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Bullock's PIAA Rankings: Dec. 18, 2017

12/18/2017, 10:15am EST
By Michael Bullock

Michael Bullock (@thebullp_n)
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While we brought you our six preseason packages in those anxious days immediately preceding the start of the 2017-18 campaign, here’s a look at our first all-inclusive set of rankings for each and every classification.

So, enjoy, squawk and even ponder. There’s plenty more results to come.

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 Dec. 17/OW-others to watch/NR-not ranked)

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Josh Samec (above) and Hazleton area are off to a 2-0 start and hold onto the No. 3 spot in 6A. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

CLASS 6A

Josh Samec, Hazleton’s 6-8 senior forward, collected 25 points, 10 rebounds and rejected seven shots as the Cougars spent Sunday afternoon walloping Parkland 70-46 in the Lehigh Valley Jamboree at Whitehall. Fifteen of Samec’s 25 points came from beyond the 3-point arc. Jeff Planutis and Da’Mir Faison added 13 points apiece for the No. 3 Cougars. … St. Joseph’s Prep spent some four hours traveling from Philadelphia to Reading on Friday, yet managed to shrug off its long bus ride in time to take apart Berks Catholic 48-25 in the front end of a Hoop Group twinbill at Albright College. Darius Kinnel scored 11 points for the Hawks. One day later, head coach Speedy Morris logged career victory No. 996 when Prep popped St. Ignatius of Sydney, Australia, 88-46. … La Salle College ascended to the top 10 after burying eight treys in the first half of its 68-45 victory over Reading in Game 2 of that double dip. Sean Simon’s 18 points paced the Explorers, who finished with 10 3-balls. ... Princeton recruit Drew Friberg poured in 49 points Friday night as No. 7 State College downed Harrisburg 89-83 in OT.

No.  School                                                   Rec    Pvs
1.     Plymouth-Whitemarsh (1)              3-0        1
2.     Abington (1)                                    2-0        2
3.     Hazleton (2)                                    2-0        3
4.     Roman Catholic (12)                      2-1       5
5.     St. Joseph’s Prep (12)                   6-0        9
6.     Lower Merion (1)                            3-0     10
7.     State College (6)                            4-0        8
8.     La Salle College (12)                     3-1     OW
9.     Cheltenham (1)                              2-2        7
10.   Pine-Richland (7)                           3-1        6

Checked in: No. 8 La Salle College.
Checked out: No. 4 Coatesville.

Others to watch: Abraham Lincoln (12, 2-0); Allderdice (8, 3-0); Butler (7, 5-0); Canon-McMillan (7, 4-0); Carlisle (3, 3-1); Cedar Crest (3, 4-1); Central York (3, 2-1); Chambersburg (3, 5-0); Coatesville (1, 2-2); Conestoga (1, 3-1); Erie (10, 2-2); Harrisburg (3, 2-1); Hempfield (3, 4-0); Latrobe (7, 2-2); Manheim Twp. (3, 4-0); McDowell (10, 3-1); Mt. Lebanon (7, 4-0); Penn Hills (7, 5-0); Pocono Mountain West (11, 1-1); Reading (3, 3-1); Woodland Hills (7, 4-0).

Bullish matchups of the week: No. 5 St. Joseph’s Prep will continue its tour of suburban Philly’s Inter-Ac Conference Wednesday when it plays host to Haverford School. Prep already has played Penn Charter, Malvern Prep and Germantown Academy. … No. 7 State College will face yet another Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division Wednesday night at home when Chambersburg travels to Centre County.

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CLASS 5A

Twice an all-state selection already, Mars’ Robby Carmody is off to one of those — pardon the pun — intergalactic type of starts that could lead to a Class 5A player of the year award. Through four games thus far, the 6-5 Notre Dame commit is averaging 39 points for the unbeaten Fightin’ Planets. And on Friday night against Knoch — a 79-52 victory — Carmody dropped 40 for the third straight outing. … Reigning Class 5A state champion Archbishop Wood rallied for a 57-56 victory over Shipley School in the final game of Saturday’s Diane Mosco Foundation Shootout Against Cancer at Wood. The late Diane Mosco, who died earlier this fall, was the wife of Wood skipper John Mosco. Four Vikings — Andrew Funk (13), Karrington Wallace (12), Julius Phillips (11) and Seth Pinkney (11) — reached double digits.

No.  School                                             Rec     Pvs
1.     Archbishop Wood (12)                2-1         1

2.     Bonner-Prendergast (12)           4-1         2
3.     Archbishop Carroll (12)              3-1         6
4.     Mars (7)                                      4-0         5
5.     Martin Luther King (12)              1-3         4
6.     Abington Heights (2)                   3-1         3
7.     Northeastern (3)                          4-0         7
8.     Bishop Shanahan (1)                   2-1          8
9.     Allentown CC (11)                        5-0       OW
10.   Milton Hershey (3)                       5-0       NR

Checked in: No. 9 Allentown Central Catholic and No. 10 Milton Hershey.

Checked out: No. 9 Great Valley and No. 10 Bangor.

