Playoff picture becoming clearer
Bethlehem Catholic remains favorite to repeat in the EPC, Bangor pursues fifth straight title
The pro football season may have come to an end in Atlanta Sunday night, but the postseason is just around the corner in area scholastic boys basketball where defending champ Bethlehem Catholic remains the favorite to repeat in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and the big question is can Bangor gets its fifth straight title in the Colonial League?
Just a few nights of the regular season are left before the Colonial League and Eastern Pennsylvania Conference tournaments begin this weekend.
Here’s what we know:
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference How many teams make the tournament:
Eight.
Pocono Mountain East (10-4, Mountain); Emmaus (12-2, Skyline); Bethlehem Catholic (13-1, Steel).
The divisional champs: Who has qualified as a wild card:
(11-3).
Whohas a great chance of making it:
(8-5), Nazareth (9-5), Parkland (9-5).
Easton (7-6), Pocono Mountain West (7-7), Central Catholic (7-7), Liberty (6-7).
Who still has a chance:
1. Best league record; 2. head-to-head competition among tied teams; 3. District 11 power ranking using conference games only; 4. One-game playoff.
Easton at Liberty; Emmaus at Nazareth Monday night; Liberty at Allen Tuesday night; Freedom at Easton; Allen at Becahi; Parkland at Nazareth Wednesday night.
Wild-card tiebreakers: Biggest games left:
Everything will be released in a meeting on Thursday morning. Highest four seeds will host quarterfinal-round games Friday night. Semifinals will be held at a neutral site on Feb. 12. The championship game will be
Schedule:
Freedom Allen played at a neutral site on Feb. 15.
2015: Parkland; 2016: Parkland; 2017: Allen; 2018: Bethlehem Catholic.
Last four champs: Colonial League How many teams make the tournament:
Six. Moravian Academy (East, 16-0); Southern Lehigh (West, 12-3). Notre
The divisional champs: Who has qualified as a wild card:
Dame (14-3), Bangor (11-4).
Who has a great chance of making it:
Wilson (11-5).
Northern Lehigh (9-6), Northwestern Lehigh (8-7), Palmerton (8-7).
Who still has a chance:
1. Best league record; 2. Head-to-head competition; 3. Best W/L record against divisional opponents; 4. W/L record of all tied teams against all other teams qualified for the tournament. 5. Colonial League power rating 6. District 11 power rating.
Wild-card tiebreakers:
Wilson at Northern Lehigh Monday night; Palmerton at Northern Lehigh Tuesday night; Notre Dame at Wilson Wedesday night; Bangor at Palmerton Thursday night.
Biggest games left:
Moravian Academy and Southern Lehigh will get byes into semis. Quarterfinals will begin at the home site of the third and fourth seeds on Saturday night; semifinals will be played at Catasauqua High School Wednesday night. Championship game will be played at a neutral site on Feb. 15.
2015-18: Bangor; 2014:
Schedule: Last five champs:
Notre Dame.
Looking ahead
The District 11 tournament will begin Feb. 19 and run through March 2. The PIAA tournament begins March 8 and concludes March 23.
kgroller@mcall.com Twitter @KeithGroller 610-820-6740