Parkland in hunt for another title
DISTRICT 11 CLASS 6A BOYS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Who: No. 5 Allen (16-9) vs. 7 Parkland (16-9) When/where: 7:45 p.m. Saturday at Freedom High School
Consolation game: No. 1 Emmaus (21-6) vs. No. 11 East Stroudsburg South (14-11) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Freedom.
What’s next: District 11 champ plays District 1-8 (Perk Valley or Methaction) District 11 No. 2 plays District 1-6 (Chester); District 11 No. 3 plays 1-3 (Lower Merion or Pennridge); District 11 No. 4 plays District 1-2 (Abington or Coatesville) when the state tournament begins March 9.
The coaches: Doug Snyder, Allen, 338-229 in 22 seasons; Andy Stephens, 283-123 in 15 seasons including four seasons at Emmaus.
Players to watch: Allen: 5-8 Fr. G Nate Ellis (12.9); 6-3 Sr. G Allen Young (6.9 ppg); 6-2 Jr. F A’Quele Adderley (9.5 ppg); 6-5 Jr. F Quinton Stewart (6.7 ppg); 6-3 Sr. F Alexis Adames (8.0 ppg); 5-10 So. G Emmanuel Ozuna (9.7 ppg). Parkland: 6-6 Jr. F Nick Rappa (3.7 ppg); 6-2 Sr. G Logan Rindock (13.7 ppg); 6-7 Sr. F Adam Klinger (4.8 ppg); 6-5 Sr. G/F Gabe Khalife (7.3 ppg); 5-8 So. G Trey Rolle (5.3 ppg); 6-1 Jr. G Jared Kucharczuk (.9.8 ppg); 6-3 Jr. G Jake Melady (13.4 ppg).
Things to know: Parkland is in the district finals for the eighth time in 11 seasons and seventh time in eight years. … Since 2000, Trojans have won eight district titles, the last coming in 2016, and have nine crowns overall. … Allen is seeking its first district title since 2011, which is also the last time the Canaries played in the final. … Allen/Allentown High has won 18 district championships overall, three under Snyder. … Parkland beat Allen 62-58 in the 2017 6A semis at the PPL Center. Both teams were eliminated in the quarterfinals last season. …Parkland beat Allen 58-54 in the finals of the Canaries’ holiday tournament on Dec. 28. Khalife had 21 points, including four 3-pointers. Ellis had 13 for Allen, while three others scored 10 for the Canaries. …Parkland has won three straight in districts after losing five of its last six in the regular season. … Allen has won seven of its last nine.
Keith Groller’s prediction: This is an unexpected matchup considering Parkland didn’t make the league tournament and Allen is one of the youngest teams in the league. Both Stephens and Snyder have done a masterful job instilling confidence in their teams when both appeared on the verge of collapse. Allen’s win over Emmaus on Wednesday night was the stunner of the entire tournament to this point. Can the Canaries play the same way again? If they can, they’ll win, but Parkland’s size may prove too much. Trojans 64-59.
DISTRICT CLASS 3A 11-1 SUBREGIONAL FINAL
Who: No. 4 Palmerton (12-11) vs. No. 3 New Hope-Solebury.
When/Where: 1 p.m. Saturday at New Hope-Solebury.
What’s next: Winner will play District 12’s No. 5 seed; loser will play District 4 champ (Wellsboro or Loyalsock) in the state tournament on March 9.
Coaches: Ken Termini, Palmerton, third season at Palmerton, sixth in Colonial League overall, 52-83; Rick Fedele, New Hope-Solebury.
Players to watch: Palmerton: 6-1 Sr. G Nate Dougherty (20.2 ppg); 6-2 So. G Kody Kratzer (11.3); 6-3 Jr. F Justin Hosier (18.0). New Hope-Solebury: 6-9 Sr. Topher Taylor; So. Alex Walinski; Sr. Patrick Cooper.
Things to know: Palmerton won its first District 11 title since 1989 by beating Notre Dame 64-61 behind a combined 45 points by Dougherty and Hosier. … New Hope-Solebury beat Panther Valley 6040, getting 13 points and 25 rebounds by Taylor and 17 points by Cooper.
Keith Groller’s prediction: That was a nice moment for Termini and the Blue Bombers the other night at Catty, but the District One team may have too much Taylor for Palmerton to overcome. New Hope-Solebury 55-45.