LVC boys basketball rankings, predictions and playoff picture

FROM KEITH GROLLER

We're now just two weeks away from "Championship Friday" in area high school basketball. Feb. 17 is the night that six league title games -- three boys, three girls -- will be played.

We've heard that Allen is the likely site for the LVC tournament because the LVC is determined to host the semis and finals at a neutral site and neither of Allen's teams are going to make the league tournament; at least barring a major collapse by the Emmaus boys.

Here's how the teams rank on this Friday morning as I digest what happened between Easton and Freedom tonight -- a game that ended 40-29 and could be described as a defensive showcase or an offensive debacle.

1. Emmaus (15-3, 9-2) ... last week No. 3 ... host Allen tonight and Pottsville on Saturday ... Win over Allen will clinch the LVC West.

2. Freedom (16-2, 10-2) ... last week No. 2 ... host Becahi on Tuesday ... after beginning his career at Allen and making a stop at Becahi, Tajmire Flood has found a home at Freedom and Joe Stellato is certainly happy he landed as a Patriot.

3. Parkland (16-3, 9-2) ... last week No. 1 ... host Nazareth tonight ... the Trojans close out regular season with struggling North Division neighbors and should be able to get on a roll entering the postseason.

4. Easton (15-5, 8-4) ... last week No. 4 ... Rovers certainly know how to make things ugly and hold other teams down, but at some point you need to score, too.

5. Liberty (13-6, 8-3) ... last week No. 5 ... host Becahi tonight ... LVC could avoid tiebreaking headaches if Hurricanes beat Easton on Tuesday.

6. Allen (10-8, 7-4) ... last week No. 6 ... play at Emmaus tonight ... Canaries second alumin game on Saturday after Pocono Mt. East game should be a treat.

7. CCHS (11-8, 5-6) ... last week No. 7 ... play at Dieruff tonight ... Rich Fatzinger should get his 500th career wn (including his time with the Parkland girls) tonight.

8. Whitehall (8-11, 3-8) ... last week No. 8 ... host Northampton tonight ... Zephyrs need to win out to qualify for districts.

9. Northampton (6-12, 3-8) ... last week No. 9 ... visit Whitehall tonight ... K-Kids never could get on a roll this season.

10. Nazareth (7-11, 2-9) ... last week No. 10 ... at Parkland tonight ... Andy "Weave" Weaver will fire up the student body by walking at the pep rally today. Look for "Weave" on Channel 69.

11. Dieruff (5-14, 1-10) ... last week No. 12 ... host CCHS tonight ... Garcia playing well for the Huskies.

12. Becahi (5-13, 2-9) ... last week No. 11 ... at Liberty tonight ... It's funny, no one ever accuses the Golden Hawks of recruiting in boys basketball.

Predictions

CCHS 70, Dieruff 52 ... Once upon a time this was a great rivalry.

Emmaus 68, Allen 60 ... Steve Yoder downplayed importance of win over Freedom, but I think it was huge for the team's psyche entering postseason.

Parkland 55, Nazareth 44 ... Blue Eagles offense not as potent as the football team's.

Whitehall 52, Northampton 49 ... Wonder who's going to get these schools' football jobs. Yadush's budding broadcasting career keeps him out of the mix.

Liberty 59, Becahi 44 ... Calm before the storm for the Hurricanes.

In Saturday's games, I see Emmaus in a rout over Pottsville, Bangor to beat Nazareth, Allen to whip Pocono Mt. East and Freedom over Bensalem Twp.

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