{"id":77921,"date":"2016-02-08T21:14:23","date_gmt":"2016-02-08T21:14:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sandbox.web.rcn.net\/rcntv\/?p=77921"},"modified":"2023-02-14T21:05:54","modified_gmt":"2023-02-14T21:05:54","slug":"sportstalk-shop-league-basketball-playoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/sportstalk-shop-league-basketball-playoffs\/","title":{"rendered":"The SportsTalk Shop:  League Basketball Playoffs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Lcs-OHDoQHU\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The high school basketball playoffs have arrived in the Lehigh Valley region.\u00a0 Thanks to the expanded playoff format (of which there\u2019s been much debate amongst local sports fans&#8211;discussed at length on \u2018RCN SportsTalk\u2019), the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and the Colonial League post-season actually got underway last weekend, with the league semifinals to be played on Tuesday and Wednesday (check the RCN broadcast schedule for our coverage).<\/p>\n<p>On this Thursday\u2019s live \u201cSportsTalk\u201d program (7-8pm), we\u2019ll have local coaches and experts Megan Dellegrotti (former Southern Lehigh Head Coach\/fmr. DeSales Assistant Head Coach), Joe Jarjous (current Dieruff boys head basketball coach), Kyle Hutnik (Pen Argyl Boys Basketball Head Coach) and Ed Seidick (Catasaqua Girls Head Basketball Coach) on the show to give their insights on the teams involved, along with opinions, predictions and key match-ups to watch for on both leagues\u2019 championship nights for both the boys and girls title games (also to be broadcast on RCN-TV on Friday).<\/p>\n<p>To get you set for the semifinals, here are thoughts on the teams that I\u2019ve seen so far this winter, along with the video highlights from RCN\u2019s regular season coverage of high school basketball in the Lehigh Valley.<\/p>\n<p><strong>EPC:\u00a0 PARKLAND<\/strong><br \/>\nDespite just a five-point lead over Bethlehem Catholic at halftime, Parkland looked just as strong in the second half of its opening round playoff game as they have at any point during their season since the football players returned.\u00a0 I\u2019m sticking with my prediction\u00a0from early December that the Trojans win the EPC and continue to advance all the way to the PIAA state championship.\u00a0 A big key for this to happen will be for Parkland to avoid one of the top Philadelphia schools (aka., Roman Catholic) in the first few rounds of the \u00a0tourney.\u00a0 However, this team is so well-balanced and has all the advantages (size, speed, shooting ability et al) over nearly every team they\u2019ll face over the next few weeks.<\/p>\n<p><strong>ALLEN<\/strong><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pAG3e4FKSGI\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OaiqY8mTQwo\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Another prediction I made back on this blog before the season started (and I\u2019m sticking with now) is that Talek Williams is one of the most dynamic players in the Lehigh Valley.\u00a0 From what I\u2019ve seen of his Canaries teammates this year, I don\u2019t believe Allen is a one-star team.\u00a0 At any given time, Williams and Co. could be the Lehigh Valley team to give Parkland its biggest challenge.\u00a0 The key for the Canaries is their consistency\u2014they\u2019ve looked great at times, and have also struggled: sometimes game-to-game, other times quarter-to-quarter.\u00a0 If Allen can put together a string of solid efforts, they could give the Trojans a battle for the EPC Championship Friday (RCN-TV, live, Friday at 7:30pm), provided they don\u2019t look past Pocono Mountain West in the semis.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eWSmdXFuFAM\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Emmaus<\/strong><br \/>\nThe Hornets also have the size, guard-play and speed to hang with Parkland, but have not been able to come close to a win in the two meetings between these two juggernauts.\u00a0 I believe they have the biggest collection of underrated players in the area (Cam Widdoss, Brandon Rapose, Jake Freirtag, Joey Polczynski, Eric Cichocki, Jake Scarnulis).\u00a0 Because of their regular-season finale loss to Whitehall, they drew Parkland in the semifinal round (RCN-TV, live Tuesday at 7:30pm).\u00a0 This might be the wrong way to look at things, but if Emmaus loses to Parkland in the league playoff, the old adage of \u201cit\u2019s hard to beat a good team four times\u201d might apply if these area rivals would face each other again in the District XI playoffs\u2014or even a fifth time if they would both clinch and meet in the state playoffs.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HF5iKR_os0M\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Colonial League:\u00a0 Bangor vs. Saucon Valley<\/strong><br \/>\nWhile Bangor\u2019s Michael Martino has been the headline name in the league this past year, I think both the Slaters and the Panthers have a lot of high-talent players, and their semifinal matchup (RCN4, live Wednesday at 7:30pm) should be just as competitive as their regular season meetings.\u00a0 While Bangor won each contest, Mike Kane was not available for the first meeting between these two teams, and he has shown he can be a difference maker.<\/p>\n<p>Another player to watch?\u00a0 While he\u2019s certainly gone under the radar, I believe Saucon Valley guard Josh Snead might just be the best point guard in the Colonial League this year.\u00a0 Equally underrated are Bangor\u2019s guard Reece Jones along with the Slaters\u2019 frontcourt\u2014with some up-and-coming talent also on the way.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9PSuHDGF2m4\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Southern Lehigh vs. Salisbury<\/strong><br \/>\nI haven\u2019t gotten a chance to see in person either of these teams this year, but will this Wednesday in the first Colonial League semifinal contest (RCN4, live at 6pm).\u00a0 For some great insights on the Falcons from Head Coach Jason Weaver and his players, check out their \u201cSportsTalk\u201d appearance on our podcast <a href=\"\/atvn\/sports-talk\">here<\/a>.\u00a0 In addition to talking about their successes this year and thoughts on the post-season, top scorer Tevon Weber told some great stories about his shot selection, and what he does every time he hits a three-pointer.<\/p>\n<p>If you have a comment or question about the local high school basketball playoffs, email them to <a href=\"mailto:rcnsportstalk@rcn.com\">rcnsportstalk@rcn.com<\/a> and tune in Thursday at 7pm for our \u201cLeague Championship Preview Show\u201d as we read and respond to your thoughts on the local league playoff season in the Lehigh Valley.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The high school basketball playoffs have arrived in the Lehigh Valley region.\u00a0 Thanks to the expanded playoff format (of which there\u2019s been much debate amongst local sports fans&#8211;discussed at length on \u2018RCN SportsTalk\u2019), the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and the Colonial League post-season actually got underway last weekend, with the league semifinals to be played on&#8230;<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt 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