Quiet Friday, busy Saturday
TV HIGHLIGHTS
LOCAL SPORTS 9 a.m.: ATVN Sports Talk presented by The Morning Call. ATVN 10 a.m.: Disc Golf Monthly. ATVN 3 p.m.: Boys Basketball - PIAA 6A 1st Round - WC Henderson vs. Parkland. SEN502 3 p.m.: Girls Basketball - PIAA 4A 1st Round - Eastern York vs. Central Catholic. SEN550 3 p.m.: Boys Basketball - PIAA 6A 1st Round - Upper Darby vs. Liberty. SEN902 430 p.m.: Boys Basketball - PIAA 4A 1st Round - Engineering & Sciences Carver vs. Central Catholic. SEN550 7 p.m.: Phantoms Front & Center Pregame Show. SEN502 715 p.m.: AHL- Belleville vs. Lehigh Valley. SEN502 AUTO RACING 11 a.m.: NHRA Drag Racing AMALIE Motor Oil Gatornationals, Qualifying. FS1 12:30 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series United Rentals 200, Qualifying. FS1 2 p.m.: NASCAR Cup Series Last Saturday, five games were United Rentals Work United 500, played at Easton Area Middle Qualifying. FS1 School and three at Pleasant 4:30 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Racing Valley as the District 11 tournament Series United Rentals 200. FS1 wrapped up. This Saturday, BASEBALL the schedule is even busier.
1 p.m.: Baltimore at Toronto. Saturday was already going to SPRTNET be a busy day and got even busier 1 p.m.: Boston at Minnesota. MLB because of the postponements of NESN four games that were scheduled 105 p.m.: Philadelphia at N.Y. for Friday night — Chichester at Yankees. YES Pocono Mountain West, West 230 p.m.: 2023 WBC Colombia vs Chester East at East Stroudsburg Mexico. FOX South in 5A and Greater Nanticoke 7 p.m.: 2023 WBC Dominican Area at Bethlehem Catholic and Republic vs Venezuela. FS1 Carver Engineering and Science at 9 p.m.: 2023 WBC Great Britain vs Allentown Central Catholic in 4A. . United States. FOX However, because the PIAA has 10 p.m.: 2023 WBC Czech Republic mandated that home teams should vs Korea Republic. FS1 host first-round playoff games, at WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL least where possible, there will not be more than one game at most 11 a.m.: MAC Tournament, locations. Bethlehem Catholic and Championship: Teams TBA. CBSSN ACCHS are exceptions because 330 p.m.: MAAC Tournament, there are now girl-boy doubleheaders Championship: Teams TBA. ESPNU created by the postponement. 530 p.m.: C-USA Tournament, Here’s a look at the matchups: Championship: Teams TBA. CBSSN MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 11 a.m.: America East Tournament, Championship: Teams TBA. ESPN2
Matchup: West Chester 11 a.m.: Ivy League Tournament:
Henderson (Dist. 1, No. 10, 16-11) Cornell vs Yale. ESPNU
at Parkland (District 11 champ, 1 p.m.: Big Ten Tournament, First
18-9), 3 p.m. Saturday Semifinal: Teams TBA. CBS 1 p.m.: Atlantic 10 Tournament, What’s next: Winner advances to First Semifinal: Teams TBA. CBSSN Wednesday’s second round to face
1 p.m.: SEC Tournament, First either Cumberland Valley (Dist. 3, Semifinal: Teams TBA. ESPN No. 2, 18-9) or Garnet Valley (Dist. 1,
1 p.m.: MEAC Tournament, No. 7, 17-9).
Championship: Teams TBA. ESPN2 West Chester Henderson players 130 p.m.: Ivy League Tournament: to watch: Connor Fleet (6-0 Jr, G) Pennsylvania vs Princeton. ESPNU scored 32 points vs. Methacton;
3 p.m.: SEC Tournament, K’mari Smith (6-2, Sr. G) 24 points Championship: Teams TBA. ESPN against Haverford in win that locked 3 p.m.: AAC Tournament, First up state playoff berth; Danny Surowiec Semifinal: Teams TBA. ESPN2 (Jr. F); Evan McFadden (6-7, Jr. F); 330 p.m.: Big Ten Tournament, Nyle Ralph-Beyer (6-1, Jr. G).
