City of Basketball Love

Michael Bullock (@thebullp_n)
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Here’s installment No. 6 of City of Basketball Love’s state basketball rankings, a package that will appear on the website every Monday throughout the season. 

Appearing below are all four of our top 10s, with PIAA district and this season’s record displayed in parentheses. Only those schools competing for PIAA state championships are eligible for ranking purposes.

CITY OF BASKETBALL LOVE STATE BASKETBALL RANKINGS

(records through games of Jan. 10/OW-others to watch/NR-not ranked)

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CLASS AAAA
Finally able to field its anticipated starting lineup — an elongated football season kept several players off the court — Parkland has been on an absolute roll here of late. Andy Stephens’ Trojans have won seven straight games and all have been by 10 points or more. The latest victims were Emmaus and Easton, which were handily dispatched 75-52 and 66-29, respectively. Kyle Stout (23.5), Sam Iorio (20.0) and Devante Cross (10.0) averaged 10 points or more in Parkland’s latest victories.

No.  School                                     Rec    Pvs
1.     Allderdice (8)                             9-1        2                          
2.     Roman Catholic (12)                 9-3        1
3.     Plymouth-Whitemarsh (1)        12-0        4
4.     Downingtown West (1)             13-1       6
5.     Parkland (11)                             9-3        8                              
6.     Coatesville (1)                         10-1        5
7.     Reading (3)                             10-3        7
8.     La Salle College (12)              11-1        9
9.     Archbishop Wood (12)             8-4         3
10.  Ridley (1)                                  11-1    OW

Checked in: No. 10 Ridley.
Checked out: No. 10 Harrisburg.

Others to watch: Abington (1) 9-3, Abington Heights (2) 11-0, Archbishop Ryan (12) 10-3, Baldwin (7) 9-3, Bethel Park (7) 9-4, Carlisle (3) 10-2, Cedar Crest (3) 11-2, Central Bucks West (1) 11-2, Central Dauphin East (3) 8-4, Central York (3) 12-2, Chartiers Valley (7) 9-3, Cheltenham (1) 9-3, Chester (1) 6-5, Conestoga (1) 9-3, Emmaus (11) 10-2, Franklin Regional (7) 9-3, Gateway (7) 9-3, Harrisburg (3) 9-1, Hazleton (2) 8-3, Hempfield (3) 9-4, Latrobe (7) 13-0, Lower Merion (1) 9-3, Martin Luther King (12) 9-6, McCaskey (3) 9-3, North Allegheny (7) 8-4, Northeastern (3) 11-1, Penn Hills (7) 10-4, Pennridge (1) 11-2, Pennsbury (1) 8-4, Peters Twp. (7) 9-3, Phoenixville (1) 12-2, Pine-Richland (7) 8-4, Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7) 9-2, Plum (7) 9-3, Pocono Mountain West (11) 11-1, Spring Grove (3) 8-1, St. Joseph’s Prep (12) 9-3, Strath Haven (1) 11-2, Williamsport (4) 8-3, York (3) 8-6.

Intriguing matchups of the week: No. 8 La Salle College will be the next Philly Catholic League side to try to upend Class AAA No. 1 Neumann-Goretti, as Joe Dempsey’s Explorers will play host to the Saints on Monday night. … And later this week, dynamic lead guard Eli Brooks and streaking Spring Grove will put an eight-game winning streak to the test on Friday and Saturday night, respectively, when Central York and Carlisle venture into western York County.  

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CLASS AAA
High school hoops fans in Philadelphia were treated to several superb matchups during the past week, beginning with No. 1 Neumann-Goretti’s 85-68 victory over Class AAAA No. 1 Roman Catholic. Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree uncorked a double-double (22 points/13 boards) and Quade Green added 20 for Carl Arrigale’s Saints. Four days later, Archbishop Carroll earned its promotion to No. 2 after riding double-doubles from Ryan Daly (20 points/10 boards) and Josh Sharkey (13 points/11 assists) to a 64-51 conquest of Roman at Girard College. Wow!

No.  School                                        Rec     Pvs
1.     Neumann-Goretti (12)                  9-2        1
2.     Archbishop Carroll (12)              12-1        4
3.     Imhotep Charter (12)                 11-2         2
4.     Mars (7)                                     10-3         3
5.     New Castle (7)                           13-0         6
6.     Scranton Prep (2)                       8-2          8
7.     Cathedral Prep (10)                  10-2      OW
8.     Beaver Falls (7)                        11-2          5
9.     Lewisburg (4)                             9-0          9
10.   Milton Hershey (3)                    10-0      OW

Checked in: No. 7 Cathedral Prep, No. 10 Milton Hershey.
Checked out: No. 7 Strong Vincent, No. 10 Del-Val Charter.

Others to watch: Allentown Central Catholic (11) 9-4, Benjamin Franklin (12) 10-2, Bethlehem Catholic (11) 7-4, Bishop McDevitt (3) 9-3, Blue Mountain (11) 9-3, Cocalico (3) 10-3, Crestwood (2) 7-4, Del-Val Charter (12) 7-4, Eastern Lebanon County (3) 12-2, Eastern York (3) 9-3, General McLane (10) 10-2, Girard (10) 11-1, Highlands (7) 10-3, Hollidaysburg (6) 10-1, Holy Ghost Prep (1) 11-2, Lampeter-Strasburg (3) 11-1, Lower Moreland (1) 11-1, Manheim Central (3) 8-4, Meadville (10) 10-1, Nanticoke (2) 9-2, Octorara (1) 12-0, Palmyra (3) 11-3, Pottsville (11) 11-0, Salisbury (11) 11-0, Shamokin (4) 12-0, Somerset (5) 9-4, Steel-High (3) 6-5, Strong Vincent (10) 7-4.

