Friday Night Forecast: Finally, no postponements to worry about

FROM KEITH GROLLER

It is rare to turn on the computer and not get flooded with e-mails from athletic directors talking about postponements.

You don't need me to tell you this winter has been brutal and we've still got to get through February.

All of the postponements and interruptions have taken away the momentum of this season. We've had some high energy games here and there, but no consistency.

So many times, potential big games have been moved. Allen-Easton, for example, has been shifted three times for example. It is now set for next Saturday afternoon, Feb. 5, at Easton.

And today I learned that a pretty good nonleague game between Allen and Pocono Mountain East has been switched to Saturday, Feb.12. That will be a challenging league tournament warmup for both the Canaries and Cardinals. It's at Pocono Mountain East by the way.

At least it looks like we're going to play basketball tonight and there are plenty of good matchups in the LVC and Colonial.

Here are my picks:

LEHIGH VALLEY CONFERENCE

Freedom 66, Dieruff 53 -- Patriots trying to build off buzzer-beater win over Whitehall.

Easton 53, Northampton 43 -- Even if they can't catch Liberty in East Division, Rovers will be the LVC wild card.

Emmaus 61, Becahi 53 -- Hungarter will get his 20, but the Green Hornets will clinch district berth.

Liberty 63, Nazareth 59 -- Making my first trip to Nazareth this basketball season and it will be nice to see The Weave. It will be nice to see Derek Kehoe and Todd Rothrock honored. Weave is predicting a 60-57 win for his Blue Eagles. I also see it close, but see Liberty finding a way to get it done thanks to Money and defense.

Allen 71, Parkland 49 -- Trojans have been making progress, but not enough to pull off this upset.

CCHS 66, Whitehall 59 -- Vikings continue their recent roll and severely wound Whitehall's district hopes.

COLONIAL LEAGUE

That was a big performance by Eric Frans (30 points) and a big win by Saucon Valley on Thursday night. That's going to be quite a scramble in the South Division. Wilson and Saucon seem secure for the tournament, but will a third team do better than 10-6 to get the last slot over Northern Lehigh? ND and Salisbury have the best shot, but they both have four league losses.

Bangor 71, Northern Lehigh 63 -- I saw the first meeting between these two and the Bulldogs didn't know what hit them. This will be much closer in Slatington, but the Slaters -- as stated earlier -- are going to run the table in this league.

Palmerton 51, Catasauqua 44 -- Blue Bombers host games on back-to-back days with Salisbury coming to town on Saturday.

Pen Argyl 54, Northwestern 49 -- Talked to Green Knights' coach Michael Frew about the Colonial League Coaches vs. Cancer program the other night. He's got the right perspective on things. More details on the Coaches vs. Cancer fundraisers are coming up. First Coaches vs. Cancer game is Saturday when Southern Lehigh visits Notre Dame at 1. Each school has special things lined up for this very worthwhile cause.

Salisbury 53, Palisades 50 -- The Ship will be rebuilt, bigger and better than ever! It is heartwarming the way people in the community and around the league have responded to what was initially a very sad crime.

Wilson 60, Southern Lehigh 52 -- Matchup of two area basketball's most veteran coaches. Warriors just have more athletes this year. And don't worry Stan "The Man" Swartz, I won't hold your non-appearance in Slatington against you. With this crazy schedule, it's hard to keep up.

MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERENCE

ES North 63, Lehighton 54 -- Things are still looking up for the Tribe.

PM East 64, Stroudsburg 60 -- A Mountie upset wouldn't shock me, however.

PM West 79, ES South 49 -- I don't know how many people will come from the Poconos to see West play Liberty at Parkland on Sunday night, but that game deserves some people in the stands.

SATURDAY GAMES

Emmaus over Boyertown, Stroudsburg over Freedom, Nazareth over ES South, Saucon Valley over North Schuylkill, Notre Dame over Southern Lehigh, Wilson over Lehighton, P'burg over Catty,

SUNDAY HOOP GROUP GAMES AT PARKLAND

Paul VI of Virginia over Parkland, Allen over Gill St. Bernard, St. Benedict's over Penn Wood and Liberty over Pocono Mountain West.