HIGHSCHOOL-BASKETBALL.COM

About This Website

2013-01-07T04:24:06Z

Hi, I'm Dave Kehler, and welcome to my website, which focuses on high school basketball in eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York City. The site's emphasis is on high school basketball teams and team play, rather than on the recruiting of high school players by college teams. The site began in November, 2010, and presents news and analysis of high school basketball in the tri-state region in a way that is now difficult for cash-strapped newspapers to do.

Articles are presented in reverse chronological order, meaning that the most recent articles appear first. Articles are organized in a total of 23 categories that appear on the left side of this page, under the heading "Category Archives". Click on a category, and that will take you to a list of all of the articles in that category. Click on the title of an article, and that will take you to the text of that article. The quick search function that appears on the upper left corner of this page is useless, but the advance search function works--provided that you use a "key word" from the title of an article when you conduct your search. The calendar that appears on this page has no significance, whatever. For virtually all of the articles published on this site, Google's search function is very timely and comprehensive. There are a total of 435 articles of various sorts on the site. The site will be updated in some fashion almost every day from now to April, so please check back often.

During the 2010-11 season, I attended, and reported upon, 234 high school basketball games.

In the 2011-12 season, I attended 228 games involving 209 different teams--89 from Pennsylvania, 59 from New Jersey, 46 from New York, three from Connecticut, three from Delaware, three from Maryland, two from Massachusetts, one from the District of Columbia, one from Rhode Island, one from West Virginia, and one from Canada. The site has reports on most of these games.

Another emphasis is tournament schedules, which, for the regular season, are listed by month. Please check these listings often, as there are frequent schedule and venue changes that I try to update, as information permits. (Please note: For some reason, the site's link to the February, 2012, tournaments is broken, so please scroll down to see the listing of those events.)

I am also pleased to present occasional guest articles written by others who are knowledgeable about high school basketball.

One stylistic note: throughout the site, when I refer to a school or a team, I omit the words "School" or "High School" from the name. So, for example, I'll simply write "Chester", rather than "Chester High School", or "St. Anthony", rather than "St. Anthony High School".

This site is totally free and entirely non-commercial, and I intend to keep it that way. The site is not affiliated with any publication or entity, and it is entirely independent.

For more on the site and its purpose, please see the article under the category titled "Welcome".

I hope that you enjoy the site and will visit often. I welcome your comments, suggestions, and questions. You can reach me at dave@highschool-basketball.com .

Schedules and Results for Area Teams in Out-of-Area Tournaments: 2012-13

2013-01-07T04:23:10Z

Several tri-state area teams are scheduled to play in outstanding tournaments in other parts of the country during the 2012-13 season. This list will be updated as more information becomes available, so check back over the next several weeks. Unless otherwise noted, these events are played to a championship.

December 7-9: 24th Annual Gonzaga D. C. Classic 12/7 and 12/8 @ Gonzaga College (Washington) and 12/9 @ George Washington U. Archbishop Molloy (Queens), Germantown Academy (Ft. Washington, PA), and Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) compete in a eight team field with top squads from Washington and Maryland. In the first round, Molloy will play the host team, Germantown Academy will face Sidwell Friends (Washington), and Roman is against Bullis (Potomac, MD).

Results: In the first round, Sidwell Friends defeated Germantown Academy, 63-57; Gonzaga College defeated Archbishop Molloy, 78-66; and Bullis defeated Roman Catholic, 61-49.

In the second round, Archbishop Molloy defeated Germantown Academy, 82-61, and Roman Catholic defeated Archbishop Carroll (Washington) 49-38.

In the third round, Archbishop Molloy defeated Roman Catholic, 54-52, and Germantown Academy defeated Archbishop Carroll (Washington), 51-49.

December 18-22: 40th Annual State Farm City of Palms Classic @ Bishop Verot (Ft. Myers, FL) On paper, this looks to be the outstanding Christmas season high school basketball tournament in the country this year. Two time defending Penssylvania PIAA Class AAAA state champion Chester (Chester, PA) will compete in a 16 team field that includes Montverde Academy (Montverde, FL), Prestonwood Christian (Plano, TX), Whitney M. Young (Chicago), defending champion of the excellent Washington Catholic league Paul VI Catholic (Fairfax, VA), Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, CA), and three time defending Nebraska state champion Omaha Central (Omaha, NE). Of the teams in the field, only Chester and Omaha Central (winners of six state championships in the past seven seasons) were undefeated last season.

Results: Chester finished in 6th place in the main section of the tournament, with two wins and two losses. In their opening game, Chester defeated Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, FL), 85-68, then lost to Lone Peak (Highland, UT), 73-50. Chester then defeated Lake Wales (Lake Wales, FL), 78-64 before losing to Whitney M. Young (Chicago), 67-56.

Montverde Academy won the tournament, defeating Lone Peak in the championship game.

December 19-22: Chick-fil-A Classic @ Richland Northeast (Columbia, SC) Roberts Vaux (Philadelphia) and Christ the King Regional (Queens) will compete in a 16 team field, which includes such perennial powers as Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, FL), Miller (Charlottesville, VA), St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA), and Wheeler (Marietta, GA).

Results: Roberts Vaux lost all three of the games that they played in this event, being defeated by Deerfield Beach (Deerfield Beach, FL), 68-67; Spring Valley (Columbia, SC), 86-74; and Miller (Charlottesville, VA), 80-76.

Christ the King Regional lost in the first round, 56-54, to Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, FL), then beat W. J. Keenan (Columbia, SC), 74-63, and defeated Wesleyan Christian (High Point, NC), 58-54.

December 19-23: 32nd Canfield Development King of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic @ Fairdale (Louisville, KY) Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter (Philadelphia) and South Shore (Brooklyn) will compete in a 16 team field comprised primarily of squads from the host state.

Results: In the first round, Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter was defeated, 72-49, by defending Tennessee Class AA state champion Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville), and South Shore lost to Pleasure Ridge Park (Louisville), 89-78.

In the second round, Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter defeated Mountain Pointe (Phoenix), 54-52, and South Shore beat Bowling Green (Bowling Green, KY), 53-44.

In the third round, South Shore defeated Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter, 55-37.

In the final of the consolation round, South Shore beat Martha Layne Collins (Shelbyville, KY), 64-47.

December 20-22: 14th Annual Mission Prep Christmas Classic @ Mission Prep (San Luis Obispo, CA). Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia) competes in an eight team segment of this event, with a first round game against ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch, CO). Imhotep's bracket includes teams from California, Colorado, Florida, Utah, and Washington state.

Results: In the first round, Imhotep Charter defeated ThunderRidge, 54-50. Imhotep Charter lost in the second round, 44-41, to Seattle Prep (Seattle). Having been eliminated from championship contention, Imhotep Charter played an additional game, defeating Brighton (Cottonwood Heights, UT), 55-52.

December 26-29: MaxPreps Holiday Classic @ Cathedral City (Palm Springs, CA) Cardinal Hayes (Bronx) will compete in an exceptional event with such outstanding teams as Miller Grove (Lithonia, GA), Westchester (Los Angeles), Ranier Beach (Seattle), and Fort Bend Travis (Richmond, TX).

Results: After flying across the country on the first day of the event, Cardinal Hayes lost in the first round to Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, CA), 71-69.

Playing in the consolation bracket, Cardinal Hayes defeated Dorsey (Los Angeles), 70-49. In the third round, Cardinal Hayes lost to Leuzinger (Lawnsdale, CA), 76-60. Cardinal Hayes took 11th place in the event by defeating A. B. Miller (Fontana, CA), 49-37.

December 26-29: HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational @ Broughton (Raleigh, NC) St. Joseph (Metuchen, NJ), with Karl Towns, regarded by some experts as the outstanding sophomore in the nation, will compete in a segment of a huge field that includes New Hampton (New Hampton, NH), Dudley (Greenboro, NC), Word of God Academy (Raleigh, NC), and Miller (Charlottesville, VA), among others. (Note: this event was formerly known as the GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Invitational.)

Results: Due to some bad weather, St. Joseph was unable to reach the tournament site in time to play on December 26, so their first round game was cancelled. However, they were advanced to the winners' bracket of the Summit Hospitality segment of the event for their second round game. In the second round, St. Joseph defeated host Broughton (Raleigh, NC), 58-50. DeSoto (DeSoto, TX) defeated St. Joseph for the segment championship, 45-42.

December 26-31: Beach Ball Classic @ Myrtle Beach Convention Center (Myrtle Beach, SC) Hudson Catholic (Jersey City) will play in an amazing 16 team field with such teams as Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), Whitney M. Young (Chicago), St. Rita of Cascia (Chicago), Rufus King (Milwaukee), and Wheeler (Marietta, GA).

Results: In the first round, Hudson Catholic defeated Socastee (Myrtle Beach, SC), 75-48. In the second round, Hudson Catholic defeated Wheeler (Marietta, GA), 50-42. In the semifinals, Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, VA) defeated Hudson Catholic, 60-39. Hudson Catholic won third place honors in the event by defeating Scott County (Georgetown, KY), 56-51. Whitney M. Young won the tournament, defeating Bishop O'Connell in the championship game, 58-37.

December 27-28: Shooting Touch Shootout @ Emmanual College (Boston) This event is a series of games over two days and is not played to a championship. St. Anthony (Jersey City) will play Winter Park (Winter Park, FL) on December 27 and Central Catholic (Lawrence, MA) on December 28. Central Catholic was 21-2 last season, and they have won Massachusetts MIAA state championships in two of the past five seasons. Christ the King Regional (Queens) will play New Mission (Roxbury, MA) on December 27 and Iolani (Honolulu) on December 28. New Mission has won Massachusetts MIAA state championships in two of the past four seasons.