Intriguing matchups of the week: A hectic week will begin at warp speed Monday night as freshly minted No. 10 Milton Hershey will entertain Central Dauphin East in what should be a fast-and-furious affair at the Spartan Center. Another dandy will take place Monday at Shamokin’s Purple Palace, where the Indians will host fellow unbeaten Pottsville. On Wednesday in Philly, No. 2 Archbishop Carroll will visit an Archbishop Ryan side that just knocked off Class AAAA Archbishop Wood. And on Saturday at Williamsport’s Magic Dome, the Millionaires will square off against No. 6 Scranton Prep.

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CLASS AA
Assuming control in the fourth quarter of a backyard scuffle between cross-town playmates, Camp Hill parlayed a late 11-2 surge into a 67-48 triumph over Mid-Penn Capital Division rival Trinity. Casey Caruso pocketed 25 points and Zack Kuntz powered inside for 17 — 10 of Kuntz’s points arrived via slam dunks — as Scott Barrows’ Lions won for the fifth time in six games. Camp Hill also hopped two spots higher in CoBL’s Class AA rankings. Trinity has dropped three of four.  

No.  School                                          Rec    Pvs
1.     Aliquippa (7)                                10-0        1
2.     Conwell-Egan (12)                       8-4         2
3.     Lincoln Park (7)                           11-2        3
4.     Mid Valley (2)                              11-0        4
5.     Greensburg C.C. (7)                   11-1        5
6.     Church Farm (1)                           8-2        7
7.     Camp Hill (3)                                9-3        9                                     
8.     Minersville (11)                             9-2        8
9.     Quaker Valley (7)                         11-2     10
10.   West Branch (6)                            8-1   OW

Checked in: No. 10 West Branch.
Checked out: No. 6 Trinity.

Others to watch: Avonworth (7) 8-5, Bellwood-Antis (6) 8-2, Bishop Canevin (7) 9-3, Bishop McCort (6) 7-4, Calvary Christian (1) 9-4, Dunmore (2) 7-4, Fairview (10) 6-5, Greenville (10) 9-3, Hanover (3) 10-3, Hughesville (4) 8-2, Laurel (7) 11-2, Neshannock (7) 9-3, Northwestern (10) 9-3, Our Lady of Sacred Heart (7) 9-3, Penns Valley (6) 10-2, Richland (6) 7-4, Shady Side Academy (7) 9-3, Titusville (10) 10-2, Trinity (3) 7-4, Tyrone (6) 7-3, Upper Dauphin (3) 10-3, Washington (7) 7-5, West Middlesex (10) 6-5, Westmont Hilltop (6) 6-5, York Catholic (3) 9-3.

Intriguing matchup of the week: We’ll take a look toward the west on Tuesday night, when No. 5 Greensburg Central Catholic steps on the bus for a trip to Shady Side Academy for a matchup featuring the WPIAL Section 2 co-leaders. GCC has won its last five outings, while Shady Side has captured five of its last six.  

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CLASS A
Maybe we’re doing something right or perhaps it’s mere coincidence, but City of Basketball Love’s ranked Class A teams last week fashioned a combined 24-0 record. For those keeping track — and not just us — Monessen, Farrell, Elk County Catholic, Ridgway and Clarion-Limestone were a perfect 3-for-3. 

No.  School                                            Rec    Pvs
1.     Kennedy Catholic (10)                     7-2       1
2.     Monessen (7)                                 10-3       2                                 
3.     Farrell (10)                                       8-2       3
4.     Constitution (12)                              7-6       4
5.     St. John Neumann (4)                   11-0       5
6.     Sewickley Academy (7)                 11-1       6
7.     Elk County Catholic (9)                  11-0       7
8.     Homer-Center (6)                          10-0       8
9.     Ridgway (9)                                   10-1       9
10.   Clarion-Limestone (9)                    11-1     10

Checked in: No one.
Checked out: No one.

Others to watch: Bishop Carroll (6) 8-2, Clarion (9) 8-2, Coudersport (9) 11-0, Cowanesque Valley (4) 9-2, Delco Christian (1) 7-5, Eden Christian (7) 10-3, Faith Christian (1) 10-3, Ferndale (6) 9-2, Jeannette (7) 9-4, Jenkintown (1) 11-2, Lincoln Leadership (11) 8-4, Lourdes Regional (4) 10-2, Math, Civics & Sciences (12) 5-10, McConnellsburg (5) 9-2, Millville (4) 9-2, North Penn-Mansfield (4) 8-4, Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg (11) 6-6, Old Forge (2) 6-4, Paul Robeson (12) 9-4, Phil-Mont Christian (1) 12-1, Portage (6) 8-3, Rocky Grove (10) 8-4, Saltsburg (6) 11-1, Shanksville-Stonycreek (5) 10-0, Shenandoah Valley (11) 9-2, Southern Fulton (5) 8-2, Sullivan County (4) 11-0, Union-Rimersburg (9) 9-3, Vincentian (7) 8-3, York Country Day (3) 10-0.

Intriguing matchups of the week: Even though plenty of heavyweight action will take place all week long, we’ve picked out four dandies to keep an eye on. Start on Tuesday, when No. 4 Constitution will visit Class AAA No. 3 Imhotep Charter and No. 5 St. John Neumann will make the road trip for a Heartland-3 scrap with unbeaten Sullivan County. On Thursday, once-beaten Saltsburg will stop by No. 8 Homer-Center for a clash featuring the Heritage Conference’s top two squads. Finally, on Friday, No. 9 Ridgway will square off against No. 7 Elk County Catholic in St. Marys.