City of Basketball Love

Michael Bullock (@thebullp_n)
--

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 third 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.

~~~

Previous Rankings: Dec. 18 | Dec. 27 |

~~~

CITY OF BASKETBALL LOVE STATE BASKETBALL RANKINGS
(records through games of Jan. 1/OW-others to watch/NR-not ranked)

CLASS 6A

Princeton recruit Drew Friberg dropped in 28 points and snagged eight rebounds on Thursday, leading No. 5 State College past Germantown Academy 68-56 in the finals of State High’s Kiwanis Holiday Tournament. Brandon Clark added 12 points for the Little Lions, two more than teammate Ryan McNulty. … Ed Croswell cranked out a monster double-double (22 points/21 rebounds) on Friday as No. 6 St. Joseph’s Prep tamed previous No. 8 Cheltenham 68-52. Kyle Thompson (17) and Darius Kinnel (12) also reached double digits for the Hawks. … Popping Josh Samec (18), Da’Mir Faison (14), Jeff Planutis (13) and Joey Grula (13) into double figures, No. 3 Hazleton popped Williamsport 68-47 Saturday night on the road.

No.  School                                              Rec    Pvs
1.     Plymouth-Whitemarsh (1)               7-0        1
2.     Abington (1)                                    4-2       2                           
3.     Hazleton (2)                                    5-0        3
4.     Roman Catholic (12)                       4-3       4
5.     State College (6)                             8-0       5
6.     St. Joseph’s Prep (12)                    7-1        6                             
7.     La Salle College (12)                      7-2        7
8.     Penn Hills (7)                                  11-0     10  
9.     Mt. Lebanon (7)                              8-1       9
10.   Cheltenham (1)                               5-3       8

Checked in: No. 9 Mt. Lebanon.
Checked out: No. 9 Pine-Richland.

Others to watch: Abraham Lincoln (12, 7-2); Allderdice (8, 4-2); Butler (7, 8-1); Canon-McMillan (7, 6-1); Cedar Crest (3, 8-2); Central Bucks East (1, 7-2); Central Bucks South (1, 5-2); Central Bucks West (1, 6-2); Chambersburg (3, 7-2); Coatesville (1, 6-3); Conestoga (1, 6-2); East Stroudsburg South (11, 8-0); Father Judge (12, 8-1); Harrisburg (3, 5-3); Hempfield (3, 9-0); Latrobe (7, 7-2); Lower Merion (1, 6-2); Manheim Twp. (3, 6-2); McDowell (10, 6-1); Neshaminy (1, 7-0); Pennridge (1, 7-3; Pine-Richland (7, 6-2); Pocono Mountain West (11, 4-2); Reading (3, 6-2); Seneca Valley (7, 6-2); Woodland Hills (7, 8-1).

