Finally, the area’s high school football season is over, and what a memorable ride it was for both Southern Lehigh and Northwestern Lehigh in going as far as you can go.
While much of the area’s attention was on those two teams, and deservedly so, the boys basketball season has already completed one full week of games.
Because of its lengthy football run, defending Colonial League champion Northwestern has yet to play a game, but will make up for lost time soon. They are used to it since this was the football team’s third straight appearance in the state finals.
Through a variety of circumstances, last year’s Colonial League runner-up and District 11 3A champ, Catasauqua, has yet to play a game.
And that’s why neither the Tigers nor the Rough Riders are in our first Dandy Dozen rankings for the season, even though it is expected both will be in the mix at some point.
When it comes to the top 12 teams, there are a lot of familiar faces. Last year’s EPC finalists, Northampton and Pocono Mountain West, have lofty positions, as does Allen and defending District 11 6A champion Parkland.
By the end of this week, everybody will have played at least one game, and offer a better gauge of where everybody stacks up.
But for now, here’s area boys basketball’s first Dandy Dozen of the 2025-26 season:
No. 12: Southern Lehigh
Record: 2-0, 0-0 Colonial League
Last rankings: Not ranked at the end of last season
Last game: Beat Easton 53-51
Next game: Scheduled to play at Saucon Valley on Monday; host Northwestern Lehigh on Thursday.
Comment: While the Spartans’ football team made history with an amazing run to the PIAA Class 4A championship, the boys basketball team, under new coach John Arcidiacono, is off to a good start with wins over Blue Mountain and Easton. Joey Plessl had 21 in the win over Blue Mountain and 11 against Easton. Wyatt Adams led the way with 15 against the Red Rovers.
No. 11: Salisbury
Record: 2-0, 0-0 Colonial League
Last rankings: Not ranked at the end of last season
Last game: Beat Lehigh Valley Academy Charter, 73-57
Next game: Scheduled to play at Palisades on Monday; host Jim Thorpe on Thursday.
Comment: The Falcons proved they know how to win by taking league and tournament championships in the summer. Now, they would like to post even bigger Ws in the winter. Julian Mahkoul scored 22 in a win over Mahanoy Area, and Steven Lozada tallied 24 in the victory over Lehigh Valley Academy Charter.
No. 10: Bethlehem Christian
Record: 2-0
Last rankings: 11th at the end of the 2024-25 season
Last game: Beat Lancaster County Christian 75-61
Next game: At Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg on Tuesday
Comment: The Panthers had the area’s best record last season when they went 26-3 and brought back three stars in Gabe Transue, Myles Harris and Deion Swift. Transue and Harris entered the season with well over 1,000 career points. If they can get more contributions from others and play better defense, they could repeat as district champs. They are testing themselves by playing several quality teams this season, including Allentown Central Catholic, Executive, and Nazareth.
No. 9: Allentown Central Catholic
Record: 2-2, 1-0 EPC
Last rankings: 2nd at the end of the 2024-25 season
Last game: Lost to Souderton 62-47
Next game: At Dieruff on Tuesday
Comment: The Vikings are a work in progress as they try to replace two 1,000-point scorers in Jahrel Vigo and Lucas Mushrush, who graduated, and Tommy Roth, who was injured during football season. Cameron Hines, who played last year at Parkland, is the new addition and could become a big factor as he figures out his role with ACCHS. Yariel Gonzalez scored 20, and Jared Ford added 18 in the team’s league-opening win over Emmaus.
No. 8: Notre Dame-Green Pond
Record: 2-1, 1-0 Colonial
Last rankings: 12th at the end of the 2024-25 season
Last game: Beat Lehighton 72-57
Next game: Scheduled to play at Northern Lehigh on Monday; host Bangor on Saturday.
Comment: The Crusaders figure to be one of the most fun teams to watch this season with their speed and up-tempo style. In a 72-57 win over Lehighton, Justin Manning scored 22, and Tommy Murphy added 19. Manning also had 38 in a season-opening win over Freedom.
No. 7: Executive Education
Record: 3-0
Last rankings: Not ranked at the end of the 2024-25 season
Last game: Beat Scranton 62-58
Next game: Host Lincoln from Philadelphia at 3 p.m. Saturday
Comment: The Raptors are eligible again for the postseason and figure to be a team in contention for titles. They have the most unique schedule of any program, with lots of nondistrict opponents and travel, but they are used to it and thrive against quality competition. Eshaan Tung scored 25 points, and Ziyon Wilkins had 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in the win over Scranton.
No. 6: Liberty
Record: 3-1, 2-0 EPC
Last rankings: 8th at the end of the 2024-25 season
Last game: Lost to Dallas 54-44
Next game: At Pleasant Valley on Tuesday
Comment: The Hurricanes are off to a good start, getting scoring from Jake Pukszyn, Jarrell Teague, Dylan Bilger, and Willie Cruz. Liberty had eight 3-pointers against Dallas, but needs to improve its foul shooting. The Hurricanes missed eight free throws against Dallas and are making less than 50% at the line through the first four games.
No. 5: Nazareth
Record: 2-0, 2-0 EPC
Last rankings: Not ranked at the end of the 2024-25 season
Last game: Beat Emmaus 68-38
Next game: At East Stroudsburg South on Tuesday
Comment: Under new coach Dave Wickmann, the Blue Eagles are off to a good start. Logan Hahn, Blake Nagurney and Gavin Kershner give the team balanced scoring, and the defense has held two opponents under 45 points.
No. 4: Parkland
Record: 2-1, 1-1 EPC
Last rankings: Ranked first at the end of the 2024-25 season
Last game: Beat Berks Catholic 53-39
Next game: Host Whitehall on Tuesday
Comment: The Trojans responded well to their opening-night loss to Allen, posting wins over Freedom and Berks Catholic, and held both under 40 points. Parkland made 14 3-pointers in its 69-36 win over Freedom.
No. 3: Northampton
Record: 3-0, 2-0 EPC
Last rankings: Ranked third at the end of the 2024-25 season
Last game: Beat Bangor 51-45
Next game: At East Stroudsburg North, Tuesday
Comment: The Konkrete Kids figure to make a run at another league title and also contend for the program’s first district championship since 1972. All of the key pieces from last year’s team are back. Four Konkrete Kids reached double figures in the team’s 57-30 win over Dieruff, led by Leo Regec’s 14.
No. 2: Allen
Record: 2-0, 2-0 EPC
Last rankings: Ranked fourth at the end of the 2024-25 season
Last game: Beat Bethlehem Catholic 58-31
Next game: At Emmaus on Tuesday
Comment: The Canaries, some may have forgotten, came on strong at the end of last season and made the District 11 6A semifinals, finished third in districts, and reached the state tournament. They have an all-league player leading the way in Tiheed Wise Jr., and other emerging stars. Darnell Braswell has proven to be one of the best coaches in the area, and as long as his players follow his lead, this could be a special season in West Allentown.
No. 1: Pocono Mountain West
Record: 4-0, 2-0 EPC
Last rankings: Ranked fifth at the end of the 2024-25 season
Last game: Beat East Stroudsburg North 81-52
Next game: Host Bethlehem Catholic on Wednesday
Comment: The Panthers have the leading candidate for player-of-the-year honors in KJ Coles, who is off to a fantastic start. He had 42 points in an 81-52 win over East Stroudsburg North and opened the season with 34 against Frankford. But he is not a one-man show. Brady Behr, Nate Cruz and Teddy Stiehler are among the guys who can get the job done for coach Rich Williams, who is still trying to break the PPL Center jinx and get his first league championship.