Second Semifinal: Teams TBA. CBS Parkland players to watch: Nick 330 p.m.: Atlantic 10 Tournament, Coval (6-2, Jr. G) 23.1 ppg, 72 3s; Matt Second Semifinal: Teams TBA. Ray (5-9, Sr. G) 8.3 ppg, 37 3s; Joey CBSSN Gerbasio (6-1, Sr. G_F) 9.0 ppg, 31 530 p.m.: AAC Tournament, 3s; Zaire Smaltz (6-4, Jr. F) 3.6 ppg,; Second Semifinal: Teams TBA. Connor Johns (6-2, Jr. F) 1.6 ppg; ESPN2 Luke Spang (6-0, Jr. G) 5.3 ppg, 32 530 p.m.: SWAC Tournament, 3s; Robbie Ruisch (6-2, Jr. F) 2.8 ppg, Championship: Teams TBA. ESPNU 16 3s; Gio Escalona (6-6, Sr. C) 3.1
6 p.m.: Mountain West ppg, 28 3s.
Tournament, Championship: Teams Of note: Henderson has never won TBA. CBS a state playoff game and features
6 p.m.: Big 12 Tournament, a first-year head coach in Jason Championship: Teams TBA. ESPN Ritter, who previously coached at 630 p.m.: Big East Tournament, Downingtown West. … Henderson Championship: Teams TBA. FOX lost to Coatesville 60-41 in their
730 p.m.: MAC Tournament, last District 1 tournament game, Championship: Teams TBA. ESPN2 getting 15 points from Ralph-Beyer. 730 p.m.: MAAC Tournament, … Trojans have made 208 3s this Championship: Teams TBA. ESPNU season, allowing just 121. … Coval is 830 p.m.: C-USA Tournament, shooting 91.5 percent from the line Championship: Teams TBA. CBSSN with just 14 misses in 165 attempts. 830 p.m.: ACC Tournament, He has 625 points this season and Championship: Teams TBA. ESPN 1,388 in his career. He is third all-time 930 p.m.: Big West Tournament, in school history behind only 2002 Championship: Teams TBA. ESPN2 grad Adam Lane (1,636 points) and 1030 p.m.: Pac-12 Tournament, 2017 grad Sam Iorio (1,892). Championship: Teams TBA. ESPN Prediction: Parkland wants to
1130 p.m.: WAC Tournament, make amends for a first-round loss Championship: Teams TBA. ESPN2 at home last season, Trojans 61-51.
NBA 830 p.m.: Class 6A
Milwaukee Bucks at Matchup: Upper Darby (District 1, Golden State Warriors. ABC No. 6, 18-8) at Liberty (District 11, GOLF No. 2, 16-10) 3 p.m. Saturday. 1 p.m.: 2023 Players Championship What’s next: Winner advances to Third Round. NBC Wednesday’s second against either 2 p.m.: DP World Tour Magical District 3 champ Reading (27-1) or Kenya Open, Third Round. GOLF Haverford (District 1’s No. 12, 14-13). HOCKEY Upper Darby players to watch: 1 p.m.: Detroit at Boston. ABC Nadir Myers (6-1, Sr. G) 1,000-point 330 p.m.: Philadelphia at scorer averages 20 ppg; Niymire Pittsburgh. ABC Brown (6-4, Sr. F); Yassir Joyner
7 p.m.: New Jersey at Montreal. (6-3, Sr. G).
SPRTNET Liberty players to watch: Nate
7 p.m.: Edmonton at Toronto. NHL Rivera (6-0, Sr. G) 9.4 ppg, 62 3s;
10 p.m.: Ottawa at Vancouver. Dwayne Chess (6-3, So. F) 14.6 ppg, SPRTNET 20 3s; Angel Holquin (6-6, Jr. C) 3.7 ppg, 2 3s; Caden Vermuelen (5-11, Jr. G) 2.1 ppg 2 3s; Axcel Kamanga (6-5 Sr. F) 3.6 ppg; Blake Hargove (5-11,
Fr. G) 10.6 ppg, 40 3s; Jake Pukszyn (6-1, Fr. G) 10.1 ppg, 28 3s.
