Bangor faces strong challenge in title defense
Bangor has won four straight Colonial League titles and has been the league champ five times in the last six years. The only team to interrupt the Slaters’ streak was Notre Dame-Green Pond in 2013-14. As the 2018-19 season begins with nonleague games this weekend, Bangor again ranks as a top favorite in the Colonial League East. However, Notre Dame and Moravian Academy were District 11 champs last year and have most of their key players returning. So, the CL East shapes up as a three-way race with the other four teams — Wilson, Pen Argyl, Palisades and Saucon Valley all looking to close the gap. Here’s a look at what to expect:
6 super players
Bangor’s Ben Holland; Moravian Academy’s Jordan Holmqvist; Notre Dame’s Zach DeFoe and Jaden Cunningham; Wilson’s Robbie Swiatek and Saucon’s Sean Cyphers.
5 who could surprise
Bangor’s C.J, Miles; Moravian Academy’s Abe Atiyeh and Pete Chiaradia; Notre Dame’s Brendan Boyle and Wilson’s Derelle McKinney.
4 storylines to follow
1. Can Bangor’s league dominance continue?
2. Can new coach Mike Morris make a difference at Pen Argyl?
3. Can Moravian Academy and Notre Dame repeat as district champs?
4. Can Saucon Valley get back to its usual level as a league contender?
3 league games to see
Notre Dame at Bangor on Dec. 13; Notre Dame at Moravian Academy on Dec. 19, Bangor at Moravian Academy on Jan. 5.
2 good nonleague attractions
Bangor will play Freedom in the Yasso-Rothrock Christmas City Classic on Jan. 19 and Notre Dame is hosting the 12th annual Jeff Dailey Memorial Tournament this weekend featuring Freedom, Parkland and Dieruff.
1 man’s opinion
Predicted order of finish: 1. Notre Dame; 2. Bangor; 3. Moravian Academy; 4. Wilson; 5. Saucon Valley; 6. Pen Argyl; 7. Palisades. BANGOR
Coach: Bron Holland (12th season, 201-76; 273-111 including stint at Pocono Mountain East).
2017-18: 23-4, 17-0. Beat Wilson 62-46, Southern Lehigh 58-43 for league title.
Beat Blue Mountain in District 11 5A semis, lost to CCHS 52-31 in finals. Lost to Lampeter-Strasburg 54-42 in state opener. Players to watch: 5-9 Jr. G Carlos Colon; 6-0 So. G C.J. Miles; 5-10 So. G Gabe Zieba; 5-10 Sr. G Noah Berger; 6-0 Sr. F Chase Taylor; 6-3 Jr. F Nate Owens; 5-9 Sr. G Ben Holland (12.3 ppg); 5-11 Jr. G Ethan Saxe; 6-1 Jr. F Akash Sareen.
The big question: Will the Slaters be able to rebound and defend the paint considering the team’s lack of height?
Outlook: Expect the Slaters to try to push the tempo and hit from the perimeter. Look for Miles to be one of the best guards in the league. Bangor remains the favorite, but another unbeaten record in the league is not likely.
MORAVIAN ACADEMY
Coach: Steve Gabryluk (fifth season, 38-57).
2017-18: 21-7, 13-5 Colonial. Lost to Southern Lehigh 56-41 in league semis. Beat
Schuylkill Haven and Panther Valley for District 11 2A title and beat Paul Robseson and Northwest Area in states before losing to Constitution 83-73 in the quarterfinals. Players to watch: 6-0 Sr. G Jordan Holmqvist (19.8 ppg); 5-10 Jr. G Abe Atiyeh (9.8 ppg); 6-3 Sr. F Pete Chiaradia (14.7 ppg); 6-3 Sr. F/C Neel Surya; 5-10 So. G Abel Saft; 5-10 Jr. G Julius Ewungkem; 6-3 Jr. F Willem Parent; 5-8 Jr. G Navin Ferrari; 6-4 Sr F Will McKay.
The big question: After posting the best record in school history, what can the Lions do for an encore?
Outlook: Holmqvist, who was all-league, all-area and all-state last season, enters his senior season with 1,252 points and will likely end up as the school’s all-time leading scorer. Atiyeh and Chiaradia are also quality players. Last year, the Lions may have caught teams by surprise. That won’t happen this year.
NOTRE DAME-GP
Coach: Pat Boyle (23rd season, 398-195). 2017-18: 19-9, 13-4. Lost to Southern Lehigh 69-54 in CL quarters. Beat Catty and New Hope-Solebury in District 1-11 subregional before losing to Valley Forge Military Academy in finals. Beat Wellsboro, lost to Bishop McDevitt in states. Players to watch: 5-10 Sr. G Filippo Baldo (11.4 ppg); 5-10 Sr. G Jaden Cunningham (11.2 ppg); 6-3 Sr. F Zach DeFoe (12.7 ppg) ; 6-3
Sr. F Billy Cornish; 6-3 Sr. F David Sanders; 6-2 Sr. G Chris Omick (9.3 ppg); 5-9 Fr. Brendan Boyle; 6-4 Sr. Jozef Korpics.
