Cedar Cliff boys basketball coach Kevin Rutherford

Tigh Savercool brought Kevin Rutherford on to his staff at Cedar Cliff as a volunteer assistant last season.  When Savercool stepped down as the Colts' head coach after seven years, it created an opportunity for Rutherford.  "Last year, the kids really accepted me and treated me well. It's nice to be back," he said.  Rutherford returned to Cedar Cliff as the boys basketball head coach.  The Mechanicsburg graduate went on to play for Lycoming College and then the Washington Generals.  The Mid-Penn Conference may not be as tough as facing the Harlem Globetrotters, but it's definitely a challenge.  "The Mid-Penn is a very good conference...it's a gauntlet every night. Anybody can beat anybody. You can't let your guard down," Rutherford told SV Sports' Paul Roberts.  Savercool led the Colts to 21 wins and the District 3-6A semifinals in 2022.  Rutherford was the interim head coach at Mechanicsburg that season.  He was the head coach at Camp Hill from 2006-12.  Rutherford also spent nine years as an assistant at Mechanicsburg.  He will be relying on 6'3 senior Sam Grube this winter.  Grube is an outstanding baseball player as well.  He's committed to Division I Mount St. Mary's.  Rutherford mentioned that his philosophy about offense has changed over the years.  "When I first started, I was sets, sets, sets, but the game has evolved and the kids want to play with freedom," he noted.  Rutherford got a look at his team during the "Clash at the Cliff" on Saturday.  Carlisle, Cumberland Valley, Chambersburg, East Pennsboro, Steel-High, Northern York, and Conestoga Valley were in the field.  The Thundering Herd came out on top.  SV Sports was a proud sponsor of the event.