Results: In the first round, Christ the King Regional crushed New Mission, 80-58, and St. Anthony blasted Brighton (Brighton, MA), 78-42. Also in the first round, Wings Academy (Bronx) defeated Iolani, 55-35. Winter Park is not participating in the event, contrary to information previously provided to this site by the tournament's sponsor, and Wings Academy was not originally scheduled to participate.

In the second round, Christ the King Regional defeated Iolani, 65-43; St. Anthony defeated Central Catholic, 54-50; and Wings Academy defeated Amityville Memorial (Amityville, NY), 63-55.

December 27-29: Les Schwab Invitational @ Liberty (Hillsboro, OR) Three time defending Pennsylvania PIAA Class AAA state champion Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) joins a 16 team field that includes Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), Gonzaga College (Washington), Jesuit (Portland), and Jefferson (Portland). Neumann-Goretti has an excellent chance to win this event.

Results: In the first round, Neumann-Goretti defeated Tigard (Tigard, OR), 87-58. In the second round, Neumann-Goretti defeated West Linn (West Linn, OR), 96-74. In the semifinal round, Lake Oswego (Lake Oswego, OR) defeated Neumann-Goretti, 63-59. Neumann-Goretti finished fourth in the tournament, losing to Gonzaga College (Washington), 82-71.

December 27-30: 21st Annual Mirabito STOP-DWI Holiday Classic @ Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena (Binghamton, NY) The eight team National Division of this well-regarded event includes Brooklyn Collegiate (Brooklyn), Bishop Loughlin Memorial (Brooklyn), Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter (Philadelphia), and St. Raymond Boys (Bronx). Interestingly, the field also includes two teams from Toronto, Canada's high school basketball hotbed.

Results: This event was reconfigured as a result of a couple of developments. First, due to labor action in Ontario, the teams from Toronto that were to participate in this tournament could not travel to Binghamton. (Canadian unions engage in traditional labor activities, as opposed to so many United States unions that have absurdly abandoned that orientation in favor of joining a political party.) Second, the planned Gulf Shore Invitational collapsed, providing open dates for Abraham Lincoln (Brooklyn) and Trinity (Louisville).

In the first round, Trinity (Louisville) defeated Abraham Lincoln (Brooklyn), 56-52; Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter defeated St. Raymond Boys, 62-54; Bishop Loughlin defeated I. C. Norcom (Portsmouth, VA), 76-60; and Paul Laurence Dunbar (Lexington, KY) defeated Brooklyn Collegiate, 72-53.

In the second round, Abraham Lincoln defeated St. Raymond Boys, 55-42; Brooklyn Collegiate defeated I. C. Norcom, 59-43; Bishop Loughlin defeated Paul Laurence Dunbar, 58-33; and Trinity defeated Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter, 46-40.

In consolation games, St. Raymond Boys defeated I. C. Norcom, 65-53; Abraham Lincoln defeated Brooklyn Collegiate, 71-43; and Paul Laurence Dunbar defeated Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter, 71-48. Bishop Loughlin won the tournament championship by defeating Trinity, 75-68.

January 4-5: 6th Cancer Research Classic @ Wheeling Jesuit U. (Wheeling, WV). This event is a series of games, rather than a tournament played to a championship. Six tri-state area teams are scheduled to participate. On January 4, Lower Merion (Ardmore, PA) will play St. Raymond Boys (Bronx). On January 5, St. Benedict's Prep (Newark) will meet Gonzaga College (Washington), three time defending Pennsylvania PIAA Class AAA state champion Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) will play Salesian (Richmond, CA), Gill St. Bernard's (Gladstone, NJ) is matched against DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD), and St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) will play Wheeling Park (Wheeling, WV). In the feature game of the event, to be played on January 5, Simeon Career Academy (Chicago) will play Montverde Academy (Montverde, FL).

Results: The schedule for this event was reconfigured. St. Benedict's Prep did not participate. Instead of playing Salesian, Neumann-Goretti played Whitney M. Young (Chicago). Lower Merion defeated St. Raymond Boys, 71-44; Whitney M. Young defeated Neumann-Goretti, 78-49; DeMatha Catholic defeated Gill St. Bernard's, 83-64; and St. Joseph's Prep defeated Wheeling Park, 70-43.

January 17-21: 12th Annual Spaulding Hoophall Classic Invitational Tournament @ Blake Arena (Springfield, MA) The details of this event have not been made public, but some press reports have indicated that 49 teams will participate in what promises to be one of the greatest high school basketball tournaments ever held in this country. On January 19, two time defending Pennsylvania PIAA Class AAAA state champion Chester (Chester, PA) will face Whitney M. Young (Chicago), and three time defending Pennsylvania PIAA Class AAA state champion Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) will play Orlando Christian Prep (Orlando, FL). On January 20, St. Benedict's Prep (Newark) will play a fellow perennial power, Montrose Christian (Rockville, MD). On January 21, two time defending New Jersey NJSIAA Non-Public B and Tournament of Champions champion St. Anthony (Jersey City) will face Lone Peak (West Highland, UT), and Hudson Catholic (Jersey City) will play DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD). Other teams playing during the weekend include Findlay College Prep (Henderson, NV), Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, CA), Prestonwood Christian (Plano, TX), and Huntington Prep (Huntington, WV). It what may prove to be the marquee game of the weekend, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA) will play Simeon Career Academy (Chicago). Some of the games at this tournament will be televised.

January 18-19: Burger King Classic @ Hammermill Center (Erie, PA) This is always an outstanding event in which four teams play to a championship, with doubleheaders on both days. In the first round, Lower Merion (Ardmore, PA) faces Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, VA) and Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia) plays Cathedral Prep (Erie, PA). The second round is winners v winners and losers v losers.

January 18-21: Good Samaritan Flyin' to the Hoop Invitational @ Trent Arena (Kettering, OH) This event is a series of games, rather than a tournament played to a championship. On January 20, Roselle Catholic (Roselle, NJ) will play Walnut Hills (Cincinnati). Some of the top teams in the nation will participate in this event, including Findlay College Prep (Henderson, NV), Huntington Prep (Huntington, WV), Quality Education Academy (Winston-Salem, NC), and Wheeler (Marietta, GA). Our Savior New American (Centerreach, NY) will play three games in the event.

January 21: MLK Hoopfest Showcase @ Coolidge (Washington) This is a one-day event primarily featuring teams from in and around the District of Columbia. Math Civics and Sciences Charter (Philadelphia) will play Paul VI Catholic (Fairfax, VA), the defending champion of the outstanding Washington Catholic league. Paul VI Catholic was 35-5 last season and was ranked #8 in the United States by the website MaxPreps.

High School Basketball Tournaments: January, 2013

2012-12-29T18:35:47Z

These events are typically little publicized, and, to the best of my knowledge, no other source attempts to gather this information in one place. As more complete information becomes available, the listing below will be updated, so check back often. Also, last minute schedule changes may occur, so it is best to try to check before you go.

January 2-3: Roselle Catholic Hoops for Troops Basketball Classic @ Roselle Catholic (350 Raritan Road, Roselle, NJ) 1/2 5 Plainfield v Rumson-Fair Haven, Patrick (formerly St. Patrick) v Eastside, St. Peter's Prep v Montverde Academy (Montverde, FL). 1/3 5 Governor Livingston v Westfield, a girls' game, Roselle Catholic v Montverde Academy (Montverde, FL).

January 4-6: 10th Annual The Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children Basketball Festival @ Kean U. 1/4 7 St. Benedict's Prep v Life Center Academy, Hudson Catholic v Cardinal McCarrick. 1/5 7 Roselle Catholic v Seton Hall Prep, St. Anthony v Curtis (Staten Island). 1/6 1:45 Union Catholic v Bergen Catholic, St. Joseph (Metuchen, NJ) v St. Peter's Prep, Paramus Catholic v Marist. This event also includes there girls' games: one on 1/4 at 5:15, one on 1/6 at 12, and another one on 1/6 at 7.

January 5: Inter-Ac Tripleheader @ Neumann U.

January 6: Playaz Basketball Club The New Year's Jump-Off @ Hackensack (1st and Beech Streets, Hackensack, NJ) 3 Dwight Morrow v Hackensack, St. Anthony v East Side (Newark), Hudson Catholic v Pope John XXIII, Teaneck v Gill St. Bernard's.

January 12: Hoop Group Boardwalk Showcase @ Long Branch (404 Indiana Avenue, Long Branch, NJ) 12 Point Pleasant Beach v Manasquan, St. Anthony v Christian Brothers Academy (Lincroft, NJ), St. Joseph (Metuchen, NJ) v Neptune, Long Branch v Colts Neck.

January 13: Scholastic Play-by-Play Network Harrisburg Classic @ Central Dauphin (437 Piketown Road, Harrisburg, PA) 1:30 Berks Catholic v Communications Tech, Red Land v Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter, Susquehanna Township v Abington Heights, Central Dauphin East v Scranton, Central Dauphin v Liberty.

January 18-21: Planet Athlete MLK--I Have a Dream Showcase @ East Side (238 Van Buren Street, Newark) ?

January 19: 9th Annual Dan Finn Classic @ Jersey City Armory (678 Montgomery Street, Jersey City) 12:30 Snyder v Pascack Valley, Lawrenceville v Patrick (formerly St. Patrick), Linden v Blair Academy, St. Anthony v Atlantic City, Gill St. Bernard's v Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, NY).

