It's March, which means basketball fans are already dreaming of the exciting tournament games that loom ahead. Madness, they call it, though the condition is generally reserved for major college teams playing in the NCAA tournament.

Here in Erie, Pa., our smaller colleges, thanks to outstanding seasons, will head to their conference tournaments and then, if things go well, a possible bid in the Division II or Division III championship tournaments. High school playoffs are also continuing on several levels, as teams battle toward state championship games later this month.

Gannon University, with a great history of post-season play since the 1960's, has rebounded after a couple of sub-par seasons. The Golden Knights polished off Ashland on Saturday by the score of 89-70 to improve their record to 25-3. The banner season could not have come at a better time for GU head coach John Reilly, who in his third year as head coach at the school, had been targeted by many of the school's longtime fans. It was widely believed that had Reilly's team not posted at least 17 victories this season, he might have been sent packing. Well, his squad soared past that benchmark.

In nearby Edinboro, the Fighting Scots of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania knocked off California of Pennsylvania, 80-77, to lock up a spot in the PSCA tournament. EUP head coach Greg Walcavich piloted his club to a 22-5 record, and he also surpassed a personal milestone earlier this season by posting his 500th career victory, including 300 wins at Edinboro.

At Penn State Behrend, head coach Dave Niland put together another big winner, as his Lions cruised to a 23-4 at the Division III level. Over the years, Niland has built a reputation as one of the division's finest coaches and, indeed, Behrend is lucky to have him.

This region has always been a good one for basketball, but the crowds get larger and noisier the deeper the local teams advance into the playoffs. For Erie Times-News sportswriters, covering the playoff games is a special treat. Traveling to cover road games is hectic, but it's also fun as you meet the challenge of filing game reports on deadline.

On the high school level, I must say I was disappointed that Brian Flanagan announced his resignation today as head coach at Cathedral Prep. In his four seasons as the Ramblers' head coach, Flanagan's teams won 89 and lost 24. Prior to that, he served as Prep's junior varsity coach for four seasons, winning 88 of 95 games.

Flanagan, who starred at Prep on coach Dick Fox's talented teams of the late 1960s and early '70s, was considered a Rambler thoroughbred, and he will be greatly missed at the school.

Prep's season had already ended, but many other high schools and the colleges mentioned above could be headed for state and national titles. It might not happen, but being there or following the results of your favorite teams in the Erie Times-News is part of the joy of the season.

Good luck, everyone.

-- Kevin Cuneo