Of note: This is Upper Darby’s second trip to the Lehigh Valley.
The Royals won the Whitehall holiday tournament in late December, beating the host Zephyrs 68-55 in GIRLS BASKETBALL
the tourney finals. Myers received PIAA 5A first round
Upper Moreland at Bethlehem Catholic, 3p.m. MVP honors after scoring 28 points Bishop Shanahan at Bangor, 3p.m.
in the finals making five of his team’s PIAA 3A first round
Lake-Lehman at Pen Argyl, 6p.m. nine 3-pointers. Brown chipped in 20 points and Joyner added 15. Team has made a big turnaround after going 7-14 last season. Making SEND US YOUR SCORES sixth PIAA appearance and first Coaches and scorekeepers can help ensure their student-athletes are recognized by since 2018. Beat Freedom 47-45 in promptly reporting scores, stats and summaries first round of 2013 4A tournament. by using a form that can be found at
… Liberty has never played Upper themorningcall.com/submitascore
Have questions? Email sports@mcall.com Darby.
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
BOYS BASKETBALL
PIAA 3A first round
String Theory at Executive Education, 3p.m. Devon Prep at Saucon Valley, 3p.m.
Palmerton at Math, Civics and Sciences, 6p.m. PIAA 6A first round
West Chester Henderson at Parkland, 3p.m. Upper Darby at Liberty, 3p.m.
Emmaus at Hempfield, 4p.m.
FRIDAY’S SCORES No scores reported
Prediction: Great experience for young Liberty team, but Upper Darby may have too much firepower, UD 64-60.
Matchup: Emmaus (District
11 No. 3, 20-6) at Hempfield (District 3, No. 3, 24-3), 4 p.m. What’s next: Winner advances to Wednesday’s second round against either Spring-Ford (Dist. 1, No. 2, 25-3) or Central York (Dist. 3, No. 5, 22-7).
Emmaus players to watch: Dylan Darville (6-1, Sr. G) 12.2 ppg; Will Barber (6-2, Jr. G-F) 17 3 ppg; Jametric Harris (6-2, Jr. F) 11.6 ppg; Chase Muckey (6-3, Sr. G-F) 5 ppg; Jake Fotta (6-0, Sr. G) 7.4 ppg. Hempfield players to watch: Miguel Pena (Sr. G); 12 vs. Cumberland Valley in District 3 semis; Chase Calabretta(Sr.F); BenTroyerJr.F); Kamyn Lawrence (Sr. PF) scored 14 against Cumberland Valley in the district semis.
Of note: Hempfield’s Pena is a two-time Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 MVP. He has 1,041 career points. Hempfield had won 17 in a row before losing to Cumberland Valley 46-35 in the D3A semis. The 24 wins by Hempfield is tied for the fourth most in school history. Hempfield lost to Norristown 64-50 in the first round of last year’s tournament. Prediction: Sometimes the team coming out of the third spot in District 11 6A has the most success. That was the case with Northampton last year. Emmaus 68-66.
Class 5A
Matchup: West Chester East (Dist. 1, No. 6, 18-8) at East Stroudsburg South (Dist. 11 champ, 19-6), 7 p.m.
What’s next: Winner advances to Tuesday’s second round against either Archbishop Ryan (Dist. 12,
No. 2, 14-10) or West Chester Rustin (Dist. 1, No. 4, 13-14) .
West Chester East players to watch: K.J. Cochran (6-3, So.. G); Jose Ramos (5-11, Sr. G); Jack Kushner (6-2, Sr. G-F) 1,000-point scorer; Jack Gallagher (Sr. F).
East Stroudsburg South players to watch: Key players: Logan Santos (6-2, Sr. G) 16.6 ppg 18 3s; Michael Patterson (5-8, Sr. G) 7.4 ppg 20 3s; Xavier Carnegie (6-1, Sr. F) 4.4 ppg, 16 3s; Jaen Chatman (6-1, So. G) 19.4 ppg, 59 3s; Jamal Watts (6-3, Sr. C) 1.9 ppg; Collin McAllister (5-10, Sr. G); Jonathan Levine (5-9, So. G).
