Monday, February 10, 2014

The LVC, Colonial and MVC league rankings entering tournament week: CCHS is the No. 1 of the No. 1s

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

FROM KEITH GROLLER


Hard to believe we're at the finish line of the regular season and the postseason begins on Tuesday night.
I think it's early for the teams who didn't qualify for the postseason to be done with their seasons before Valentine's Day, but everything must get done by the weekend of March 21-22, so that spring sports (if the snow ever clears) can begin on time.
Here's a look at the LVC, Colonial and MVC teams rank entering the league tournament:
LEHIGH VALLEY CONFERENCE
1. Central Catholic (22-0, 14-0) ... Last time No. 1 ... Became the first team since Easton in 2006-07 to complete a perfect regular season. My records have Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman at 1,933 career or about six games shy of breaking Billy McCaffrey's all-time school scoring mark for boys (2,051). .. Up next: Play Bethlehem Catholic Tuesday night in the LVC semis at Liberty.
2. Parkland (17-4, 10-4) ... Last time No. 2 ... Trojans' complete domination of Whitehall on Friday showed what they're capable of doing. Beat Emmaus the first time without Justin Zajko. It'll be interesting to see how that rematch unfolds this time. ... Up next: Play Emmaus Tuesday in the LVC semis at Liberty.
3. Emmaus (16-6, 9-5) ... Last time No. 5 ... Green Hornets played CCHS tough for awhile on Friday night and have been resilient all season. Can thank Dieruff for getting a chance to play in LVC tourney. We'll see if they can make the most of the gift opportunity. ... Up next: Play Parkland Tuesday in the LVC semis at Liberty.
4. Bethlehem Catholic (11-11, 8-6) ... Last time No. 3 ... The Golden Hawks did what they had to do to get into the LVC tournament, beating Freedom in a thriller. Not sure what happened against Pottstown and Easton, but it seems as though this team has found a way to win close games when they most matter. ... Up next: Play Central Catholic Tuesday night in the LVC semis at Liberty.
5. Allen (13-9, 8-6) ... Last time No. 4 ... It has been a crazy year for the Canaries who have had some thrilling victories and exasperating defeats. Up next: Will play in the District 11 4A tournament either on Feb. 19 or Feb. 22.
6. Whitehall (13-9, 8-6) ,... Last time No.  6 ... Certainly Jeff Jones can relate to Doug Snyder as the Zephs have also been on a roller coaster ride. I am not suprised Parkland defeated Whitehall on Friday, but no one in local basketball could have seen a 30-point effort on 6-for-42 shooting coming. Up next: Will play in the District 11 4A tournament on Feb. 19 or Feb. 22
7. Liberty (10-11, 6-8) ... Last time No. 9 .,. The Hurricanes squandered a chance to qualify for District 11 tournament by losing to a very good Pocono Mt. West team. Now it's up to AD Fred Harris to get a makeup game with Spring-Ford rescheduled. Even if the game is played, there is no guarantee of victory for the 'Canes. Spring-Ford is 20-2.
8. Easton (11-10, 5-8) ... Last time No. 8 ... Nice job by the Red Rovers and first-year coach Ben Childs to qualify for districts. Like many of the teams above, it has been an up and down season, but the bottom line is that the Rovers did enough to get into districts and this year, that's an accomplishment. ... Up next: Host Dieruff on Tuesday night in a makeup game.
9. Freedom (8-14, 6-8) ... Last time No. 7 ... You could play the "woulda, shoulda, coulda" game here with the Patriots. Too many close losses. Nigel Long is a talented player and a bright kid. Congrats to him, But this season has to be considered disappointing, especially after the good start in December. Up next: The 2014-15 season.
10. Dieruff (9-12, 4-9) ... Last time No. 10 ... Look, I know some positive things are happening at Dieruff. I know there was a neat pep rally on Friday and the school is doing a lot of good things to build self-esteem and is trying its best to get the kids on the right track. We've said it before and we'll say it again: At schools like this, it's about saving lives, not winning games. But from a basketball perspective, a 4-9 record in the LVC is a disappointment, plain and simple. ... Up next: Play at Easton in a makeup game Tuesday night.
11. Nazareth (9-13, 4-10) ... Last time No. 11 ... Kudos to Nazareth coach Joe Arndt and everyone involved for arranging that special appearance on Friday night by special-needs manager Devon Roe. ... Up next ... The 2014-15 season.
12. Northampton (3-19, 1-13) ... Last time No. 12... Win over Dieruff allowed the K-Kids to match their 2012-13 records exactly. ... Next up: The 2014-15 season.
COLONIAL LEAGUE
