City of Basketball Love

Michael Bullock (@thebullp_n)
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Here’s installment No. 8 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. 24/OW-others to watch/NR-not ranked)

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CLASS AAAA

Closing the contest with an impressive 15-0 salvo buoyed by a 13-for-14 performance at the free-throw line, unheralded Upper Merion popped previously unbeaten Plymouth-Whitemarsh 57-43 in a Suburban One American stunner Tuesday night in King of Prussia. Matt Faw collected 17 points and Aidan Newell added 14 for Jason Quenzer’s Vikings, who have won seven of eight. Newell was 8-for-8 from the stripe in crunch time as Upper Merion avenged an earlier 87-56 loss at PW. Mike Lotito banked 16 points for Jim Donofrio’s Colonials, including a deuce with just under six minutes to play that had PW up 43-42.

No.  School                                     Rec    Pvs
1.     Allderdice (8)                           14-1        1                          
2.     Roman Catholic (12)               13-4        2
3.     Downingtown West (1)            17-1        4
4.     Parkland (11)                           14-3        5                              
5.     Coatesville (1)                         15-1        6
6.     Reading (3)                             14-3        7
7.     La Salle College (12)              14-3        8
8.     Plymouth-Whitemarsh (1)       16-1        3
9.     Ridley (1)                                 16-1       9
10.   Cheltenham (1)                        14-3     10

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

Others to watch: Abington (1) 14-3, Abington Heights (2) 15-1, Academy Park (1) 12-5, Archbishop Ryan (12) 11-6, Archbishop Wood (12) 9-7, Baldwin (7) 12-5, Carlisle (3) 12-4, Cedar Crest (3) 14-4, Central Bucks West (1) 15-3, Central Dauphin East (3) 10-7, Central York (3) 15-2, Chartiers Valley (7) 13-3, Chester (1) 11-6, Conestoga (1) 12-5, Emmaus (11) 14-4, Franklin Regional (7) 12-5, Harrisburg (3) 12-2, Hazleton (2) 12-3, Latrobe (7) 17-0, Lower Merion (1) 13-5, Martin Luther King (12) 12-8, McCaskey (3) 13-4, Northeastern (3) 15-1, Penn Hills (7) 14-4, Pennridge (1) 15-3, Phoenixville (1) 16-3, Pine-Richland (7) 11-4, Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7) 11-4, Plum (7) 12-4, Pocono Mountain West (11) 15-2, Spring-Ford (1) 16-4, Spring Grove (3) 14-2, St. Joseph’s Prep (12) 12-5, Strath Haven (1) 15-2, Upper Merion (1) 11-5, William Allen (11) 12-5, Williamsport (4) 9-5, York (3) 11-7.

Intriguing matchups of the week: Since snow removal and league play will demand plenty of time early in the week, we’re going to highlight several matchups that will take place on Saturday and Sunday. Begin with No. 10 Cheltenham spending Saturday visiting an Abington side that’s won seven straight games in a weather-delayed Suburban One League crossover. On Sunday, in Reading’s snow-delayed Geigle Classic, Rick Perez’s No. 6 Red Knights will play host to No. 8 Plymouth-Whitemarsh. And No. 1 Allderdice will be busy on the western side of the state as the Dragons will meet Class AAA No. 6 Mars in the Pittsburgh Classic.

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CLASS AAA

With a blizzard just waiting to engulf Philadelphia — and much of Pennsylvania — Neumann-Goretti increased an already-sizzling tempo to an even-higher level in the third and fourth quarters and pulled away from Philly Catholic League rival Archbishop Carroll 98-75 in a matchup of Class AAA’s top teams. Zane Martin, Quade Green, Rasheed Browne, Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree and Vaughn Covington banked double-digit performances for Carl Arrigale’s Saints, who led by just three points (47-44) at the halftime break. Ryan Daly’s 33 points paced Carroll. On hand for Friday’s showdown, here’s a report from CoBL’s Stephen Pianovich.

