Chester loses; plus, LVC basketball standings and rankings

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/ FROM KEITH GROLLER The big news from Saturday statewide is that Chester has finally lost. The premier Pennsylvania boys basketball program had a 61-game winning streak snapped in the prestigious City of Palms Tournament in Fort Myers, Fla, by Lone Park, Utah, the nation's No. 1 ranked team. And, it wasn't close. The Clippers fell 73-50. According to Matt Breen of the Phiadelphia Inquirer, Rondae Jefferson, a senior bound for Arizona, scored a team-high 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. James Kirksey chipped in with eight points and 11 rebounds. Richard Granberry finished with 10 points, and Conrad Chambers scored eight. But it wasn't nearly enough. Chester's winning streak dated back to Jan. 3, 2011, and the Clippers, of course, have gone on to win a pair of PIAA 4A titles during the streak and remain the gold standard in Pennsylvania boys basketball with eight state championships. They were the state runnersup nine other times. ************************************* With the holiday break upon us, it's time to take stock of what's going in the various leagues. We'll look at the Colonial League and Mountain Valley Conference tomorrow, but here's how it's shaping up in the LVC so far. Standings LVC EAST 1. Liberty 3-0 2. Easton 2-1 3. Freedom 1-2 4. Easton 2-1 LVC NORTH 1. Parkland 3-0 2. Nazareth 2-1 3. Whitehall 1-2 4. Northampton 0-3 LVC WEST 1. Emmaus 3-0 2. Allen 2-1 3. CCHS 1-2 4. Dieruff 0-3 RANKINGS 1. Liberty (5-0) ... Simply the best, and no one is even close at the moment. Will play Rancocas Valley in a Trenton Christmas tournament on Thursday. 2. Easton (5-1) ... Disappointing effort against Liberty and close calls against both Becahi and East Stroudsburg South, but still have impressive wins over Pocono Mt. West and Freedom on the resume. Will host their own tournament on Thursday and Friday. Will play Wilson first. 3. Freedom (4-2) ... Tough week for the Patriots within the division. They are headed to Coatesville for a Christmas tournament, but coach Joe Stellato said he can't wait to get back in the league and play Central when it resumes on Jan. 3. 4. Parkland (5-1) ... Have won five straight since season-opening loss to Freedom. Probably deserve to be higher, but will need to beat one of the East powers above before that happens. Will host own tournament and play Quakertown on Thursday night. 5. Emmaus (4-2) ... Maybe the surprise of the year to this point and the frontrunner in the LVC West. Still don't know how they lost to Stroudsburg, however. Headed to Pittsburgh and will play McKeesport and Pittsburgh Central Catholic in the Penn Hills tournament on Thursday and Friday. 6. Allen (3-2) ... Canaries have a lot of talent. It's just a matter of getting everyone on the same page and playing consistently. Freshman Zay Jennings plays like a senior. Canaries will host own tournament and play Neshaminy on Thursday night. 7. Central Catholic (5-2) ... Vikings, as they have been for a few years, are hard to figure. They seem to have as much talent as any team, but don't always play as a team. Still the clearcut favorite to win District 11 3A, but not making the LVC tournament would be a big disappointment. Vikings are headed to Elizabethtown and will play Columbia on Thursday night. 8. Nazareth (4-2) ... The second biggest surprise of the year behind Emmaus. Joe Arndt is doing a terrific job. The Blue Eagles are headed to the Honesdale tournament and will play Honesdale on Thursday night. 9. Whitehall (3-3) ... Nice win by the Zephyrs one night after losing to Parkland. This is a team that will remain on the district-qualifying bubble until the end. Zephs host their own tournament. Will play North Hunterdon of New Jersey, coached by Northern Lehigh grad Kyle Rehrig, on Thursday night. 10. Becahi (2-4) ... Golden Hawks are much improved, and dangerous, as Easton found out. Becahi is headed to York and will play Southwestern on Thursday night. 11. Dieruff (1-5) ... After winning the summer league title, I expected a little more from the Huskies. But after watching their game against Allen on TV, you could see there's still potential there. 12. Northampton (0-6).... K-Kids have been held to 34 points or less in five of their six losses. Not hosting a Christmas tournament for the first time in a long time.