The Schuylkill League season couldn't have had a better ending Friday, as Mahanoy Area's thrilling 45-44 victory over Pottsville was the most exciting league championship game since the Crimson Tide's 51-49 win over Pine Grove in 2011.
Now, it's on to the district playoffs, which begin tonight, weather permitting.
Here's a quick overview of the postseason:
- The Schuylkill League qualified 10 teams for the postseason in either District 11 or District 4, while Upper Dauphin from the Tri-Valley League has qualified in District 3 Class AA.
- In District 11, Pocono Mountain West (Class AAAA), Allentown Central Catholic (Class AAA), Notre Dame-Green Pond (Class AA) and Mahanoy Area (Class A) are the respective top seeds, with Parkland (Class AAAA), Allentown Central Catholic, Notre Dame-Green Pond and Mahanoy Area seeking to defend their district titles. In District 3 Class AA, Hanover (17-6) is the top seed, while St. John Neumann (23-0) is the top seed in District 4 Class A.
- Pottsville earned the No. 2 seed in District 11 Class AAA, while Blue Mountain is at No. 3. North Schuylkill (Class AA) and Nativity (Class A) are also third seeds.
- The playoffs involving area teams get under way tonight, with No. 10 seed Tamaqua (13-9) traveling to No. 7 Lehighton (13-9) for a District 11 Class AAA first-round game. In District 4 Class A, Lourdes (11-11) is at No. 6 Meadowbrook Christian (20-5). Both games begin at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, No. 8 Upper Dauphin (12-10) hosts No. 9 Halifax (11-10) in a District 3 Class AA first-round game at 7 p.m. There are then four games involving area teams Friday in District 11 Class AAA and A, with a District 11 Class AA quarterfinal-round contest between Minersville and Williams Valley set for Saturday.
- District 11 will send three teams to the PIAA Tournament in Class AAAA and AAA, while the only the district champ will go in Class AA and the top two finishers in Class A.
What follows is a brief look at each of the games involving area teams, with player statistics where available.
Both Pottsville (21-4) and Mahanoy Area (22-2) have received first-round byes and are not included. The Crimson Tide take on the Tamaqua-Lehigton winner Friday at Blue Mountain at 7:30 p.m., while the Golden Bears face the winner of Friday's game between No. 5 Moravian Academy (12-10) and No. 4 Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg (15-7) on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at a site and time to be determined.
DISTRICT 11
CLASS AAA
No. 10 Tamaqua (13-9) vs. No. 7 Lehighton (13-9)
When, where: Tonight, 7 p.m., Lehighton Area High School
Players to watch: Tamaqua - F Brett Kosciolek (jr., 6-foot-7, 18.8 points per game), G Bo Rottet (jr., 6-0, 15.3), F Adam Frantz (sr., 6-0, 5.1). Lehighton (stats not available) - Anthony Rossino (sr.), Jordan Knappenberger (jr.), Tyler Crum (jr.).
Quick hits: Raiders were 11-5 with Kosciolek in the lineup and 2-4 in the six games he missed due to a concussion. ⦠Indians finished fourth in Mountain Valley Conference at 5-7. ... Blue Raiders won regular-season meeting 66-54 on Feb. 1 in Tamaqua.
Next for winner: No. 2 Pottsville on Friday, Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m., at Blue Mountain High School.
No. 6 Southern Lehigh (14-8) vs. No. 3 Blue Mountain (19-5)
When, where: Friday, 7:30 p.m., Martz Hall
Players to watch: Southern Lehigh - G Noah Kandt (jr., 5-7, 11.2), F Mike Zabrecky (jr., 6-1, 10.4), F Troy Reppert (sr., 6-3, 9.9). Blue Mountain - G Will Bornstein (sr., 6-1, 14.4), C Skyler Panchari (sr., 6-4, 11.8), G Kyle Slane (sr., 6-0, 11.0)
Quick hits: Spartans are 9-4 since Jan. 1, finishing fourth in Colonial League South Division. ⦠Eagles enter districts on three-game losing streak after winning 13 in a row. ⦠Bornstein has reached double figures in scoring in 16 consecutive games.
Next for winner: Either No. 10 Tamaqua, No. 7 Lehighton or No. 2 Pottsville in semifinals, Tuesday, Feb. 25 at site and time to be determined
CLASS AA
No. 5 Minersville (15-7) vs. No. 4 Williams Valley (19-4)
When, where: Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Blue Mountain High School
Players to watch: Minersville - C Dylan Ellinger (sr., 6-3, 10.7), F Shamiek Bethea (sr., 6-3, 9.1), F Spencer Tobin (jr., 6-0, 8.0). Williams Valley - F Stephen Sedesse (sr., 6-2, 14.5), G Ben Rautzahn (sr., 6-0, 11.6), F Nick Rodichok (soph., 6-0), 10.5)
Quick hits: Miners are 10-3 since start of new year, averaging 53.7 points per game on offense and 40.0 per game on defense. ⦠Vikings started season 10-0 and finished regular season allowing 43.1 points per game defensively. ⦠Vikings won both regular-season games, 46-41 on Dec. 13 and 47-37 on Jan. 23.
