The Final Four

The "Final Four." Just four teams remain on both the men's and women's side of the Centennial Conference basketball tournament. The men convene in the heart of Amish Country - Lancaster - for the weekend, while the women gather in Allentown. A Saturday victory puts you in the final with the opportunity to not only win the championship, but also qualify for the NCAA Division III tournament. It's a chance to make history for the McDaniel men and Franklin & Marshall women, who have never won a Centennial tourney game. It's a chance to make history for the Diplomat men, and the women from Hopkins and Muhlenberg. Each program has won a Conference-record four titles. A fifth puts one in rarefied air, as no Centennial team has "one (ring) for the thumb."

We hope you'll join us this weekend at Mayser Center or Memorial Hall. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for student (13-18) and free admission for students from participating teams (upon presentation of ID) and youth 12 and under. If you cannot make the trip, you can watch the game(s) for free on your computer. Sign up for "Twitter" and receive updates at the half and when the game goes final. It should be a great weekend!

Women's Basketball
Three of the finalists have combined for 11 of the Conference's 15 championships - Johns Hopkins (4), Muhlenberg (4) and McDaniel (3). The other finalist - Franklin & Marshall - is 0-6 in tournament play. The Mules (18-0 CC, 22-3) became the first Centennial team to go 18-0 in Conference play and meets the Green Terror (11-7, 15-11) in the day's first semifinal. 'Berg pulled out a 77-76 overtime decision in Westminster and won by 22 (77-55) back on Jan. 31 at home. This is the seventh time that the two teams have met in the CC semifinals with each team winning three games. Muhlenberg leads the all-time series, 15-14. The matchup to watch takes place at guard between the Mules' Kelly McKeon, a first-team All-CC selection, and McDaniel's Ali Moreland, a second-team choice.

The nightcap pits the Diplomats (11-7, 14-11) and the Blue Jays (11-7, 13-12) in the rubber game of a thrilling regular-season set. F&M defeated Hopkins, 54-52, in Baltimore in December, only to see the Jays return the favor, 66-64, on Feb. 5 in Lancaster. The teams have met 58 times, including once in the CC postseason (2002) with the Dips holding a slender 30-28 lead. Can F&M contain Hopkins' potent inside game of Lyndsay Burton and Kristin Phillips? Can the Blue Jays slow down Diplomat guards Sarah Meisenberg and Beth Holt?

Women's Basketball championship website

Men's Basketball
As with the women, eight championships belong to three of the members of the final four - Franklin & Marshall (4), Gettysburg (2) and Muhlenberg (2) - while the other, McDaniel, searches for tournament win #1. The opening semifinal is a neutral court showdown between two long-time rivals as the Bullets (11-7, 16-8) and Green Terror (13-5, 18-7) meet for the right to go to the final. Both regular-season games were decided by five points or less, as McDaniel won 56-53 in Westminster and Gettysburg won 53-48 at home. This is the 99th time that the two schools have met on the hardwood with the Bullets holding a 70-28 lead. The premier matchups are the backcourt battle between the Terror's Miguel Jones and the Bullets' Dan Capkin, as well as the frontcourt between McDaniel's Josh McKay and Gettysburg's Andrew Powers.

In the Conference's first eight seasons, Franklin & Marshall (14-4, 21-4) and Muhlenberg (11-7, 16-10) met five times in postseason play, including the memorable 1995 final as the Mules shot 62.7 percent from the field to knock off the undefeated and #1 ranked Diplomats, 88-86 (F&M shot 56.4 percent from the floor that night). The teams have not squared off in the postseason since 2001, but their rivalry runs deep with Franklin & Marshall holding a 66-59 series advantage. The Diplomats swept the season series with an 84-76 win in Lancaster in December and a 60-59 win on Jan. 17 in Allentown. Although the frontcourt matchup between F&M's James McNally and Muhlenberg's Peter Barnes will be important, the big question could be if the Mules can slow down talented Diplomat guard Georgio Milligan - the first freshman in CC history to earn first-team All-Centennial honors.

