Teams at top of division can make some noise
The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference’s East Division in boys basketball had just two teams with winning records last season, but they both made an impact in the league and district tournaments and in the case of one of them the PIAA tournament.
Bethlehem Catholic bounced back from losing to Nazareth in the EPC tournament to go on a memorable six-game win streak that carried the Golden Hawks to the District 11 4A title and into the state quarterfinals before they lost to Philadelphia Catholic League powerhouse NeumannGoretti.
Nazareth knocked off EPC North champ Pocono Mountain West in the EPC semifinals at the PPL Center and then reached the final four in the District 11 6A tournament.
Those teams have two of the league’s most respected coaches in Becahi’s Scott McClary and the Blue Eagles’ Joe Arndt and while both have plenty of new faces, they figure to remain competitive.
There’s plenty of interest around the rest of the division as Freedom and Liberty both expect to be formidable with star-studded lineups that could turn the Christmas City into a basketball town. Easton has a new coach in former Red Rovers’ standout Eric Jacobs. Dieruff, meanwhile, believes it can turn around a number of the close losses that
plagued the Huskies in a 4-18 season a year ago.
Here’s a closeup of the EPC East:
5 players to watch
Bethlehem Catholic’s Alex Cercado: The Golden Hawks senior point guard averaged 9.5 points per game and made 17 3-pointers. He was often overshadowed by Edixon Gomez and Ryan Glassmacher last year, but this will be his team and time to flourish. “He won our team MVP at our banquet after last season and we expect him to have a great year this year.”
Dieruff’s Xion Chapman: The 6-foot-5 senior center is coming off a solid football season where he was named first-team EPC North defensive end. He will be a workhorse inside for the Huskies and could be even more important if he can make free throws after hitting just 49.1 percent of his attempts at the line last year Freedom’s Nick Ellis: A starter since his freshman year, Ellis is one of the most complete players in the EPC. He averaged 21.5 points per game last season and was an adept rebounder, passer, and defender. He is coming off a long football season and it may take some time for him to get into top form, but he figures to play a key role as Freedom attempts to bounce back from a 10-13 mark last season. Nazareth’s Mason Kuehner: One of the star receivers on the Blue Eagles football team, Kuehner figures to play a key role for a boys basketball team that figures to be in rebuilding mode. Kuehner averaged 5.6 points per game last season and made nine 3-pointers. But four treys came in a 16-point effort against Pocono Mountain West in the EPC semifinals that showed what Kuehner is capable of.
Liberty’s Nate Rivera: While there’s a lot of hype surrounding incoming freshmen on the Hurricanes’ roster, Rivera will provide veteran leadership along with scoring punch. He averaged 7.9 points per game last season but made 45 3-pointers. He had six treys in a 20-point effort against Dieruff and four 3-pointers twice.
4 questions to be answered
1. How will Eric Jacobs fare in his first season as the Easton head coach?
2. Can highly-touted freshmen Blake Hargrove and Jake Pukszyn make an immediate impact at Liberty?
3. After losing his top six scorers and 10 of his top 11, can Joe Ardnt find a way to keep Nazareth competitive?
4. As the most experienced team in area basketball, is this the year Freedom wins its first Eastern Pennsylvania Conference crown?
3 EPC openers
League play begins Tuesday night with Bethlehem Catholic at Freedom, Nazareth at Liberty and Dieruff at Easton.
2 special dates to note
Freedom will play Liberty on both Jan. 13 and Feb. 3 with the first game at Freedom and the second at Liberty. These Christmas City rivalry games are always special but this year they could determine the division title.
Bethlehem Catholic’s annual battle with Allentown Central Catholic, often a preview of a district playoff meeting, is set for Dec. 22 at Becahi.
One man’s opinion
Predicted order of finish: 1. Freedom; 2. Liberty; 3. Bethlehem Catholic; 4. Dieruff; 5. Nazareth; 6. Easton.
Team-by-team outlooks:
BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC
Coach: Scott McClary (fifth season, 73-29).
