Yes, Springfield lost the District One Class AAA championship game Saturday. Yes, it was within reach. Yes, the Cougars have won only two district titles since 1945.

But, hey - why hang your head about a five-point loss to top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep? There's still the PIAA playoffs. It's new life for these Cougars.

"Maybe in a day or two, we can start talking about it and getting ready for it," said junior forward Adam Washington, who scored 15 points. "This was the game we wanted to win. We just didn't do it."

Junior guard Zack DeVito was so stung by the loss that, on two occasions in post-game interviews, he forgot the questions he was trying to answer.

"This one hurts because this was a goal of ours from the beginning of the season," said senior forward Wally Rutecki. "It didn't happen for us, but we can focus on states now."

Springfield (18-8) begins its PIAA journey Friday.

And just like that, Springfield's district-title aspirations were dashed.

The Cougars dropped a back-and-forth District One Class AAA title tilt to Holy Ghost Prep, 47-42, Saturday night at Villanova's Pavilion.

Adam Washington scored 15 points (on 6-for-10 scoring), Dave Carpenter had eight and Zack DeVito and Wally Rutecki had six apiece for Springfield (18-8), which faces District 12's Murrell Dobbins in the first round of the PIAA playoffs next week.

More to come...

If you stopped out to Acme last night - or decided to stay in and avoid the apocalyptic-type snow that was forecast - you probably missed this one.

It was a doozy.

Springfield knocked off Penncrest, 57-48, Friday in a night game-turned-matinee in the Cougars' home gym. Snow kept the game, part of the Central League's Coaches v. Cancer fundraiser, from being played after dark, but it couldn't keep the Cougars from pulling the upset.

With the win, Springfield (15-6, 11-4) locked up a spot in next week's Central League championship tournament. Also, the Cougars have won 11 of their last 12, after dropping five in a row from Dec. 22 to Jan. 5.

Senior forward Wally Rutecki, pictured, had the big game for the Cougars, with 22 points and eight rebounds. Brendan McNamee and Zack DeVito tossed in 18 and 11, respectively, for the victors.

How bad did things get for visiting Penncrest (18-3, 12-3)? The Lions trailed, 24-13, at halftime and 41-21 entering the fourth quarter. Andrew Radomicki scored 22 for Penncrest.

There was a heck of a Central League game played Wednesday between Strath Haven and Springfield.

It featured more turnovers (34) than made baskets (29). It featured an eight-point lead - in favor of the host Springfield - that turned into a one-point deficit. Check out Thursday's Daily Times for the game story, but here's A Closer Look at Wednesday's unsung stars:

STRATH HAVEN
Omar Randall – 10 points, 5 rebounds. While the junior forward didn't give the Panthers the lead for good, he hit the free throw with 62 seconds to go that represented the Panthers' final point. He was the silent difference-maker.
Pat Fisher – 8 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, 3 rebounds. The senior guard penetrated the lane, put the ball on his hip and put up a layup that helped Haven hold onto its lead late in the fourth. He showed some grit.

SPRINGFIELD
Adam Washington – 11 rebounds, 6 offensive. Although quiet on the scoreboard, the junior forward made his impression on the game off the glass. Coach Kevin McCormick believes the Cougars will be a different (read stronger) team when Washington starts scoring. I think McCormick's right.
Zack DeVito – 7 points, 7 steals, 4 assists. The junior guard was willing to grab the ball and shoot it when no one else was. That can go a long way for the Cougars, who shot 29 percent.

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30-SECOND TIMEOUT

****Haverford School, which beat Marple Newtown, 68-60, is off to its best start in four seasons. Hard to believe, considering the Fords (6-3) started the year with three straight defeats.
****Penn Wood, which lost to St. Frances (Md.), 63-61, at the City of Palms Classic, lost three of its four games down in Ft. Myers, Fla. Those three losses came by a combined five points. Keep in mind that last year, when they won the state title, they lost only four times. Tough breaks for the Pats.
****Chester's Mo Nelson had 38 points on six 3-pointers, seven shots within the arc and a 6-for-7 showing at the free-throw line. It's only Game 4, and Mo's already heating up.