Friday, February 01, 2013

Friday night boys basketball predictions: Lots on the line for some teams

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/ FROM KEITH GROLLER We're down to the final week of the regular season of this 2012-13 boys basketball season. It all ends, weather permitting, a week from tonight. There's still lots to be settled and tonight's games should help determine the league and District 11 tournament fields. I will be at Bangor to see the red-hot Roughies of Catty go against the very tough Bangor Slaters. Bangor can lock up the Colonial League North Division title with a win. Here's how we see the games turning out: COLONIAL LEAGUE Bangor 58, Catasauqua 51 -- Bangor won the first meeting 61-38, but that's before the Rough Riders got the football out of their system. No matter what happens, it has been a nice run for the Roughies, who have won six straight and come a long way since a 5-5 start. Salisbury 70, Notre Dame 66 -- Should be one of the more entertaining games of the night. Lots of offensive firepower on both sides and both are playing well on five-game win streaks. Falcons always have trouble in Green Pond, but home court will help tonight. Northwestern 51, Palmerton 39 -- Tigers will get seventh and final win here. Nice improvement in New Tripoli. Palisades 50, Southern Lehigh 48 -- One of the biggest games of the night in terms of districts. Spartans are in a little better shape at 9-10 overall and 6-7 league, but the Pirates at 8-10 overall, absolutely, positively must win this one to have a shot at postseason berth. Northern Lehigh 61, Pen Argyl 45 -- Bulldogs might be able to redeem themselves in districts because the league schedule has not gone anywhere near as well as expected. Wilson 64, Saucon Valley 50 -- Warriors haven't lost since Dec. 11. LEHIGH VALLEY CONFERENCE Emmaus 60, Allen 55 -- Must-win for the Canaries, who are 8-9 and might still be hurting after squandering that big lead to Whitehall. Central Catholic 73, Dieruff 50 -- Vikings didn't encounter any letdown against Stroudsburg on Wednesday night. Right now, they're the team to beat in the LVC. Parkland 62, Nazareth 55 -- Weave is going with the Blue Eagles in an upset, 55-45, but I think Parkland will bounce back after tough losses to The Patrick School and Central Catholic. Whitehall 60, Northampton 52 -- Zephs keep district hopes alive. Liberty 72, Bethlehem Catholic 55 -- Hurricanes have most depth of any team and have needed to use it lately. Hurricane hearts stopped beating when Greg Noack hit the deck hard the other night. MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERECE Pocono Mt. West 63, Pleasant Valley 58 -- I don't think these Panthers are quite as good as last year's district champs, but they're still going to be a tough-out in districts. ES North 60, PM East 53 -- Wonder how many this one will draw in Swiftwater. Lehighton 57, ES South 54 -- Another big one in terms of districts. Cavs can clinch a D11 spot with a win and Indians (4-6, 9-9) can take a huge step forward toward one with a W.

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