Thursday night boys basketball scoreboard; Friday night predictions

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/ FROM KEITH GROLLER Because of deadlines, I have to make my boys basketball rankings on Thursday afternoon. That's always dangerous when there are games on Thursday night. And more and more frequently, teams are playing on Thursday nights -- sometimes in key matchups. Had I known Central Catholic would have pounded Freedom by 20, there's no way I'd have put Freedom sixth and Central ninth in the Top 10 rankings. Right now, it seems as though CCHS has put that dreadful pre-Christmas week in which it lost to both Allen and Emmaus behind it. Hindsight is always 20-20, as they say, and right now it looks like my two preseason picks to win LVC and Colonial League -- Freedom and Notre Dame -- are in trouble. Big trouble. In covering the Wilson-ND game, it was clear to me that the Warriors were the better team and if they played 10 times, ND might only win once. And Freedom just might have reached its peak with that opening-night win over Parkland. The Patriots haven't been overly impressive since, and right now had better start thinking about winning games just to qualify for districts because they're 4-5 overall. There were other factors that went into that lopsided loss to Central, but you can't beat quality teams by going just 5-for-16 at the foul line as Freedom did. That's one of many areas that need to improve for this team to live up to its potential. We'll see. It's a long season with lots of changes yet to come. More are bound to come tonight. Here's a look back at Thursday's scores: Central Catholic 62, Freedom 42 -- The way he's going, you wonder if Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman willl score 2,000 in his high school career. He had 23 vs. Freedom, while Jean Lee Baez added 17. Salisbury 57, Southern Lehigh 47 -- Falcons get over .500 in the league and now have that Saturday night trip to Bangor. Palisades 47, Saucon Valley 41 -- Mueller 14, Gehman 13 for Pirates who got their first league win. Saucon is still looking for its first CL win, and will likely get it against one of the North Division foes that await. Catasauqua 63, Northwestern 49 -- A 15-2 first quarter carried the Rough Riders. Northern Lehigh 61, Palmerton 24 -- Bulldogs win third straight by more than 30. Eden scores 21. Pius X 58, Notre Dame-ES 41 -- Royals outscore Spartans 18-4 in the fourth quarter to break open a close game. Moravian Academy 59, Calvary Baptist 45 -- Gutekunst scores 25, John Donmoyer gets career win No. 605. And to repeat: Wilson 51, Notre Dame 40 -- Very impressed by the Warriors, and not just Gerald Terry. And now Friday's night's predictions: LEHIGH VALLEY CONFERENCE Becahi 56, Allen 53 -- We'll see if good vibes and momentum created in York will translate to success in the LVC. Nazareth 60, Dieruff 45 -- If Blue Eagles make districts, Joe Arndt is a coach-of-the-year candidate. Emmaus 74, Northampton 50 -- Talked to Northampton assistant Jerry Lloyd briefly about the K-Kids on Thursday night. I personally would like to see Jerry get a head coaching gig in the near future. Easton 48, Parkland 46 -- Out on a limb here because thej Trojans have played well since opening-night loss to Freedom. Maybe the Red Rovers' losing to Wilson served as a wakeup call. Liberty 73, Whitehall 53 -- Looking forward to Liberty-Parkland on Tuesday night in Memorial Gym. COLONIAL LEAGUE Notre Dame 55, Catasauqua 49 -- Crusaders really need this one after loss to Wilson and tough North Hunterdon team looming on Saturday. MOUNTAIN VALLEY ES North 57, PM East 47 -- Can't believe how far the Cardinals have tumbled. That Hazleton score last week -- 84-17 -- required a few double-checks. PM West 70, Pleasant Valley 60 -- Panthers come to Bethlehem to play Freedom on Monday night. ES South 56, Lehighton 50 -- Indians have made vast strides, but so have the Cavs under new coach Dr. Shawn Munford, who just got the job in late November.