Bullish matchups of the week: No. 2 Abington will have a difficult test to open the 2018 portion of its schedule Wednesday when unbeaten Neshaminy pays a visit. … No. 7 La Salle College will entertain Class 5A No. 2 Bonner-Prendergast on Friday.

~~~

CLASS 5A

No. 5 Abington Heights claimed its fourth consecutive victim on Wednesday night in suburban Reading, as Ken Bianchi’s Comets held on to beat Harrisburg 66-63. George Tinsley stuffed the stat sheet for Abington Heights, scoring 31 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, doling out five assists and blocking four shots.  Jackson Danzig added 20 points for the Comets. … No. 3 Archbishop Carroll completed the non-league portion of its testy slate by downing Class 6A No. 2 Abington (70-56) and Salesianum (Del.) (65-49) in Friday and Saturday showcases, respectively. Justin Anderson (17), Keyon Butler (16) and A.J. Hoggard (14) shared 47 points in the victory over Abington, while Hoggard (25), Luke House (13), Anderson (11) and Butler (10) reached double figures in Carroll’s conquest of Salesianum.

No.  School                                             Rec     Pvs
1.     Archbishop Wood (12)                3-3         1
2.     Bonner-Prendergast (12)            7-2         2
3.     Archbishop Carroll (12)               6-3         3
4.     Mars (7)                                       5-2         4
5.     Abington Heights (2)                    7-1         6
6.     Martin Luther King (12)                5-4         5
7.     Northeastern (3)                           7-0         7
8.     Bishop Shanahan (1)                    5-1          8
9.     Allentown C.C. (11)                       9-0          9
10.   Milton Hershey (3)                        7-0       10

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

Others to watch: Bangor (11, 5-1); Cathedral Prep (10, 4-4); Cardinal O’Hara (12, 4-2); Dallas (2, 6-1); Dover (3, 6-1); Franklin Regional (7, 6-2); Great Valley (1, 6-3); Greencastle-Antrim (3, 7-1); Hershey (3, 7-1); Lampeter-Strasburg (3, 7-1); Lower Dauphin (3, 4-1); Mastery Charter North (12, 7-0); Meadville (10, 7-1); Moon (7, 7-0); New Oxford (3, 7-1); Penncrest (1, 8-0); Pottsville (11, 5-1); Shippensburg (3, 7-1); Wissahickon (1, 5-1); York (3, 6-3).

Bullish matchups of the week: No. 1 Archbishop Wood will open Philadelphia Catholic League play on Tuesday night at Father Judge — Judge defeated Wood one season ago — but another dandy will come Friday in Wheeling, W.Va., where the Vikings will play Montverde (Fla.) Academy in the Cancer Research Classic. … In neutral since Dec. 22, No. 7 Northeastern will get back into action on Friday when Jon Eyster’s Bobcats visit Spring Grove. Another road trip will come a day later, when the YAIAA Division I leaders make the jaunt to Greencastle-Antrim.

~~~

CLASS 4A

No. 2 Bethlehem Catholic stretched its winning streak to four games by capturing the Robert Griffith Tournament in York by defeating York Suburban (72-46) and York Catholic (67-53) on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Most valuable player Ryan Young banked a pair of 19-point efforts in each victory, while Justin Paz collected 23 points against Suburban and 21 in the win over Catholic. … Leo O’Boyle poured in 30 points as No. 10 Scranton Prep dominated Dunmore 70-46 in the championship game of the Lynett Tournament.

No.  School                                                    Rec     Pvs
1.     Imhotep Charter (12)                          9-1         1
2.     Bethlehem Catholic (11)                     6-1         2
3.     Quaker Valley (7)                                6-0         3
4.     Berks Catholic (3)                               6-2         4
5.     New Castle (7)                                    7-2         5
6.     Lower Moreland (1)                             6-2          6
7.     Lancaster Catholic (3)                         8-1         7
8.     Huntingdon (6)                                     6-0          8
9.     Grove City (10)                                     7-0         9
10.   Scranton Prep (2)                                 4-3       10

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

Others to watch: Ambridge (7, 7-2); Bishop McDevitt (3, 5-2); Central Martinsburg (6, 6-2); Conwell-Egan (12, 3-2); Danville (4, 5-1); Forest Hills (6, 6-2); Franklin (10, 7-0); Hickory (10, 4-1); Johnstown (6, 5-1); Kennard-Dale (3, 5-1); Middletown (3, 3-3); Montoursville (4, 4-1); Nanticoke (2, 5-1); Northwestern Lehigh (11, 6-2); Overbrook (12, 5-3); Sharon (10, 7-2); Susquehanna Twp. (3, 4-4); Tyrone (6, 6-2); Universal Audenried (12, 5-2).