1. Bangor (17-5, 14-2) ... Last time No. 1 ... The Slaters have lived up to expectations this season so far, but getting Notre Dame in the semis was not a great reward for having the top seed. Up next: Play Notre Dame in the Colonial League semis on Wedndesday at Southern Lehigh.
2. Notre Dame (13-9, 11-5) ... Last time No. 2 ... Other than Pat Boyle's alma mater, Central Catholic, no team has been hotter in the last three weeks than the Crusaders, who are on a 9-game win streak and most of the wins during the streak have been lopisded.  Up next: Play Bangor in the Colonial League semis on Wednesday at Southern Lehigh.
3. Catasauqua (15-7, 12-4) ... Last time No. 4 ... Roughies have played terrific basketball over the second half of the season and carry some of that football swagger on to the basketball floor with them. Beating Salisbury for a second time will be a difficult task, however. Up next: Play Salisbury in the Colonial League semis on Wednesday at Southern Lehigh.
4. Salisbury (15-7, 12-4) ... Last time No. 3 ... Falcons have been a bit baffling at times, but I have a hunch they're going to play well in the league tourney. Up next: Play Catty in the Colonial League semis on Wednesday at Southern Lehigh.
5. Saucon Valley (13-9, 11-5) ... Last time  No. 6 ... The slow start by the Panthers in December was ultimately what cost them an opportunity of making the league tournament. ... Up next: The District 11 3A tournament beginning on Feb. 18 or 21.
6. Southern Lehigh (14-8, 10-6) ... Last time No. 5 ... Interesting final week of the regular season for the Spartans, getting drilled by Saucon and then beating Salisbury. Up next: The District 11 3A tournament beginning on Feb. 18 or 21.
7. Northern Lehigh (13-9, 10-6) ... Last time No. 7 ... Another team that was simply not deep enough and too inconsistent when it mattered the most. Up next: The District 11 3A tournament beginning on Feb. 18 or 21.
8. Pen Argyl (8-14, 6-10) ... Last time No. 9 ... Nice job by Kyle Hutnik in his first season with the Green Knights and I have a feeling he'll be around awhile. Up next: The 2014-15 season.
9. Wilson (9-13, 5-11) ... Last time No. 8 ... Bob Frankenfield warned me that this year could be a struggle when I didn't believe him. But while he expected it more than I did, even he has to be disappointed that things didn't turn out a little better. Up next: The 2014-15 season.
10. Palisades (6-16, 3-13) ... Last time No. 10 ... Another nice job by a rookie coach. Ken Termini seems up to the challenge of trying to get the Pirates to a competitive level. Also, apologies again to Mike Zonay for saying he was retiring. Usually nice ceremonies come when someone is retiring. Glad he'll be back for year No. 40 next season. Up next: The 2014-15 season.
11. Northwestern (5-17, 2-14) ... Last time No. 11... The hard work continues for Dan Eddinger in New Tripoli. Up next : The 2014-15 season.
12. Palmerton (0-16, 3-19) ... Last time No. 12 ... The Blue Bombers had three wins, two more than they had a year ago, and new coach Leigh Keenan, I believe, will continue to improve this program. Up next: the 2014-15 season.
MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERENCE]
1. Pocono Mountain West (18-4, 12-2) ... Last tme No. 3 ... Clearly the hottest team in this league with 10 straight wins. The favorite to win the MVC and a definite contender in the upcoming District 11 4A tourney. Up next: Play Lehighton at PM West on Tuesday in the MVC semifinals.
2. Stroudsburg (13-9, 12-2) ... Last time No. 1 ... The Mounties play a lot of LVC teams and have acted like one (CCHS notwithstanding) with plenthy of ups and downs. Up next: Play ES North at PM West on Tuesday in the MVC semis.
3. ES North (17-5, 9-3) ... Last time No. 3... The Timberwolves have enjoyed one of the best seasons in school history, but will have a tough time beating both Stroudsburg and PM West to claim first MVC title. Up next: Play Stroudsburg at PM West Tuesday in the MVC semis.
4. Lehighton (13-9, 5-7) ...Last time No. 4 ... Big win by the Indians over ES South to qualify for the league tournament in their final MVC season. Up next: Play PM West on Tuesday at PM West in the MVC semis.
5. Pleasant Valley (8-12, 4-8) ... Last time No. 6 ... Bears closed out season with a feel-good moment -- the upset of Stroudsburg. Up next: The 2014-15 season.
6. ES South (7-15, 4-8) ... Last time No. 5 ... The Cavaliers, it seems, never could click on all cylinders. Up next; The 2014-15 season.
7. Pocono Mountain East (1-20, 0-12) ... Last time No. 7 ... It's still hard for me to grasp the fact that just five years ago, the Cardinals were in the District 11 4A final and gave Parkland all it wanted before falling short. Up next: The 2014-15 season.

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