Boys' Notebook

Dynasty?

Girard College's John Johnson is only a sophomore but already college recruiters have him on the big-time radar.

He and junior Torrel Candelaria, another top prospect, have the Cavaliers looking like a dynasty in the Constitution Division of the Bicentennial League.

Last season, Girard won the division crown with a 17-1 record and finished the season with a 25-3 overall mark.

The Cavaliers won their second straight Distict 1 Class A championship. Johnson was named to the small schools state championship team after averaging more than 20 points a game. If he should continue to make the all-state team through his career, he would be only the second area player to do it all four years.

"He's certainly an exceptional player," said Girard coach Tyrone Morris.

Johnson is the Cavaliers' point guard; Candelaria is the shooting guard.

"They complement each other very well," Morris said.

Transfers costly

. Morrisville coach Rich Poland lost four starters to graduation, but he also lost an additional five players who transferred out of the school.

He will look to point guard Frank Ramble, Marcel Carr and Kris Shaw to lead the effort to improve on an 11-13 record.

Ramble and the 6-foot-4 Shaw are sophomores. Carr is a senior forward.

"We're young, but we have a sophomore class that has some good athletes," said Poland. "We're not that big but we'll be quick."

Another dynasty?

In the Independence Division, Holy Ghost Prep hopes to repeat as champs. The Firebirds took the division crown with a 16-1 record and finished 24-5 mark as Tony Chapman completed his 30th year as coach. The league championship was the 17th for Holy Ghost.

Trio to lead Lions.

Lower Moreland finished as the runner-up to Holy Ghost with a 14-3 league record. The Lions, under coach John Conrad, were 19-8 overall and won the District 1 Class AA title. They were eliminated in the first round of the state playoffs.

Rob Schulgen, Matt Moskowitz and Matt Dillon - brother of former Lions player Ben Dillon - are expected to keep the team in the hunt.

Dock has height.

Christopher Dock had a disappointing 9-15 season last year, finishing fifth in the Independence Division. Coach Tony DaCosta is hoping that a pair of big men, Brett Moyer and Owen Longacre, can lead a turnaround.

Moyer, a 6-5 senior, was a first-team all-league selection last year when he averaged 14 points and six rebounds a game. The 6-5 Longacre was a second-team pick.

Senior Mike Reeser (6-3) and Rob Larson are expected to be big contributors.

Filling holes.

Devon Prep coach Bill Frio is looking to replace four starters from a team that was 11-14 a year ago. He's counting on junior Jeff Hughes and seniors Matt Radom and Neil Moerman to help fill the holes.

- Don Beideman