Of note: West Chester East had a streak of three consecutive ChesMont League titles snapped when the Vikings lost 60-32 in this year’s league semifinals. East lost to
West Chester Rustin 55-52 in its first District 1 tournament game, but bounced back to beat Marple Newtown 64-29 and Holy Ghost Prep 80-34 to claim the fifth seed. South is coming off a 43-34 win over Pocono Mountain West to win the D11 5A title. South is 3-6 lifetime in the state tournament with two wins coming in 1995 and another victory coming over North Pocono 47-44 in the first round last year before
a 55-44 defeat to Penn Hills in the second round.
Prediction: After the stunning win over West, the Cavaliers are coming off an emotional high. Being at home helps, but East and Kusher may be too hard to stop. West Chester East 60-52.
Matchup: Chichester (Dist. 1, No. 3, 21-4) at Pocono Mountain West (Dist. 11, No. 2, 21-6), 3 p.m. What’s next: Winner advances to Tuesday’s second round against either Abington Heights (Dist. 2 champ, 21-4) or Dobbins Tech (Dist. 12, No. 4, 25-2).
Chicester players to watch: Mazen Sayed (6-1, Sr. G); Eyan Thomas (6-4, Jr. F); Zaiyin Keys (6-1, Sr. G); Akhir Keys (6-3, Sr. G)
Pocono Mountain West players to watch: Julian“Juju”Pagan (6-3, Sr., G) 20.1 ppg, 50 3s; Kyon Coles (6-2, Fr. G) 13.6 ppg, 62 3s; Devin Artis (5-10, Jr. G) 5.3 ppg, 11 3s; Ethan Sakwa (6-0, Sr. G) 4.4 ppg, 15 3s; De’von Smith (6-4, Sr. G) 4.1 ppg, 9 3s; Jonathan Mateo (5-10, So. G) 3.4 ppg, 22 3s; Adrian Brito (6-5, So. F) 12.7 ppg, 5 3s.
Of note: Chichester beat Holy Ghost Prep 71-61 in its first District 1 game, but then lost to Unionville 75-72 before regrouping for a 69-62 win over West Chester Rustin for the third spot. In the win over Rustin, Sayed had 13 points and Zaiyin Keys chipped in 12 points. Chichester lost to Imhotep 78-51 in the first round of last year’s 5A tourney.
Prediction: Pocono Mountain West will likely come back with a strong effort after a disappointing performance in the district finals, and the home crowd will boost the Panthers. PM West 60-57.
Class 3A
Matchup: String Theory (District 12, No. 5, 9-13) at Executive Education (Dist. 11 champ, 20-4), 3 p.m.
What’s next: Winner advances to Wednesday’s second round against either Delone Catholic (Dist. 3, No. 2, 17-8) or North Penn-Mansfield (Dist. 4, No. 2, 24-3)
String Theory players to watch: Jajuan Nelson (6-7, Sr. F-C); Hustus Robertson (5-11, Jr. G)
Executive Education players to watch: Gabe Hornberger (So. G) 12.3 ppg, 22 3s; Rylan Muniz (Jr. G) 16.2 ppg, 69 3s; Jayden Shipley (So. G, 4.0 ppg); Moustapha Sanoh (6-11, Sr. C) 7.7 ppg, 9.3 rpg; Lamine Sanoh (6-9, Jr. F) 4.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg.
Of note: String Theory lost to Executive 75-36 in the first round of last year’s 3A tournament. String Theory finished 4-7 in the Philadelphia Public B League and lost to Haverford 66-40 in its last game. … The Raptors are coming off their fifth straight district title, third straight at the 3A level. They are 4-4 all-time in the state tournament. After beating String Theory last year, they lost to Holy Redeemer 66-49 in overtime in the second round. They won their first-round games over the past four years by an average of 25.7.
Prediction: This is the first round, not the second, so it’s Executive with ease, 71-47.