January 19: Scholastic Play-by-Play Network 12th Annual Play-by-Play Classic (Note: games will be played simultaneously at two different locations.) @ Archbishop Carroll (211 Matsonford Road, Wayne--or Radnor--PA) 1 Friends' Central v Germantown Academy, Williamsport Area v Shipley, Roberts Vaux v Haverford (the private school), Archbishop Carroll v Sanford (Hockessin, DE), Plymouth-Whitemarsh v Malvern Prep. @ Harriton (600 North Ithan, Rosemont, PA) 12:30 Westtown v Life Center Academy (Burlington, NJ), William Tennent v Parkland, Math, Civics and Sciences Charter v Penn Wood, Harriton v Radnor.

January 19: Scholastic Play-by-Play Network Reading Classic: @ Reading (801 North 13th Street, Reading, PA) 12:30 Berks Catholic v Constitution, Simon Gratz v Communications Tech, Reading v Liberty.

January 19 and 21: 10th Annual Big Apple Invitational @ Baruch College 1/19 12 Bayside v Half Hollow Hills West (Dix Hills, NY), Wings Academy v East Boston (East Boston, MA), Curtis v St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), Thomas Jefferson Campus v Coolidge (Washington), South Shore v Princeton Day Academy (Greenbelt, MD). 1/21 12 Bayside v Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, NY), Curtis v Princeton Day (Princeton, NJ), Massanutten Military Academy (Woodstock, VA) v Vermont Academy (Saxtons River, VT), South Shore v Pope John XXIII (Sparta, NJ).

January 21: Playaz Basketball Club Freedom Fighters Hoop Challenge @ Eastside (150 Park Avenue, Paterson, NJ) 4 Teaneck v Passaic County Tech, John F. Kennedy (Paterson, NJ) v Medford Tech, Eastside (Paterson, NJ) v Newark Tech.

January 25-26: SNY Invitational @ City College of New York ? Format: four teams play to a championship, with doubleheaders on both evenings. Teams include: Boys and Girls, Cardinal Hayes, Long Island Lutheran, and St. Anthony (Jersey City). Games will be telecast on the SNY channel.

January 26: Geigle Classic Shootout @ Reading (801 North 13th Street, Reading, PA) ? Games include Reading v Harrisburg and William Penn (York, PA) v Penn Wood.

January 27: Hoop Group Lehigh Valley Showcase @ Parkland (2700 North Cedar Crest Boulevard, Allentown, PA) 12 Liberty v Council Rock North, Abington Heights v Gill St. Bernard's (Gladstone, NJ), Germantown Academy v St. Benedict's Prep (Newark), Parkland v Patrick (formerly St. Patrick) (Elizabeth, NJ), Freedom v Hudson Catholic (Jersey City).

Predicted PIAA District 1 Class AAAA State Championship Tournament Qualifiers: 12-27-12

2012-12-27T05:14:29Z

Since this website's inception, December 27 has been the date for the publication of the site's prediction of the District 1 teams that will qualify for the PIAA state championship tournament.

For teams that belong to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA), the regular basketball season is pretty short. While it seems that the season has just begun, many teams have played almost a third of their regular seasons schedule.

734 PIAA member schools are fielding boys' basketball teams this season. Based on male enrollment, these schools are arrayed into four classes, with Class AAAA being comprised of the schools with the largest male enrollments. There are a total of 184 PIAA Class AAAA boys' basketball teams this season, and 56 of them are in District 1, which is, basically, the area of Philadelphia's Pennsylvania suburbs. (Philadelphia schools are arrayed in PIAA District 12.)

This season, the District 1 Class AAAA tournament will begin on February 15, and 32 teams will participate, seeking nine spots in the state championship tournament. Seven of the past eight PIAA Class AAAA state champions have come from District 1, and I expect that a District 1 team will win the 2012-13 title.

So, this article is a prediction of which District 1 teams will qualify for the Class AAAA state championship tournament. While a lot can happen over the next couple of months, the predicted qualifiers are, in alphabetical order:

1. Abington (Abington, PA) (7-0) They have defeated Norristown Area, Wissahickon, Archbishop Wood, and Council Rock North. They qualified for the state championship tournament last season and were eliminated in the first round by Central Dauphin.

2. Chester (Chester, PA) (4-2) They have wins over Abraham Lincoln (Brooklyn) and J. P. McCaskey (Lancaster, PA) and are playing the most challenging schedule of any boys' team in Pennsylvania. They have won the past two Class AAAA state championships, and this site has predicted that they will capture their third consecutive title this season.

3. Council Rock North (Newtown, PA) (5-1) Their best wins are over Constitution and Holy Ghost Prep. They were eliminated from the 2011-12 state championship tournament by Delaware Valley in a play-in game.

4. Harriton (Rosemont, PA) (5-1) They have a win over Ridley, and their only loss is to sister school Lower Merion. Harriton did not qualify for the state championship tournament last season.

5. Hatboro-Horsham (Horsham, PA) (6-1) Their best wins were over Souderton Area and Central Bucks East. They did not qualify for the state championship tournament last season.

6. Lower Merion (Ardmore, PA) (5-1) Their wins have been by an average score of 70-39. They were defeated at home in the opening game for both squads by three time defending PIAA Class AAA state champion Neumann-Goretti. Last season, they were defeated in the Class AAAA state championship game by Chester.

7. Norristown Area (Norristown, PA) (5-1) Their best win is over Coatesville Area, and their only loss is to Abington. In last season's Class AAAA state championship tournament, they were eliminated in the second round by Chester.

8. Penn Wood (Lansdowne, PA) (6-0) They have beaten five teams from the Philadelphia Public League. They did not qualify for the state championship tournament last season.

9. Wissahickon (Ambler, PA) (4-2) While they have had a sluggish start to the season, the team has a quality win over W. C. Henderson. They were defeated in the first round of last season's state championship tournament by Easton Area.

Live and Archived Internet Broadcasts of Games from the Philadelphia Catholic League and from the Philadelphia Public League

2012-12-27T03:51:59Z

My buddy, Jerry Shenk, called my attention to a website that is streaming live broadcasts of selected games from the Philadelphia Catholic League and from the Philadelphia Public League. The site is: www.sportsfanbase.com/ . The games are archived for later viewing, as well. The production quality is good, and the presentation includes a play-by-play announcer. There are commercials, just as on a conventional television broadcast. While they broadcast some girls' games, too, here is the site's schedule for upcoming boys' basketball broadcasts:

1/3 Archbishop Carroll @ Neumann-Goretti
1/4 LaSalle College @ Father Judge
1/10 Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter @ Prep Charter
1/11 Lansdale Catholic @ Bishop McDevitt
1/15 Math Civics & Sciences Charter @ Communications Tech
1/16 West Catholic @ Roman Catholic
1/22 Roberts Vaux @ Imhotep Charter
1/25 Archbishop Carroll @ St. Joseph's Prep
2/1 LaSalle College @ St. Joseph's Prep
2/8 Archbishop Wood @ Neumann-Goretti

New Website Focuses on Basketball in the Lehigh Valley

2012-12-23T16:52:42Z

Several months ago, a new website was launched focusing on basketball at all levels in the Lehigh Valley. It is an ambitious an impressive site, with extensive coverage of boys' and girls' basketball at the high school and college levels, including high school freshman and junior varsity ball. The publisher of the website has chosen not to put his name on the site, but I know him, and he is a sharp basketball maven. One thing that I particularly like about the site is the positive tone that it has when discussing kids who are playing a game for fun. Highly recommended. The site can be found at www.lvbasketballrankings.com .

High School Basketball Tournaments: November and December, 2012

2012-12-23T16:25:32Z

These events generally do not receive much publicity, and, to the best of my knowledge, no other source attempts to gather this information in one place. As more information becomes available, the listing below will be updated, so please check back often. Sometimes, there are last minute schedule changes, so if possible, check before you go.

Please note that The Philadelphia Inquirer publishes, on or around Christmas Day, a detailed schedule of Christmas season tournaments held in the newspaper's prime circulation areas of southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. I am unaware of similar sources of holiday tournament schedules for the balance of eastern Pennsylvania, for northern New Jersey, or for New York City.

November 24: 7th Annual Larry "Maje" Major Holiday Classic @ Paul Robeson Campus (150 Albany Avenue, Brooklyn) 12 Construction v Telecommunication Arts & Technology, Mott Haven Educational Campus v Monsignor Scanlan, East New York Transit Tech v Wadleigh, Eagle Academy for Young Men v Bayside, Paul Robeson Campus v Martin Van Buren. Admission is $5.

November 24: 1st Annual Bedford Academy High School Basketball Showcase @ Brooklyn Stuy Dome (308 Kosciusco Street, Brooklyn) 2:30 St. Edmund Prep v Law & Technology, Harry Van Arsdale Educational Campus v Teachers Prep/Frederick Douglass Academy VII, Bedford Academy v Benjamin Banneker Academy.

November 30-December 1: 4th Annual Solebury School Tip Off Tournament @ Solebury (6832 Phillips Mill Road, New Hope, PA) 11/30 6 Pennington (Pennington, NJ) v King's Christian (Cherry Hill, NJ), Solebury v City Center Academy. 12/1 6 winners v winners, losers v losers.

November 30-December 1: Fieldston Tip-Off Classic @ Fieldston (Fieldston Road and Manhattan College Parkway, Bronx) 11/30 4 WHEELS v Monsignor Scanlan, Fieldston v Rye Country Day. 12/1 2 winners v winners, losers v losers.