Men's Basketball championship website

Baseball Coaches Preseason Chat

The boys of summer are ready to take the field for the opening pitch of the 2009 Centennial Conference baseball season. Get the "inside pitch" on your favorite team's prospects from each of the CC's 10 head coaches with our preseason chat. Click "Watch Here" on Thursday, Feb. 26, at noon and join in our moderated discussion. Can Hopkins repeat and make another run at the NCAA title? Is this the year that another school breaks the Jay stranglehold and makes noise on the regional level? Find out more Thursday.

The First Round

not to be confused with a "play-in," where a team has to win a tie-breaker to advance to the Conference tournament. Tonight's first-round Centennial Conference men's and women's basketball contests have clear favorites and underdogs. The Muhlenberg men swept Haverford during the regular season, while the McDaniel women did the same against Dickinson. That said, last winter saw the #5 men's seed win the first-round game and in 2007, the fifth-seeded women's team won the championship.

Haverford at Muhlenberg (Men's Basketball)
The Mules (11-7 CC, 15-10) welcome the Fords (9-9, 12-12) to Memorial Hall in Berg's first home playoff games since 2002. The teams’ first two meetings this year were quite different. In the CC opener for both teams, back on December 3, Muhlenberg shot 53.8 percent from the field en route to a big 73-41 home win. Two months later, on February 4, the Mules survived a late comeback effort to eke out a 53-50 victory at Gooding Arena. 'Berg is 5-9 all-time in the Centennial tournament with four of those victories coming in the title years of 1995 and 1998. Haverford is 2-4 all-time in the tournament and reached the Conference final two years ago. Muhlenberg leads the all-time series, 43-12, and has four straight wins vs. the Fords in Allentown. The Mules were picked seventh in the preseason CC coaches poll, while the Fords were slotted in at No. 8. The Cardinal and Gray's Peter Barnes (2nd) and Ryan Foster (HM) were named to the All-CC teams, as was Haverford's Greg Rosnick (HM).

Tale of the Tape MUHL HAV
Scoring Offense 68.6 56.2
Scoring Defense 63.6 59.8
FG Percentage 41.6 39.4
3-Pt FG Pct 30.4 28.4
FT Percentage 68.4 66.7
Rebound Margin +6.4 -2.1

Dickinson at McDaniel (Women's Basketball)
The Green Terror (11-7 CC, 14-11) and the Red Devils (11-7, 14-11) have been playing basketball against each other since 1970 with McDaniel holding a 43-24 after winning both games this season. The Green and Gold won 65-56 in Carlisle and 79-56 at the Gill Center. It was the third straight home win for the Terror vs. the Devils who have met in the playoffs in 1996 and 2005. That night 13 years ago, Dickinson senior Annie Guzek set a Conference playoff record with 35 points in a Devil victory. Keep an eye on the matchup of the second-team All-Conference guards - McDaniel's Ali Moreland and Dickinson's Brooke Muller.

Tale of the Tape DC MCD
Scoring Offense 63.6 65.2
Scoring Defense 60.7 61.4
FG Percentage 39.7 38.3
3-Pt FG Pct 28.6 28.0
FT Percentage 78.9 72.4
Rebound Margin -6.4 +1.1

"We're way past the big-speech time ..."

"We're way past the big-speech time ..." It's the final day of the regular season in Centennial basketball play. One playoff berth remains open on both the men's and women's side with three teams battling for the men's last spot and two for the women's final slot.