Others to watch: Bangor (11, 2-1); Cardinal O’Hara (12); Chartiers Valley (7, 3-1); Chester (1, 1-1); Dover (3, 2-1); Franklin Regional (7, 4-0); Hershey (3, 4-0); Hollidaysburg (6, 3-1); Lampeter-Strasburg (3, 3-0); Lower Dauphin (3, 2-1); Mastery Charter North (12, 3-0); Meadville (10, 4-0); Moon (7, 3-0); New Oxford (3, 2-1); Penncrest (1, 3-0); Springfield-Delco (1, 2-1); York (3, 4-1).

Bullish matchups of the week: No. 1 Wood will be involved in a dandy Saturday afternoon at Philadelphia’s Jefferson University, entertaining Class 6A No. 1 Plymouth-Whitemarsh in Game 2 of the three-game City Play-by-Play Classic. … No. 7 Northeastern will encounter a pair of difficult YAIAA Division I tests on consecutive nights this week, as Jon Eyster’s high-octane Bobcats will host Central York on Tuesday and visit Dallastown on Wednesday.

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Donta Scott (above) and Imhotep remain the class of the PIAA 4A field. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

CLASS 4A

Less than 24 hours after struggling for 32 minutes and eventually falling 48-25 to St. Joseph’s Prep at Albright College, No. 4 Berks Catholic rescued a result Saturday in York thanks to some late Kyran Mitchell heroics. Trailing by four (49-45) with fewer than 20 ticks to go at York Catholic’s cozy Forjan Gymnasium, Mitchell sank both ends of a 1-and-1 opportunity and buried a trey as Snip Esterly’s Saints pulled out a 50-49 victory. Mitchell finished with 11 points, one fewer than Keba Mitchell and one more than Luis Garcia. Garcia assisted on the game-winning 3-pointer.

No.  School                                                    Rec     Pvs
1.     Imhotep Charter (12)                          3-0         1

2.     Bethlehem Catholic (11)                     2-1         2
3.     Quaker Valley (7)                                3-0         3
4.     Berks Catholic (3)                               3-1         4
5.     New Castle (7)                                    4-1          5
6.     Middletown (3)                                     0-1          6
7.     Scranton Prep (2)                                1-2          7
8.     Lower Moreland (1)                             4-0       NR
9.     Tyrone (6)                                            3-0          9
10.   Grove City (10)                                    2-0       10

Checked in: No. 8 Lower Moreland.

Checked out: No. 8 GAR Memorial.

Others to watch: Bishop McDevitt (3, 1-1); Conwell-Egan (12, 0-1); Danville (4, 2-0); GAR Memorial (2, 1-1); Hickory (10, 2-1); Huntingdon (6, 3-0); Indiana (7, 3-0); Kennard-Dale (3, 5-0); Lancaster Catholic (3, 3-1); Montoursville (4, 2-0); Nanticoke (2, 3-0); Overbrook (12, 2-2); Sharon (10, 3-1); Susquehanna Twp. (3, 2-2); Universal Audenried (12, 3-0).

Bullish matchups of the week: No. 9 Tyrone has an intriguing matchup Monday night in suburban Johnstown, where the Eagles will meet Class 3A No. 6 Richland. … One night later, No. 3 Quaker Valley will entertain No. 5 New Castle in what should be a fiercely contested WPIAL encounter. … No. 1 Imhotep Charter will try to fend off three more determined opponents, as Andre Noble’s Panthers will visit Philly Public League rival Audenried on Tuesday, play at Gill St. Bernard’s (N.J.) on Friday and take on Roman Catholic Saturday at Philly’s Jefferson University.

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CLASS 3A

Returning all-state forward Matt Holsinger reached the 1,000-point milestone, pocketing 28 points in Central Cambria’s convincing 91-66 conquest of Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference playmate Bedford. Luke Bennett (18), Alex Persio (16) and Justin Bezek (12) also cracked double figures for the unbeaten Red Devils. Holsinger entered Friday night’s game averaging 14.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest. … Elsewhere in District 6, sophomore lead guard Caleb Burke nearly popped a triple-double Saturday night in Richland’s 82-46 thumping of St. Marys.

Burke scored 10 points, snared eight rebounds and dished up 13 assists.

No.  School                                                   Rec    Pvs
1.     Neumann-Goretti (12)                       2-1        1

2.     Valley Forge (1)                                    2-1        2
3.     West Catholic (12)                               4-1     NR
4.     Fairview (10)                                        4-0        9
5.     Central Cambria (6)                            4-0        6
6.     Richland (6)                                           4-0        8
7.     Greenville (10)                                     3-1        4
8.     Lincoln Park (7)                                   1-3        3
9.     Holy Redeemer (2)                              2-0      10
10.   Trinity (3)                                              3-1        5

Checked in: No. 3 West Catholic.

Checked out: No. 7 Hughesville

Others to watch: Aliquippa (7, 3-0); Delone Catholic (3, 3-2); Hughesville (4, 1-3); Loyalsock (4, 3-0); Mount Carmel (4, 4-0); Seton-La Salle (7, 3-1); Steel-High (3, 2-0); Wellsboro (4, 4-1); Westinghouse (8, 3-1); Wyoming Seminary (2, 4-1); York Catholic (3, 1-2).