Bullish matchups of the week: No. 9 Grove City will test its perfect record later this week, taking on Sharon and Hickory on Wednesday and Friday, respectively. … Friday afternoon will feature another big-time matchup for No. 1 Imhotep Charter, as Andre Noble’s Panthers will meet national power La Lumiere (Ind.) in Day 1 of the Cancer Research Classic in Wheeling (W.Va.). … Later Friday, No. 2 Bethlehem Catholic will visit William Allen for an East Penn Conference scrap.

~~~

CLASS 3A

Riding a five-game winning streak, Lancaster Mennonite checks into the top 10 for the first time after downing Twin Valley (54-48) and Boiling Springs (68-62) on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, to win Mechanicsburg’s Sauve Brothers Holiday Tournament. Carter Hurst scored 20 points in the championship game, while John Gillespie added 15 and Elijah Terry finished with 11. Roman Ali, Gillespie and Hurst shared 45 points in the win over Twin Valley. … No. 3 Fairview had its perfect mark spoiled last Thursday, when the Tigers tumbled 63-58 to Class 4A No. 3 Quaker Valley 63-58 at Geneva College. Nick Franos scored 23 points and Army recruit Sam Parini added 10 for Fairview, while Danny Conlan pocketed 25 points and Drexel recruit Coletrane Washington tacked on 24 for QV. Washington climbed into ninth place on the Quakers’ all-time scoring list (1,096 career points).

No.  School                                                   Rec    Pvs
1.     Neumann-Goretti (12)                       5-3        1
2.     Valley Forge (1)                                 6-1        2
3.     Fairview (10)                                      6-1        4
4.     West Catholic (12)                             5-3        3
5.     Lincoln Park (7)                                  4-4        5
6.     Greenville (10)                                    4-1        6
7.     Richland (6)                                         8-1        7
8.     Holy Redeemer (2)                             5-1        8
9.     Trinity (3)                                             7-1        9
10.   Lancaster Mennonite (3)                     7-2      10

Checked in: No. 10 Lancaster Mennonite.
Checked out: No. 10 Central Cambria.

Others to watch: Aliquippa (7, 8-2); Bellwood-Antis (6, 5-2); Bishop McDevitt (12, 8-0); Catasauqua (11, 5-2); Central Cambria (6, 5-3); Loyalsock (4, 6-2); Mount Carmel (4, 7-1); Notre Dame-Green Pond (11, 7-3); Seton-La Salle (7, 5-3); Steel-High (3, 4-3); Troy (4, 6-2); Washington (7, 5-2); Wellsboro (4, 7-1); Westinghouse (8, 6-1); Wyoming Seminary (2, 5-2); York Catholic (3, 4-3).

Bullish matchups of the week: Just back from a holiday stay in Charlotte, N.C., No. 1 Neumann-Goretti will open Philadelphia Catholic League play Tuesday night on the road at Class 5A No. 3 Archbishop Carroll. … No. 7 Richland will be battling for regional supremacy on Friday, making the short jaunt from the suburbs to the city to take on Johnstown.

~~~

CLASS 2A

No. 7 Ridgway staked its claim for a healthy-sized portion of provincial prominence last weekend by collaring the Elk County Tournament, spending Friday and Saturday at St. Marys High School downing local rivals Johnsonburg (43-26) and Class A No. 8 Elk County Catholic (45-32). Johnny Mitchell totaled 26 points in the Elkers’ two victories, while Daunte Allegretto checked in with 22. … No. 1 Constitution opened its two-day stay along the Ohio border on Thursday by popping Erie 78-57 behind double-digit performances from Keshaun Hammonds (24), Jahmir Marable-Williams (19) and Damon Wall (12). One night later, against Class A No. 1 Kennedy Catholic, only Tyree Mitchell (16) cracked double figures as Rob Moore’s Generals dropped a 65-50 verdict to the host Golden Eagles.

No.  School                                                    Rec    Pvs
1.     Constitution (12)                                   4-3         1
2.     Math, Civics & Sciences (12)               3-4         2
3.     Sewickley Academy (7)                        6-1         3
4.     Our Lady Sacred Heart (7)                   8-1         5
5.     Church Farm (1)                                   2-3         4
6.     Bishop McCort (6)                                 5-0         6
7.     Ridgway (9)                                           7-0         7
8.     Bishop Guilfoyle (6)                               4-3         8
9.     Coudersport (9)                                     5-1         9
10.   Serra Catholic (7)                                  7-1      OW

Checked in: No. 10 Serra Catholic.
Checked out: No. 10 Holy Cross.

