City of Basketball Love

Michael Bullock (@thebullp_n)
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Here’s installment No. 8 of City of Basketball Love’s state rankings, a package that will appear on Mondays throughout the remainder of the regular season.

We did showcase a set of preseason rankings leading up to the opening weekend (Dec. 9-10) and those groupings served as a starting point — since we’re going to continue to shuffle things around after each weekly cycle.

Appearing below are all six 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 Feb. 5/OW-others to watch/NR-not ranked)

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Previous Rankings: Jan. 30 | Jan. 23 | Jan. 16 | Jan. 9 | Jan. 2 | Dec. 26 | Dec. 18 |

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CLASS 6A

Jeff Planutis, Da’Mir Faison and Joey Grula each cracked double figures twice as Hazleton climbed to No. 8 with convincing victories over Wyoming Area (65-47) and Wilkes-Barre Coughlin (70-31). Planutis totaled 29 points in the two wins, Faison rang up 27 in the sweep and Grula packaged 15 as Mike Joseph’s Cougars extended their winning streak to 13 games. … Robbie Heath rattled off Abington’s last 13 points Thursday as the Ghosts squeezed past Bensalem 54-52. Heath finished with 22 to lead Charles Grasty’s club, Eric Dixon chimed in with 18.

No.  School                                                  Rec           Pvs
1.     William Allen (11)                        20-0        1
2.     Reading (3)                                 19-2        2
3.     Roman Catholic (12)                   17-2        3
4.     Abington (1)                                 17-4        5
5.     Emmaus (11)                               17-3        6
6.     Archbishop Ryan (12)                  16-4        7
7.     Plymouth-Whitemarsh (1)             18-3        8
8.     Hazleton (2)                                  14-2        9
9.     Pine-Richland (7)                          19-1        4
10.   Pocono Mountain West (11)          16-3      10

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

Others to watch: Carlisle (3, 14-7), Cedar Crest (3, 15-6), Central Bucks West (1, 14-7), Central Dauphin East (3, 13-8), Central York (3, 15-7), Chambersburg (3, 12-8), Cheltenham (1, 16-5), Coatesville (1, 16-4), Conestoga (1, 16-4), Downingtown East (1, 14-6), Father Judge (12, 14-5), Fox Chapel (7, 18-1), Governor Mifflin (3, 17-4), Harrisburg (3, 16-6), Hempfield (3, 14-7), Latrobe (7, 16-3), Lebanon (3, 17-4), Lower Merion (1, 13-7), North Hills (7, 15-4), North Penn (1, 17-4), Parkland (11, 14-6), Penn Hills (7, 17-2), Penn Wood (1, 13-6), Pennsbury (1, 14-7), Perkiomen Valley (1, 18-3), Spring-Ford (1, 16-6), St. Joseph’s Prep (12, 14-6), State College (6, 15-3), Stroudsburg (11, 11-7), Williamsport (4, 15-4).

Bullish matchups of the week: No. 1 William Allen will chase its 21st consecutive victory Monday night at home when Doug Snyder’s Canaries entertain a Parkland club that’s won 12 of 13. … No. 3 Roman Catholic will continue its quest for the Philly Catholic League’s regular-season crown with three games this week against Cardinal O’Hara, Class 5A No. 1 Archbishop Wood and St. Joseph’s Prep.

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CLASS 5A

Armoni Foster rang up 23 points and Simeal Wofford checked in with 13 as Meadville claimed a 67-54 decision over Cathedral Prep Tuesday night in Erie. Since Foster bagged a half-court shot to cap a 46-point effort and decide the earlier meeting in early January, the win gave the Bulldogs a sweep of the two-game set.

No.  School                                               Rec            Pvs
1.     Archbishop Wood (12)              17-3          1
2.     Bangor (11)                                20-1         3
3.     Abington Heights (2)                  16-3         2
4.     Mastery Charter North (12)        22-0         5
5.     Chester (1)                                 16-4         6
6.     Meadville (10)                             16-1         8
7.     Archbishop Carroll (12)               13-7         4
8.     Bishop Shanahan (1)                   14-6        9
9.     Great Valley (1)                            17-4      OW
10.   Whitehall (11)                               15-5          7

Checked in: No. 9 Great Valley.
Checked out: No. 10 Northeastern.

Others to watch: Bayard Rustin (1, 14-6), Blue Mountain (11, 15-5), Bonner-Prendergast (12, 14-6), Central Mountain (6, 13-5), Chartiers Valley (7, 13-5), Crestwood (2, 13-4), Ephrata (3, 15-6), Hampton (7, 13-7), Hollidaysburg (6, 12-6),  Lampeter-Strasburg (3, 14-7), Manheim Central (3, 18-3), Mars (7, 12-8), Martin Luther King (12, 15-7), McKeesport (7, 14-3), Mechanicsburg (3, 17-4), Milton Hershey (3, 15-4), Montour (7, 10-8), Moon (7, 14-4), Northeastern (3, 20-2), Palmyra (3, 19-3), Penncrest (1, 14-6), Pottsville (11, 14-5), Simon Gratz (12, 13-8), Southern Lehigh (11, 17-4), Spring Grove (3, 16-5), Strath Haven (1, 13-7), Upper Merion (1, 13-9), Wissahickon (1, 12-9).

