NAZARETH BASKETBALL RECAP BY KEITH GROLLER

From Keith Groller

When I covered the Nazareth-at-Emmaus football game back in September, I had one of the worst moments of the year, if not my career.

Because I was too worried about the darn Twitter thing, and was fumbling around with my cell phone, I totally blew who had the big kickoff return that set up Nazareth's game-winning TD that night. I credited it to Chuck Dibilio when it was actually Dan Wilk with the big return. We corrected it online the next day, but the print version was totally wrong.

So after covering Nazareth's impressive boys basketball win at Emmaus last night, Wilk, supressing a laugh, comes over to me and introduces himself as Dibilio in the locker room.

Funny stuff. Shows they didn't hold a grudge, and months later they could still laugh at my gaffe, even if I am still bothered by the error.

I hope I didn't mix them up again on Tuesday night, but they are so quick at times that it isn't easy to separate them.

It was my first look at the Blue Eagles this season and they really did get my attention.

They really do move the ball around well and that 1-3-1 zone -- they've been playing since midgets Dibilio told me -- is tough to solve. The 1-3-1, when played well, may be the most effective defense anyone can play.

It's still a very competitive league and every night there are some results that surprise -- Freedom over Allen, for example. But this is still shaping up as a big year for the Blue Eagles.

Last year, Nazareth seemed to relax after qualifying for districts and couldn't regain its early-season swagger.

I don't think that's a problem this year. This team has talent, poise and personality, even if coach Joe Arndt is doing the boring, standard "one game at a time" routine. Perhaps after what happened last year, I can't blame him.

"As long as we play defense like we did tonight we can go as far as we want to go," Dibilio said.

I agree.

I like this team. I still think Liberty's better. Maybe Whitehall, too. But wrestling shouldn't be the only winter sport attracting interest in Nazareth.

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In the Colonial League, Saucon Valley beating Northern Lehigh was the surprise of the night. Hard to believe the Bulldogs, averaging 63 points per game, were held to 38.

Bangor also impressed with a 13-point win over improved Palisades.

Salisbury, Notre Dame and Southern Lehigh all won in routs -- no surprises there.

Wilson-Catty must have been interesting. Had to be a heart-breaker for the Roughies, who have to turn their attention to making districts since league playoffs are rapidly slipping out of their grasp.

Keith Groller