Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Tuesday night predictions: Big games everywhere

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/ FROM KEITH GROLLER This is arguably the biggest night of the 2012-13 boys basketball season with big games everywhere. In the LVC, you've got Parkland-Emmaus, Allen-Easton, CCHS-Liberty and even games like Whitehall-Dieruff and Becahi-Nazareth are very important in terms of districts. In the Colonial, you've got Catty-Salisbury, Bangor-Notre Dame and Northern Lehigh-Wilson and others like Northwestern-Palisades with district ramifications. Here's how we see these games turning out: LEHIGH VALLEY CONFERENCE Parkland 71, Emmaus 66 -- Hornets are always tough at home, but Parkland is so deep that its second team could probably go better than .500 in the LVC. Easton 50, Allen 43 -- This is all about tempo. Red Rovers must control it and must get some help for Ezra Gaines. Allen must find a way to get the ball inside. Liberty 61, CCHS 56 -- This prediction is assuming Deshawn Oyeniyi is back for the Hurricanes. If he's not, flip it to CCHS. Whitehall 59, Dieruff 50 -- Zephyrs may have confidence after win over Emmaus, while you wonder what the Huskies are thinking after losing to Lincoln. Freedom 71, Northampton 45 -- Patriots seem to be over that Christmas funk they were in, partly caused by injuries and illness. Becahi 54, Nazareth 50 -- Tossup game. My man, the Weave is going 45-33. Nazareth. Natch. COLONIAL LEAGUE Salisbury 68, Catasauqua 62 -- Both teams searching for consistency. Southern Lehigh 70, Palmerton 45 -- Spartans will be part of a great race for one of the last Colonial tournament spots. Saucon Valley 62, Pen Argyl 45 -- It may be too late to salvage season, but Panthers are much more competitive the last few weeks. Bangor 73, Notre Dame 67 -- Crusaders are tough at home, but Slaters may have too much firepower and are likely to be lone North team to beat the South tonight. Wilson 62, Northern Lehigh 55 -- Quickness vs. height here. I'd take quickness. Palisades 49, Northwestern 43 -- Winner keeps district hopes alive. MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERENCE ES South 61, ES North 51 -- Hopefully, North will get home before bad weather hits tonight. PM West 74, PM East 50 -- Once upon a time, like two years ago, this was the MVC's best matchup. Not so much this year. Stroudsburg 64, Pleasant Valley 57 -- Two coaching veterans go head-to-head here. I covered the football matchup between these two twice back in November. Both were close games. Expect the same on the hardwood.

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