December 1-2: 6th Annual MAPL-Friends League Challenge @ Hun (176 Edgerstoune Road, Princeton, NJ) 12/1 3 Peddie v Friends' Central (Wynnewood, PA), Hill (Pottstown, PA) v Abington Friends (Jenkintown, PA), Blair Academy v Westtown (Westtown, PA), Hun v Shipley (Bryn Mawr, PA). 12/2 12 Hill (Pottstown, PA) v Westtown (Westtown, PA), Peddie v Shipley (Bryn Mawr, PA), Blair Academy v Abington Friends (Jenkintown, PA), Hun v Friends' Central (Wynnewood, PA).

December 7-8: Coaches vs. Cancer @ Shipley (814 Yarrow Street, Bryn Mawr, PA) 12/7 ? games include Shipley v Strawberry Mansion.

December 7-8: Bearcat Tip-Off Tournament @ William Penn (York, PA) 12/7 6 Reading v Williamsport Area, William Penn v Southern (South Philadelphia). 12/8 6 winners v winners, losers v losers.

December 7-9: 40th Annual Peddie School Invitational Tournament @ Peddie (201 South Main Street, Hightstown, NJ) 12/7 4 Hun v St. Benedict's Prep (post-grad team), Lawrenceville v Princeton Day Academy (Beltsville, MD), Peddie v Westtown (Westtown, PA). 12/8 3:30 Hun v Princeton Day Academy (Beltsville, MD), Lawrenceville v Westtown (Westtown, PA), Peddie v St. Benedict's Prep (post-grad team). 12/9 11 Hun v Westtown (Westtown, PA), Lawrenceville v St. Benedict's Prep (post-grad team), Peddie v Princeton Day Academy (Beltsville, MD).

December 7-9: Brother Arnold Tournament @ Monsignor McClancy Memorial (71-06 31st Avenue, Elmhurst [Queens])

December 8: Yasso/Rothrock Christmas City Tip-Off Classic This event consists of three quadrupleheaders of alternating girls' and boys' games played at three separate sites. At each site, boys' games begin at 3:30 and 7 @ Freedom (3149 Chester Avenue, Bethlehem) Easton v Emmaus, Freedom v Parkland. @ Liberty (1115 Linden Street) Allentown Central Catholic v Northampton, Liberty v Louis Dieruff. @ Bethlehem Catholic (2133 Madison Avenue) William Allen v Nazareth (Nazareth, PA), Bethlehem Catholic v Whitehall.

December 8: Scholastic Play-by-Play Network Kyle Lowry FamJuice Tip-Off Classic (Coatesville) @ Coatesville Area (1425 East Lincoln Highway, Coatesville, PA) 11 Academy of the New Church v Glasgow (Newark, DE), William Tennent v Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Council Rock North v Malvern Prep, Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter v St. Benedict's Prep (Newark), Archbishop Carroll v Bayard Rustin, Coatesville Area v Norristown Area.

December 9: Scholastic Play-by-Play Network Kyle Lowry FamJuice Tip-Off Classic (Philadelphia) @ Philadelphia U. 3:30 Roberts Vaux v Friends' Central, Imhotep Charter v St. Joseph's Prep, Haverford (the private school) v St. Benedict's Prep (Newark).

December 14-15: 16th Annual Make a Wish Basketball Showcase @ Germantown Academy (340 Morris Road, Ft. Washington, PA) 12/14: 5 Shipley v Penn Charter, a girls game, then Germantown Academy v Lawrenceville (Lawrenceville, NJ). (This is a quadrupleheader, beginning with a girls' game at 3:30.) 12/15: 5 Penn Charter v Lawrenceville (Lawrenceville, NJ) and Germantown Academy v Shipley. (There will also be two girls' games, one beginning at 3:30 and one beginning at 8).

December 14-16: 43rd Annual Dave Mercer Invitational Basketball Tournament @ Hill (860 Beech Street, Pottstown, PA) Format: eight teams play to a championship, and all teams play every day. 12/14 3:15, 12/15 1, 12/16 10. Matchups to be determined. Teams: Hill, Episcopal Academy, Peddie (Hightstown, NJ), Princeton Day (Princeton, NJ), Blue Ridge (St. George, VA), Gilman (Baltimore), Kent (Kent, CT), and Landon Bethesda, MD)

December 14: Hoop Group Reading Tip-Off Showcase @ Albright C. 6:30 Berks Catholic v Roman Catholic, Reading v Neumann-Goretti.

December 14: Scholastic Play-by-Play Network New Jersey Tip-Off Classic @ Gill St. Bernard's (St. Bernard's Road, Gladstone, NJ) 8 Gill St. Bernard's v Our Savior New American (Centerreach, NY) preceded by a girls' game.

December 15-16: Hoop Group Tip-Off Showcase @ West Orange (51 Conforti Avenue, West Orange, NJ). 12/15 1 Hackensack v Hun, Blair Academy v Bloomfield, Linden v Don Bosco Prep, Gill St. Bernard's v Patrick (formerly St. Patrick), Seton Hall Prep v Columbia. 12/16 11 Plainfield v West Orange, Hudson Catholic v St. Peter's Prep, Roselle Catholic v Pope John XXIII, St. Anthony v Neptune, St. Joseph (Metuchen, NJ) v Teaneck, St. Benedict's Prep v Wilbraham & Monson Academy (Wilbraham, MA).

December 15: 6th Annual Villa Classic @ Arcadia U. 12 Wings Academy (Bronx) v Camden (Camden, NJ), Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter v Thomas Jefferson Campus (Brooklyn), Math Civics & Sciences Charter v South Shore (Brooklyn), Imhotep Charter v Abraham Lincoln (Brooklyn), Roberts Vaux v Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn).

December 15: Philly Six Coaches vs. Cancer Classic @ Cheltenham (500 Rices Mill Road, Wyncote, PA) 1 LaSalle College v Boys' Latin Charter, Abington v Norristown Area, Plymouth-Whitemarsh v Archbishop Wood, Cheltenham v Glen Mills.

December 15: 2nd Annual Long Island City Tip-Off Classic @ Long Island City (14-30 Broadway, Long Island City [Queens]) 10 Grover Cleveland v Automotive, Bronx Science v Stuyvesant, Francis Lewis v Hunter College, John Adams v Beacon, Long Island City v Grand Street Campus.

December 15: Jimmy V Showcase @ Arthur P. Schalick (718 Centerton Road, Pittsgrove, NJ) 11 Arthur P. Schalick v Highland Regional, Florence Memorial v Gloucester Catholic, Haddonfield Memorial v Sacred Heart (Vineland, NJ), St. Benedict's Prep v Delsea Regional, Paulsboro v Vineland.

December 21-23: Planet Athlete National Holiday Invitational Showcase @ Aviator Field House (3159 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn) and East Side (238 Van Buren Street, Newark).

December 22: Wadleigh-Rucker Christmas Classic @ Wadleigh (215 West 114th Street, New York) 9 WHEELS v Acorn, Wadleigh v Brooklyn Collegiate, Bishop Loughlin v Mount Vernon, Curtis v Xaverian, Thurgood Marshall Academy v Bayside, Iona Prep v New Rochelle.

December 22 and 26-30: Boardwalk Basketball Classic @ Wildwoods Convention Center (4501 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ) Format: there are six four team, two game mini-tournaments within the context of this event, plus some showcase games. For details on how the mini-tournaments are scheduled, please see the event website at www.bbclassic.net . 12/22 noon Lower Cape May v Cape May Tech, a girls' game, Atlantic Christian v Burlington County Tech, Atlantic City v Archbishop Wood (Warminster, PA), another girls' game, then Wildwood Catholic v Wildwood. 12/26 5 Murrell Dobbins Tech (Philadelphia) v Friends Select (Philadelphia), Mt. Olive v Cape May Tech, Collingswood v Oakcrest. 12/27 11 seven games, including Absegami v Cherokee, Woodbury v Cedar Creek, Shawnee v Murell Dobbins Tech (Philadelphia), Middle Township v Montgomery Blair (Silver Spring, MD), Washington Township v Central Bucks West (Doylestown, PA). 12/28 seven games, including Shawnee v Friends Select (Philadelphia), Wildwood v Pleasantville and Lower Cape May v Wilmington Christian (Hockessin, DE). 12/29 11 six games, including Atlantic County Tech v Vineland, Ocean City v Bristol (Bristol, PA), Wildwood Catholic v Central Bucks East (Doylestown, PA), Penns Grove v Mainland. 12/30 10:15 six games, including Math Civics and Sciences Charter (Philadelphia) v Murrell Dobbins Tech (Philadelphia) and St. Anthony v Camden. (Please note: on 12/30, the games will be organized into two sessions, with a separate admission charge for each session. There will be four games in the first session, which begins at 10:15. The second session will begin at 6:30 and will feature two games: Math Civics and Sciences Charter v Murrell Dobbins Tech and St. Anthony v Camden.)

December 27-28: 39th Annual Montgomery County Triangle Club Boys Basketball Tournament @ Norristown Area (1900 Eagle Drive, Norristown, PA) 12/27 6:30 Souderton Area v Central Dauphin, Norristown Area v Pope John Paul II. 12/28 6:30 winners v winners, losers v losers.

December 27-28: 17th Annual Jack Bennett Easton Rotary Holiday Classic @ Easton Area Middle School (1010 Echo Trail, Easton, PA) Teams include Easton Area, Notre Dame Green Pond, Wilson Area, and Phillipsburg (Phillipsburg, NJ).