Matchup: Devon Prep (Dist. 12, No. 3, 11-12) at Saucon Valley (Dist. 11, No. 2, 21-7), 3 p.m. What’s next: Winner advances to Wednesday’s second round against either Troy (Dist. 4 champ, 18-7) or Mid-Valley (Dist. 2, No. 2, 19-6). Devon Prep players to watch: Jacen Holloway ((6-5, Sr. G); 17.2 ppg; Lucas Orchard (6-4, Sr. G) 12.7 ppg; Ty Mishock (5-8, Jr. G) 13.7 ppg; Zane Conlon (6-4, so. F). 4.3 ppg. Saucon Valley players to watch: Alex Magnotta (6-5 Sr. G/F) 6.1 ppg, Constantine Donahue (6-1, Jr. G) 3.2 ppg; Jacob Albert (6-4, Sr. G/F) 6.8 ppg; Jack Robertson (6-0, So. G) 10.2 ppg; Jacob Klotz (6-3, Sr. G) 6.7 ppg; Cydae Joseph-Davis (6-3, Sr. F) 9.0 ppg, Adam Clark (6-5, So. F) 3.24 ppg.
Of note: Devon Prep is the defending 3A state champ and still formidable despite losing two starters from last year’s team…. Jason
Fisher is the Tide coach. Holloway is an Army West Point commit and Orchard has an offer from Monmouth. … Saucon is 3-8 all-time in the state tournament. Lost to Conwell Egan 81-59 in the first round of the 2017 4A tournament. Panthers’ last state win was over Columbia, 50-48 in overtime, in the first round of the 1993 2A tournament.
Prediction: Do the Panthers have one more surprise left? Saucon 39-37.
Matchup: Palmerton (Dist. 11,
No. 3, 20-7) vs. Math, Civics, Sciences (Dist. 12, No. 2, 16-10) at Bensalem High School 6 p.m. What’s next: Winner advances to Wednesday’s second around against either Trinity (District 3 champ, 21-3) or Vaux Big Picture (Dist. 12, No. 6, 18-8).
Palmerton players to watch: Matt Machalik (6-1, Jr. G) 16 ppg; Chase Reph (6-1, Sr. F) 6.9 ppg; Brayden Hosier (5-11, Jr. G), 17.1 ppg; Zack Anthony (6-0, Jr. F), 2.4 ppg; Kendall Robinson (5-11, Sr. G), 5 ppg; Jacob Grammes (6-2, Jr. F) 4.9 ppg.
MCS players to watch: Naseem Wright (6-6, Jr. F) 14.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg; Isaiah Griffin (6-5, Sr. F) 10.2 ppg; Rashan Locke-Hicks (5-9, Sr. G) 11.9 ppg; Nayeem Johnson (6-3 Sr. G)
9.0 ppg; Chauncey Presley (6-1, Sr. G) 8.0 ppg.
Of note: Palmerton is 8-12 all-time in the state tournament. The Bombers lost to Loyalsock, 80-48, in its last appearance in the first round in 2019. Bombers’ last state win was over Nazareth, 53-52 in the second round of the 1982 Class 2A tournament.
Prediction: Tough first-round draw for the Bombers, who have a lot to look forward to. MCS 67-59.
Class A
Matchup: Mount Calvary (Dist. 3, No. 5, 20-8) vs. Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg (Dist. 11 champ, 159) at 5 p.m. at East Stroudsburg South.
What’s next: Winner advances to Tuesday’s 2nd round against either Greenwood(Dist.3,No.2,25-2)or PhilmontChristian(Dist.1,No.2,18-9) Mount Calvary players to watch: Avery Kopcha (6-0, J. G) 20 ppg; Brett Taylor (5-7, Sr. G) 13.8 ppg; Reagan Mummua (6-4 Sr. F) 12.7. Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg players to watch: Xavier Spears (6-3, Jr. G) 19.8 ppg; Heavin McCain (So) 12.4 ppg; Roman Parris (Sr.) 2.5 ppg; Malcolm Naughton (Sr.) 2.6 ppg; Jayden Freeman (Jr.) 8.3 ppg. Ofnote: Matt Gallagher, the former Stroudsburg coach, is in his first season in charge at his alma mater. The Spartans are 3-13 all-time in the state tournament. They beat Strawberry Mansion 75-48 in the first round of last year’s tournament, loss to Linville Hill 66-56 in the second round. … Mount Calvary beat North Penn-Liberty 75-56 and the City School from Philly 56-46 in last year’s tournament before losing to Nativity BVM 80-58 in the quarterfinals. Prediction: After Spears hit an amazing 3-point shot at the buzzer to beat Forest City in the subregional final, Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg seems destined for something special. ND-ES 73-63.