Boys league rankings: Easton deserves No. 1 slot in LVC for now

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Another big day of basketball scheduled and another dose of Old Man Winter to ruin it.

No wonder are teams are struggling to find a level of consistency.

We did get some games in on Monday and Easton made a statement that it is playing about as well as anybody in the LVC at the moment.

The Red Rovers defense, as usual, makes them one of the toughest teams to play. So, with another night off to digest everything, here are the Groller's Corner league rankings:

LEHIGH VALLEY CONFERENCE

1. Easton (15-1, 8-1) ... Last week ranked No. 4 ... At least no basketball players have left via transfer, at least none that we know of.

2. Allen (12-3, 7-1) ... Last week ranked No. 2 ... Cannon has established himself as one of the area's best, but Canaries still need more consistent guard play before we can visualize a legitimate run in the PIAA tournament.

3. Nazareth (13-2, 6-2) ... Last week ranked No. 3 ... When Blue Eagles play with high energy and intensity, they're hard to keep up with.

4. Liberty (13-3, 8-1) ... Last week ranked No. 1 ... Nazareth exposed some weaknesses with their zone defense. Other than Hilliard, no consistent offensive weapon has emerged.

5. CCHS (11-6, 6-4) ... Last week ranked No. 6 ... Getting good balance on offense with an improved defense. Would need a collapse by one of the big four to make LVCs, but will be the favorite in District 11 3 for sure.

6. Emmaus (12-5, 5-5) ... Last week ranked No. 5 ... Getting Wiseley back, as is expected, will help for districts.

7. Parkland (7-9, 3-5) ... Last week ranked No. 8 ... Trojans need to win four of last six to get into districts, and while they still lack offensive punch, it's doable.

8. Whitehall (6-10, 2-6) ... Last week ranked No. 7 ... Losses to Freedom and CCHS last week by a combined total of four points probably destroyed district playoff chances.

9. Freedom (7-10, 4-5) ... Last week ranked No. 9 ... Just when you thought the Patriots were on a roll, they lose by two on Monday night to Northampton.

10. Northampton (3-13, 2-7) ... Last week ranked No. 10 ... Win over Freedom showed that the K-Kids haven't given up.

11. Becahi (4-13, 0-10) ... Last week ranked No. 11 ... DeSales really wants Jake Hungarter. If he plays for Scott Coval, watch all scoring records fall.

12. Dieruff (4-11, 1-6) ... Last week ranked No. 12 ... No one is rooting harder for BYU's amazing Jimmer Fredette than Husky assistant Steve Hammel, whose brother Tony coached him at Glens Falls, N.Y.

COLONIAL LEAGUE

1. Bangor (16-1, 12-0) ... Last week ranked No. 1 ... Slaters will go 16-0 through the league, but must be wary of Wilson in league tournament.

2. Wilson (12-4, 9-2) ... Last week ranked No. 2 .... No one has scored 50 against the Warriors since Easton on Dec. 27.

3. Saucon Valley (12-4, 9-2) .. Last week ranked No. 3 ... Tremendous performance by Frans against Notre Dame.

4. Salisbury (12-5, 8-4) ... Last week ranked No. 6 ... Eight-game win streak and state ranking is nice, but Falcons have to navigate difficult schedule to get into league tournament.

5. Notre Dame (11-6, 8-4) ... Last week ranked No. 4 ... Tyler Kohl has rebounded with some nice games. Friday night's game against Salisbury will be pivotal in determining who makes the CL tournament and who doesn't.

6. Northern Lehigh (10-6, 6-5) ... Last week ranked No. 5 ... Bulldogs only play one more team with a winning record --- Wilson on Feb. 12.

7. Southern Lehigh (7-12, 5-8) ... Last week ranked No. 8 ... Good effort against Notre Dame, just not good enough.

8. Palisades (7-9, 4-7) ... Last week ranked No. 7 ... At seven wins, the Pirates have one more win this season than they had in the previous five seasons combined.

9. Catasauqua (4-13, 3-8) ... Last week ranked No. 10... Good win over Palmerton to avenge an earlier loss. Shows that even with a lot of negavity slithering through the stands and community, the kids haven't quit.

10. Palmerton (6-11, 3-8) ... Last week ranked No. 9 ... Went 1-9 in January.

11. Pen Argyl (3-13, 2-9) ... Last week ranked No. 11 .... Ok, it was against Northwestern, but that 60-39 win had to feel good after 12 straight losses.

12. Northwestern (1-17, 0-12) .... Last week ranked No. 12 .... Tigers have done a good job of getting their games in. Only four more to go.

MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERENCE

The big news here is that we have heard through the grapevine that Lehighton (along with Jim Thorpe) has a great shot at being accepted into the Colonial League in time for the 2012-13 school year.

We've said it here often that that would be a much better fit for the Indians than the MVC. I think just about everyone in Lehighton would agree.

What that does for the MVC is hard to tell, although we've also heard they're working on something, perhaps even with the CL. Stay tuned.

1. Pocono Mt. East (11-5, 7-0) ... Until West beats them, they remain on top.

2. Pocono Mt. West (13-4, 7-1) ... Brad Pensyl is just four wins of becoming the 10th coach in D11 boys basketball history to get to 400 wins.

3. Stroudsburg (7-9, 5-3) ... Still have LVC games left against CCHS and Northampton.

4. Pleasant Valley (10-7, 5-3) ... Quality win over State College.

5. ES North (8-10, 3-6) ... Must run table in league to qualify for districts.

6. ES South (2-14, 0-7) ... Saw coach Rich Baker the other day at Parkland and he's staying upbeat despite tough first year.

7. Lehighton (1-15, 0-7) ... If Tribe gets into the Colonial, wonder how they'd do the two divisions. Makes sense to keep Lehighton in the same division with Jim Thorpe, Palmerton, Northern Lehigh, Northwestern and Catty. But you'd need a seventh team in the North Division. Can't break up Bangor and Pen Argyl, so maybe you'd keep the two Slate Belt teams in the North and shift Catty to the South to join Notre Dame, Salisbury, Solehi, Saucon, Wilson and Palisades.

These are all just snowy-day musings for now. But I am glad to hear that at least Lehighton has a shot at getting into the Colonial, which is where they belong.

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