Despite loss, Executive holds on to No. 1 spot

Executive Education didn’t fare well in Sunday’s Lehigh Valley Hoop Group Showcase.

The Raptors lost to The Patrick School of New Jersey 67-38 after hanging close for a half.

But since The Patrick School would probably be the favorite to win the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference title were they EPC members, Sunday’s loss at Parkland was not enough to knock the East Allentown school off the top of our Morning Call Top 10 poll.

The Raptors bounced back from that loss to beat Chester Charter Scholar Academy, 75-48, as Gabe Hornberger scored 19 points and Rylan Muniz added 16. As a team, Executive had eight 3-pointers.

Executive is smartly filling out its allotted 22-game schedule with late games against Roberto Clemente and Williamsport on Monday and Friday next week to stay sharp for the District 11 3A tournament, which won’t start for them until a semifinal game on March 1.

The rest of the teams in this week’s Top 10 poll have all qualified for a league tournament, which means they hope to stay busy until districts begin.

Here’s a look at the latest Top 10:

No. 1 : Executive Education Raptors Record: 17-3 Last week’s ranking: What’s next:

1st

Host Roberto Clemente Charter School on Monday. Comment: The Raptors had a 14-game winning streak snapped by The Patrick School, but believe they benefited from the experience. They are going for their fifth district title in as many years, but will be challenged in districts by some of the best Colonial League or always pesky Panther Valley. MaST Community Charter from Philly is also in the sub-regional, but recently lost to the same Chester Charter school Executive beat by 27.

No. 2 : Pocono Mountain West Panthers Record: Last week’s ranking: What’s next:

18-4, 13-3 EPC

3rd

Host East Stroudsburg South at 7:30 Friday in the EPC quarterfinals.

Comment: After back-to-back losses to Dieruff and Scranton Prep, West ended the season on a six-game winning streak. They have already beaten South twice this season and could possibly see the Cavaliers again in the District 11 5A tournament.

No. 3 : Emmaus Green Hornets Record: Last week’s ranking: What’s next:

18-4, 14-2 EPC

4th

Host Liberty at 7 p.m. Friday in the EPC quarterfinals. Comment: The Green Hornets get one more home game against Liberty in the quarterfinals. They were 10-0 at home in the regular season. They haven’t won a league title since 2012, but seem to have the depth and athleticism to match up with anyone in the EPC field.

No. 4 : Allentown Central Catholic Vikings Record: Last week’s ranking: What’s next:

14-8, 11-5 EPC

3rd

Host Freedom at 7 p.m. Friday in the EPC quarterfinals.

Comment: Giving the Vikings the benefit of the doubt in not dropping them too far after back-toback losses to Allen and Emmaus to close the regular season. Coach Dennis Csensits had a lengthy meeting with his guys after the loss at Emmaus. He has been frustrated with some of the inconsistency key players have shown. ACCHS allowed the fewest points (43.6) in EPC regular season and will need to find a way to control Freedom’s Nick Ellis in Friday’s game at Rockne Hall.

No. 5 : Parkland Trojans

Record: 14-8, 13-7 EPC

Last week’s ranking: 5th

What’s next: Host Bethlehem Catholic at 7 p.m. Friday in the EPC quarterfinals.

Comment: The Trojans got a much-needed win over Whitehall to close the regular season. They handled Becahi with ease, 58-33, on Jan. 17, but the Golden Hawks will make adjustments and expect a much closer game the second time around.

No. 6 : East Stroudsburg South Cavaliers Record: Last week’s ranking: What’s next:

17-5, 11-5 EPC

6th

Play at Pocono Mountain West at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the EPC quarterfinals. Comment: The Cavaliers have one of the league’s most dynamic offensive talents in sophomore Jaen Chatman, who made 44 3-pointers in 16 league games. They will have to find a way to slow down a West offense that led the league in scoring with 66.3 ppg.

No. 7 : Notre Dame-Green Pond Crusaders Record: Last week’s ranking: What’s next:

19-3, 17-1 Colonial League

7th

The Crusaders will play in the second game of a Colonial League tournament semifinal doubleheader at Catasauqua Wednesday night. They will play either Bangor or Palmerton. Comment: Notre Dame has won 12 straight games since a 59-49 loss to State College in a Christmas tournament on Dec. 29. They are playing with offensive balance and defensive grit, and they are getting healthier for the postseason with the expected return of Colin Boyle and Danny Darno.

No. 8 : Bethlehem Catholic Golden Hawks Record: Last week’s ranking: What’s next:

15-6, 11-5 EPC

9th

Play at Parkland at 7 p.m. Friday in the EPC quarterfinals.

Comment: The Golden Hawks inexplicably lost to Easton 39-37 on Jan. 27 but recovered from that to win three straight games, including hard-fought and close wins over Liberty and Nazareth. They allowed the third fewest points in league play (46.4 ppg) and will rely on that defense to make a postseason run.

No. 9 : Liberty Hurricanes Record: 14-8, 10-6 EPC Last week’s ranking: Not ranked What’s next: Play at Emmaus at 7 p.m. Friday in the EPC quarterfinals.

Comment: Liberty is back in the Top 10 thanks in large part to a thrilling, coming-from-behind win over Freedom that was sealed by sophomore Dywane Chess Jr.’s 3-pointer. Everybody knows the Hurricanes will be good next year and the year after, but they are starting to believe they don’t have to wait and can make some noise now.

No. 1 0 : Freedom Patriots Record: Last week’s ranking: What’s next:

15-7, 11-5 EPC

8th

Play at Allentown Central Catholic at 7 p.m. Friday in the EPC quarterfinals. Comment: The Patriots won the EPC’s East Division title and had the fourth-best offense in EPC play and the sixth-best defense.

They will have to defend Central’s 3-point shooting on Friday. The Vikings were second in the EPC regular season in 3-point shooting, making 114. Only Parkland had more at 119.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK Jacob Lewis, Lehigh Christian

Who’s the area’s leading scorer? The answer may surprise you.

While there are plenty of talented scorers in both the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and Colonial League and at several nonleague schools, the area’s most prolific point man is Lehigh Christian Academy’s Jacob Lewis.

The 5-foot-10 sophomore point guard is averaging 28.5 points per game and making 60% of his shots from the field. He has 36 assists, 56 steals and 20 blocks for Lehigh Christian, which has a record of 7-11.

“He’s a very good player,” said his first-year coach Jumar Quezada, a Dieruff High graduate. “His skill-set is there and he goes from zero to 100 instantly. Even as a sophomore, he’s a great leader and a real humble kid. He’s also an A and B student in school. He’s smart and understands the game of basketball and how to be a leader. He’s got great instincts.”

Quezada said Lehigh Christian features numerous seniors, including 1,000-point scorer Austin Frey.

“He fits in well with all of the guys because they know what kind of player he is,” Quezada said. “He’ll drive to the basket or take shots from anywhere on the court. He adjusts to the defense. If they start double-teaming Jacob he’ll get the ball to Austin and other kids. Jacob is also a great defender. He’s our main guy on the press and creates turnovers.”

Athletic director Rachel Poetteiger is a former basketball player and said Lewis, who also made his mark in the SCBL fall league, is a special player. He scored 43 against Roberto Clemente Charter School and 45 against Bethlehem Christian.

“He works really hard at his game,” she said. “He may not play in a league, but he’s well known because he plays AAU ball with guys from many of the other schools.

“We’re looking forward to seeing him grow and what he does over the next two years.”