Hoffman Ford SPORTSfever Challenge XV welcomes seven new teams

While Imhotep Charter participates in its third Challenge in as many years and both Bishop McCort boys and girls return for the second straight year, seven new teams have taken the Challenge.

In all, nine different conferences are represented in this Challenge.

Imhotep Charter is the No. 2-ranked team in the Harrisburg Patriot-News boys AA state rankings. Bishop McCort is listed as a Team to Watch in AA. Imhotep’s Miguel Bocachica averaged 9 ppg through 16 games and has made a verbal commitment to Long Island. Will Adams leads the Panthers in scoring with a 17.4 ppg. McCort’s Mike Cruz has made a verbal commitment to play tight end for Pitt.

Bishop McCort girls are ranked No. 4 in the P-N girls AA state rankings. Lebanon Catholic girls coach Patti Hower has a career record of 560-270, including two Single-A state championships. Hailey (15.7 ppg) and Sam (11.6 ppg) Carangelo are the leading scorers for the Beavers.

Gettysburg’s 6-7 Jr. Ron Johnson is a college prospect who is beginning to turn heads. The Warriors’ start was slowed by a deep playoff run by the football team to the District 3 championship game but they have won five of their last seven.

The Millersburg boys may find some support from the Steel-High fans on Saturday. The Millersburg football team supported the Rollers during the state football playoffs by attending all of the Steel-High games. Steelton and Highspire are only a two to three miles from Penn State Harrisburg.

Harrisburg Academy’s Stephen Pederson leads the Mid-State in scoring and became the all-time career scoring leader at Harrisburg Academy earlier this week when he topped 1,082 points. He averaged 28 points per game through his first 14 games. Pederson is also an accomplished pianist.

Millersburg’s Brett Derr, whose 21.4 points per game through 17 games was second to Pederson in the Mid-State, rushed for 1,342 yards and scored 16 touchdowns for the Indians, who lost to Steel-High in the District 3 Single-A championship game.