Central proved me wrong with gritty effort

FROM KEITH GROLLER

They're getting ready to kick me out of the gym here at Norristown at about 10:40 on Tuesday night, so this is just a quick note to say how impressed I was with Central Catholic tonight against Boys Latin, even though the Vikings lost 67-65.

I predicted a much more lopsided score in the paper and really felt at a certain point that the Vikings would stop playing hard. They have been a dysfunctional family at times this year.

But they stayed together tonight and they never did quit. In the end, you could see how much they wanted it and how much it hurt when their effort came up just short.

They will actually look back at the tape and see plenty of near-misses and loose balls and things that could have very easily left them as upset winners tonight.

But it wasn't to be.

The interesting part, as always with Central, is who's going to be back next year.

The rumor mill is already in overdrive.

I don't know know who's going to be where next season.

What I do know is that if Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman, Mike Kammerer, Jimmy Vaughan, David Stevens and Jean Lee Baez all decided to stay, CCHS would probably be the preseason favorite to win the LVC next season.

Liberty is going to be very good, too, and Freedom returns some quality kids, but no one would have as much coming back as the Vikings if all of those guys return.

We'll have to see what develops in the months ahead.

But for now, it's kudos to the Vikings for a job well done tonight and on to Stroudsburg on Wednesday night where Easton -- and who would have thought this two weeks ago -- is the last local boys team standing and has a very winnable game against Delaware Valley in the second round of the PIAA 4A tournament.

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