Next for winner: No. 1 Notre Dame-Green Pond in semifinals Wednesday, Feb. 26, at site and time to be determined
No. 3 North Schuylkill (16-6) vs. No. 2 Catasauqua (16-8)
When, where: Wednesday, Feb. 26, site and time to be determined
Players to watch: North Schuylkill - F Matt Manbeck (sr., 6-5, 13.5), F Tevin Murray (soph., 6-5, 12.2), G-F Jake Damiter (sr., 6-4, 8.2). Catasauqua - F Paryss Marshall (sr., 6-1, 12.2), F Derrick Bond (sr., 6-3, 10.4), C Kevin Bond (soph., 6-4, 8.8)
Quick hits: Spartans are 9-2 since Jan. 17, with only losses to Pottsville and Blue Mountain. ⦠Rough Riders won eight in a row before losing 60-58 to Notre Dame-Green Pond in Colonial League final Saturday.
Next for winner: Either No. 5 Minersville, No. 4 Williams Valley or No. 1 Catasauqua in championship, Saturday, March 1, at site and time to be determined
CLASS A
No. 7 Marian (9-13) vs. No. 2 Pius X (17-3)
When, where: Friday, 6 p.m., Blue Mountain High School
Players to watch: Marian - F Mike Vercusky (jr., 6-0, 7.7), G Ethan Kuczynski (fr., 5-8, 5.6), G Dominic Mussoline (soph., 5-9, 4.7). Pius X - G Eric Marbury (jr., 5-11, 17.8), G Anthony Holmes (sr., 5-8, 14.4), F John Goffredo (sr., 6-0, 7.4),
Quick hits: Young Colts finished regular season 3-6, losing senior Anthony Agosti for the year with a broken wrist Jan. 27 against Shenandoah Valley. ⦠The Royals, last year's Class A runner-up, started season 2-2 but finished 15-1, with only loss to Math Civics & Sciences 69-39 on Jan. 4 . ⦠Royals won regular-season meeting 68-21 on Jan. 30 in Hometown
Next for winner: No. 6 Lincoln Leadership Academy or No. 3 Nativity in semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, at site and time to be determined.
No. 6 Lincoln Leadership Acad. (12-9) vs. No. 3 Nativity (16-6)
When, where: Friday, 6 p.m., at Martz Hall
Players to watch: Lincoln Leadership Academy (stats not available) - G Dante Rockmore (soph., 5-9), G-F Monty Farmer (soph., 5-9). Nativity - G Jeff Yordy (jr., 6-0, 24.5), G Kyle Kaledas (sr., 5-10, 12.0), F Tyler Hunyara (sr., 6-3, 7.6)
Quick hits: Hilltoppers had won seven in row before finishing regular season 1-2, losing to state-ranked Mahanoy Area and one-time, state-ranked Lebanon Catholic. ⦠Lions won four of last five games, only loss was 83-49 to Pius X on Feb. 10.
Next for winner: No 7 Marian or No. 2 Pius X in semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, at site and time to be determined
DISTRICT 3
CLASS AA
No. 9 Halifax (11-10) vs. No. 8 Upper Dauphin (12-10)
When, where: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., Upper Dauphin High School
Players to watch: Halifax - G Koby Bowman (soph., 5-7, 14.7), F Hunter Hilinski (sr., 6-3, 11.1), F Dan Osenbach (soph., 6-0, 10.3). Upper Dauphin - G Mac Ney (sr., 5-11, 14.7), G Matthew Miller (soph., 5-11, 13.0), C Brendon Nestor (sr., 6-5, 7.1)
Quick hits: Longest winning streak this season for Wildcats, who have only two seniors on the roster, was two games, which they did four times. ⦠Trojans had five-game losing streak in mid-January, but finished regular season 7-1. ⦠Tri-County League rivals split regular-season meetings, with Wildcats winning 77-70 on Dec. 20 and the Trojans winning 69-64 on Jan. 30.
Next for winner: No. 1-seed Hanover in quarterfinals Saturday at 2 p.m.
DISTRICT 4
CLASS A
No. 11 Lourdes (11-11) vs. No. 6 Meadowbrook Christian (20-5)
When, where: Tonight, 7 p.m., at Meadowbrook Christian School, Milton
Players to watch: Lourdes - C Larry Czeponis (fr., 6-4, 10.9), G Jordan Fobia (soph., 5-9, 8.9), G Michael Gilger (sr., 5-6, 6.1). Meadowbrook Christian (stats not available) - F David Duncan (jr., 6-0), G Austin Schott (jr., 6-2), G Kurtis (jr., 6-1).
Quick hits: Young Red Raiders began season 7-4, then finished 4-7. ... Lions enter districts on 10-game winning streak.
Next for winner: No. 3 Sullivan County on Friday, 7 p.m.
(Carnahan is the boys' basketball beat writer for The Republican-Herald. Read his blog at blogs.republicanherald.com/ac/) Boys' Power poll
Team W-L Pv.
1. Mahanoy Area 22-2 4
2. Pottsville 21-4 2
3. Blue Mountain 19-5 1
4. North Schuylkill 16-6 3
5. Williams Valley 19-4 5
6. Nativity 16-6 6
7. Minersville 15-7 7
8. Tamaqua 13-9 8
9. U. Dauphin 12-10 NR
10. Lourdes 11-11 NR
- Complied by Mike Carnahan