Pottsville’s 33-28 overtime victory over Tamaqua in the Schuylkilll League boys’ basketball championship game Friday was a grand finale to the league season.
Fans in attendance at Martz Hall couldn’t have asked for a more thrilling title game, despite the low score.
For 11 Schuylkill League teams, it is now on to the District 11 playoffs, and perhaps for some, beyond.
The district postseason begins tonight with a trio of Class AAA games, including No. 9 Blue Mountain (11-11) at No. 8 Lehighton (14-8) at 7. The winner faces top seed Pottsville (24-0) in the quarterfinals Friday at a site and time to be determined.
Here are items about the upcoming postseason:
• The new PIAA classifications for the next two school years have brought somewhat of a new look to the playoffs.
The biggest changes are in Classes AA and A, where last year’s champs in both classifications aren’t there anymore. Last year’s Class AA winner Notre Dame-Green Pond is now in Class AAA and made the tournament as a No. 11 seed. Mahanoy Area, 2013-14 Class A champ, is the No. 2 seed in Class AA.
• The two other defending champions, Parkland (Class AAAA) and Allentown Central Catholic (Class AAA) are back. Parkland (24-1), coming off a 68-53 victory over Liberty in the inaugural Eastern Pennsylvania Conference championship game Friday, is the top seed and ranked No. 4 in the state in Class AAAA in the most recent PennLive.com rankings.
Allentown Central Cathlolic (14-9) is seeded No. 3 for this year’s AAA tournament.
• Both the Class AA and A fields feature just four teams apiece.
Class AA will be a mini Schuylkill League Division II-III tournament with No. 1 Minersville (18-3), No. 2 Mahanoy Area (18-5), No. 3 Marian (11-11) and No. 4 Williams Valley (11-11). Catasauqua, last’s year’s Class AA runner-up, didn’t make districts after finishing 4-18.
That also means that at least two teams from the Schuylkill League are guaranteed to reach the PIAA Tournament. The top 2 finishers from Class AA qualify for the states.
Class A also features four teams in No. 1 Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg (20-2), No. 2 Nativity (14-8), No. 3 Lincoln Leadership Academy (15-7) and No. 4 Shenandoah Valley (11-11).
Due to number of schools in those brackets, the Class A (Tuesday, Feb. 24) and Class AA (Wednesday, Feb. 25) tournaments don’t get under way until next week.
• Outside of Class AA, the number of schools that will qualify for the PIAA Tournament out of District 11 remains the same. The top two finishers in Class A go, while three from both Class AAA and AAAA qualify for states.
Here’s a look at the opening games for our area teams.
District 11
Class AAA
No. 9 Blue Mountain (11-11)
vs. No. 8 Lehighton (14-8)
When, where: Tonight, 7, Lehighton High School
Players to watch: Blue Mountain — G Mark Chelius (jr., 5-8, 16.5 points per game), G Aaron Albertini (soph., 6-1, 10.2), F Brayen Lewis (soph., 5-9, 9.2). Lehighton — G Jordan Knappenberger (sr., 6-1, 15.5), G Tyler Crum (sr., 6-1, 13.9), F Nick Chambers (jr., 6-3, 10.5)
Quick shots: Third meeting this season between Division I teams. Eagles won 90-86 in overtime Jan. 8, while Indians took rematch 74-58 on Jan. 30 ... Eagles were 4-7 over final 11 games and lost four straight to end season. ... Indians won three of their four last games, but went 5-7 after 9-1 start.
Next for winner: No. 1 seed Pottsville on Friday, Feb. 20, at 7:30 p.m. at site and time to be determined
No. 5 North Schuylkill (17-5)
vs. No. 4 Tamaqua (19-5)
When, where: Friday, 8 p.m., Martz Hall
Players to watch: North Schuylkill — C Tevin Murray (jr., 6-5, 14.3), G-F Major Jordan (soph., 6-1, 8.7), F Justin Heaton (sr., 6-1, 7.7). Tamaqua — G Bo Rottet (sr., 6-0, 17.0), G-F Brett Kosciolek (sr., 6-7, 16.8), G Russell Blaker (jr., 6-1, 8.3)
Quick shots: Division I schools split regular-season meetings. The Raiders won 60-46 on Jan. 10 and the Spartans 50-43 on Feb. 4. ... Win over Raiders began four-game winning streak to end regular season for Spartans. ... After loss to Spartans, Raiders won three straight before losing to Pottsville in league title game.
Next for winner: No. 9 Blue Mountain, No. 8 Lehighton or No. 1 Pottsville in semifinal Tuesday, Feb. 24, at site and time to be determined.
Class AA
No. 4 Williams Valley (11-11)
vs. No. 1 Minersville (18-3)
When, where: Wednesday, Feb. 25, at a site and time to be determined
Players to watch: Williams Valley — F Nick Rodichok (jr., 6-1, 19.6), G Cody Miller (sr., 5-11, 9.0), G Peppe Mini (jr., 5-10, 5.9). Minersville — G Chris Leshko (jr., 6-2, 12.5), F David Graham (jr., 6-0, 11.7), G Jon McBreen (jr., 6-2, 7.4).
