Thanks to one of my worst colds in recent memory, last week was one I would like to forget.
But it was an exciting week of boys' basketball in the Schuylkill League.
Consider:
- Blue Mountain beat Pottsville 51-33 on Monday, ending the Crimson Tide's 51-game division winning streak, as well as snapping the Eagles' 11-game losing skid against Pottsville. Blue Mountain finished the week with three more victories, giving it 12 straight. The Eagles are the hottest team in the league right now;
- Nativity junior Jeff Yordy reached 1,000 points for his career Monday after scoring 37 during a 79-49 victory over Weatherly;
- Lourdes earned its 1,000th win in program history after a 48-22 victory over Schuylkill Haven on Thursday;
- In front a playoff-type atmosphere, North Schuylkill downed Mahanoy Area 62-61 in a thriller Friday in Fountain Springs. It was just the Golden Bears' second loss of the season and the most points they have allowed all season.
The events of the past week show what was perhaps expected at the beginning of the season - such as a Pottsville-Mahanoy Area rematch for the league title - is no longer a sure thing. It's still possible the two could meet for the championship at Martz Hall, but they could also meet in the semifinals.
While all three champs have been crowned for the Schuylkill League girls - the only spot to be decided is the Division I wild card - nothing has been decided on the boys' side. And what transpired last week brings plenty of intrigue for the final week of the regular season.
Let's start in Division I.
After the Eagles' win last Monday, the potential was there for three-way tie for first for the division title among Blue Mountain, Pottsville and North Schuylkill. But the picture is much clearer now.
Blue Mountain (18-2, 10-1 D-I) and Pottsville (17-3, 9-1) have both qualified for the league playoffs. The Spartans (13-5, 7-3) were eliminated with their loss to Pottsville on Wednesday and Blue Mountain's victory over Jim Thorpe on Thursday. The Spartans and Pottsville could finish with the same division record but the Crimson Tide hold the tiebreaker with their season-series sweep.
So the question is, how will Blue Mountain and Pottsville finish?
The Crimson Tide host Panther Valley today and travel to Jim Thorpe on Thursday, while the Eagles host North Schuylkill in their league finale Thursday. If Pottsville wins both its games, and Blue Mountain downs the Spartans, the two will finish tied for first and a tiebreaker playoff will be necessary after the Crimson Tide won the earlier-season meeting Jan. 4.
If a tiebreaker game is needed, it is scheduled for Saturday, with Minersville a likely, although not certain, site.
However, if Pottsville wins both its games, and the Eagles lose Thursday, the Crimson Tide will be the division champs and Blue Mountain the wild card.
The Division II and III races are much simpler. The division leaders control their destinies and both need one more victory to clinch their spots in the league playoffs.
Williams Valley (15-2, 9-2) holds a half-game lead over Minersville (14-7, 9-3) and also won both of the regular-season meetings between the two. If the Vikings beat either Schuylkill Haven tonight or Lourdes on Thursday, they will be the division champs. If Williams Valley loses both, and Minersville beats Schuylkill Haven Thursday, the Miners will win the division.
Mahanoy Area (18-2, 11-0) holds a 1.5-game lead over Nativity (15-4, 10-2) in Division III and won the first regular-season meeting Jan. 8. The Golden Bears will win the division if they beat either Marian tonight or Nativity on Thursday. If Mahanoy Area loses both, which means the Hilltoppers win Thursday, then the two will be tied for the first and tiebreaker game will be necessary.
The Schuylkill League boys' semifinals will be at Martz Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 6 and 7:30 p.m. The Division I champ will play the division champ with the lesser league record, while the champion with the best record will play the wild card.
The championship game is Friday, Feb. 14, at 7:30 p.m.
Lots to look forward to in districts, too
This is, of course, the final week for teams to qualify for the District 11, 4 and 3 playoffs.
As of today, eight teams from the Schuylkill League have clinched spots for the District 11 playoffs: Blue Mountain (Class AAA), Mahanoy Area (Class A), Minersville (Class AA), Nativity (Class A), North Schuylkill (Class AA), Pottsville (Class AAA), Tamaqua (Class AAA) and Williams Valley (Class AA).
There are three teams still in the running for District 11 playoff spots:
- Panther Valley (10-10) needs to beat either Pottsville today or Tamaqua on Thursday to get into the Class AAA field;
- Tri-Valley (8-11) needs to win all three of its final three games to qualify in Class A. The Bulldogs finish at Lourdes today, host Halifax on Friday and travel to Carson Long next Monday;
- Marian (8-11, 6-5 D-III) needs to beat either Mahanoy Area today or Weatherly on Thursday to finish above .500 in the division and qualify in Class A.
In District 4, Lourdes (10-9) needs one win in its final three games to get into the Class A field. After Tri-Valley today and Williams Valley on Thursday, the Red Raiders host Gillingham Charter next Monday.
In District 3, Upper Dauphin (10-10) is currently No. 8 in the Class AA power rankings. The Trojans host Lancaster Country Day on Tuesday and travel to Juniata on Thursday. The top 10 teams qualify for the playoffs.
Stats return
With my cold last week, I wasn't able to put together updated stats. But they are back this week on Page 16. The most recent District 11 rankings are on Page 16, too.
(Carnahan is the boys' basketball beat writer for the Republican-Herald. Follow the season on his blog at blogs.republicanherald.com/ac.) Power poll
Through Feb. 1
W-L Pv.
1. Blue Mountain 18-2 3
2. Pottsville 17-3 2
3. North Schuylkill 14-5 4
4. Mahanoy Area 18-2 1
5. Williams Valley 16-3 7
6. Nativity 15-4 6
7. Minersville 14-7 5
8. Tamaqua 11-8 8
9. Panther Valley 10-10 9
10. Marian 8-11 10
- Complied by Mike Carnahan