December 27-28: Reading Christmas Tournament @ Reading (Reading, PA) 12/27 ? Communications Tech v Pottstown, Reading v Bayard Rustin. 12/28 ? winners v winners, losers v losers.

December 27-29: Scholastic Play-by-Play Network 8th Annual Pete and Jameer Nelson Holiday Classic 12/27 @ Widener U. 1 Milford Mill Academy (Baltimore) v T. C. Williams (Alexandria, VA), Germantown Academy v Pope John XXIII (Sparta, NJ), Constitution v William Tennent, LaSalle College v Roselle Catholic (Roselle, NJ), Chester v Abington. 12/28 @ Widener U. 12:15 Pennsbury v Academy of the New Church, Germantown Academy v Life Center Academy (Burlington, NJ), William Tennent v T. C. Williams (Alexandria, VA), Abington v Atlantic City (Atlantic City, NJ), Penn Wood v Milford Mill Academy (Baltimore), Chester v Imhotep Charter. 12/29 @ Philadelphia U. 1 Harry S Truman v Roselle Catholic (Roselle, NJ), Pennsbury v Friends' Central, Cheltenham v Academy of the New Church, Norristown Area v Math Civics and Sciences Charter, LaSalle College v Wissahickon.

December 27-29: Primetime Eastern States Christmas Invitational Tournament @ Trenton Catholic Academy (Hamilton, NJ) This event consists of three four team mini-tournaments, plus some girls' games. 12/27 2 Lakewood v Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, PA), Rancocas Valley Regional v Liberty (Bethlehem, PA), Princeton Day School v Roberts Vaux (Philadelphia), West Windsor-Plainsboro South v Roman Catholic (Philadelphia). 12/28 1:30 Rutgers Prep v Westtown (Westtown, PA), Trenton Catholic Academy v Chisholm Catholic College (Bedford, Australia). 12/29 12 winners v winners, losers v losers. For the matchups and order in which games will be played on 12/29, see the website primetimeshootout.net .

December 27-28 and 30: Playaz Basketball Club Jingle Bells Jubilee @ Paterson Charter School of Science and Technology (764 11th Avenue, Paterson, NJ) Format: eight teams play to a championship, with four games the first two days of the tournament and three games on the final day. Games will begin at 3 on 12/27 and on 12/28 and at 4 on 12/30. The field will be seeded, but seedings are not presently available. Teams include: Hackensack, Irvington, John F. Kennedy (Paterson, NJ), Newark Tech, Passaic, Passaic Valley, Piscataway Vo-Tech, and Teaneck.

December 27 and 29: Scholastic Play-by-Play Network FamJuice Kobe Bryant Classic @ Lower Merion (315 East Montgomery Avenue, Ardmore, PA) 12/27 6:15 St. Joseph's Prep v Plymouth Whitemarsh, Lower Merion v St. Frances Academy (Baltimore). 12/29 ? winners v winners, losers v losers.

December 28-29: Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Showcase @ Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (500 West Willow Grove Avenue, Philadelphia) 12/28 5:50 Abington Friends v Philadelphia Academy Charter, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy v Paul Robeson (Philadelphia). 12/29 5:30 Abington Friends v Paul Robeson (Philadelphia), Springside Chestnut Hill Academy v Harriton.

New Website Focuses on Boys' High School Basketball in the Philadelphia Area

2012-12-23T16:17:28Z

An energetic group of young guys has launched a new website focused on boys' high school basketball in the Philadelphia area, www.philahoopshigh.com . Note: For whatever reason, this link doesn't work. However, if you type this address into your browser, you will get to the site.

The site has game reports, player interviews, photographs, team rankings, and some video. The coverage includes teams from Philadelphia and its suburbs, and, in the short amount of time that the site has been on line, there is quite a bit of material. I believe that this site will quickly become an important resource for people interested in boys' high school basketball in the Philadelphia area, and I encourage readers to take a look at it.

Regional and Team Website Links

2012-12-23T16:12:29Z

While most of the larger websites concerned with high school basketball focus on the evaluation of individual players and the recruitment of players for college teams, there are a number of smaller sites that have information on the boys' high school basketball teams and leagues in the tri-state area.  Listed below are some sites of possible interest. Some of these sites focus on the present, some have a more historical orientation, and others are a combination of the two. All of them are worth visiting.

It is my intent to update this listing as I become aware of additional sites.  Please send suggestions to me at dave@highschool-basketball.com .

Please note that there are other links sections on this website, and you might find them to be of interest, too.

Pennsylvania

Statewide

www.pahoops.org

Regional

Adams, Franklin, Fulton, Lebanon, and York counties: www.gametimepa.com

Berks County: http://www.berksgameday.com

Bucks and Montgomery counties: www.suburbanonesports.com

Central Pennsylvania: www.centralpahoops.com

Lancaster and Lebanon counties: www.llhoops.com

Lehigh Valley: www.lvbasketballrankings.com

Montgomery County: www.amarcusmontcomedia.blogspot.com

Philadelphia: www.cityofbasketballlove.com

Philadelphia Area: [Please note that this link doesn't work. However, if you type this address into your browser, you will get the site.] www.philahoopshigh.com

Southeastern Pennsylvania: http://phillyref.com

League

Friends Schools League: http://friendsschoolsleague.org

Team

Archbishop Wood (Warminster): http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=archbishop_wood

Central Bucks East (Doylestown): http://www.eteamz.com/CBEastBasketball/

Chester (Chester): http://www.eteamz.com/chesterclippers/

Conwell-Egan Catholic (Fairless Hills): http://www.angelfire.com/planet/rsabol21

Crestwood (Mountain Top): http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=crestwoodbasketball

Greater Nanticoke Area (Nanticoke): http://www.eteamz.com/nanticokehoops/

Liberty (Bethlehem): freeteams.net/LibertyHurricanesBasketball/index.html

Lower Merion (Ardmore): http://www.aceshoops.com

Marple Newtown (Newtown Square): http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=mnbasketball

Pennsbury (Fairless Hills): www.pennsburyfalconsbasketball.com

Pocono Mountain West (Pocono Summit): www.pmwestbasketball.com/

Pottsville Area (Pottsville): www.ctideboysbasketballcom/index.html

Solanco (Quarryville): http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=solanco

Steelton-Highspire (Steelton): http://www.shsd.k12.pa.us/5830401216141648/site/default.asp

Strath Haven (Wallingford): http://www.eteamz.com/StrathHavenHighSchoolMensBasketball/

Susquehanna Township (Harrisburg): www.hannahoops.org

Tunkhannock (Tunkhannock): http://www.eteamz.com/TunkhannockTigersBoysBasketball/

West Catholic (Philadelphia): http://www.burrsbasketball.com

Williamsport Area (Williamsport): http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=millionaireboysbasketball

Wissahickon (Ambler): http://teacherpages.wsdweb.org/kylewilson and http://www.wix.com/Macy85/Trojan-Hoops

New Jersey

Regional

Bergen County Coaches Assn.: http://bcca.powermediallc.org/category/sports/basketball/

Northern New Jersey: http://www.sidelinechatter.com

Northern New Jersey: www.njhoops-journal.com

Central New Jersey: http://bankshots.wordpress.com

Central New Jersey: http://shorescout.wordpress.com

League

Greater Middlesex Conference: www.gmchoops.com

Team

Collingswood (Collingswood): http://www.eteamz.com/collsbhoops/

Hillsborough (Hillsborough): http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=hillsboroughraidersboysbasketball

Holy Cross (Delran): http://www.eteamz.com/holycrosslancers/

Marist (Bayonne): http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=maristroyalknights

Piscataway (Piscataway): http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=pwayboysbasketball

St. Anthony (Jersey City): http://stanthony.powermediallc.org

St. Patrick (Elizabeth): http://stpatrick.powermediallc.org

Southern Regional (Manahawken): http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=southernboyshoops

New York

Regional

Long Island: http://www.longislandbasketball.com

League

New York City Public School Athletic League (PSAL): http://www.psal.org

New York City Catholic (CHSAA): nychsaabasketball.co [I realize that this isn't actually a link, but type it into your browser to get to the site. Note: it's "co" not "com".]

Team

Archbishop Molloy (Queens): molloyhoops.d1scout.com

Christ the King Regional (Queens): www.ctkhoops.com

East Brunswick Upsets St. Joseph in Season Opener for Both

2012-12-15T06:22:02Z

by Alex Schiffer

In one of the craziest games that will likely be played in the Greater Middlesex Conference all season, the East Brunswick Bears (East Brunswick, NJ) pulled off a 58-54 opening night upset of defending NJSIAA Non-Public A state champion St. Joseph (Metuchen, NJ). East Brunswick's dynamic duo of Amir Bell (Princeton recruit) and Rob Ukawuba combined for 35 points in a come from behind win for the Bears.

East Brunswick started the game on the right note, jumping out to a 4-0 lead, thanks to scoring by Ukawuba and Jake Karantz. With St. Josepeh junior Wade Baldwin picking up two fouls early in the game, the offensive burden was left to 7' star sophomore Karl Towns. Towns got the Falcons back into the game, scoring 10 of St. Joseph's 15 first quarter points. St. Joseph led 15-6 at the end of the first quarter.

St. Joseph continued their momentum into the second quarter, as Baldwin and Marques Townes--both of whom transferred to St. Joseph this year--added to the Falcons' lead. However, St. Joseph was unable to pull away, as Bell and Gary Baumer continued to hit big shots from beyond the arc to keep East Brunswick in the game. A three pointer by Carl Taylor as time expired drew East Brunswick to within seven points of St. Joseph at halftime.