The big question: Will Boyle be able to find enough minutes to keep everyone on his talented roster happy?
Outlook: This is a very talented team with lots of experience and talent. It’s never easy to have a father coaching his son, but Brendan Boyle is a special player who deserves to be on the floor. Acceptance of him will be a big key to the ND season. PALISADES
Coach: Chris Alba (third season, 4-40) 2017-18: 2-15, 2-20 Colonial.
Players to watch: 5-10 Sr. G Grayson Deiley (7.1 ppg); 5-10 Sr. G Kane Deiley; 5-9 Sr. G Noah Marshall; 6-1 Jr. G Bobby Snyder; 6-1
Sr. F Dan Muth; 6-0 Sr. F Wyatt Bartol; 6-1 So. F Zach Duke; 6-1 So. F Caleb Johnson. The big question: Can the Pirates surprise some people?
Outlook: The Pirates have some experience and there’s chemistry since the players play several sports together. Alba wants to see the team compete at a higher level and finish games stronger. The team made a lot of 3-pointers last season and it will again be an area of strength this season. The hope is for improvement.
PEN ARGYL
Coach: Mike Morris (first season).
2017-18: 4-18, 2-15 Colonial.
Players to watch: 6-0 Jr. G Conor Fehr (7 ppg); 6-0 Jr. G Mattattjah Cleary-Kojo (14 ppg); 6-0 Jr. F Jordan DeFelice (6 ppg); 6-0 Jr. F Andrew Richmond; Sr. G Mike Vandegrift; 5-11 So. F Lucas Maggipinto; 6-2 Sr. C Anderson Dear; 6-0 Sr. F Tadd Barr; 6-2 Sr. C Jacob Slaughter.
The big question: Can Morris, a former Pius X coach, make a difference in elevating the Green Knights program?
Outlook: Morris, who was the head coach at Pius in 2014-15 (the school’s last year), was Kyle Hutnik’s assistant the last three seasons. He is a 1992 Pen Argyl grad and says it’s a dream come true to coach at his alma mater. He said he’s got good kids who work hard and want to do well. Obviously, though, success won’t happen overnight. SAUCON VALLEY
Coach: Matt Brown (18th season).
2017-18: 4-18, 3-14 Colonial.
Players to watch: 6-5 Sr. F Brad Yeahl (10 ppg); 6-5 Sr. F Connor O’Donnell; 6-0 Sr. G Sean Cyphers (13.9 ppg); 5-9 So G Colin Zyck; 5-11 Sr. G Morris Owusu; 6-2 Sr. G Marc Figueroa; 6-1 Jr. Kurt Pepper; 5-11 Jr. G Nick Snead; 5-10 Jr. G Brandon Binn; 6-4 Jr. C Kyle Patton.
The big question: Can the Panthers bounce back?
Outlook: Brown called last year “an anomaly for our program” and expects to be back in contention for league and district berths with one of his most experienced and deepest teams in years. Eight players return who received varsity minutes last year and the team had a very good summer and fall. The offense will go through Yeahl and Cyphers but others will have to step up. WILSON
Coach: Mike Glovas (third season).
2017-18: 16-12, 11-6. Beat Catty, lost to Bangor in league tournament. Beat North Schuylkill, lost to Becahi in District 1-11 4A subregional. Lost to Conwell-Egan 73-58 in state tournament.
Players to watch: 6-0 Jr. F Damion Buckley; 5-8 So. G Tajae Turner; 6-0 Jr. G Lorenzo Sigue; 5-8 Sr. G Joshua Javier; 6-1 Jr. G/F Matthew Glovas; 6-1 Sr. G Robbie Swiatek (17.3 ppg); 6-3 Sr. F Charbel Ghaleb (8.0 ppg) ; 6-1 Jr. G Derelle McKinney (9.9 ppg); 5-9 So. G Zackary Gillen; 6-5 Jr. F Jihad Range; 6-3 Sr. F Ben Hindmarch; 6-2 Fr. F Cayden Stem; 6-0 Jr. G Samuel Brown.
The big question: Can the Warriors continue their progression from a 10-win team two years ago to 16 last year?
Outlook: Wilson finished last year on an uptick and have some proven scorers returning in Swiatek and Ghaleb. The Warriors will be uptempo, but it will be their patience in the halfcourt setting that will pivotal along with their defense.