It’s the last week before Christmas, and just like procrastinating shoppers who like to put off their gift-buying until the very last minute, area boys basketball teams will be hustling to get in three or four games before taking a break for Santa’s big night.
In the first two weeks of the season, many teams have separated themselves from the pack and look to stay on track entering the holidays.
In both the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and Colonial League three teams entered the week with unbeaten records, a number that will dwindle as Allen and Nazareth, two of the EPC unbeatens, meet Tuesday night in Allentown, while Northampton, the other EPC unbeaten, has its toughest game of the season so far at Parkland.
In the Colonial League, Northwestern Lehigh, Salisbury, and Wilson all have yet to lose. Executive Education is another program yet to taste defeat.
All of the unbeatens are represented in The Morning Call’s latest Dandy Dozen rankings:
No. 12: Wilson
Record: 4-0, 4-0 Colonial
Last rankings: Not ranked
Last game: Beat Moravian Academy 68-54
Next game: At Bangor, 7 p.m. Wednesday
Comment: The Warriors have been getting solid production from Lafayette Acree, who scored 20 points against Lehighton and 15 against Northern Lehigh. Their four wins so far have come against teams with a combined 8-14 record. Things will get tougher against Bangor, Southern Lehigh and Catasauqua.
No. 11: Salisbury
Record: 5-0, 3-0 Colonial
Last rankings: 11th
Last game: Beat Lehighton 65-58
Next game: Hosted Bangor Tuesday night; play at Northern Lehigh, 7 p.m. Wednesday
Comment: The Falcons have featured remarkable scoring balance with Steven Lozada, Garrett Leiner, Justin Mahkoul and Drew Petrie all averaging in double figures. The team’s longtime timer and scoreboard operator Tom Moyer set the record with the longest streak in local boys basketball for involvement. He retired after last season after 62 seasons of working Falcons home games. He was the only scoreboard operator the school had until this season. Salisbury opened in 1963. In fact, its first game was postponed by the Kennedy assassination.
No. 10: Liberty
Record: 4-2, 2-2 EPC
Last rankings: 7th
Last game: Lost to Nothampton 63-45
Next game: At Emmaus, 7 p.m. Tuesday
Comment: Jake Pukszyn getting to 1,000 career points was the only highlight for the Hurricanes in a one-sided loss to Northampton. Pukszyn moved past Billy Packer and into seventh place all-time at the school with 1,018 points. Pukszyn is averaging 16.2 points per game, but no one else is scoring in double figures.
No. 9: Northwestern Lehigh
Record: 2-0 2-0 Colonial
Last rankings: Not ranked
Last game: Beat Catasauqua 65-47
Next game: At Moravian Academy, 7 p.m. Tuesday
Comment: The Tigers hit the ground running after the long wait to start their season due to another 16-week football season. Cannon Fitch and Malachi Coleman stood out in the opening-night win at Southern Lehigh and Mason Bollinger had a big first half in the rout of Catasauqua. Northwestern has seven games to play by the end of December, but by now is used to the catch-up routine.
No. 8: Allentown Central Catholic
Record: 4-2, 3-0 EPC
Last rankings: 9th
Last game: Beat Pleasant Valley 72-50
Next game: Host Freedom, 7 p.m. Tuesday
Comment: The Vikings figure to be better in the second half of the season than in the first half as Cameron Hines gets more accustomed to the Central way of basketball. Dennis Csensits figured it would take some time for this team to come together after the graduation of Lucas Mushrush and Jahrel Vigo and an injury to Tommy Roth. It’s not far-fetched to suggest that there could be a rematch between ACCHS and Northwestern Lehigh in the District 11 4A final.
No. 7: Notre Dame-Green Pond
Record: 4-1, 3-0 Colonial
Last rankings: 8th
Last game: Beat Bangor 46-38
Next game: At Moravian Academy, 7 p.m. Tuesday
Comment: The Crusaders’ Justin Manning is averaging more than 20 points per game, but it was Drew Boyd, who delivered 16 points in the team’s win over Bangor. The Crusaders have four games this week and then are off until a Christmas tournament at Allentown Central Catholic Dec. 29-30.
No. 6: Executive Education
Record: 4-0
Last rankings: 7th
Last game: Beat Abraham Lincoln HS from Philadelphia, 68-47
Next game: Host Devon Prep, 7 p.m. Wednesday
Comment: The Raptors have scored at least 62 in all four of their games. They are looking forward to playing in the Easton Rotary tournament on Dec. 29-30, where they will be matched up with Phillipsburg in the first game.
No. 5: Nazareth
Record: 5-0, 4-0 EPC
Last rankings: 5th
Last game: Beat Bethlehem Christian 87-68
Next game: At Allen, 7 p.m. Tuesday
Comment: The Blue Eagles travel to Allen for a battle of unbeatens Tuesday night, and they’re coming off an impressive win over Bethlehem Christian in which they got 33 points from Gavin Kershner, and four other players reached double figures. Kershner had five 3-pointers for Nazareth and is averaging 18.4 points per game.
No. 4: Pocono Mountain West
Record: 4-1, 2-1 EPC
Last rankings: 1st
Last game: Lost to Parkland 57-47
Next game: Host Pleasant Valley, 7 p.m. Tuesday
Comment: The Panthers were hurt by a slow start at Parkland, falling behind 17-4 in the first quarter. KJ Coles was spectacular with 28 points, but coach Rich Williams was disappointed the other players were not as aggressive. The bright side, he said, was that it was just the fifth game of the season and there’s plenty of time for the Panthers to learn from their mistakes.
No. 3: Parkland
Record: 4-1, 3-1 EPC
Last rankings: 4th
Last game: Beat Pocono Mountain West 57-47
Next game: Host Northampton, 7 p.m. Tuesday
Comment: The Trojans have won four straight since an opening-night loss at Allen and are getting contributions from different players each time out. The one constant has been Blake Nassry, who has averaged 16.7 ppg in the four EPC games.
No. 2: Northampton
Record: 6-0, 4-0 EPC
Last rankings: 3rd
Last game: Beat East Stroudsburg South 60-36
Next game: At Parkland, 7 p.m. Tuesday
Comment: The Konkrete Kids split a pair of games with Parkland last year, with the last one being the District 11 6A title game won by the Trojans 66-33. Northampton is using the same formula as last year when balanced scoring and its stingy matchup zone defense led to the EPC title.
No. 1: Allen
Record: 4-0 4-0 EPC
Last rankings: 2nd
Last game: Beat Pocono Mountain East 59-46
Next game: Host Nazareth, 7 p.m. Tuesday
Comment: The Canaries have a grueling week with games against Nazareth, Whitehall, and an improved Dieruff team before being off for more than a week until their holiday tournament Dec. 29-30.