The Bears started the second half on a hot streak. Both Karantz and Ukawuba had hot hands, and a layup through traffic by Ukawuba tied the game at 33 early in the third quarter. Then, Wade Baldwin picked things up for St. Joseph, as his consistent buckets helped the Falcons to build small leads, with some help from his cousin, Karl Towns. Towns finished with 18 points for the game.

The Bears finished off the game in the fourth quarter with the tandem that had been working all night, Bell and Ukawuba. The duo scored almost all of East Brunswick's points in the final quarter, and it was a layup by Ukawuba that gave the Bears the lead for good. St. Joseph had a chance to tie the game late when a player went to the line for three free throw attempts, but only two of the shots were made.

New Brunswick Coach Bo Henning was more than satisfied with his team's performance, saying: "We played Joe's tough twice last year, and we were so close to wins like this last year. Games like this last year would drive me crazy."

The Falcons will look to capture their first win of the season against Teaneck on Sunday at the Hoop Group Tip-Off tournament at West Orange. Teaneck was the only team to beat St. Joseph during the regular season in 2011-12. With the Falcons looking for revenge, as well as their first win, they should have plenty of fire in their hearts on Sunday.

Alex Schiffer, a frequent contributor to this website, is a student at St. Joseph.

St. Joseph (Metuchen, NJ) Season Preview

2012-12-14T05:28:27Z

by Alex Schiffer

The St. Joseph Falcons return to the high school court this season as a very different team compared to the one that won the New Jersey NJSIAA Non-Public "A" state championship last season. Gone are the team's two main scorers, Quenton DeCosey and Danny Brix, who have moved on to play for the impressive college teams of Temple and Stonehill, respectively. But, that doesn't mean that the Falcons will struggle offensively. In some ways, this year's offense can be more impressive than last year's.

The Falcons helped to spell the losses of Brix and DeCosey with two of the best juniors in New Jersey, in Wade Baldwin and Marques Townes. Baldwin transferred to St. Joseph over the summer after having an incredible AAU season with Sports U. The former Immaculata (Somerville, NJ) star will give the Falcons an extra scoring boost as well as the athletic ability that the team lost in DeCosey. Townes, on the other hand, transferred from Cardinal McCarrick (South Amboy, NJ) after two solid seasons and a sectional title. Both players will help the Falcons at both ends of the court, as both are just as good on defense as they are on offense.

The additions of Baldwin and Townes will do wonders for the Falcons, but who can forget about the other Towns? Karl Towns, the top player in the nation in the class of 2015, returns to the lineup after spending the summer playing for the Dominican Republic national team (his Mom is Dominican) and its head coach, John Calipari. Towns' low post game got a lot of attention with the team, as the 7' sophomore learned some tricks from Dominican Republic center and Atlanta Hawks star Al Horford. Towns should be an even better all around player than he was last year, making the Falcons a tough team to beat.

Rounding out the starting lineup are seniors Jimbo Long and James Ziemba. Both have been playing varsity ball for three seasons, and their leadership will be key for the team. Long will run the point, which will help the newcomers adjust, and the 6' 9" Ziemba will help Towns keep order inside the paint. Ziemba reiterated the high expectations that many have for the Falcons, saying "We have high expectations this year. We have a lot of talent and experience, which will definitely help us come March. As a team, we want to be in the Izod Center for the Tournament of Champions. Anything less will leave us disappointed."

Alex Schiffer, a frequent contributor to this website, is a student at St. Joseph.

School District Recommends Closure of Some Philadelphia Public High Schools

2012-12-13T18:15:55Z

The Philadelphia School District issued a Facilities Master Plan today that, among other proposals, recommended the closure of several high schools, some of which that have had outstanding boys' basketball teams in recent years. The recommendations must be approved by an oversight body, the School Reform Commission, before being implemented at the end of this school year. Slated for closure are:
Roberts Vaux
Strawberry Mansion
University City
Edward Bok Tech
Germantown
Douglas
Lamberton
Charles Carroll

In addition, two other school buildings will close, with their educational programs to be conducted elsewhere in the Philadelphia public school system. They are:
Communications Tech
Paul Robeson

Whether or not these closures actually occur will be determined in the months ahead. This season, Roberts Vaux and Communications Tech are both likely contenders for state championships in their respective PIAA classifications and both should make deep runs in the Philadelphia Public League championship tournament.

Neumann-Goretti Opens Season with Win at Lower Merion

2012-12-08T06:05:30Z

12-7-12 @ Lower Merion (Ardmore, PA)

Game 2012-13 #8 Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) 70 Lower Merion (Ardmore, PA) 64

Pearl Harbor Day was opening day of the 2012-13 season for Pennsylvania schools that are members of the PIAA, and the best game in the state matched three time defending PIAA Class AAA state champion (and four time defending Philadelphia Catholic League champion) Neumann-Goretti and traditional power and last year's PIAA Class AAAA runner-up Lower Merion. Lower Merion's wonderful one year old gym was standing room only ten minutes before the game even started.

In contemporary high school basketball, teams that aspire to win a state championship need to play a championship schedule to become accustomed to facing the sort of stiff competition that must be overcome in the state playoffs. Neumann is a member of the Philadelphia Catholic League and always plays several challenging league games every season. Lower Merion, however, is a member of the 10 team Central League, which has been a disadvantage in recent seasons, as the Purple Aces rarely face strong opposition in league games. This season, Lower Merion will play 16 regular season league games, and the Purple Aces should win all of them handily. PIAA teams are allowed to play 22 regular season games, so Lower Merion has made a point of scheduling challenging non-league games this year, probably none more challenging than this contest. Neumann-Goretti, for their part, also has a stiff non-league schedule, probably a more difficult non-league card than Lower Merion's.

So, this game pitted two teams with extremely promising state title prospects who don't normally play each other. You can't beat that on opening day. The game didn't disappoint.

The teams traded small leads for much of the first half. Lower Merion played a zone defense to counter Neumann's slashers. The home side wanted Neumann to bomb from long range, and one of the visiting players took the bait, repeatedly missing from beyond the arc from the left corner, particularly in the first half. Lower Merion also trapped from time to time, often with good effect. Neumann played man-to-man defense, and the quicker the game became, the more difficult it was for the home side to maintain ball security. On offense, Lower Merion often set up high to create space for driving and to make it difficult for Neumann to play help defense. The two key themes of the first half were that Lower Merion was turning over the ball too much--13 times in the first 16 minutes of the game--and Neumann was allocating too much of their offense to an outside shooter who couldn't find the range. The result was pretty much a standoff, until the latter part of the third quarter.

While Lower Merion resolved their ball security problems in the second half, they fell behind, anyway. Neumann's Jaquan Newton, a 6' 3" junior, opened the third quarter with a three point play to give his side a 34-30 lead. Lower Merion responded with a three by 5' 10" junior Jaquan Johnson and a couple of free throws by 6' 7" senior B. J. Johnson (Syracuse recruit) to take a 35-34 lead. That would prove to be Lower Merion's only second half lead, as 6' 1" Neumann sophomore Lamarr Kimble hit a three to give his side a 37-35 lead, and the visitors were in front the rest of the way. Toward the end of the third quarter, a hoop by 6' 1" Neumann junior Troy Harper put his squad up 45-39, the widest margin in the contest up to that point.

A determined Lower Merion squad kept chipping away at the visitors' lead, and a B. J. Johnson three early in the fourth quarter cut Neumann's lead to 53-51. Neumann responded with a driving dunk by 6' 5" junior Jamal Custis and a reverse layup by Newton to lead 57-51. At that point, Neumann's John Davis (Towson State recruit), a 6' 5" senior, became the major factor in the game, particularly on the boards. With 2:25 left, Davis stole the ball, was fouled, and sank two free throws to put Neumann up by the score of 65-57, too big a lead for Lower Merion to overcome.

This game featured some sparkling individual play on both sides. B. J. Johnson had a superb game, and Neumann never really got him in check. I was impressed with the defensive play of a guy who came off of Lower Merion's bench, 5' 11" Corey Sherman. The two best offensive rebounders in southeastern Pennsylvania, in my view, were in good form--Neumann's Davis and 6' 1" Lower Merion senior Raheem Hall. Hall is particularly terrific grabbing offensive rebounds on the weak side, and he had three putbacks in the game. Newton had a good all around game, as did Kimble. They may be the best players in their respective classes in southeastern Pennsylvania.

For the winners, three guys scored in double figures: Newton with 21, Davis with 20, and Kimble with 11. B. J. Johnson was the only Purple Ace in double figures; he had 28.

Lower Merion had the edge on the boards, 40 to 35. Lower Merion finished with 18 turnovers, while Neumann committed a dozen miscues. Neumann was 18 for 25 from the free throw line, and Lower Merion was 15 for 22. Lower Merion scored five times from beyond the arc, and Neumann made two threes. The home side blocked six shots, and Neumann blocked three.

Neumann-Goretti 15 16 18 21-70
Lower Merion 13 17 13 21-64

6th Annual MAPL-Friends Schools League Challenge (Day Two)

2012-12-08T05:59:03Z

12-2-12 @ Hun (Princeton, NJ)

I've attended one day of this two-day annual event for the past five seasons. On this occasion, the MAPL teams went 4-0 in these games between private school squads. All of the MAPL teams have at least one post-grad player.

