The week started with a rare party invite for myself as the boss’ wife is moving to Florida for work and he held a going-away party for her at the Burning Bridge Tavern in Wrightsville. Never been there but they are a client so why not? The only regrets were that since I had to drive home I couldn’t imbibe too much and Hell in a Bucket is closed on Mondays. I still did make my usual Monday stop at Gift Horse beforehand. There was a sad start to the week as I learned that Crystal Ball Brewing here in town closed. They were I believe the third to open their doors (I think Liquid Hero was before them but I could be wrong) and they made good beer. They will be missed.
Tuesday brought South Western to York High for Senior Night. York High did beat Executive Education Academy much to my surprise thanks to a much better night at the line. Could the tides be turning? This one might not be the best one to determine it since South Western isn’t all that good. Last home game though there is a possibility of getting a home game for districts since they are #7 entering the week. This one was over about 3 minutes into the game. York took a 10 point lead and that was it. The Mustangs were not quick enough and not athletic enough to keep up. They were taller, they have a 6’7 guy but he seemed to be better last year though that did help limit some of the points inside. York’s bench played liberally and this was a laugher with York winning 75-35.
Wednesday brought Salisbury to York College. They seem to be doing things a bit differently this year with the women’s team going to Salisbury. It ends the doubleheaders but I do get out of there earlier. With a lot of distance to travel this does make a bit of sense and perhaps I’m not as concerned since I only go to the men’s games. Salisbury started the game well hitting 4 or 5 threes to start the game but they cooled. York then went on a surge for the rest of the half putting up 53 points in the first half and taking a 20 point lead into the break. I had to do a double take when looking up at the scoreboard and seeing that they were up 20+ with about 5 minutes left. Salisbury played better in the second half and upped the defensive pressure getting the lead down to 13 or 14 but York responded and rebuilt the lead. Both teams wound up playing even in the 2nd half with York winning 91-71.
Friday saw York High head to New Oxford. This is a game that New Oxford always seems to play well and shoot the lights out but in this case they are the division leaders and the hunted. Will they fold under the pressure or will they emerge victorious? York clinched a league playoff berth since New Oxford took out Northeastern earlier in the week so outside of power rankings for Districts this game is pretty much meaningless. Won’t get much of a boost with a win over South Western since that is the remaining opponent and I don’t know if this would be enough to overtake #6 Milton Hershey, though a win against them would have helped there. York started strong and then the wheels fell off. Everything New Oxford chucked up seemed to go in. Contested 3’s, runners in the lane, reverse layups under the basket. If they chucked it up it went in and if they missed it the carom went right to them. One of them nights. York looked like they would get back into the game in the 4th quarter closing the gap to 7 but New Oxford hit back-to-back 3’s and that was it. New Oxford wins this one 64-48.
Saturday brought Southern Virginia to York College. First I made a special trip to Hanover since I saw that Miscreation was putting their canned beer on sale so I partook. Since I was only about 15 miles away I also headed over to Gettysburg after that and visited Fourscore for the first time and since I was there I hit the Battlefield Brew Works as well. Took a spin around the battlefield as well. Got back to York while the women’s game was being played and I paid my penance and watched womens basketball. Didn’t feel like driving home for 30 minutes or sitting in my car waiting. Considering they lost they probably don’t want to see my face there again. Southern Virginia’s men are not having a good season but they gave York all they could handle 2 weeks ago down in Buena Vista. This game was no different. York was playing without their 2nd leading scorer and biggest post presence. It was a low scoring (and ugly) affair in the first half. Lots of turnovers and missed layups but York finished strong to take a 7 point lead into the break despite leading scorer Jared Wagner putting up a goose egg. Southern Virginia did not go away and the second half was the Trey Dill show. Whatever he chucked up went in for about 10 minutes. Dill probably takes the cake for the best player I’ve ever seen from the state of Idaho. I was in Idaho once. Once York got the bright idea to play defense on Dill and force others to take shots they retook the lead for good and built it up enough. They hit enough free throws to hold off Southern Virginia 61-57. I don’t know what it was, the Knights were hardly more athletic, they weren’t taller and they weren’t faster. I think they did play more physical and that got under York’s skin a bit.
Sunday was spent doing laundry and doing some work around the house like cleaning my bathroom. Fun times. Well, I did go down to Gift Horse for their pre-Super Bowl party for mug club members. Then walked home to try to watch the game. For whatever reason my FOX station does not come in well despite being only a mile or so from the transmitter. Guess it’s because it’s up on a hill. Anyway, got some free food and free beer but didn’t see much of the game.
