First-year school Executive tangles with Moravian
DISTRICT 11 CLASS 2A CHAMPIONSHIP Who: No. 1 seed Moravian Academy (21-2) vs. No. 2 Executive Education Academy Charter (15-7)
When/where: 8 p.m. Friday at Catasauqua High School.
What’s next: Winner will play District 1 No. 2 team (Church Farm); loser will play District 12 champ (Constitution or MCS) on March 9.
The coaches: Steve Gabryluk, Moravian Academy, fifth season, 59-59; Ray Barbosa, Executive Education, first season at Executive, went 64-22 in three seasons at Becahi.
Players to watch: Moravian Academy: 6-0 Sr. G Jordan Holmqvist (21.0 ppg); 5-10 Jr. G Abe Atiyeh (11.1 ppg); 6-3 Sr. F Pete Chiaradia (15.6 ppg); 6-3 Sr. F/C Neel Surya (3.4 ppg); 5-10 So. G Abel Saft (9.3 ppg). Executive Education Academy: 6-5 Sr. F Kahleel Foster (4.3 ppg); 6-6 Sr. F Chico Whyte (10.0 ppg) ; 6-4 So. G Jevin Muniz (1.47 ppg); 5-11 Jr. G Amari Mills (14.1 ppg); 6-0 Sr. G Justin Rockmore (8.3 ppg).
Things to know: This is the first season for Executive. They It won its first two District 11 playoff games, beating Marian Catholic 62-35 and Mahanoy Area 65-40. … In the win over Mahanoy, Mills scored 27 points and Muniz added 21. … Eighteen of the 21 teams Executive played in the regular season qualified for the postseason. Some of the top teams on the Raptors schedule included Scranton, La Salle College, Steelton-Highspire, Berks Catholic, Frankford, Dobbins, Harrisburg, York and Mastery Charter North. … Moravian Academy won its first 17 games before losing to Southern Lehigh 52-45 on Feb. 4. It also lost to Bangor 69-62 in the Colonial League semis. … The Lions won the first district title in program history last year, beating Schuylkill Haven and Panther Valley in the district tournament. … Holmqvist is the school’s all-time scoring leader with more than 1,700 career points. Keith Groller’s prediction:
Moravian Academy has had some of the season’s most exciting wins, but the Lions lack depth. While Moravian earned
statewide attention most of the season, Executive took its lumps at times playing against a slew of quality, non-area teams, many of them from Philadelphia. For the first-year program, it was all about getting ready for districts and states.
If Holmqvist is hot, the Lions have a chance. However, Executive’s athleticism and experience gained by playing all kinds of tough opponents should pay dividends here. Executive 61-51. DISTRICT 11 4A CHAMPIONSHIP Who: No. 1 seed Bethlehem Catholic (24-3) vs. No. 2 Central Catholic (17-8)
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Freedom High School, following third-place game between Wilson Area (16-9) and Northwestern Lehigh (13-11).
What’s next: District 11 champ will play District 12 No. 5; District 11 runnerup will play District 12 No. 3 (Bartram or Archbishop Carroll); District 11 No. 3 will play District 4 runnerup (Danville or Shamokin); District 11 No. 4 will play District 3 No. 2 (Lancaster Catholic).
The coaches: Scott McClary, Becahi, first season; Dennis
Csensits, CCHS, seventh season, 137-52).
Players to watch: Becahi: Sr. G Justin Paz (19.9 ppg); 6-9 Sr. C Kyle Young (14.2 ppg); 6-3 Jr. G/F Julian Thomas (9.0 ppg); 5-11 Jr. G Ryan Santana (9.4 ppg); 5-11 Jr. G Bryan Santana (4.3 ppg). Central Catholic: 6-1 Sr. G Chad Kratzer (21.6 ppg); 5-10 Sr. G Sam Vaughan (3.9 ppg); 6-5 Jr. G Nick Filchner (10.5 ppg); 6-1 Jr. G Jaylen Green (6.6 ppg); 6-4 So. F Christian Spugnardi (4.4 ppg).
Things to know: Becahi has won two straight District 11 titles and four overall. The Golden Hawks have won 10 straight since losing to St. John’s of Washington, D.C. in the Lehigh Valley Hoop Group Showcase on Jan. 27 … CCHS is playing in its 27th district final and has won 18. … Becahi beat CCHS 47-44 for last year’s EPC championship. … The Vikings have won five of their last seven games. Their two losses in that stretch were to Emmaus. … McClary was an assistant on Central Catholic’s coaching staff last season. Keith Groller’s prediction:
Bethlehem Catholic didn’t play well against Wilson; in fact, McClary took out the starting lineup at one point in the first half. Whether his message got through may be revealed in the championship game.
Paz and Kratzer are two of the area’s top scorers and 3-point threats. They will likely neutralize one another. It’s going to come down to who will step up. A good candidate is Kyle Young, who played sparingly against Wilson.
This won’t be a blowout either way, but Becahi has a little more depth, quickness and size. Golden Hawks 61-56. Consolation prediction: Wilson 63, Northwestern 58.