in the District One title game.
That loss sends the Battlin’ Bulls (18-7) out west to take on District 3 third seed Susquehanna Township in Friday’s PIAA Class AAA opener (Harrisburg High, 8 p.m.).
The performance against Octorara highlighted a lot of things that Glen Mills can’t do if it wants to be successful against a quality opponent. It can’t start that slowly, outscored 27-11 after one quarter. It can’t have just two players (Khyzeem Brown and Anthony Johnson) involved on the offensive end.
Glen Mills will get a stiff test in trying not to replicate that effort against Susquehanna (21-6), which lost in last season’s Class AAA final to Neumann-Goretti. Seven seniors return with experience from that team, while the Indians were the top seed in the District 3 tournament before falling in the semis to eventual champion Steelton-Highspire.
The biggest edge for the Indians may be in the backcourt, with junior point guard Nehemiah Mack, senior DeJour Williams and 6-4 Joe Marshall, all of whom can score. Johnson is likely to have to deal with 6-6 power forward Quintin Ward in the low post.