Friday night boys basketball predictions: Should be loud at Parkland

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/ FROM KEITH GROLLER The Friday nights in this 2012-13 high school boys basketball season are already dwindling. Counting tonight, there are just four Fridays left in the regular season. Tonight offers many intriguing matchups as the fight for the Final Four in each league continues, while other teams try to stablize their status for the District 11 tournament. Here are the predictions on tonight's games: LEHIGH VALLEY CONFERENCE Allen 66, Nazareth 59 -- Canaries really need this one after a recent rough patch against Freedom, Liberty and Easton. Even the Weave thinks Allen will take this one. He's going Canaries, 55-50. Central Catholic 71, Northampton 43 -- Jimmy Vaughan is expected back for the Vikes tonight, which should only make them better. Liberty 68, Dieruff 49 -- Hurricanes have been in a funk ever since those close losses in Trenton during that holiday tournament. Easton 53, Emmaus 47 -- Green Hornets are a different team on the road. Parkland 60, Freedom 56 -- Should be a great atmosphere if the Riot Squad can find its way up Cedar Crest Boulevard. Covered the first meeeting between these two back in December. Expect Parkland to play much better this time, especially after getting pushed around by Emmaus the other night. Whitehall 54, Becahi 51 -- In terms of districts, this is the biggest game of the night as both teams are firmly on the playoff bubble. COLONIAL LEAGUE Salisbury 69, Palmerton 42 -- Blue Bombers running out of chances to get a win. Northern Lehigh 60, Southern Lehigh 52 -- This one depends on the Bulldogs' mindset after they squandered a sizable fourth quarter lead to Wilson the other night. Saucon Valley 54, Northwestern 44 -- Improved Panthers would probably like to start the season over. Notre Dame 72, Pen Argyl 44 -- George Baurkot and Kevin Lloyd, two former head coaches, will run the Crusaders while Pat Boyle is in Florida with his mother, who lost her husband of the past 22 years. Wilson 64, Bangor 50 -- Slaters may not be at full strength. Even at full strength, Warriors probably the favorite in this matchup. Catasauqua 58, Palisades 52 -- Roughies remain a mystery, beating by Southern Lehigh by 16 and then losing to Salisbury by 20. If Pirates are going to make districts, they really need this one before getting back into the South Division. MOUNTAIN VAILLEY CONFERENCE ES North 39, Pleasant Valley 37 -- PV won the first meeting between these two, 35-34. Pocono Mt. West 64, Stroudsburg 61 -- If the Panthers are going to lose a league game, it's going to happen in the Mounties' beautiful, still relatively new, gym. Lehighton 59, Pocono Mt. East 49 -- At 6-7, Indians still are very much in contention for a district berth. However, they need to win the games they're supposed to win, and this is definitely one.