Bullish matchups of the week: New to the top 10, No. 9 Great Valley will target its 11th consecutive victory Tuesday night at home when West Chester’s Bayard Rustin visits for a Ches-Mont League American Division scrap. Should Great Valley prevail, the Patriots will complete league play with a 12-0 mark. … No. 10 Whitehall will wrap up regular-season action Wednesday at home against Class 6A No. 5 Emmaus.

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CLASS 4A

David Morris scored 19 points and Aje Gore finished with 17 Thursday night as Strong Vincent walloped Warren 86-35 for its 13th consecutive victory and the 300th of Shannon Pullium’s head coaching career. Already the leading scorer in Erie history, Morris will go into the week needing just five points to move into 11th place on District 10’s career scoring chart and 19 to crack the top 10. Packing 1,964 career points, the Tennessee State recruit also is closing quickly on 2K.

No.  School                                                        Rec           Pvs
1.     Imhotep Charter (12)                       20-2         1
2.     Quaker Valley (7)                             18-2         2
3.     New Castle (7)                                  17-2        3
4.     Scranton Prep (2)                             16-3         4
5.     Bethlehem Catholic (11)                    14-5        5
6.     Strong Vincent (10)                            16-2        7
7.     Universal Audenried (12)                   16-4        6
8.     Clearfield (9)                                      19-1        8
9.     Lancaster Catholic (3)                       18-3       10
10.  Middletown (3)                                    17-4         9

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

Others to watch: Beaver Falls (7, 10-7), Belle Vernon (7, 15-5), Berks Catholic (3, 16-5), Bishop McDevitt (3, 15-6), Central Martinsburg (6, 12-5), Conwell-Egan (12, 9-9), GAR Memorial (2, 13-4), Grove City (10, 15-4), Harbor Creek (10, 13-6), Lehighton (11, 15-5), Lewisburg (4, 15-5), McGuffey (7, 16-4), Meyers (2, 12-5), Nanticoke (2, 13-4), Salisbury (11, 16-5), Selinsgrove (4, 16-4), Wyoming Area (2, 15-3).

Bullish matchups of the week:  No. 5 Bethlehem Catholic will close out its regular-season slate Wednesday night on the road, visiting Class 6A No. 1 William Allen in East Penn Conference Steel Division play. … While No. 6 Strong Vincent will cap a four-game week Saturday at Kennedy Catholic, the Colonels will collide with General McLane, Conneaut and Fort LeBoeuf before playing the Class 1A No. 1 side.

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CLASS 3A

Less than 24 hours after collaring the Mid-Penn Capital Division championship with a 77-76 victory over Milton Hershey — a late Milton Hershey bucket was deemed to be after the buzzer — No. 3 Trinity spent Saturday afternoon rallying for a 78-77 win over Holy Redeemer. Timmy Edwards poured in 28 points for Larry Kostelac Jr.’s Shamrocks, who trailed 65-41 entering the fourth quarter. Jack Bucher added 14 as Trinity ran its winning streak to eight games. … Melik Martin pocketed 29 points Friday as No. 5 York Catholic claimed its second straight YAIAA Division III crown with an 84-40 win over Littlestown. The Fighting Irish have won 20 straight.

No.  School                                                         Rec         Pvs
1.     Neumann-Goretti (12)                     13-6        1
2.     Del-Val Charter (12)                        17-5        2
3.     Trinity (3)                                         19-2       3
4.     Lincoln Park (7)                               16-4       4
5.     York Catholic (3)                              20-1       5
6.     Valley Forge (1)                               17-4        6
7.     Lancaster Mennonite (3)                 19-2        7
8.     Greenville (10)                                19-0        8
9.     C.W. North Catholic (7)                   15-4        9
10.  Washington (7)                                 16-3      10

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

Others to watch: Bellwood-Antis (6, 13-5), Central Cambria (6, 12-6), Columbia (3, 15-5), Dunmore (2, 12-6), Fairview (10, 18-2), Holy Redeemer (2, 9-8), Juniata (6, 17-2), Ligonier Valley (6, 16-5), Loyalsock (4, 15-5), MaST Community Charter (12, 16-5), Mid Valley (2, 17-2), Mount Carmel (4, 15-5), New Hope-Solebury (1, 12-9), Notre Dame-Green Pond (11, 13-7), Richland (6, 14-4), Shady Side Academy (7, 15-5), Southmoreland (7, 16-4), Wellsboro (4, 17-3), Westmont Hilltop (6, 13-6).