Others to watch: Berlin Brothersvalley (5, 6-3); Cambridge Springs (10, 5-2); Clarion-Limestone (9, 7-1); Delco Christian (1, 5-1); Dock Mennonite (1, 6-1); Halifax (3, 7-0); Holy Cross (2, 3-5); Homer-Center (6, 5-2); Jeannette (7, 5-1); Keystone (9, 6-2); Muncy (4, 7-0); Panther Valley (11, 5-2); Paul Robeson (12, 9-2); Purchase Line (6, 6-2); Rocky Grove (10, 8-1); United (6, 5-2).

Bullish matchups of the week: Fresh from its venture to the western edge of the state, No. 1 Constitution will dive right back into Philly Public League play, visiting Mastery Charter North on Wednesday before hosting Audenried on Friday. … Idle since Dec. 21, No. 3 Sewickley Academy will return to action on Wednesday night at home, as Win Palmer’s club will entertain traditional suburban Pittsburgh hammer Aliquippa. … Another statewide spotlight will be shining on Friday night, when No. 9 Coudersport visits No. 7 Ridgway.

~~~

CLASS 1A

Oscar Tshiebwe, Maceo Austin and Mattia Acunzo reached double digits on three consecutive nights as No. 1 Kennedy Catholic downed No. 4 Sankofa Freedom (83-61), Class 2A No. 1 Constitution (65-50) and Central Florida Christian (61-56), all at home. Tshiebwe totaled 56 points in KC’s three victories, while Austin dropped in 50 and Acunzo tacked on 49. … John Saxe collared most valuable player honors Thursday night after scoring 21 points in Sullivan County’s 52-43 victory over Hughesville in the latter’s Holiday Tournament championship game. One night earlier, the senior guard pocketed 18 points as Glenn Vaughan’s club rallied from a 14-point deficit to knock off Jersey Shore 47-41. Sullivan’s Alex Baumunk also landed on the all-tournament team.

No.  School                                                   Rec    Pvs
1.     Kennedy Catholic (10)                       8-1        1
2.     Girard College (1)                              6-5        2
3.     Faith Christian (1)                               7-1        3
4.     Sankofa Freedom (12)                        6-3        4
5.     Shade (5)                                            7-1        5
6.     Millville (4)                                           7-0        7|
7.     Lourdes Regional (4)                          5-3        6
8.     Elk County Catholic (9)                       5-1        8
9.     Sullivan County (4)                              6-3      10
10.   Vincentian (7)                                      4-4        9

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

Others to watch: Bishop Carroll (6, 6-2); Blacklick Valley (6, 6-1); Clairton (7, 6-1); Cornell (7, 6-3); Eden Christian (7, 7-1); Johnsonburg (9, 4-4); Lancaster Country Day (3, 4-0); Monessen (7, 2-5); Nativity (11, 5-4); North Clarion (9, 7-1); Phil-Mont Christian (1, 6-3); Plumstead Christian (1, 4-2); Shanksville-Stonycreek (5, 6-2); Southern Fulton (5, 5-2); St. John Neumann (4, 3-3); St. Joseph’s Catholic (6, 4-3); Turkeyfoot Valley (5, 5-1); Union Area (7, 5-3); York Country Day (3, 2-3).

Bullish matchups of the week: Intriguing matchup Tuesday night in Lycoming County, where No. 6 Millville will pay a visit to an unbeaten Muncy side. … No. 5 Shade will get tested on Thursday night, when Shanksville-Stonycreek wanders into town for the latest encounter between those traditional District 5 hammers. … Yet another long-running rivalry will swing back in action Friday night in Williamsport, where St. John Neumann will entertain No. 9 Sullivan County.