Trip to Giant Center awaits

At anytime during a sports season, 17 days is a long time to have off.  For the Columbia boys' basketball team, that's how long its been between games.
The Tide, 10-12, finally returns to the hardwoods Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock at Hershey High School where they will face Wyomissing, 12-10, in the District 3 Class AA quarterfinals. Win that one and the Tide goes to the Giant Center on Tuesday. Get beat and the season is over.
The Spartans last played last Monday when they were crushed by Reading in the Berks County League playoffs. They finished second in Division IV, well behind Class A power Reading Central Catholic.
The Spartans finished with a 9-4 league record, losing twice to RCC, once to Holy Name and another to Antietam. Wyomissing also lost to Coatesville, Upper Dublin and Octorara from District One and enter the playoffs with four losses in their last eight games.
Defensively, the Spartans will show a 2-3 zone and only average 48 points a game on offense. They have a big back line but are led by guards Joe Cacchione, 9.8 a game and Gerald Burta, 8-6. Forwards Skyler Lash, Stuart Kase and Daniel Helnick are averaging from 6.8 to 6.5 a game. Cacchione and Burta have combined for 46 three-pointers.