Bullish matchups of the week: No. 1 Neumann-Goretti will get plenty of rest before colliding with Haverford School on Friday at Shipley and Class 6A No. 2 Abington on Saturday at Jefferson University. … No. 9 Holy Redeemer will have a testy week as well, taking on ranked Class 5A side Abington Heights on Tuesday and crosstown Wilkes-Barre playmate GAR Memorial on Friday.

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Imere Harris (above) and West Catholic jumped right into the No. 3 spot in the Class 2A rankings. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

CLASS 2A

Capturing its 10th Mountain Cat championship yet its first since 1993, Bishop McCort checked into the rankings at No. 9 after edging fellow Johnstown playmate Forest Hills 51-49 in the title game Saturday night at Pitt-Johnstown. The Crushers eased into the final Friday night by smacking Ligonier Valley 76-54. Junior guard Ben Seidel was named the four-team event’s most valuable player, while 6-4 senior Matt Petrosky joined his 5-10 teammate on the all-tournament team.

No.  School                                                    Rec    Pvs
1.     Constitution (12)                                   2-2         1

2.     Math, Civics & Sciences (12)              2-2         2
3.     Sewickley Academy (7)                       4-1         3
4.     Church Farm (1)                                    1-1         4
5.     Our Lady Sacred Heart (7)                  4-1         6
6.     Holy Cross (2)                                         2-2         5
7.     Ridgway (9)                                             3-0         7
8.     Coudersport (9)                                     1-0          8
9.     Bishop McCort (6)                                 3-0       NR
10.   Bishop Guilfoyle (6)                              1-2          9

Checked in: No. 9 Bishop McCort.

Checked out: No. 10 Purchase Line.

Others to watch: Berlin Brothersvalley (5, 2-1); Cambridge Springs (10, 2-1); Clarion-Limestone (9, 3-1); Delco Christian (1, 4-0); Halifax (3, 3-0); Homer-Center (6, 2-1); Jeannette (7, 1-0); Keystone (9, 3-1); Moravian Academy (11, 4-1); Paul Robeson (12, 5-2); Purchase Line (6, 2-1); Serra Catholic (7, 3-1); United (6, 3-0).

Bullish matchups of the week: No. 2 Math, Civics & Sciences will try to even its Philadelphia Public League divisional record at 1-1 on Tuesday when Dan Jackson’s Mighty Elephants visit Martin Luther King. MCS dropped its league opener on Thursday, falling 80-75 to Mastery Charter North. … No. 9 McCort will put its unblemished mark on the line Wednesday night at home, when No. 6 (Class 3A) Central Cambria checks in for a Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference scrap.

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CLASS 1A

Off to yet another sizzling start, Kennedy Catholic chalked up its fourth victory in as many tries on Saturday night in New Castle as Rick Mancino’s Golden Eagles pasted reigning Class 2A state champ Sewickley Academy 87-60. Smooth 6-5 junior Maceo Austin dropped in 29 points for Kennedy, while 6-10 junior Oscar Tshiebwe added 26. According to some news reports from Pennsylvania’s western edge, Kennedy is electing to voluntarily move up to Class 6A beginning next season. … Not sure if Paul Westhead has brought his Loyola Marymount attack to southwest Pennsylvania or not, but through three games Turkeyfoot Valley is averaging 99.7 points per outing. In the Rams’ 93-88 loss to Union (W.Va.) last Monday, Turkeyfoot Valley canned 16 3-pointers. One night later, in a 114-26 conquest of Salisbury-Elk Lick at home in Confluence, Craig Lytle banked a triple-double (30 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) and knocked down six of Turkeyfoot’s 12 treys.

No.  School                                                   Rec    Pvs
1.     Kennedy Catholic (10)                       4-0        1

2.     Girard College (1)                                3-2        2
3.     Sankofa Freedom (12)                        3-1        5
4.     Faith Christian (1)                               3-1        3
5.     Shade (5)                                                3-0        6
6.     Sullivan County (4)                             3-1        7
7.     Millville (4)                                            3-0        8
8.     Lourdes Regional (4)                          1-2        4
9.     Elk County Catholic (9)                      2-0     10
10.   Vincentian (7)                                       1-1        9

Checked in: No one.

Checked out: No one.

Others to watch: Cornell (7, 4-0); High Point (3, 4-0); Lancaaster Country Day (3, 4-0); Monessen (7, 1-3); North Clarion (9, 4-0); Phil-Mont Christian (1, 4-1); St. John Neumann (4, 2-1); Turkeyfoot Valley (5, 2-1); Williamsburg (6, 0-1); York Country Day (3, 1-1).

Bullish matchups of the week: Nice little scrum on tap Monday night in Laporte, where No. 7 Sullivan County will entertain No. 8 Lourdes Regional. Lourdes has lost two straight, while Sullivan will be looking to rebound from a 45-40 overtime loss Friday night at Millville. … No. 2 Girard College will take on New York City hammer Bishop Loughlin on Saturday in Philadelphia.


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