Quick shots: Miners swept regular-season series, winning 54-45 on Dec. 15 and 65-51 on Jan. 23. ... After 8-3 start, Vikings finished regular season going 3-8. ... Miners had eight-game winning streak snapped with 59-53 loss to Tamaqua in Schuylkill League semifinals.
Next for winner: No. 3 Marian-No. 2 Mahanoy Area winner in championship game Saturday, Feb. 28, at a site and time to be determined
No. 3 Marian (11-11)
vs. No. 2 Mahanoy Area (18-5)
When, where: Wednesday, Feb. 25, at site and time to be determined
Players to watch: Marian (heights not available) — F Aaron DeAngelo (jr., 8.7), F Nick Wesner (sr., 8.5), F Brandon Mohammed (soph., 6.7). Mahanoy Area — G Matt Yedsena (jr., 6-0, 15.5), F-C Brian Miller (sr., 6-3, 15.0), G Mike Joseph (soph., 5-8, 8.8)
Quick shots: Golden Bears swept season series between the Division III rivals, winning 42-35 on Dec. 18 and 49-40 on Jan. 27. ... Colts finished regular season winning 5-of-6 to get into playoffs. ... Golden Bears went 2-2 over final week of regular before losing to Pottsville 59-31 in league semifinals.
Next for winner: No. 4 Williams Valley-No. 1 Minersville winner in championship game Saturday, Feb. 28, at site and time to be determined
Class AA
No. 4 Shenandoah Valley (11-11)
vs. No. 1 Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg (20-2)
When, where: Tuesday, Feb. 24, at site and time to be determined
Players to watch: Shenandoah Valley — G Joel Santana (soph., 5-9, 20.8), G-F Ian McCole (jr., 6-2, 11.1), G Jermaine McNeil (soph., 5-8, 7.5). Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg (Player information not available) — Tyerell Mann, Ramon Nedd, Sherod Sharif
Quick shots: Spartans started season 2-2, including losses to Tamaqua and North Schuylkill, but have since won 18 straight. ... Blue Devils have won 9-of-12 after starting season 2-8.
Next for winner: No. 3 Lincoln Leadership Academy-No. 2 Nativity winner in championship game Friday, Feb. 27, at site and time to be determined.
No. 3 Lincoln Leadership Academy (15-7)
vs. No. 2 Nativity (14-8)
When, where: Tuesday, Feb. 24, at site and time to be determined
Players to watch: Lincoln Leadership Academy (stats not available) — G-F Monty Farmer (jr., 5-9), G Elijah Adams (jr., 5-8), G-F Ramfis Rodriguez (soph., 6-0). Nativity — G Jeff Yordy (sr., 6-2, 23.2), G Dominic Piccioni (sr., 5-9, 10.4), G-F Ayden Adams (jr. 6-2, 7.4)
Quick shots: Lions finished regular season with four straight victories and won 9-of-11. One of the losses was to Mahanoy Area 55-51 on Jan. 31. ... Hilltoppers won 7-of-10 to conclude regular season. .... Rematch of quarterfinal-round game from last season, won by Hilltoppers 68-62 at Martz Hall on Feb. 21.
Next for winner: No. 4 Shenandoah Valley-No. 1 Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg winner in championship game Friday, Feb. 27
District 3 Class AA
No. 6 Upper Dauphin (20-4)
at No. 3 Hanover (20-2)
When, where: Saturday, 2 p.m., Hanover High School
Players to watch: Upper Dauphin — G Matthew Miller (jr., 6-0, 23.8), F Alex Uhler (jr., 6-1, 9.9), G Jordan Gessner jr., 5-11, 7.5). Hanover (stats not available) — Dylan Krieger (sr.), Jacob Rhodes (sr.), Kyle Krout (jr.)
Quick shots: Trojans are 15-2 since Dec. 22 and won first Tri-Valley League title since 2008 with 60-51 win over Juniata last Saturday. ... Nighthawks went 20-1 during regular season, winning YAIAA Division III title. Lost to West York 62-37 in league playoffs Feb. 7. ... Nighthawks lost to Trinity 55-46 in last year’s Class AA title game. ... Miller and Krieger have both gone over 1,000 points for their careers.
Next for winner: No. 10 Columbia, No. 7 Tulpehocken or No. 2 Lancaster Mennonite in semifinals Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. at Giant Center.
(Carnahan is the boys’ basketball beat writer for The Republican-Herald. Follow him on Twitter @mdcarnahan71)
Power poll
Through Feb. 14
W-L Pvs
1. Pottsville 24-0 1
2. Tamaqua 19-5 2
3. Minersville 18-4 4
4. Mahanoy Area 18-5 3
5. North Schuylkill 17-5 5
6. Lehighton 14-8 7
7. Blue Mountain 11-11 6
9. Upper Dauphin 20-4 8
9. Nativity 14-8 10
10. Shen. Valley 11-11 NR
— Complied by Mike Carnahan