Bullish matchup of the week: Should No. 7 Lancaster Mennonite defeat Class 4A No. 9 Lancaster Catholic Tuesday night at home, Geoff Groff’s Blazers will claim the Lancaster-Lebanon League’s Section 3 crown. Should Catholic prevail, they’ll play off later this week to decide the league championship.

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CLASS 2A

Mitchell King canned a pair of free throws with 1.3 seconds remaining as Bishop Canevin took over the WPIAL’s Section 3 lead with a 60-58 victory over Sewickley Academy. Walter Bonds’ 32 points topped Canevin, which flipped spots with Sewickley and now sits No. 4. The Crusaders can lock up the Section 3 title with wins over Laurel and Shenango. … Jarod Paisley scored 17 points and Ryan Karchner chipped in 12 as Marian Catholic captured the Schuylkill League’s Division III crown with a 56-51 victory at Shenandoah Valley. Marian, which earned a promotion to No. 6 after winning four times last week and running its winning streak to eight games, trailed 45-43 entering the fourth quarter.

No.  School                                                           Rec          Pvs
1.     Constitution (12)                                13-8         1
2.     Math, Civics & Sciences (12)            14-8         2
3.     Greensburg C.C. (7)                          18-0         3
4.     Bishop Canevin (7)                            16-3         5
5.     Sewickley Academy (7)                     15-4         4
6.     Marian Catholic (11)                          18-2         8
7.     Bishop McCort (6)                             16-2         9
8.     Our Lady Sacred Heart (7)                13-5         7
9.     Church Farm (1)                                13-8         6
10.   Coudersport (9)                                 18-0        10

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

Others to watch: Bishop Guilfoyle (6, 12-4), Brockway (9, 13-6), California (7, 16-3), Cambridge Springs (10, 16-2), Chartiers-Houston (7, 15-4), Christopher Dock (1, 13-7), Clarion (9, 12-5), Clarion-Limestone (9, 14-4), Delco Christian (1, 12-9), Fort Cherry (7, 14-5), Holy Cross (2, 10-8), Keystone (9, 13-4), Laurel (7, 14-6), McConnellsburg (5, 16-3), Moshannon Valley (6, 16-2), Motivation (12, 14-8), Neshannock (7, 12-7), North Penn-Mansfield (4, 17-4), Paul Robeson (12, 12-10), Ridgway (9, 16-3), Rocky Grove (10, 16-2), Shenandoah Valley (11, 17-3), Wilmington (10, 12-7).

Bullish matchups of the week: No. 7 Bishop McCort will put its 10-game winning streak on the line Monday night in Altoona, where the Crushers will meet a Bishop Guilfoyle club that’s won five straight. … One night later, No. 6 Marian will visit a dangerous Mahanoy Area side in Schuylkill League play as the Division 3 champion Colts try to keep their league mark unblemished.

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CLASS 1A

Drew Magestro posted a game-high 27 points and Maceo Austin cranked out a double-double (24 points/11 rebounds) as No. 1 Kennedy Catholic turned back Class 2A No. 1 Constitution 76-69 Saturday at home. Magestro, a Pitt-Johnstown recruit, added eight assists as Rick Mancino’s Golden Eagles carried a 55-44 lead into the fourth quarter. Tamir Green netted 15 of his 19 points down the stretch for Constitution, which pulled within five late. Youssef Diabate also finished with a double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing 15 boards for Constitution.

No.  School                                                     Rec           Pvs
1.     Kennedy Catholic (10)                    17-1        1
2.     St. John Neumann (4)                     17-0        2
3.     Elk County Catholic (9)                   19-0        3
4.     Monessen (7)                                  14-6        5
5.     Saltsburg (6)                                    19-1        6
6.     York Country Day (3)                       15-4        4
7.     Shanksville-Stonycreek (5)              18-1        7
8.     Faith Christian (1)                            18-2        8
9.     Lourdes Regional (4)                       15-5        9
10.   Vincentian (7)                                   16-3      10

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

Others to watch: Clairton (7, 14-4), Cornell (7, 16-4), Ferndale (6, 17-2), Jenkintown (1, 12-7), Lancaster County Christian (3, 15-4), Lincoln Leadership (11, 13-7), Millville (4, 17-2), Rochester (7, 13-5), Sankofa Freedom (12, 13-9), Shade (5, 14-5), Southern Fulton (5, 15-4), Sullivan County (4, 10-7), Turkeyfoot Valley (5, 14-5), Union (7, 14-5), Williamsburg (6, 10-7).

Bullish matchups of the week: No. 4 Monessen will try to wrap up the WPIAL’s Section 2 championship Tuesday night at home against Clairton. … No. 1 Kennedy Catholic will face yet another stern Saturday test when Class 4A Strong Vincent rolls down from Erie for a non-league dustup.