Can Bangor or Central Catholic top a PCL power?
The Bangor High School basketball team has kept the fire trucks in its community busy.
The Slaters got a fire truck escort back to school after winning the Colonial League championship on Feb. 26 and again after taking home the program’s first District 11 title since 1988 on March 9.
The fire trucks may not be in use if Bangor beats Philadelphia Catholic League power Archbishop Ryan on Friday night, but considering the game is at Ryan, it might be every bit as big a win as the other two.
The Colonial League and District 11 champs are in the state quarterfinals for the first time in school history, and while they are underdogs, they are up for the challenge.
“Ryan is a good team with some phenomenal players,” Bangor coach Colin Kessler said. “Obviously, the Philadelphia Catholic League is one of the best leagues in the state, if not the entire nation. So you know it’s not going to be easy.”
Kessler, though, is prepared. He has watched four or five Ryan games on film, and while impressed he said his team has a shot at getting just the third state playoff win in school history.
“If we play like we did against East Stroudsburg South in the district championship game, I think we have a good shot,” Kessler said. “We have to box out and rebound and take away their drives on offense. We have to know where No. 10 [Luke Boyd] is at all times so that we take his shot away. We need to control the tempo and take care of the ball because when they go to their full-court trap, they are dangerous.”
Bangor has not had a game in 10 days because it wrapped up the district tournament earlier than others. It is nothing new in a pandemic-plagued season in which multiple days off have become common.
“I’m not happy we have had a week and a half off, but we gave the guys the rest of last week off so they could enjoy it and relax,” Kessler said. “We started back up on Monday and practices have been going really well. We don’t want this thing to end.”
PIAA 5A quarterfinal
Who: Bangor (14-3) at Archbishop Ryan (10-5) When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
What’s next: Winner plays either District One champ Chester or District 2 champ Crestwood in Monday’s semifinals.
Coaches: Bangor’s Colin Kessler in his second season with the Slaters, 28-15. Joe Zeglinski is in his sixth season with the Raiders, 93-52.
Bangor probable starters: Probable starters, Bangor: Gabe Zieba (5-10 Sr. G) 15.0 ppg; Josh Giaquinto (6-1 So. G) 9.5 ppg; Justin Peterson (6-4 So. F) 5.2 ppg; Daniel Heald (6-6 Jr. F) 4.7 ppg; CJ Miles (6-1 Sr. G) 26.3 ppg).
Archbishop Ryan probable starters: Probable starters, Aaron Lemon-Warren (6-4 Sr. SF) 16.2 ppg; Christian Tomasco (6-9 Sr. C) 13.4 ppg; Dominc Vazquez (5-11 Sr. PG) 10.1 ppg; Luke Boyd (6-1, Jr. SG); Jalen Snead (6-1 Jr. SG) 8.0 ppg.
Keith Groller’s pick: Expect Miles to put on one more show, but Ryan appears to have too much size and firepower for the Slaters, who are the only area team to win two championships this year.