Easton lives to play another day in the Chester Invitational

FROM KEITH GROLLER

If Vegas was putting out betting lines on Lehigh Valley boys basketball, Easton would have been a 100-to-1 longshot -- at a minimum -- to be the last team standing in area hoops this year

I mean this was a team that was defeated in both the LVC semis and District 11 4A semis and seemingly headed for spring sports about two weeks ago.

And yet, here they are. Still playing. Still making people shake their heads.

They survived again tonight here in Stroudsburg, beating Delaware Valley.

This was a game they should have won and they did. It wasn't with ease, it wasn't even as easy as it should have been. But Easton, it seems, would have it no other way than have to battle to the end and fight its way to victory.

So, they move on and will face a terrific Lower Merion squad on Saturday. Despite that Christmas time loss to Emmaus, the Aces are outstanding and will be a huge favorite in that game.

Then again, I bet the Red Rovers wouldn't have it any other way.

Kudos to Coach Jim Hutnik and these kids for continuing to play hard and battle. From my dealings with them, it's a good bunch. Holley, Hightower Walsh are all great kids. Really, though, no one seems to be an attitude problem.

I think their run will probably end on Saturday, but even it does, they have stunned a lot of people and got everything out of this season that they possibly could. Not everybody can say that.

Ultimately, though, no one in 4A will beat the mighty Clippers. I am calling this tournament the Chester Invitational because I just don't see anyone being able to derail their quest for another state gold. They don't just win, they dominate.

But it is fun to get to the middle Saturday of the state tournament. To me it's always the benchmark of a successful state run.

I am glad to have another game to cover before getting outside to enjoy this summer -- oops, I mean late winter -- weather.

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