Last season: 21-7, 12-4 EPC. Lost to Nazareth 76-64 in the EPC tournament. Beat Northwestern Lehigh 50-45, beat Allentown Central Catholic 46-41, beat Wilson 47-42 for the District 11 4A championship. Beat
South Philadelphia 62-48, beat Lewisbrug 49-29, and lost to NeumannGoretti 53-42 in the state tournament. Players to watch: Aidan Rompilla (5-11, Sr. G); Jeremy Fyrer (5-10, Jr. G); Nate Mullaney (5-11, Sr. G); Alex Cercado (5-10, Sr. G); Josh Benka-Coker (6-6, Fr. F); Josh Brown (6-3, Jr. F); Daniel Sledz (6-0, So. G); Ethan Roman (5-11, So. G); Jared Benka-Coker (6-2, Jr. F); Jeremy Holmes (6-1, Jr. F); Laz Carrisquilla (6-5, So. F); Isaiah Hodge (6-2 Jr., F); Marcus Drysdale (6-5, Fr. F); Jackson Wickenheiser (6-0, Fr. G); Cam Pearsall (5-10, Fr. G); Jonathan Benka-Coker (6-3, Fr. F).
Outlook: The Golden Hawks lose eight of their 10 players from last year and there’s minimal game experience on the roster. In addition to a talented point guard in Cercado, has a few guys who have been around the program for a while in Rompilla, and Mullaney and McClary said the team will lean on junior Brown and Hodge. There are five freshmen on the roster and two of them Josh Benka-Coker and Drysdale will be in the starting lineup. “There are some pieces here and my hope is that we can our way through the first half of the season, stay together, and learn what it takes to win at the varsity level so we can make some noise in the second half of the season.”
DIERUFF Coach:
Marlon “J.T.” Randall (third season, 10-27)
Last season: 4-18, 4-12 EPC.
Players to watch: Xion Chapman (6-5, Sr. C) 9.9 ppg; Kenyatta Moore (6-3, Jr. F) 5.4 ppg; John Diaz (6-1, Jr. G); Buster Fallah (6-0, Jr. G); Jayden Walker (6-1, Sr. G); Kevin Hanna (6-0, Sr. G); Ashuan Espinal (6-6, Jr. C); Austin Pearsall (6-1, So. G).
Outlook: This year’s version of the Huskies figure to be deeper and fun to watch according to Randall. Last year, the Huskies lost 13 games by an average of 5.4 points. The primary goal entering this season is to find ways to win close games and build on the foundation Randall established in his first two seasons.
EASTON
Coach: Eric Jacobs (first season).
Last season: 1-19, 1-15 EPC.
Players to watch: Aidan Duran (5-8,
Sr. G); Jordan Alston (5-9, Jr. G); Jeremy Henry (5-9, Jr. G; James Viglianti (5-9, Jr. G); Aziz Muhammad (5-10, Sr. G); Ryan Cornish (5-10, Jr. G); Jon Kuchta (5-8, Jr. G); Jack Grimmer (6-1, Jr. F); Adonis Pompilus (6-2, Jr. F); CJ Hunt (6-3, Jr. F); Andrew Hoadley (6-5, Jr. C); Jaiden Folk (6-4, Sr. F); Jasir Frutchey (6-5, So. C).
Outlook: Jacobs, a former Easton
High standout, replaces Ben Childs who went 94-102 in nine seasons. He spent 10 seasons with the Easton girls program — seven as an assistant under his sister, Shelly Bartolacci, and then three years as the head coach — and followed that by becoming the boys coach at Delaware Valley Regional (Frenchtown, New Jersey) where he went 100-81 over eight seasons. Most recently he was the head coach at Phillipsburg. He inherits a program with just one player with varsity experience in Jordan Alston. He said rising juniors Ryan Cornish, CJ Hunt, Adonis Pompilus will be key players.“It will take some time to implement a new system and style of play,”Jacobs said.“We will look to utilize our speed and play uptempo, rely on our defense.” He feels he has a deep bench and will play a lot of guys as the Rovers hope to be competitive and improve.