No.  School                                       Rec     Pvs
1.     Neumann-Goretti (12)               15-2         1
2.     Imhotep Charter (12)                 15-2         3
3.     Archbishop Carroll (12)             15-2         2
4.     New Castle (7)                          17-0         4
5.     Scranton Prep (2)                     13-2         5
6.     Mars (7)                                    13-4         6
7.     Beaver Falls (7)                        16-2         7
8.     Pottsville (11)                            16-0         8
9.     Lewisburg (4)                            14-0         9
10.   Cathedral Prep (10)                  12-4     OW

Checked in: No. 10 Cathedral Prep.
Checked out: No. 10 Milton Hershey.

Others to watch: Allentown Central Catholic (11) 12-5, Benjamin Franklin (12) 13-4, Bishop McDevitt (3) 13-4, Blue Mountain (11) 13-4, Boys’ Latin (12) 15-3, Clearfield (9) 15-1, Cocalico (3) 13-4, Crestwood (2) 11-4, Del-Val Charter (12) 13-4, Eastern Lebanon County (3) 16-3, Eastern York (3) 14-4, General McLane (10) 12-4, Girard (10) 14-2, Hampton (7) 11-6, Harbor Creek (10) 11-5, Highlands (7) 15-3, Hollidaysburg (6) 13-1, Holy Ghost Prep (1) 14-3, Lampeter-Strasburg (3) 17-1, Lower Moreland (1) 13-3, Manheim Central (3) 13-5, Meadville (10) 13-2, Milton Hershey (3) 14-1, Nanticoke (2) 12-3, Octorara (1) 16-1, Palmyra (3) 14-4, Salisbury (11) 15-1, Shamokin (4) 15-1, Somerset (5) 13-4, Steel Valley (7) 11-3, Strong Vincent (10) 10-5.

Intriguing matchups of the week: While the week will culminate Saturday with No. 2 Imhotep Charter heading for suburban Allentown to take on streaking Class AAAA No. 4 Parkland, we’re also going to point out several Tuesday scraps that could impact Class AAA’s big picture. No. 5 Scranton Prep will travel across town to meet a Scranton side that just knocked off previously unbeaten Abington Heights. And in Pennsylvania’s northwest corner, No. 10 Cathedral Prep will entertain cross-town playmate Strong Vincent in a matchup that should have Erie abuzz.

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CLASS AA

Matt Nelson racked up 15 points — one fewer than he posted in the junior varsity contest — and Billy Trainor returned from injury in time to tack on 13 more as Holy Cross downed previous No. 4 Mid Valley 42-38 in a remarkably taut Lackawanna Division 3 affair Thursday night in Throop. Al Callejas’ Crusaders led 26-23 after three quarters, lost the lead briefly in the fourth and found the resolve necessary to claim the road victory. Despite the loss — Noah Tanner banked 20 points for Mike Abda’s Spartans — Mid Valley captured Lackawanna 3’s first-half crown.

No.  School                                            Rec    Pvs
1.     Aliquippa (7)                                    16-0        1
2.     Conwell-Egan (12)                          13-4        2
3.     Lincoln Park (7)                               14-2        3
4.     Greensburg C.C. (7)                        16-1        5
5.     Church Farm (1)                              13-2        6
6.     Camp Hill (3)                                   13-3        7                                     
7.     Mid Valley (2)                                  14-1        4
8.     Minersville (11)                               13-2        8
9.     Quaker Valley (7)                            15-2        9
10.   West Branch (6)                              13-1      10

