CENTRE COUNTY — Winter sports season is right around the corner, and with it comes the return of basketball games and swim meets. Centre County is filled with exceptional athletic talent and the 2024 winter athletic season promises to be a good one.
In the lead up to this year’s season, here’s a look back on how some teams performed last year:
BOYS BASKETBALL
Last season, the State College Area High School boys basketball team finished with the best record of all the Centre County high schools in boys basketball at 13-13. The Little Lions won its first state game in triple overtime before falling to Upper St. Clair in the next round. While State College lost its points, assists, steals, rebounds and blocks per game leaders, it will look to ride the back of Reed Melvin in 2024 who led the team in total points a year ago.
At just one game under .500 last season, Penns Valley will also look to improve from its last season. The Rams started the season 0-6 before picking up its play as the year went on finishing the year, 11-12. Only five seniors graduated from last year’s team.
Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy finished a rough 7-15 in 2024, but its 7-6 record in the Tri-Valley conference showed promise. The Wolfpack finished just two games behind the team in second place but will have some work to do if they want to catch 13-0 Halifax.
Philipsburg Osceola, Bellefonte and Bald Eagle Area all finished below a .400 last season and will look to improve in conference play in order to make a run at the state playoffs.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Out of all the Centre County teams, the Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy and State High girls basketball teams were a step above the rest.
State College finished the season 16-7 and 10-4 in its conference, good enough for third. The Little Lions finished ranked 88 in MaxPreps rankings and with much of its talent returning from a year ago, they will look to continue to play well and improve in 2024.
Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy also exceeded expectations finishing 25-4 and undefeated in the Tri-Valley conference. The Wolfpack could not turn its regular season success into postseason accolades, though, something they will try and fix this time around. Graduating just one senior puts them in a prime spot to have another stellar season.
Penns Valley, Philipsburg Osceola, Bellefonte and Bald Eagle did not have seasons to write home about all going well under .500. These Centre County teams are optimistic at the change of a new year to prove their skills in 2024.
SWIMMING
Both the girls and boys State College swim teams are expecting deep runs once again in 2024. Last season, the girls team finished fifth in Pennsylvania, according to Swimcloud, and first in the Mid Penn Conference. On the boys side, they were also successful finishing 18th in Pennsylvania and third in the Mid Penn Conference.
Bellefonte will look to replicate its past season, as well after finishing first in the girls District 6 2A championship and second in the boys section of the event.
Penns Valley, also in District 6 2A, finished eighth in the girls event and 10th in boys. They will look to improve on some impressive times from last year with full team consistency in 2024.
