LVC, Colonial and MVC boys basketball rankings entering the last big Tuesday of season

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/ FROM KEITH GROLLER Can't believe we're in the final week of the regular season. Lots of big games on tap. We'll get to the predictions later. But for now, our second-to-last batch of league rankings: LEHIGH VALLEY CONFERENCE 1. Central Catholic 18-2, 10-2 ... Last week, ranked No. 1 .... Vikings have beaten everybody in the league except Allen and Emmaus and they'll get a second crack at those teams this week. 2. Parkland 14-5, 9-2 ... Last week, ranked No. 2 ... The Trojans clinched the LVC North Division and now just want to build some momentum for next week's tournament with games against Northampton, Allen and Whitehall left. 3. Freedom 13-7, 8-4 ... Last week, ranked No. 5 ... The Patriots have really turned their season around. Since losing by 20 to CCHS on Jan. 3 (their fourth straight loss at that time), Joe Stellato's bunch has gone 9-2 with their only losses in that stretch being a heart-breaker to Parkland and a competitive loss to Hudson Catholic in the Hoop Group event. 4. Easton 15-5, 8-4... Last week, ranked No. 4 ... The Red Rovers had an eight-game win streak snapped with that defeat to Freedom on Thursday night and continually struggle on offense when it comes time to put teams away. Find themselves in a must-win situation tonight against Liberty. 5. Liberty 13-6, 8-3 ... Last week, ranked No. 3 ... Who's going to be playing for the Hurricanes when they host Easton tonight? That's the big question. Had won six in a row and seemed to be on a roll before not having Oyeniyi and Noack was too much to overcome against Becahi on Friday night. Must play Rovers, Nazareth on Weds., and Freedom. Certainly not a lock to get in LVC tourney at this point. 6. Whitehall 11-9, 6-6 ... Last week, ranked No. 7 ... Zephyrs have really done a good job of salvaging the season and are now headed to districts. Win over Pocono Mt. West was stunning, and a credit to the coaching staff and kids for not letting some tough nights keep them down. They would love to keep momentum going against Nazareth and Parkland this week. 7. Emmaus 10-10, 8-4 ... Last week, No. 6 ... One of the most difficult teams to figure all season. Green Hornets are capable of pulling off some great wins and also capable of suffering shocking defeats. Still have an outside shot at making league tournament, but need to beat CCHS on Friday and some help because they don't hold tiebreaker edge on Freedom, Liberty or Easton. 8. Bethlehem Catholic 10-9, 4-8 ... Last week, No. 10 ... Golden Hawks win on Friday was huge for the program. Now they need one more surprise against Freedom, Easton or Hazleton to get into the district tournament. 9. Allen 9-10, 4-7 .. Last week, No. 9 ... It has been an extremely frustrating season on a number of levels for the Canaries, who have had all kinds of issues. Those issues have taken a toll on Doug Snyder, who definitely deserves better. Somehow, they must find a way to get two wins against Central Catholic, Parkland and Dieruff to get into the league tournament. 10. Nazareth 7-12, 3-8 ... Last week, No. 8 ... Blue Eagles overachieved for a long time, but have now lost 9 of their last 11. 11. Dieruff 5-14, 2-10 ... Last week, No. 11 ... After coming back to life for a stretch in the first week of January, the Huskies have lost eight straight and never resembled the team that won the Cedar Beach League last summer. 12. Northampton 2-18, 0-12 ... Last week, No. 12 ... K-Kids one shining moment was that win over Catty on Dec. 28. COLONIAL LEAGUE 1. Wilson 19-1, 13-1 ... Last week No. 1 ... The Warriors, winners of 17 straight, have already clinched a tournament spot and can clinch top seed with a win over Salisbury tonight. 2. Salisbury 14-6, 11-3 ... Last week No. 3 ... The Falcons have come on strong with six straight wins after a loss to Pius X. Can seal a tournament berth with a win over Warriors tonight. 3. Bangor 15-5, 11-2 ... Last week No. 2 ... The Slaters should be back at full strength this week with the return of Colton Freeman. Bron Holland wasn't happy with the loss to Catty, but was happy with bounce-back win over Nazareeth. Slaters will clinch division tonight against Northwestern. 4. Notre Dame 12-8, 11-3 ... Last week No. 4 ... The Crusaders had won five in a row before that tough loss at Salisbury on Friday. Still need to take care of some business against Palisades tonight and Wilson on Friday to insure a tourney berth. 5. Catasauqua 14-6, 10-4 .. Last week No. 5 ... It wasn't the prettiest of games, but that gutty win at Bangor validated the Rough Riders improvement as a team. 6. Northern Lehigh 13-7, 8-6 ... Last week No. 6 ... Just like Emmaus in the LVC, this has been a hard team to decipher. The fact that they have no shot at making league tournament entering the final week of the regular season has to be considered a disappointment. 7. Southern Lehigh 10-10, 7-7 ... Last week No. 7 ... Tonight marks Bob Shaffer's last home at Solehi and the Spartans can give him a great retirement gift with a win to clinch a a district berth. 8. Palisades 9-11, 4-10 ... Last week No. 8 ... Pirates need to beat Notre Dame tonight and Saucon Valley on Friday to get into districts. Not likely to happen, but there mere fact they have a shot at districts in the final week of the regular season says a lot about how far this program has come under Mike Viglianti. 9. Saucon Valley 6-14, 4-10 ... Last week No. 9 ... After winning five of six, the Panthers have lost four straight. They should be much stronger next season. 10. Northwesterm 7-13, 4-10 ... Last week No. 10 ... The Tigers, much like Palisades, have made huge strides under Dan Eddinger. 11. Pen Argyl 4-16, 1-13 ... Last week No. 11 ... I am sure Al Blount hoped for much better after his team registered four wins in December. 12. Palmerton 0-20, 0-14 ... Last week No. 12 ,,. Blue Bombers last chance at avoiding a losing season comes tonight against Pen Argyl because I can't see them competing against Northern Lehigh on Friday. MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERENCE 1. Pocono Mountain West 15-4, 10-0 ... Last week No. 1 ... Panthers have top seed clinched for next week's league tournament and it's a matter of getting some momentum going after that disappointing loss to Whitehall on Saturday night. 2. Stroudsburg 11-9, 7-3 ... Last week No. 2 ... Mounties will be a factor in both the league and district tournaments. 3. Pleasant Valley 11-9, 6-4 ... Last week No. 3 ... Bears figure to beat East tonight and then have back-to-game games against Stroudsburg. They play Mounties in league finale on Friday and will see them again in MVC tourney next week. 4. East Stroudsburg South 10-10, 6-4 ... Last week No. 4 ... Cavaliers have done a nice job under Coach Munford. And look for big things from him in the future. 5. Lehighton 10-10, 4-7 ... Last week No. 5 .. Coach Rich Oertner said that against teams that play a 2-3 zone his squad struggles for a number of reasons. "The teams in the MVC are much taller, stronger and faster. It is very difficult for us to have any inside game against a 2-3." But he says his kids don't quit and continue to give themselves an opportunity to be successful." Indians need to beat either PM West tonight or Notre Dame-ES on Monday to qualify for districts. 6. ES North 5-15, 3-8 ... Last week No. 6 ... Two wins in last three games shows that at least the Timberwolves are still competing. 7. Pocono Mt. East 1-18, 0-10 ... Last week No. 7 ... It's still hard to fathom how far this program has tumbled.