Tuesday night boys basketball predictions: Wish I could be in two places at once

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/ FROM KEITH GROLLER Big card tonight as we get in a couple more league dates before the holiday break next week. As is often the case when you're a beat person trying to follow three different leagues at once, I wish I could be in several places tonight because there are numerous attractive matchups. I'd love to be at the Liberty-Easton game, for example, or the Salisbury-Notre Dame game. I wouldn't mind seeing Bangor at Catty either. But instead of those games I will be at Allen's Sewards Gym to see all of the new faces on this year's Canaries team and also to see if unbeaten CCHS is for real. Here are the predictions for tonight's games: LEHIGH VALLEY CONFERENCE Emmaus 62, Dieruff 53 -- I had the Huskies finishing ahead of the Green Hornets in the LVC West with my preseason predictions. Like my Eagles in the Super Bowl selection back in August, I'd love to have that one back. Easton 50, Liberty 49 -- After watching the Red Rovers edge Freedom in overtime, I know for sure they're battle-tested and determined. And they control tempo and play great defense. If Easton gets this one, they will move to frontrunner status in the division, and, possibly, the league. Freedom 64, Becahi 58 -- Patriots can't get caught looking ahead to Friday's big one at Liberty. Whitehall 49, Nazareth 47 -- This one will say a lot about who qualifies for districts and who doesn't. Parkland 74, Northampton 45 -- Trojans are best team in the division, by far, but will still be tested by Whitehall on Friday because that's the way it is when those two get together. Central Catholic 76, Allen 70 -- Easily the most entertaining game of the night, at least if you like offense. Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman is putting up extraordinary numbers and now the Vikings have more depth with the football guys back. Canaries will be competitive. Looking forward to seeing new standout Omar Harrington for the first time as well as freshman phenom Zay Jennings, who Doug Snyder really likes. COLONIAL LEAGUE Southern Lehigh 55, Palisades 49 -- If the Pirates are going to make districts, this is the kind of game they need to win. Wilson 70, Saucon Valley 50 -- Tough year for the Panthers. Salisbury 59, Notre Dame 53 -- Falcons return to Green Pond where they suffered first loss last season. Salisbury may offer more scoring balance than any other good team in the area. Northwestern 44, Palmerton 40 -- I was very sad to learn of the recent passing of former Tigers basketball player Dylan Roth, who was just 20. He had been battling cancer for the past few years and was a recipient of one of the first "Steps for Stellar" scholarships. He was absolutely beloved in the Northwestern community and an inspiration with his tremendous courage. May he rest in peace. Northern Lehigh 68, Pen Argyl 34 -- May see the Bulldogs play former coach Rich Oertner and much improved Lehighton next week in one of the many area Christmas tournaments. Bangor 58, Catasauqua 54 -- After beating Palmerton and Pen Argyl by a combined 70, we'll see if the Roughies are for real. MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERENCE Lehighton 51, ES North 48 -- Tyler Crum has become a player to watch for the Indians. And it's nice to see a Zwetolitz in the box for Lehighton. Tanner is the younger brother of former Whitehall and DeSales standout Matt Zwetolitz. PM West 70, ES South 55 -- Will miss seeing Panthers at Northampton Xmas tournament, since there is no longer a Northampton tournament. Stroudsburg 66, PM East 54 -- Mounties bounce back from loss to PM West. OTHERS Delaware Valley 60, Pleasant Valley 55 -- I don't know if the Del Val basketball team is as good as its football squad, but the Warriors are 4-0 and the Bears are hard to figure with their losses to Dieruff and Nazareth. Quakertown 53, Pennridge 49 -- Both programs appear to be struggling. They are a combined 3-6 and two of those wins were over Saucon Valley.