While Central tries to finish No.1 in football; Allen starts at No. 5 in hoops

FROM KEITH GROLLER

I know everybody is fired up about football on this cold December day.

I still kind of think it's crazy for them to still be playing high school football on Dec. 10 and I have absolutely no doubt that Central Catholic will be playing again on Dec. 17 -- a week before Christmas Eve --- for state gold.

But it is the way of the sports world now when bowl games stretch to Jan. 10, the Super Bowl is nearing Valentine's Day, the World Series stretches into November and March Madness ends in April.

The season is too long, and too many teams qualify -- would Clearfield have won four games in the LVC? Would Abington Heights have won five?

All that aside, this should be one of those special nights in Lehigh Valley football history. It's always special when a team clinches a spot in the state finals, and we've seen it often lately with Liberty and Parkland in Class 4A.

And just like in those District 11 vs. District One matchups in 4A, everyone thought the brawn and power of the Philly suburbs would be too much for the Lehigh Valley District 11 teams.

That's the vibe you get when you keep hearing about the size of Archbishop Wood perhaps overpowering CCHS and pounding it at them with a game of "keep away."

But our kids are tougher than you think. Liberty persevered three times in 4A semis -- 2005, 2006 and 2008 -- and Parkland did it in 2007.

They stood toe-to-toe with what was supposed be stronger, tougher, more physical teams and I have no doubt that CCHS will do the same.

Yes, the Vikes have speed and they will be able to exploit Wood's man-to-man coverage for some big, big plays. But they will also be able to match Wood on the line of scrimmage where supposedly the Philly Catholic League has an edge with their studs.

I think CCHS will more than hold its own there, and its defense, which hasn't had a lot of chances to prove how good it is with so many blowouts, will do so tonight. I'm going CCHS 34-21.

My buddy, Andy "The Weave" Weaver, who was right so many times this season, is going with CCHS 44-28. We're on the same page here.

And while one season is in its final stages, another is about to begin.

The Harrisburg Patriot-News released its first rankings late Thursday, and I was happy to see two Lehigh Valley Conference teams, Allen and Liberty, get top-10 positions. Central Catholic, which won't have its full team together for awhile, get a No. 10 spot in 3A.

Here's how it looks with permission from Michael Bullock who conducts the poll with consultation from writers (including me) from around the state:

PATRIOT-NEWS PRESEASON BOYS’ BASKETBALL STATE RANKINGS
CLASS AAAA Record (2009-10) Previous ranking

1. Penn Wood (1) 27-4 2

2. Plymouth-Whitemarsh* (1) 30-2 1

3. St. Joseph’s Prep (12) 17-8 NR

4. Chester (1) 16-11 NR

5. William Allen (11) 17-8 NR

6. Harrisburg (3) 16-8 NR

7. Gateway (7) 20-6 NR

8. Neshaminy (1) 20-9 NR

9. North Allegheny (7) 23-6 5

10. Bethlehem Liberty (11) 25-6 6

CLASS AAA Rec Pvs

1. Archbishop Carroll (12) 24-5 3

2. Eastern York (3) 31-1 4

3. Neumann-Goretti* (12) 30-1 1

4. Dobbins Tech (12) 17-9 NR

5. West Mifflin (7) 16-9 8

6. Holy Redeemer (2) 24-4 NR

7. Montour (7) 16-9 10

8. South Fayette# (7) 24-5 NR

9. Farrell (10) 17-5 NR

10. Allentown Central Catholic (11) 13-13 NR

CLASS AA Rec Pvs

1. Imhotep Charter (12) 25-6 3

2. Communications Tech (12) 18-3 4

3. Greensburg Central Catholic (7) 19-5 NR

4. Prep Charter (12) 12-12 NR

5. Beaver Falls (7) 15-10 NR

6. Riverside (2) 15-11 NR

7. Fairview (10) 21-5 NR

8. Pine Grove (11) 12-12 NR

9. Delone Catholic (3) 15-10 NR

10. Lewisburg (4) 17-10 NR

CLASS A Rec Pvs

1. Reading Central Catholic (3) 30-2 2

2. Lincoln Park (7) 21-8 3

3. Constitution (12) 20-7 5

4. Rochester (7) 25-4 NR

5. DuBois Central Catholic (9) 21-6 NR

6. Math, Civics & Sciences (12) 22-6 10

7. North Catholic (7) 25-3 NR

8. Rocky Grove (10) 20-6 NR

9. Greenwood (3) 26-4 6

10. Millville (4) 21-5 NR

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/