FREEDOM Coach:
Joe Stellato (234rd season, 247-271)
Last season: 10-13, 6-10. Lost to Parkland 70-38 in the first round of the District 11 6A tournament
Players to watch: Nick Ellis (6-3, Sr. F) 21.5 ppg; Jalen Fletcher (5-9, Sr. G) 7.6 ppg; Aaron Levy (5-9, Sr. G) 6.6 ppg; Krishna Mangroo (5-8, Sr. G) 3.6 ppg; Jaden Tillett (6-3, Sr. F) 6.7 ppg; Joe Dew (5-9, Sr. G); Dominick Leininger (6-0, Sr. F); Cristian Morto (5-9, Sr.
G); Trent Vandever (6-0, Sr. G); Jaden Wilson (6-2, Sr. F); Dylan Alvarez (5-10, Jr. G); Jackson Parker (6-3, Jr. F); Orion Richardson (5-10, Jr. G); Nate Sletvold (6-0, Jr. F).
Outlook: Ellis figures to be one of the best players in the league and has a strong supporting cast around him with experience. The Patriots had a good offseason and play in a division where they have a chance to win a lot of games and push toward a top seed in both the league and district tournaments. “The two concerns are rebounding and playing together,” Stellato said.“If we can do those two things I think we’re right up there with teams like Parkland, Central Catholic, and Emmaus who should be at the top of the league. I feel very confident about our team. When we’re good, I’ll tell you we’re good. When we’re not there, I will tell you we’re not there. But I really think we’re going to be there.”
LIBERTY
Coach: Nigel Long (third season, 14-21). Last season: 11-12, 8-8 EPC. Lost to Pocono Mountain West 55-54 in the District 11 6A tournament.
Players to watch: Nate Rivera (6-0,
Sr. G) 7.9 ppg; Dwayne Chess (6-3, So. F) 4.4 ppg; Angel Holquin (6-6, Jr. C); Caden Vermuellen (5-11, Jr. G; Axcel Kamanga (6-5 Sr. F); Noah GyauchQuirk (6-3, Jr. F); Blake Hargove (5-11, Fr. G); Jake Pukszyn (6-1, Fr. G); Jahsi Cole (5-8, So. G).
Outlook: This was a talented team a year ago that could have had a much better record but lost seven games by four points or less. Add in Hargrove and Pukszyn, who enter varsity ball with lots of notoriety coming through the youth and middle school ranks, and the Hurricanes should challenge for both EPC and District 11 6A tournament spots if everyone meshes.“It’s a fun group,” Long said.“They come to practice every day ready to work. It’s a group that gets along well together. We just want to get one percent better every day.”
NAZARETH Coach:
Joe Arndt (19th season, 203-222)
Last season: 20-7, 12-4 EPC. Beat Bethlehem Catholic 76-64, beat Pocono Mountain West 67-56, lost to Parkland 56-46 in the EPC tournament. Beat Emmaus 61-47, lost to Parkland 52-32 and Northampton 74-70 in the District 11 6A tournament.
Players to watch: Harrison Durner (6-1, Sr. G); Sina Ramin (5-11, Jr. G); Mason Kuehner (6-0, Jr. G); Owen Hasker (6-1, Jr. G/F); Jaidon Morgan (6-2, Sr. G); Jack Dugdale (6-1, Sr. G/F); Owen Banghart (6-3, Jr. F); Christian Lohenitz (6-0, Jr. G); John Szaro (6-3,
Jr. F); Nathan Baker (5-10, Jr. G); Joe Ragazzo (6-4, Sr. F); Sam Roberts (6-3, Sr. G-F); Will Attieh (6-2, Jr. F); Cole Dibilio (5-10, Sr. G); Chase Price (6-1, Jr. G); Parkin Corley (6-2 Jr. F); Bryce Arndt (6-1, Sr. F).
Outlook: After losing 95% of its scoring and playing experience, the Blue Eagles will have many new faces. The one exception is Kuehner who is coming off an outstanding season as a receiver for the Nazareth football team. “I like the new mix of players, especially the quickness and the guard play,” Arndt said. “They been working hard in the preseason and getting used to playing with each other. There will be some growing pains and adjustments needed in the beginning of the season. But as the year goes on we will get stronger.”