Women's Basketball
Muhlenberg (17-0 CC, 21-3) is the top seed and plays for Conference history Saturday at Ursinus, as the Mules try to become the first team to win all 18 regular-season contests. Dickinson (10-7, 13-11) travels to Franklin & Marshall (11-6, 14-10) needing a win to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Red Devils are out with victories by Johns Hopkins and Gettysburg. The Diplomats can be anywhere from the #2 (with a win) to the #5 seed (with a loss), depending on the day's outcome. The Bullets (10-7, 13-11) find themselves in a similar situation as their rivals from Carlisle. A win at home against McDaniel (11-6, 14-10) can get the Orange and Blue in a first round tournament game, unless Dickinson and Washington are victorious. The Green Terror earns a first-round bye with a victory or a Wednesday night first-round game if it loses. The Blue Jays (11-6, 13-11) are in the field and can earn a first-round bye with a win at Washington (unless McDaniel and F&M win as well). Despite the possibility of Swarthmore (9-8, 12-12) tying for the final spot, the Blue Jays lose all tie-breakers.

Men's Basketball
We know that Franklin & Marshall (14-3, 21-3), McDaniel (13-4, 18-6), Muhlenberg (11-6, 15-9) and Gettysburg (10-7, 15-8) are in the field. The Diplomats can clinch the top seed with either a win at Dickinson or the Green Terror loss at the Battlefield. The Green and Gold takes the #1 seed with a win and an F&M loss. The Mules can secure a first-round bye with a win at Ursinus, or if the Bullets lose to McDaniel. A 'Berg loss opens the door for Gettysburg to get the #3 seed and the bye with a victory against the Terror. With me so far??? Haverford (8-9, 11-12) gets the fifth and final berth with a home win against Swarthmore. The Fords can also use the backdoor to the playoffs with a loss and losses by Ursinus and Washington. The Shoremen (8-9, 11-13) get in with a win vs. Johns Hopkins and a Haverford loss. The Bears (7-10, 11-13) can return to defend their 2008 title with a win against Muhlenberg combined with losses by Haverford and Washington. Despite the possibility of Hopkins (7-10, 13-11) tying for the final spot, the Blue Jays lose all tie-breakers.

Follow along with all Saturday's action on our Gameday sites
Women / Men

Friday Night at the Swim Championships

It's day one of the 16th annual Centennial Conference men's and women's swimming championships at the Kunkel Aquatic Center at Franklin & Marshall. We'll be "live blogging" from poolside tonight, providing some commentary to complement the live video feed and taking your questions in a moderated chat. We'll be live at 6:45 ... hope to hear from you then.

Wrestling Championship Action

Kim Wenger will be "live blogging" all the action of the 2009 Centennial Conference Wrestling championship finals on Saturday, Feb. 21. The finals will begin approximately 4-4:30 p.m. She'll provide updates on each bout from 125 all the way through the 285 final with all the escapes, takedowns, reversals and falls as they happen. You can also ask questions that she can answer if time permits. McDaniel College sports information will also provide the updated brackets after each round of action.

Women's Lacrosse Coaches Chat

Every Game Matters

It's the penultimate night of the Centennial men's and women's basketball season with only three of the possible 10 playoff berths secured. On the men's side, Franklin & Marshall can clinch the regular-season title and the top seed for the Conference tournament with a win at Gettysburg tonight. McDaniel needs wins against Johns Hopkins and Gettysburg, combined with a pair of F&M losses to keep alive its hopes to get the tournament in Westminster. On the women's side, Muhlenberg locked up the top seed last week and goes for the first 18-0 slate in Conference play in Centennial history. Five teams - Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Gettysburg, Johns Hopkins and McDaniel - have six losses apiece and are fighting for the four remaining playoff spots. We know that the men's and women's chase will come down to Saturday's play but tonight's results may begin to show the contenders and the pretenders.

Women's Basketball
Muhlenberg (16-0 CC, 20-3), ranked 15th by the WBCA and 20th by D3hoops.com, looks to become the first CC team to win its first 17 Conference games when it travels to Dickinson (10-6, 13-10). The Mules have won three straight in the series, including a 67-54 decision on Jan. 22 in Allentown, and can tie the all-time series at 18-18 with a victory. The Red Devils have won the last two contests at the Kline Center. Franklin & Marshall (10-6, 13-10) looks for its first season sweep of arch-rival Gettysburg (10-6, 13-10) since 2002 when it visits the Battlefield. The Diplomats knocked off the Bullets, 74-65, back on Jan. 22 but have not won at Bream Gym since that 2002 campaign. Johns Hopkins (10-6, 12-11) plays host to Bryn Mawr (2-21, 0-17), riding a 21-game winning streak against the Owls.