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

Others to watch: Avonworth (7) 12-6, Bellwood-Antis (6) 14-2, Berlin Brothersvalley (5) 12-0, Bishop Canevin (7) 12-4, Bishop McCort (6) 10-5, Cambridge Springs (10) 12-3, Dunmore (2) 10-5, Fairview (10) 10-6, Greenville (10) 11-5, Hanover (3) 13-4, Holy Cross (2) 8-6, Hughesville (4) 12-4, Laurel (7) 14-4, Mastery Charter North (12) 18-1, Meyers (2) 9-5, Neshannock (7) 14-4, Northwestern (10) 13-3, Our Lady of Sacred Heart (7) 12-4, Penns Valley (6) 12-3, Richland (6) 9-6, Titusville (10) 13-3, Trinity (3) 11-5, Tyrone (6) 9-4, Upper Dauphin (3) 15-3, Washington (7) 11-5, West Middlesex (10) 11-5, Westmont Hilltop (6) 10-6, York Catholic (3) 13-4.

Intriguing matchups of the week: Ranked teams will collide Thursday night in Hermitage, where No. 3 Lincoln Park will attempt to conquer Class A No. 1 Kennedy Catholic in a neat intersectional matchup. One night later, in suburban Philadelphia, No. 2 Conwell-Egan will entertain Class AAA No. 3 Archbishop Carroll in yet another superb Philly Catholic League scrap. And on Sunday, at the Pittsburgh Classic, No. 1 Aliquippa will take on dangerous Class AAAA Chartiers Valley.    

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CLASS A

West Virginia recruit Sagaba Konate popped a pair of double-doubles as No. 1 Kennedy Catholic side-stepped challenges from ranked teams last week at home. Konate scored 26 points and grabbed 17 rebounds — Jason Austin added 18 points and Drew Magestro tacked on 16 — as turnover-prone KC (29) slipped past backyard rival and No. 3 Farrell 79-76 in overtime. Three days later, Konate finished with 14 and 14 as Rick Mancino’s Golden Eagles edged No. 4 Constitution 62-59, the reigning state champ. Austin topped KC with 18 points, while Magestro banked 12.

No.  School                                             Rec    Pvs
1.     Kennedy Catholic (10)                      12-2        1
2.     Monessen (7)                                    12-3        2                                 
3.     Farrell (10)                                        10-4        3
4.     Constitution (12)                                 9-8        4
5.     St. John Neumann (4)                      14-0        5
6.     Elk County Catholic (9)                    16-0        7
7.     Homer-Center (6)                             13-0        8
8.     Clarion-Limestone (9)                      15-1        9
9.     Phil-Mont Christian (1)                     17-1      10
10.  Sewickley Academy (7)                    14-2        6

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

Others to watch: Bishop Carroll (6) 11-4, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic (7) 10-7, Clairton (7) 10-2, Clarion (9) 12-3, Coudersport (9) 14-1, Cowanesque Valley (4) 14-3, Delco Christian (1) 8-7, Eden Christian (7) 14-3, Faith Christian (1) 14-4, Ferndale (6) 12-3, Jeannette (7) 11-4, Jenkintown (1) 13-4, Lincoln Leadership (11) 11-5, Lourdes Regional (4) 14-3, McConnellsburg (5) 11-2, Millersburg (3) 11-6, Millville (4) 14-2, North Penn-Mansfield (4) 12-6, Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg (11) 10-6, Old Forge (2) 8-6, Paul Robeson (12) 13-5, Portage (6) 11-4, Ridgway (9) 13-2, Rocky Grove (10) 11-4, Saltsburg (6) 12-2, Shanksville-Stonycreek (5) 14-1, Shenandoah Valley (11) 11-4, Southern Fulton (5) 12-3, Sullivan County (4) 15-0, Vincentian (7) 11-4, York Country Day (3) 13-0.

Intriguing matchups of the week: High-level action gets going quickly, as No. 5 St. John Neumann will visit unbeaten Sullivan County Monday night for an important Heartland-III scrap. Fast-forward to Friday, when No. 9 Phil-Mont Christian visits Faith Christian for a Bicentennial League encounter. Finally, on Saturday, No. 10 Sewickley Academy will make a stop at surging Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic as part of a suburban Pittsburgh showcase.