Game 2012-13 #4 Hill (Pottstown, PA) 37 Westtown (Westtown, PA) 34

Hill 10 6 13 8-37
Westtown 7 6 6 15-34

Game 2012-13 #5 Peddie (Hightstown, NJ) 74 Shipley (Bryn Mawr, PA) 64

Shipley couldn't contend with Peddie's two post-grads, 6' 2" Deandre Haywood, who scored 37 points, and 6' 7" Wes Dickinson, who netted 21.

Peddie 15 19 16 24-74
Shipley 14 12 16 22-64

Game 2012-13 #6 Blair Academy (Blairstown, NJ) 58 Abington Friends (Jenkintown, PA) 54

Blair Academy 14 14 19 11-58
Abington Friends 10 12 19 13-54

Game 2012-13 #7 Hun (Princeton, NJ) 68 Friends' Central (Wynnewood, PA) 52

Friends' Central 8 11 18 15-52
Hun 15 18 14 21-68

Predicted Pennsylvania State Champions: 2012-13

2012-12-07T04:20:56Z

PIAA member schools begin play tomorrow, and the season promises to be as fascinating as Pennsylvania boys' high school basketball usually is. Here are my championship predictions for the season.

There will be at least two new PIAA state champions this season, as last season's Class A champ, Constitution (Philadelphia), is now a Class AA school, and last season's Class AA champ, Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia), is now in Class AAA. I'm predicting that last season's Class AAAA and Class AAA champions will repeat in 2012-13. Statewide, there are 184 Class AAAA teams, 184 Class AAA teams, 189 Class AA teams, and 178 Class A teams in the PIAA.

Class AAAA Chester (Chester, PA) won the title with undefeated records in 2010-11 and in 2011-12, and the view from here is that they will win a third consecutive championship. Last season, Chester was 32-0, and none of their opponents in the PIAA tournament were very competitive, as they beat J. P. McCaskey (Lancaster, PA) 86-43, Norristown Area (Norristown, PA) 72-53, Coatesville Area (Coatesville, PA) 87-46, Central Dauphin (Harrisburg, PA) 67-48, and Lower Merion (Ardmore, PA) 59-33. All Chester teams are deep, so plenty of guys return with big game experience, notably Rondae Jefferson (Arizona recruit) and Darius Robinson. Conrad Chambers, an outstanding guard, has transferred to Chester from defending Pennsylvania independent schools' state champion Friends' Central (Wynnewood, PA). One of Chester's key advantages is that they play in a small league, giving them plenty of room on their schedule to play stiff competition to prepare for the state championship tournament. This season, Chester is playing a number of difficult opponents from other states in several highly regarded out-of-state tournaments.

Chester defeated Lower Merion in both the District 1 championship game and in the state championship game last season. These two teams are likely to meet for the District 1 and state titles again in 2012-13, and I expect Chester to win both times. I think that Lower Merion's stiffest test on the path to the championship game in the PIAA tournament will come from deep, quick, and defense-minded Harrisburg (Harrisburg, PA), who I expect to be the District 3 champion. I'm predicting that St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) will win the District 12 championship and will subsequently advance to the Class AAAA Final Four where they will be defeated by Chester in the eastern semifinal. St. Joseph's Prep came within a missed free throw of defeating Neumann-Goretti for the Philadelphia Catholic League championship last season and return Steve Vasturia (Notre Dame recruit) and Miles Overton (Wake Forest recruit). The fourth PIAA Class AAAA Final Four team will come from the western part of Pennsylvania, and I don't have a prediction on that one, as I don't follow teams west of the midstate.

Class AAA Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) has won the last three Class AAA state titles, and I predict that they will win another one this season. Last season, they were 28-3. Neumann has plenty of talent returning, including senior John Davis (Towson State recruit), terrific junior Jaquan Newton, and outstanding sophomore Lamarr Kimble. They have won the Philadelphia Catholic League championship four seasons in a row. I predict that Neumann's toughest test in the PIAA tournament will come from Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia), who has won the PIAA Class AA state championship in three of the past four seasons and has a number of key players back from last year's squad. I expect that Neumann and Imhotep will meet for the District 12 championship and then collide in the eastern half of the state tournament bracket. Another tough customer in the eastern bracket will be Abington Heights (Clarks Summit, PA), last season's District 2 Class AAA champion. Abington Heights finished with a 24-6 mark last season, falling to Boys' Latin Charter (Philadelphia) in a state tournament quarterfinal game. The outstanding player from last season's Abington Heights squad, J. C. Show, is back.

Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter (Philadelphia) will also be very good, and they are playing a difficult non-conference schedule. The way that the Class AAA state tournament bracket is configured, the third place team from District 12 plays in the western bracket, and I predict that either Philadelphia Electrical or Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, PA), 20-8 last season, will get that spot. Either of those two could make it to the Class AAA final four.

Class AA My pick is Holy Cross (Dunmore), who returns the core of last season's team--6' 7" Josh Kosin, 5' 8" Connor Callejas, 6' 3" Connor Jones, and Corey Joyce. Holy Cross was 25-6 last season, and they were eliminated from the PIAA Class AA state tournament by Imhotep Charter in a semifinal, 37-35, falling on an unusual play at the buzzer. I didn't see Holy Cross in person last season, but I have since watched some film, and they are equally effective playing an up-tempo game or when slowing it down. Kosin may be the best little-known player in eastern Pennsylvania. There is also another major contender from District 2, Elmer L. Meyers (Wilkes-Barre). Last season, Meyers was 24-3, and, like Holy Cross, they were eliminated from the state tournament by eventual winner Imhotep Charter, falling 66-51 in the second round.

Some other teams to consider include Constitution (Philadelphia), last season's Class A champ; Communications Tech (Philadelphia); and Delaware Valley Charter (Philadelphia). Constitution's starting five and sixth man last season were all seniors, but this year's squad includes no seniors but some outstanding underclassmen, such as sophomores Ahmad Gilbert and Tymir Watson (a transfer from another Philadelphia school, Boys' Latin Charter). They may be a year away from another state title. Constitution was 23-9 last season. Communications Tech was 20-10 last season, and they lost to Holy Cross in the second round of the state tournament, falling 58-56 in two overtimes. I think that Communications Tech's graduation losses were greater than Holy Cross's. Delaware Valley Charter was 14-8 last season and were eliminated in the first round of the Class AA state tournament. The way that the PIAA Class AA state tournament is structured, all five of these teams would be in the eastern half of the bracket. Last year's state tournament runner-up, Beaver Falls (Beaver Falls, PA), lost in the championship game to Imhotep Charter in overtime, 56-54. Beaver Falls' most outstanding player from last season has graduated, and I don't consider them to be a threat to win the state championship this season.

Class A The two major contenders are both from the Philadelphia Public League: Math Civics and Sciences Charter and Roberts Vaux. MCS was 19-10 last season, and they were eliminated from the Class A state championship tournament by the eventual winner, Constitution, in a semifinal, 62-37. Constitution had MCS's number last year, beating them during the regular season, in the Philadelphia Public League playoffs, and in the PIAA Class A state tournament. Last season's MCS team was the most discordant squad that I've seen in a long time, but they had plenty of talent. Several key players return, and they have added two major transfers. Three of the guys on the team this season have committed to play at Division 1 colleges next year.

Roberts Vaux was 15-11 last season, in which they were a Class AA school. They were eliminated in the second round of the state tournament last year. Stepping down in classification, Vaux is a major contender for the Class A title. They have a formidable backcourt with Rysheed Jordan and Sam Foreman.

Both MCS and Vaux are playing challenging non-conference schedules this season. I'll give the nod to MCS, the deeper team, to win the state title.

Lincoln Park Charter (Midland, PA) was the runner-up in each of the past two seasons, but the star from those teams, 6' 10" Devontae Watson, has graduated and now plays at Temple U. They may have a nice team this season, but I don't expect them to win a state championship.

Independents Schools that do not belong to the PIAA have their own post-season tournament to crown the independent schools' state championship. The last four of these titles were all won by Friends' Central. This year, I expect Germantown Academy (Ft. Washington, PA) to win this championship. Tall, experienced, and well-coached, GA will be difficult to beat.

Friends' Central Defeats Malvern Prep in Season Opener

2012-11-30T07:26:15Z

11-29-12 @ Friends' Central (Wynnewood, PA)

Game 2012-13 #3 Friends' Central (Wynnewood, PA) 58 Malvern Prep (Malvern, PA) 46

Pennsylvania teams that don't participate in the PIAA have their own post-season tournament to decide the state championship of the independent schools. In each of the past four seasons, Friends' Central has won that state championship. The two key participants in that string of four championships have both left Friends' Central: Coach Jason Polykoff is now an assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania, and star player Amile Jefferson has graduated and joined the team at Duke University. Additionally, Conrad Chambers, an important member of the team during the past three seasons, has transferred to PIAA Class AAAA state champion Chester (Chester, PA). For Malvern Prep, only senior Jimmy Gordon saw extensive action on last year's squad, so this was an opening day matchup of two non-PIAA teams in transition. The result was a solid win for Friends' Central.

The teams exchanged leads in the opening minutes of a game in which both squads played man-to-man defense exclusively. The home side went up by the score of 10-8, and they never trailed from that point. A 12-2 Friends' Central run that spanned the latter part of the first quarter and the opening minutes of the second frame gave them a 24-12 lead, and, from that point, they were never really threatened. Friends' Central's lead ballooned to 17 points, 38-21, on the first score of the second half, a layup by 6' 2" senior Karron Davis. The principal reason that Malvern Prep fell so far behind was that they had ball security problems throughout the first three quarters, committing 15 turnovers in the first 24 minutes of the contest. The visitors did a better job of handling the ball in the fourth quarter and made a couple of threes in the final frame to get within seven points of Friends' Central late in the game. Then, Malvern Prep committed deliberate fouls down the stretch, and, as usual, that tactic didn't work.

