ONE LAST LOOK
Bangor’s win in Colonial League title game shakes up rankings
It has been a season of unpredictability in local boys basketball.
Because of the pandemic and Mother Nature, it has been hard to figure out who’s playing when and against whom.
It also affected the quality of the play and even the most talented teams have struggled to find consistency.
Each week, there have been a few results that have caught us by surprise and changed our evaluation of teams and such was the case with a few results in the Colonial League tournament last week.
But now, things will intensify and no off nights will be accepted regardless of the circumstances. At this point, it’s win or turn in the uniforms.
With the PIAA only accepting district champs this year, there is no margin for error or consolation games to rescue seasons.
Some teams may continue to schedule games through March as the PIAA is allowing because of the pandemic, but probably most will not.
That will add a sense of urgency to each game. Here’s our final Morning Call Top 10 team rankings before District 11 crowns its champions next week:
10. Easton Red Rovers
Record: 7-2
Ranking last time: 9th
What’s next: The 2021-22 season.
Comment: Can’t help but feel bad for the Red Rovers, who won’t participate in the Distrct 11 tournament because of school rules governing COVID-19 cases. They had won five straight games and would have been the No. 2 seed in a wide-open Class 6A field. Especially feel for the seven seniors,
especially a dedicated, all-around leader such as Chris Hewey. Nothing anyone can say will make them feel better or make up for the fact that kids continue to lose out on so many things they’ll never get back.
9. East Stroudsburg South Cavaliers
Record: 8-2
Ranking last time: 10th
What’s next: Host East Stroudsburg North Wednesday in the District 11 quarterfinals Comment: The Cavaliers have won eight straight after back-toback losses to Pocono Mountain West to start the season and their most impressive win may have been their most recent. They beat a very strong Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg team 78-63. They have already beaten North twice this season and neither game was close. A much tougher challenge will likely come in the district semis on Saturday when Pottsville is the expected opponent.
8. Allen Canaries
Record: 8-4
Ranking last time: 8th
What’s next: Will host either Freedom or Stroudsburg Thursday in the District 11 6A quarterfinals.
Comment: The Canaries may qualify as the most dangerous
No. 4 seed in the entire District 11 tournament. They boosted their confidence level by winning three of their last four games. They would probably love another shot at Freedom, the team that ruined their titles hopes last year. Of course, Malek and Caleb Mims and most of the rest of the 2020 6A champion Patriots are gone, but there should still be some extra motivation there if that matchup happens.
7. Central Catholic Vikings
Record: 13-4
Ranking last time: 7th
What’s next: CCHS will host Wilson Friday night in a District 11 Class 4A quarterfinal.
Comment: Vikings junior
Tyson Thomas and Liam
Joyce were second and third in the EPC Lehigh Division in scoring at 16.2 and 16.0 respectively. CCHS was one of the best defenses in the league, allowing just 46.2 points per game. The Vikings would love the short ride to PPL Center for the 4A final next week after losing in the EPC semis in the downtown Allentown arena last year.
6. Bangor Slaters
Record: 12-3
Ranking last time: None
What’s next: Will play either Southern Lehigh or Blue Mountain Saturday in the District 11 5A semis.
Comment: Bangor turned the tables on Notre Dame with an impressive second half in the Colonial League title game. CJ
Miles and Gabe Zieba delivered as expected, but it was the contributions from unsung heroes like Josh Giaquinto and Dan Heald that made the difference. After that surprise, the Slaters have a chance to do something they haven’t done since Ronald Reagan was still president in 1988 — win a district gold.
5. Bethlehem Catholic Golden Hawks
Record: 10-4
Ranking last time: 6th
What’s next: Host either North Schuylkill or Saucon Valley Saturday in the District 11 4A quarterfinals.
Comment: Becahi did lose to Northampton last week, but has some impressive win on its resume. Don’t discount the 53-49 win over Pottsville Nativity on
Feb. 13, especially now that the Hilltoppers are Schuylkill League champs. Becahi had the top offense in the EPC Northampton Division, averaging 57.7 points per game.
4. Notre Dame Crusaders
Record: 13-3
Ranking last time: 3rd
What’s next: Host Panther Valley Thursday in the District 11 3A quarterfinals.
Comment: Why are the Crusaders ranked higher than
Bangor after the Slaters just beat them in the league final? Well, they did split their two games and my guess is if they played 10 times, each would win five. Plus, Notre Dame does own impressive nonleague wins over Allen and Bethlehem Catholic. It would be premature to count this talented team out. Expect them to be in the 3A final against Executive next Tuesday.
3. Northampton Konkrete Kids
Record: 7-2
Ranking last time: 4th
What’s next: Host either Dieruff or Pleasant Valley in Thursday’s District 11 6A quarterfinals. Comment: The K-Kids finally got back in action after a 14-day layoff and beat Becahi on Feb. 24 before losing to Nazareth in the regularseason finale. Even though that loss snapped a five-game winning streak, Coy Stampone and the K-Kids have a knack for playing their best basketball at this time of year. Isaac Harris led the Northampton division with 19.3 points per game and the Kids defense allowed just 48.4 points per game.
2. Pocono Mountain West Panthers 8-1
Record:
Ranking last time: 5th What’s next: Will host either Liberty or Emmaus Thursday
night in the District 11 6A quarterfinals.
Comment: With just nine games on their resume, West remains a largely unknown quantity. That could help them. The Panthers gained revenge for their lone loss by pounding Stroudsburg 78-46 in their last game to secure the No. 1 seed in 6A. As strong as they are offensively, defense is the Panthers’ key. Thanks in large part to 6-foot-9 junior Christian Fermin being an imposing figure in the middle, West allowed just 45.3 points per game.
1. Executive Education Raptors
Record: 16-4
Ranking last time: 1st
What’s next: Host either Northern Lehigh or Pen Argyl in Thursday’s District 11 3A quarterfinals.
Comment: No one in the Lehigh Valley did a better job of getting in as many games as possible as the Raptors, who have faced a lot of quality opponents. This, however, is the time of year they have been waiting for. This is their chance to prove how strong they are as a program. It’s hard to imagine them not at least getting to PPL Center for the 3A final next week and they are clearly the favorite to not only get there, but go home with gold medals.
Keith Groller can be reached at 610-820-6740 or at kgroller@mcall.com