Pioneer Athletic Conference Notebook

St. Pius' finale. The St. Pius X boys' team reached the final four of the Pioneer Athletic Conference playoffs before being ousted by Methacton. The Winged Lions went on to win the District 1 Class AA championship and finished 19-7 after losing to Dunmore in the PIAA playoffs.

"Our goals for this year are the same," said coach Randy Reber, who is in his 19th season.

There will something different about this season, however: It will be St. Pius' last. Next year, Pius will be merged with Kennedy-Kenrick to form the new Pope John II High School that will open near Royersford. It will become a member of the Catholic League.

In this final season, Reber will have all five starters back: Andrew Maszaros, Ed McKeon, Paul Mills, Mike Dinnella, and his son, Ross Reber.

As usual, the Winged Lions will depend on their shooting ability, especially from long range, to keep them in games.

"We have to shoot the ball well," Reber said. "We try to spread it around. During my tenure we've usually had to play without much height."

Pius' tallest player is in the 6-foot-2 range. Last season, the Winged Lions shot 32 percent from three-point range and launched about 20 three-point shots a game.

In the Frontier Division, Reber expects Pottsgrove and Phoenixville to be Pius' stiffest competition. The Falcons are led by 6-feet-7 Joe Ball.

A matter of height. Ryan Brumfield will go from running the football to running the offense as point guard for the Owen J. Roberts boys' team.

The 5-11 senior is elso being expected to carry more of the scoring burden this season.

The Wildcats are coming off a 20-5 campaign in which they won the PAC-10 championship. They fell to Pennsbury in the District 1 Class AAAA playoffs after surprising Downingtown West.

Coach Ted Snyder, in his 19th season, will have some height as the Wildcats bid to retain their title.

Junior center Mark Henry is 6-7, while senior forward Connor Lawler checks in at 6-4. Senior guard Dave Vining hit 75 three-pointers last season.

Hinnant returns. Spring-Ford's Jasmin Hinnant, a 5-10 senior, missed the entire season last season thanks to an Achilles' heel problem. Coach Jeff Rineheimer is hoping her return this season will help the Rams turn their fortunes around.

"The season didn't out the way we expected," the coach said of his team's 11-12 record.

He's also counting on seniors Karli Engle and Marisa Moley to lead the Rams.

"The league is always tough from top to bottom," he said.

Methacton, Perkiomen Valley, and Owen J. Roberts appear to be the top teams.