What are the best matchups in the first round of the Stellar tournament?

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Finally, on Thursday night, the Stellar Construction "Catch A Rising Star" tournament begins at Cedar Beach. This is like Christmas in July for the high school boys basketball community.

Among the many questions this tournament may help to answer:

How good will Allen be in the post-Jalen Cannon/Daquan Holiday era?

How will Liberty fare without Darrun Hilliard?

Who will be on Central's roster?

How will new coaches do at Becahi, Palmerton, Lehighton and Northwestern do?

Is this going to be Emmaus' year?

Who will be strong out of the Mountain Valley Conference?

Can Parkland, Northampton and Whitehall have rebound years?

Who is going to contend in the Colonial League?

Here's Thursday night's schedule and I will be interested in the games involving the first-year coaches, especially Rich Oertner at Lehighton and Mike Frew at Becahi.

Pocono Mt. West and Wilson were both league championship contenders last year. Both lost a lot. That's an interesting first-round matchup to see who lost more. And I am curious to see the new Berks Central Catholic team which is now a combined school of Holy Name and Reading Central Catholic. My guess is that they're going to be pretty good.

Here's what we have for Thursday night:

A Bracket — Quakertown vs. Palmerton (4:30); Northampton vs. Lancaster Catholic (4:30); Strath Haven vs. Lincoln Prep (5:30); PM West vs. Wilson (5:30); Lebanon vs. CB East (6:30); Exeter vs. Monsignor Bonner (6:30); Lehighton vs Emmaus (7:30); Catasauqua vs. Berks C.C. (7:30); Methacton vs. Nazareth (8:30); Daniel Boone vs. Delaware Valley NJ (8:30).

B Bracket — Marian Catholic vs. Salisbury (4:30); Beth. Catholic vs. Archbishop Carroll (4:30); Liberty vs. ES South (5:30); So. Lehigh vs. Notre Dame GP (5:30); ACC Monarchs vs. Perkiomen Valley (6:30); Northwestern vs. Brandywine (6:30); Palisades vs. Freedom (7:30); Easton vs. Springfield Delco (7:30); Parkland vs. Saucon Valley (8:30); No. Hunterdon vs. Whitehall (8:30).

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