City of Basketball Love

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
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The Northeast Basketball League (NEBL) is back. The 12-team boys’ spring league returns to the Mayfair Recreation Center (2990 St. Vincent St., Philadelphia) for its bi-weekly competition starting this week, with play running through late June.

This year’s participating teams: Archbishop Ryan, Archbishop Wood, Bensalem, Central Bucks East, Cherry Hill East (N.J.), Father Judge, Haverford High, Holy Ghost Prep, Imhotep Charter, Math Civics & Sciences, St. Joseph’s Prep, West Catholic

It’s a group that includes many of the top programs around, including the defending PIAA Class 5A state champions, Imhotep Charter, who feature five-star junior wing Justin Edwards and classmate Rahmir Barno plus talented sophomores Ahmad Nowell and Ma’Kye Taylor. West Catholic will debut a much different look without the Watson twins (Cal-Bakersfield) and Nasir Griffin (East Stroudsburg), while Archbishop Wood gets back on the court without Justin Moore (Drexel), Mike Knouse and Tyson Allen.

Each team places once a week over the eight week schedule, with four games every Tuesday night — except for the first week, which starts on Wednesday — and two on Tuesday. There will be playoffs the Tuesday (quarterfinfals), Wednesday (semifinals) and Thursday (championship) after the regular season ends. Games start at 7 PM each night.

CoBL will be popping in occasionally on the league, providing updates on the various teams and players participating.

Here’s the complete schedule:

Weds., May 4
7:00 PM (Ct. 1): Judge vs. MCS
7:00 PM (Ct. 2): Imhotep vs. Holy Ghost
8:00 PM (Ct. 1): Ryan vs. Haverford
8:00 PM (Ct. 2): Bensalem vs. West Catholic

Thurs., May 5
7:00 PM (Ct. 1): SJ Prep vs. CH East
8:00 PM (Ct. 2): Wood vs. CB East

Tues., May 10
7:00 PM (Ct. 1): MCS vs. SJ Prep
7:00 PM (Ct. 2): Imhotep vs. Bensalem
8:00 PM (Ct. 1): Judge vs. Ryan
8:00 PM (Ct. 2): Haverford vs. CH East

Thurs., May 12
7:00 PM (Ct. 1): Wood vs. Holy Ghost
8:00 PM (Ct. 2): West Catholic vs. CB East

Tues., May 17
7:00 PM (Ct. 1): Bensalem vs. Wood
7:00 PM (Ct. 2): CH East vs. Ryan
8:00 PM (Ct. 1): Haverford vs. MCS
8:00 PM (Ct. 2): Imhotep vs. West

Thurs., May 19
7:00 PM (Ct. 1): Judge vs. SJ Prep
8:00 PM (Ct. 2): CB East vs. Holy Ghost

Tues., May 24
7:00 PM (Ct. 1): West Catholic vs. Holy Ghost
7:00 PM (Ct. 2): Bensalem vs. CB East
8:00 PM (Ct. 1): Judge vs. Haverford
8:00 PM (Ct. 2): MCS vs. CH East

Thurs., May 26
7:00 PM (Ct. 1): SJ Prep vs. Ryan
8:00 PM (Ct. 2): Imhotep vs. Wood

Thurs., May 31
7:00 PM (Ct. 1): Judge vs. Holy Ghost
7:00 PM (Ct. 2): Haverford vs. West Catholic
8:00 PM (Ct. 1): CH East vs. CB East
8:00 PM (Ct. 2): Imhotep vs. Ryan

Thurs., June 2
7:00 PM (Ct. 1): Bensalem vs. SJ Prep
8:00 PM (Ct. 2): MCS vs. Wood

Tues, June 7
7:00 PM (Ct. 1): Haverford vs. Bensalem
7:00 PM (Ct. 2): Imhotep vs. Judge
8:00 PM (Ct. 1): MCS vs. CB East
8:00 PM (Ct. 2): Wood vs. SJ Prep

Thurs., June 9
7:00 PM (Ct. 1): West Catholic vs. Ryan
8:00 PM (Ct. 2): Holy Ghost vs. CH East

Tues., June 14
7:00 PM (Ct. 1): Wood vs. CH East
7:00 PM (Ct. 2): Judge vs. Bensalem
8:00 PM (Ct. 1): Haverford vs. Holy Ghost
8:00 PM (Ct. 2): Imhotep vs. MCS

Thurs., June 16
7:00 PM (Ct. 1): SJ Prep vs. West Catholic
8:00 PM (Ct. 2): CB East vs. Ryan

Tues, June 21
7:00 PM (Ct. 1): Judge vs. CH East
7:00 PM (Ct. 2): Haverford vs. SJ Prep
8:00 PM (Ct. 1): Wood vs. West Catholic
8:00 PM (Ct. 2): Imhotep vs. CB East

Thurs., June 23
7:00 PM (Ct. 1): Bensalem vs. Holy Ghost
8:00 PM (Ct. 2): Ryan vs. MCS