Men's Basketball
Every men's game matters tonight in the race for hosting, seeding and berths in the tournament. Franklin & Marshall (14-2, 21-2), ranked 13th nationally, can wrap up the top seed with a win at Gettysburg (9-7, 14-8). The Bullets, losers of three straight, have taken four in a row from the Diplomats, including a 73-66 win in Lancaster on Jan. 21. It is the 198th meeting between the two long-time foes with Gettysburg holding a 106-91 advantage. McDaniel (12-4, 17-6) visits Johns Hopkins (7-9, 12-11) needing two wins and two F&M losses to keep its hopes for the top seed alive. The Terror defeated the Jays, 65-49, on Jan. 21 for their third win over Hop in the last four games. Hopkins trails both Haverford and Washington by a single game in its quest for fifth place. The Fords (8-8, 11-11) welcome Ursinus (6-10, 10-13) to Gooding Arena, while the Shoremen (8-8, 11-12) visit Swarthmore (1-15, 2-21) in what may be the tightest series in Conference. Four games since 2001 have gone to double-overtime, while six of the last 11 contests have been decided by five points or less. Muhlenberg (10-6, 14-9) can lock up a tournament berth with a win at home against Dickinson (5-11, 11-11). The Mules have won five straight from the Devils at Memorial Hall.

What Can Happen Tonight

• F&M win or a McDaniel loss gives the Diplomats the #1 seed.
  
• A Muhlenberg win gives the Mules a playoff berth.
  
• A Gettysburg win and losses by Haverford and Washington gives the Bullets a playoff berth.
  

Three for the Show

There are three games remaining in the regular season for most Centennial Conference basketball teams ... which means each game for playoff contenders takes on even greater importance. The swim teams take the weekend off, preparing for next weekend's Conference championship meet in Lancaster. The wrestling teams wrap up the regular season with quad meets at Gettysburg and Westminster, while the track and field squads look for season-best performances at a number of venues with the Centennial championship meet just two weeks away.

Men's Basketball
Franklin & Marshall (13-2 CC, 20-2) and McDaniel (12-3, 17-5) continue their battle for the top seed for the CC championship tournament in two weeks. The Diplomats face one of the hotter teams in the Conference in Haverford (8-7, 11-10), winners of six of its last seven games. But the Fords have not won in Lancaster since 1977 - a stretch of 19 games. The Green Terror also has history to climb, as McDaniel has not defeated Washington College (7-8, 10-12) in Chestertown since 1982 - a 15-game losing streak at the Cain Center. Another game to watch is in Baltimore, as Muhlenberg (9-6, 13-9) visits Johns Hopkins (7-8, 12-10). The Mules are in a tie for third place and the final first-round bye and are looking to snap a six-game losing streak to Hop at Goldfarb Gym.

Women's Basketball
The day's big game takes place in the Charm City, as Muhlenberg (15-0, 19-3) travels to Johns Hopkins (10-5, 12-10). 'Berg has won seven straight games in the series, including a 69-59 decision on Jan. 15. But the Jays are 7-2 since that loss and are looking for the 400th career win at Homewood for coach Nancy Funk. Another game to watch takes place at Swarthmore, as the Garnet (8-7, 11-11) welcomes Gettysburg (9-6, 12-10) to Tarble Pavilion. The Bullets took an 87-56 decision at home on Jan. 15 for their seventh straight win vs. Swat. Gettysburg is in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Conference, while Swarthmore is a game back in seventh position.