Two Friends' Central underclassmen stood out in this game: 6' 4" freshman Deandre Hunter, and 6' 1" sophomore Jonathan Lawton. Hunter was impressive in the first half, hitting from outside and swatting away shots inside on defense. Lawton was the point guard, and he was virtually turnover-free. Friends' Central's defense was effective for most of the contest. Gordon had a fine game for Malvern Prep, particularly on defense.

Malvern Prep out-rebounded Friends' Central 30 to 23, but the visitors had 18 turnovers to only seven for Friends' Central. Friends' Central blocked six shots, and Malvern Prep blocked two. Both teams made five three point shots. Friends' Central made 20 of 25 free throws, while Malvern Prep was 1 for 4 from the stripe.

Davis and Lawton both scored 20 points for Friends' Central, and Gordon led Malvern Prep with 18 points.

Malvern Prep 12 9 9 16-46
Friends' Central 19 17 8 14-58

Eastern Pennsylvania Boys' High School Basketball Team Rankings: 2012-13 Preseason

2012-11-25T21:03:02Z

Rankings of this sort are very subjective but fun to consider. Periodically during the season, these rankings will be updated.

1. Chester (Chester, PA)

2. Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia)

3. Lower Merion (Ardmore, PA)

4. Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia)

5. St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia)

6. Math, Civics & Sciences Charter (Philadelphia)

7. Germantown Academy (Ft. Washington, PA)

8. Abington (Abington, PA)

9. Roman Catholic (Philadelphia)

10. LaSalle College (Wyndmoor, PA)

A dozen more to watch: Abington Heights (Clarks Summit, PA), Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, PA), Coatesville Area (Coatesville, PA), Harrisburg (Harrisburg, PA), Holy Cross (Dunmore, PA), Liberty (Bethlehem, PA), Norristown Area (Norristown, PA), Penn Wood (Lansdowne, PA), Roberts Vaux (Philadelphia), Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter (Philadelphia), Westtown (Westtown, PA), and Wissahickon (Ambler, PA).

Curtis Defeats St. Peter's Boys in Rivalry Game

2012-11-22T05:37:02Z

11-21-12 @ College of Staten Island

Game 2012-13 #2 Curtis (Staten Island) 49 St. Peter's Boys (Staten Island) 43

A 15-0 Curtis run that spanned the third and fourth quarters was the decisive sequence in this rivalry game played before a standing room only crowd in the College of Staten Island's sold out gym. Curtis and St. Peter's Prep traditionally face each other on Thanksgiving Eve, and the gym was full long before the preliminary junior varsity game was concluded, with loads of kids from both schools, plus hundreds of adults on hand. Both sets of fans had lots to cheer during this enjoyable contest. The game was televised by MSG Varsity.

Both teams played man-to-man defenses throughout the game, and it was clear from the opening minutes that the key matchup would be St. Peter's Izais Hicks, a 6' 7" senior transfer from Curtis, guarding 6' 7" Curtis senior Hassan Martin (Rhode Island recruit), the most heralded Staten Island player in the lead-in to this season. Hicks guarded Martin closely, trying to make it difficult for Curtis to get the ball inside to their star player. Hicks was fairly successful in his defensive assignment when he was on the court. When Hicks was charged with his third foul early in the second half and went to the bench, the tide turned in favor of Curtis, and St. Peter's could not recover.

Curtis had the advantage in the opening minutes of the game, but St. Peter's took the lead late in the first quarter on two jump shots--one from behind the arc--by 6' 3" senior Jack Shanahan. A key factor for St. Peter's success in the first frame was their offensive rebounding, as they grabbed four caroms off of the offensive glass. Curtis kept it close in the second quarter, with two notable hoops coming on Martin putbacks. (Except for one three pointer, all of Martin's field goals in this game were scored in close.)

With 6:36 left in the third quarter, St. Peter's Hicks was whistled for his third personal foul, and he went to the bench with his team leading 25-24. Curtis then tied the game at 25 and then at 27. A turnaround jumper by St. Peter's Khalil Shorter, a 5' 11" senior, put his side up 30-27, then Curtis erupted. With 4:25 left, a putback by Martin gave Curtis a 31-30 lead, and they never trailed from that point. Curtis shut out St. Peter's for the balance of the third quarter, while scoring on a drive by 6' 3" senior Jermaine Huff, a hoop inside by 6' 3" junior Keyshawn Hodges, a driving dunk by Martin, (then after Hicks returned to the lineup) a free throw by Hodges, and a pivot move by 6' 1" junior Jamel Olorunoje. During this run, St. Peter's had a series of one missed shot possessions; they had only one offensive rebound in the third quarter.

Curtis' run continued with the first hoop of the fourth quarter, a drive by 5' 8" senior Ben Ellis. St. Peter's finally got a score--their first in over eight minutes--on a move inside by 6' junior Latrell Curtis. At that point, Curtis led St. Peter's 42-32, and there was 4:25 left in the game. As the game wound down, three times St. Peter's cut Curtis' lead to five points, but they could not get closer.

Curtis had a decisive rebounding advantage in this game--particularly due to Martin, who was effective on both boards--37 to 22. Fourteen of Curtis' rebounds were on the offensive end. Curtis committed 11 turnovers, while St. Peter's had seven miscues. St. Peter's was 11 for 18 from the foul line, and Curtis was 10 for 19. St. Peter's made two threes in the game, while Curtis made one. St. Peter's blocked two shots, and Martin had Curtis' only block.

For Curtis, Martin scored 21 points, and 5' 10" junior Innocent Kukulu netted 11. St. Peter's was led by Latrell Curtis, their only double-digit scorer, who had 13 points.

With the win, Curtis is now 2-0, while this was St. Peter's opening game of the season.

St. Peter's Boys 15 10 5 13-43
Curtis 13 11 16 9-49

Tottenville Opens Season with Win at Monsignor Farrell

2012-11-20T06:03:08Z

11-19-12 @ Monsignor Farrell (Staten Island)

Game 2012-13 #1 Tottenville (Staten Island) 53 Monsignor Farrell (Staten Island) 48

Tottenville overcame the commission of 10 first quarter turnovers and a fourth quarter barrage of three pointers by the home side's Connor Nicholson to win at Monsignor Farrell in the season opener for both squads. Both teams had losing records last season.

Both teams opened with energetic man-to-man defenses, and Farrell led throughout the first quarter, as Tottenville had great difficulty handling the ball. Tottenville's rebounding was strong from the outset, though, and their vigorous defense held Farrell to just one field goal in the first frame. Tottenville's ball security improved in the second quarter, and they tied the score for the first time with 6:06 left in the first half, when a jump shot by sophomore Adnan Javid knotted the accounting at 12. The teams exchanged small leads for the balance of the half, with the game tied at 14, 16, 19, 21, and--at halftime--25. Generally, Tottenville tried to work the ball inside to 6' 6" sophomore Nakye Sanders, while Farrell's offense was more guard-oriented.

Tottenville switched to zone defenses in the second half, using a 2-3 at first, then a 2-1-2, before returning to a 2-3 toward the end of the game. Tottenville scored the first basket in the second half, and they never trailed from that point. The key was that the visitors were considerably stronger inside at both ends of the floor. Farrell did not adjust very well to Tottenville's zone defense, scoring only one field goal in the third quarter. In fact, Farrell scored only six field goals in the first three quarters of the game.

Tottenville surged early in the fourth quarter, and a seven point run over a three minute span gave them the game's first double digit lead, 42-32. That run consisted of a hoop inside by senior Andrew Spinelli, a bank shot three by Javid, and two free throws by senior John Agugliaro. Farrell called a time out at that point, and, for the balance of the game, their offense focused on trying to shoot threes over Tottenville's zone. Farrell quickly found the range, hitting four threes in the late going, three of them by senior Connor Nicholson. A few turnovers and missed free throws by Tottenville enabled Farrell to erode their deficit down the stretch. Nicholson's final three, with 13 seconds left in the game, cut Tottenville's lead to 51-48, but that was as close as Farrell got, as Sanders made a couple of free throws to close the scoring.

For Tottenville, nine guys scored, with Javid netting a dozen points and Sanders notching 11. Nicholson led Farrell with 19 points, and senior John Orsino scored 13. Tottenville out-rebounded Farrell 40 to 30. Tottenville had 24 turnovers to Farrell's 12. Tottenville blocked four shots, while Farrell did not have any blocks. Farrell made six threes, while Tottenville sank four. Tottenville was 13 for 25 from the line, while Farrell was 18 for 22.

Tottenville 5 20 10 18-53
Monsignor Farrell 10 15 5 18-48

New York City Boys' High School Basketball Team Rankings: 2012-13 Preseason

2012-11-20T05:10:42Z

Rankings of this sort are always subjective, but they are fun to consider. These rankings will be updated periodically during the season.

1. Abraham Lincoln (Brooklyn)

2. South Shore (Brooklyn)

3. Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn)

4. Boys & Girls (Brooklyn)

5. Thomas Jefferson Campus (Brooklyn)

6. Christ the King (Queens)

7. Archbishop Molloy (Queens)

8 Curtis (Staten Island)

9. Wings Academy (Bronx)

10. Cardinal Hayes (Bronx)