TUESDAY'S BASKETBALL

We'll sneak in some league boys basketball rankings on this Tuesday afternoon before the last big night of league play unfolds before the holiday break:

LEHIGH VALLEY CONFERENCE

1. Liberty (4-0) .... Always interesting when they get together with Easton, as they will tonight in Bethlehem.

2. Allen (2-1) ... I'll be honest, teams 2-11 are so close in overall ability that there's really not much difference. Will get first look at Canaries tonight at Rockne Hall.

3. Freedom (2-2)....Win over Easton and just a four-point loss to a good Holy Redeemer team caught my attention. Play at Becahi tonight.

4. Easton (2-1)...Loss to Freedom caught me by surprise. Will find out a lot more tonight against Liberty.

5. Whitehall (2-2)....Javier Rivera really impressed me against Northampton. Expect a great game tonight against Nazareth.

6. Nazareth (2-1)....Win over Parkland was impressive, but Trojans were without a key player in Nick Miller. Chuck Dibilio is on his way to all-star season.

7. Becahi (3-2)....My goodness, can this team score. They play very entertaining basketball. If there's a sure thing in LVC basketball this winter it's that Al Blount will lead league in scoring.

8. Parkland (1-2)....Lack of an inside game has to concern all Trojans fans. Northampton will not be a pushover tonight.

9. Northampton (3-1)....Nice win for the Konkrete Kids over a decent Stroudsburg team on Monday night. Stevko playing well despite arm injury.

10. Emmaus (2-1)... Probably have the Green Hornets too low, but in this incredibly balanced Lehigh Valley Conference season I'm just not sure where Emmaus belongs yet.

11. CCHS (1-2)...Another team ranked too low perhaps, but have a big chance to catch everyone's attention tonight against Allen.

12. Dieruff (0-2)....Heart goes out to Huskies, who are trying their best to put something together.



COLONIAL LEAGUE

1. Bangor (3-1)....Impressive win by the Slaters over Catty. Heavily favored to beat Northwestern as well.

2. Salisbury (3-0)....Doubtful the Falcons will stay this high, but I was very impressed with inside play of Cochrane and Todora in win over Saucon Valley. Huge test tonight at Wilson.

3. Wilson (3-1)....Warriors doing it with defense.

4. Notre Dame (4-1)...Nine-pont loss to Saucon Valley still hard to figure.

5. Saucon Valley (1-2)....Even in loss to Salisbury, Eric Frans stood out as one of the league's best.

6. Northern Lehigh (2-2).....Big North Division game tonight against Catty.

7. Catasauqua (2-2)....Have yet to play a close game.

8. Southern Lehigh (0-4)...After all their success last year, hard to believe Spartans are this low, but this is where they belong -- for now.

9. Palisades (0-5)...I know the Pirates are still winless, but I still insist they're much better than in the past.

10. Northwestern (3-2)...Have a chance to show me something tonight against Bangor.

11. Pen Argyl (0-4)....Great chance for a first win tonight against Palmerton.

12. Palmerton (1-4)....Merry Christmas to Ed Hedes, Bob Mlkvy, Tony Choy and the one or two other people in Palmerton who talk to me.

Keith Groller of the Morning Call