Wrestling
Merchant Marine (5-0 CC) can wrap up the regular season title with wins against Gettysburg and Johns Hopkins. Stevens (4-1 CC) can grab a share of the crown with a sweep of the Bullets and Jays and a stumble by the Mariners. USMMA 165-pounder Vincent Renaut became the first D-III champion ever at the All-Academy championships last weekend.

White Knuckle Time

Legendary Marquette coach Al McGuire used to describe it as "White Knuckle" time ... that time of a close game when every play matters ... every play can be the difference between victory and defeat. A time when nerves can get the better a player ... while some always seem to rise to the occasion. We're at "White Knuckle" time in the Conference with four games remaining in the Centennial regular season. Franklin & Marshall has secured one of the five playoff berths, while McDaniel can punch its dance card with a win against Dickinson tonight. The other slots are still up for grabs with hopefuls involved in key games.

Washington at Haverford
With all due respect, it's been quite some time since this game has had as much relevance for both teams this late in the season as it does tonight. The Shoremen (7-7, 10-11) and the Fords (7-7, 10-10) are tied for fifth place in the Conference and the winner will have a leg up on one of the five coveted playoff spots. Haverford won its sixth straight in the series in dramatic fashion on Jan. 26 as Sam Permutt scored on a layup with 1.5 seconds remaining for a 59-57 triumph. Washington has not won on the Main Line since 2003 (80-76).

Gettysburg at Johns Hopkins
The Bullets (9-5, 14-6) and the Blue Jays (6-8, 11-10) are two teams in the need of a win. Gettysburg, who was ranked as high as No. 9 in the country back in December, has lost three of its last four since a 71-62 win over Hopkins at Bream Gym on Jan. 26. That same night was the start of the Jays' current five-game losing streak. This is the 71st meeting between the two foes with the Bullets holding an 18-17 lead since the inception of the CC in 1994. Johns Hopkins has made a three-point field goal in 338 consecutive games. The streak began on Feb. 17, 1996 and is the 10th longest active streak in all of NCAA Division III.

Preseason Men's Lacrosse Coaches Chat

Here is a recap of our chat.

Crunch Time

It's getting down to crunch time in the Centennial Conference women's basketball playoff chase. Muhlenberg has secured the top seed for the CC tournament and will host the final four on Feb. 28-March 1. But a glance at the standings shows four teams tied for second place at 9-5, another a half-game off the pace at 9-6, and a sixth trailing the quintet at 8-6. With two weeks remaining in the regular season, things will begin to shake themselves out beginning tonight with a pair of contests involving four of those six squads.

Dickinson at McDaniel (Women's Basketball)
The Red Devils (9-5 CC, 12-9) and the Green Terror (9-6, 11-9) meet for the 67th time in a series that began in 1970 with McDaniel looking for a season sweep (and tie-breaker advantage) after a 65-56 win in Carlisle back on Jan. 20. The difference in that game was the Green and Gold's ability to get to the foul line and converting 21-of-26 charity tosses, opposed to Dickinson's 9-of-14. The Devils have just one win in their last 11 regular-season trips to the Gill Center (2006).

Johns Hopkins at Gettysburg (Women's Basketball)
The Blue Jays (9-5, 11-10) and the Bullets (9-5, 12-9) square off for the 53rd time in a series that dates to 1980 with Hopkins looking for the season sweep (and tie-breaker advantage). JHU defeated Gettysburg, 62-50, at Goldfarb on Jan. 13 as Lyndsay Burton had a double-double with 22 points and 10 boards. Hopkins has won five straight - its longest streak since 2005-06 - and looks to deliver win #399 at Homewood for coach Nancy Funk.

Swimming Takes Spotlight on Saturday

It's another full Saturday of action in the Centennial Conference with the spotlight shining squarely on the pool at the Kunkel Aquatic Center in Lancaster. It's the annual renewal of the best rivalry in Conference swimming as Franklin & Marshall plays host to Gettysburg. Despite the fact that the Centennial title is determined at the Conference championship meet in two weeks, dual-meet supremacy is on the line for both the men and the women.

Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall (Women's Swimming)
The Bullets (6-0 CC, 7-2) come a-callin' on the Diplomats (6-0, 7-4) with the dual-meet championship hanging in the balance for the sixth time in seven years. Gettysburg has won 10 dual titles, including last season, while F&M won its four from 2004-07. The Bullets feature a potent 1-2 combination in Caitlin Reilly and Keira Heath, while the Diplomats counter with standout Brittany McCabe.

Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall (Men's Swimming)
The Bullets (5-0, 6-2) and the Diplomats (5-0, 5-5) also have the dual-meet crown at stake in the renewal of their men's rivalry. Showdowns abound in the freestyle sprints (Drew Close vs. Peter Fishler), the breaststroke (Brian Kaehler vs. Tom Grabiak) and the backstroke (Adam Taft vs. Matt Jaffee). F&M, the defending champion, has won two of the last three dual titles while Gettysburg has a Conference-leading 10 crowns to its credit but has been shut out since 2005.

Swarthmore at Dickinson (Women's Basketball)
The Garnet (8-5, 11-9) and the Red Devils (8-5, 11-9) meet in a battle between two of the five teams currently tied for second place in the Conference. Swarthmore defeated Dickinson, 71-56, back on Jan. 10 and goes for its first-ever season sweep of the Red and White. Dickinson has won five straight in the series at the Kline Center since a 2002 loss to the Garnet. Swarthmore's Kathryn Stockbower has scored in double figures in 42 consecutive games.

Haverford at Johns Hopkins (Men's Basketball)
The Fords (6-7, 9-10) and the Blue Jays (6-7, 11-9) meet in game that is crucial to both teams' playoff hopes. Hopkins captured a 69-56 decision on the Main Line on Jan. 10 and looks for its sixth straight win and second consecutive season sweep of the Fords. This is the 95th meeting between the two schools with JHU holding a 60-34 advantage.

Colden Invitational (Indoor Track and Field)
The annual meet at Ursinus' Floy Bakes Lewis Field House may feature another showdown between two of the Conference's top runners - the Bears' Christa Johnson and Johns Hopkins' Laura Paulsen. Paulsen has the CC's top time in the mile with a NCAA provisional clocking of 5:02.28, while Johnson is second with a 5:06.93 mark. Johnson has the season's top effort in the 5K (17:16.46), while Paulsen is second (17:27.48) - both provisional qualifying times.

Five-Star Matchups

With a 4 1/2 game lead with five contests remaining, it is looking pretty likely that Muhlenberg will clinch the top seed for the Centennial women's basketball tournament. What is completely uncertain is the identity of the other four teams, especially who will earn the other two first-round byes. Two contests may help clear the picture tonight in Lancaster and Baltimore.

McDaniel at Franklin & Marshall (Women's Basketball)
The Green Terror (8-5 CC, 10-8) and the Diplomats (7-4, 10-8) meet for the only time this season in a game that will impact the playoff picture. McDaniel has dropped two straight contests, while Franklin & Marshall has reeled off four straight victories. The Terror has won 10 straight decisions from the Dips and have not lost at Mayser since the 2003 season. F&M's Sarah Meisenberg, the reigning Centennial Player of the Year, needs just 110 points and 22 rebounds to become the fifth player in Conference history to record 1,500 points and 500 rebounds in a career.

Dickinson at Johns Hopkins (Women's Basketball)
The Red Devils (7-4, 10-8) and the Blue Jays (6-5, 8-10) meet at Goldfarb with Dickinson looking for its first season sweep of Hopkins since 1993. The Devils defeated JHU, 69-58, back on Jan. 24 in Carlisle, but has not won in the Charm City since 1993 (63-62). Two of the CC's top scorers will do battle tonight in Dickinson's Brooke Muller (15.7) and Hopkins' Lyndsay Burton (15.8).