City of Basketball Love

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
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The second weekend of the high school basketball season features several big events going on throughout the region, featuring many great teams from all over.

Here are brief looks at a few events worth checking out:

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Reading Tip-Off Showcase (@ Albright)
Friday
Constitution vs. Berks Catholic (6:30 PM)
Archbishop Wood vs. Reading (8 PM)

Just two games, but they should be wild ones. Constitution's young and scrappy, still looking to find itself after graduating a crucial senior class a year ago. But Anthony Satchell has been there, and the Generals' Rob Moore will lean heavily on the senior wing all season long. Berks Catholic, who's also dealing with big losses due to graduation, is led by senior Isaac Lutz, a football player who's just transitioning back to the hardwood. The gym is sure to be packed by tipoff of the nightcap, as star Reading junior Lonnie Walker leads a Red Knights team licking its wounds off a loss to Coatesville against a Wood squad under John Mosco who's trying to prove it's a title contender as well. Army commit Tommy Funk, a 6-0 senior point guard, plus junior guard Collin Gillespie and sophomore wing Tyree Pickron, power the Vikings' ship.

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Coaches vs. Cancer (@ Archbishop Wood)
Saturday
Pennsbury vs. Plymouth Whitemarsh (1:30 PM)
Conwell-Egan vs. Abington HS (3:15 PM)
Archbishop Carroll vs. Parkland (5:00 PM)
Archbishop Wood vs. C.B. West (6:30 PM)

This is a great slate of four games, with four matchups that should be all competitive and enjoyable to watch. Pennsbury/Plymouth Whitemarsh is a Suburban One League showdown between two District 1 AAAA semifinalists a year ago, as the Falcon's 6-8 forward Mark Flagg and Isaiah Carpenter go up against a Colonials backcourt led by Rider commit Xzavier Malone. Conwell-Egan/Abington pits the defending PIAA Class AA champs against the District 1 AAAA title winners, and though both are replacing numerous pieces, there's still a lot of talent remaining on both rosters. Carroll/Parkland pits Jersey Shore Warriors Ryan Daly and Colin Daly (Carroll) against Kyle Stout and Sam Iorio (Parkland) head-to-head as friends become foes for an evening, and Archbishop Wood/C.B. West could be the best matchup of the night--Army commit Tommy Funk and super sophomore Tyree Pickron against the Bucks' stellar squad of seniors led by Lafayette-bound Cal Reichwein.

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Don McBride Classic (@ Haverford School)
Friday
Hill School vs. Academy New Church (6 PM)
Haverford School vs. Prep Charter (7:30 PM)

Saturday
Consolation Game (12 PM)
Championship Game (1:30 PM)

The annual Don McBride classic, named after the former head of the Haverford School's upper school, returns to the Main Line prep school on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Though the home court Fords have gotten off to a surprising 3-2 start despite losing almost the entirety of last year's team to graduation and transfers, the highlight game of this one will be the opener on Friday night. The Hill School is led by Dartmouth commit Jonas Stakeliunas, explosive sophomore wing Chase Audige and 7-foot junior center Solomon Riddell, while Academy New Church counters with a trio of sophomores with a huge upside: shooting guard Justin Anderson, wing Matthue Cotton and big man Marcus Littles. Whoever wins this game will be favored in the final.

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Bucks County/Northeast Showcase (@ Holy Family)
Saturday
Samuel Fels vs. Northeast (2 PM)
Lincoln vs. CR South (3:45 PM)
Frankford vs. Archbishop Ryan (5:30 PM)
George Washington vs. Bensalem (7:15 PM)

Sunday
Fels/Northeast loser vs. Lincoln/CR South loser (2 PM)
Fels/Northeast winner vs. Lincoln/CR South winner (3:45 PM)
Frankford vs. Bensalem (5:30 PM)
George Washington vs. Archbishop Ryan (7:15 PM)

George Washington's playing "host" in this one, bringing together eight schools from the Northeast part of the CoBL coverage region together to celebrate basketball in that neck of the woods. The event is split into two "brackets" as Fels, Northeast, Lincoln and Council Rock South will play a true backet format while Frankford, Bensalem, GW and Ryan are playing two feature games. The highlight of the event is likely the nightcap on Sunday, with two first-year head coaches in Kyle Sample (Washington) and Joe Zeglinski (Ryan) going head-to-head.

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