Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Tuesday night predictions: Central Catholic headed for more gold?

FROM KEITH GROLLER

The action resumes tonight in the District 11 tournament with the spotlight on the 3A boys bracket where Central Catholic has to shake off the rust from a long layoff -- they haven't played since the regular season finale against Emmaus on Feb. 10 -- and takes on a solid North Schuylkill team that just played on Friday night, and won, beating Southern Lehigh.

The Vikings will be challenged, but have too much talent not to advance. CCHS 55-49.

In the other 3A game, Wilson and Northern Lehigh hook up for the second time this season. Northern Lehigh won the first matchup, 39-34, back on Jan. 17.

The Bulldogs have had the longer layoff after losing to Bangor in the Colonial League semis. Wilson played well at the end of the season and will control tempo in this one. If they can find a way to match up with the Bulldog "bigs" inside, they will prevail. Bob Frankenfield has a knack of getting his team to play well at this time of year, every year. Gerald Terry is as good as anyone in the Colonial League when he wants to be. I see Wilson 40-37 in an upset.

In Class A, I covered both Pius X and Marian Catholic winning with ease on Friday night and think this could be a real good matchup tonight at Panther Valley. Pius X won the previous meeting, but Marian has been playing solid over the second half of the season.

I picked Pius X to win the whole tournament last week and I won't stray now, but this one should be a dandy. I'll go with the Royals 60-55.

In the other A matchup, you have newcomer Lincoln Leadership playing Mahanoy Area. Al Blount is excited about his new program on the East Side of Allentown; thrilled to be in districts for the first time and equally ecstatic about getting one district win. However, Mickey Holland is in charge at Mahanoy Area and he's a superb coach. Mahanoy comes out of the rugged Schuylkill League and I have a feeling they'll bring an intensity level that Lincoln hasn't seen very often this season.

It would be a gerat story if Lincoln won, but I'll go with Mahanoy Area 55-45

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/

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