District XI has a total of 8 teams that qualified for state Playoffs, with 3 from 4A, 1 from 5A and 4 from 6A.
Class 4A
11-3 Salisbury (23-4) vs. 12-2 West Philadelphia (21-7) at West Philadelphia HS at 6:30 Friday The Falcons, coached by Jason Weaver started their Colonial League playoffs with a 60-45 win against Lehighton, followed by a 56-51 loss to Northwestern Lehigh in the Semifinals. They began their District XI 4A tournament with a 55-42 win over Wilson in the quarterfinals, then a narrow 33-32 loss to Allentown Central Catholic in the Semifinals. They then picked up a win in a consolation game 51-42 over North Schuylkill. They are led in scoring by Senior Steven Lozada, who is averaging 14.6 points per game and has a total of 381 on the year. He also has 42 made 3 pointers. Senior Drew Petrie also poses a threat with almost 10 points per game and 29 made 3 pointers. The Junior duo of Julian Makhoul and Garrett Liner showcase the depth of the team, with Julian averaging 12 points per game with 25 made 3s, and Garrett averaging 8.42 points per game and has 27 made 3s on the year. The Falcons now prepare for the PIAA Class 4A boys tournament, where a tough West Philadelphia team awaits them. West Philadelphia is coached by Adrian Burke and led in scoring by Senior, Khabir Washington, who averages 14.8 points per game and 415 total points on the season. Jr, Isaiah Smith is the 2nd on the team in points per game with 13.4 and 375 points on the year. This duo is the engine behind a resurgent Speedboys team, making their first state playoff appearance since 2023. They beat Tech Freire Charter 76-44, Frankford 88-55, Sankora Freedom Academy 48-42, and Murrell Dobbins Vo-Tech 68-47, before losing their next 2 to Imhotep Charter 39-35, and Archbishop Carroll 51-48. I expect this game to come down to the wire, with Lozada and Washington leading the way. I think Salisbury wins a nail biter by one point on a buzzer beater from Lozada.
11-1 Allentown Central Catholic (15-11) vs. 12-4 Devon Prep (5-18) at Allentown Central Catholic HS Friday 7 PM The Vikings are coached by Dennis Csensits and led in scoring by Jr, Yariel Gonzalez, who averages 15 points per game and leads the team in free throw attempts with 133, (making 72 of them), which is 62 more attempts than the next closest teammate. He also has 136 made 2 pointers and can beat you everywhere on the court. Jr, Cameron Hines is similar to Yariel in that regard, as he has 104 made 2 pointers and made 44 free throws on 71 attempts, totaling 267 points on the year and 11.6 points per game. Another threat is Sr, Jared Ford who has an astonishing 41 made 3 pointers and 40 made 2 pointers, with 8.3 points per game and 216 on the year. ACC lost to Parkland the EPC Boys Quarterfinals, 74-37, beat Lehighton in the District XI 11 4 A Quarterfinals 51-40, beat Salisbury 33-32 in the Semifinals, and beat Northwestern Lehigh 33-22 in the Championship Game. Their next opponent will be Devon Prep, who is coached by Jason Fisher, and led in scoring by Jr, Jaden Craft, with 10.8 points per game. Consistency has plagued Devon Prep this year, as highlighted by wins over St. Joseph’s Prep 67-45, and a win over West Catholic 53-44. However, losses to Roman Catholic 75-69, MBAPC CO-OP 64-48, and Murrell Dobbins VO-Tech 65-53 have been their low points of the season. After analyzing the 2 teams, I think Allentown Central Catholic comes out on top because you don’t know which version of Devon Prep will show up.
11-2 Northwestern Lehigh (21-6) vs. 2-2 Dallas (19-4) at Northwestern Lehigh HS Friday at 7 The Tigers are coached by Patrick Wanamaker and are led by Sr, Mason Bollinger, who averages 13.6 points per game, has made 129 2 pointers, 17 3 pointers, and is 58 for 85 at the free throw line for a total of 367 points on the year. Another Senior, Malachi Coleman, averages 11.1 points per game, made 37 3 pointers and 77 2 pointers and has 300 points on the year. Sr, Cannon Fitch has 8.7 points per game, 38 3 pointers, 27 2 pointers, and is 57 for 77 at the free throw line. Jr, Brady Zimmerman averages 8 pts per game made 62 2 pointers, 18 3 pointers, and is 22 of 41 from the free throw line, with 200 total points. Having 4 players like these can step up on any given night displays the depth the Tigers have and why they will be a hard out. Their playoff schedule included a 65-50 win over Wilson in the Colonial League Quarterfinals, a comeback 56-51 win over Salisbury in the Colonial League Semifinals, a 59-56 win over Catty in the Colonial league Championship, a District XI 4A Semifinal 60-28 win over North Schuylkill, and a 33-22 loss to Allentown Central Catholic in the Championship Game. However, their opponent, the Mountaineers will also be a hard out. They are coached by Mark Belenski and recently experienced a 14 game win streak, including wins over Holy Redeemer 55-34, Crestwood 43-38, Mid Valley 67-41, and Valley View 46-43 that lasted until the District 2 Class 4A Championship Game against Scranton Prep, where they lost 68-52. Dallas was led by Jr, Pat Flanagan in that game with 18 points. Dallas has other weapons in the form of Sr, Kael Berry and So, Tyce Mason, who had 9 points and 10 pts respectively in that game. This trio helped power Dallas to the strong season they have had so far. This is another game that is a coin-flip, given the deep and high powered offenses these teams have. I think Dallas has a slight edge though, because they were borderline unstoppable late in the season, and I think that loss to Scranton Prep provides them the extra motivation they need to pull off the victory.
Class 5A
11-1 Southern Lehigh (17-9) vs. 1-5 Upper Moreland (17-9) at Southern Lehigh HS Friday at 7 The Spartans are coached by first year coach, John Arcidiacono, and led by Jr, Jack Fistner, who has 43 made 3 pointers and 42 made 2 pointers, averaging 11 points per game and has 232 overall on the season. Fellow Jr, Morgan Capuano has averaged 8.3 points per game with 54 made 2 pointers and 20 made 3 pointers with 183 on the year. They started the Colonial League Playoffs with a 75-56 loss to Catty in the Colonial League Quarterfinals. In the District 11 5A Subregional Tournament they beat Athens 59-29 in the Quarterfinals, Pottsville in the Semifinals 55-43, and Selinsgrove 60-44 in the Championship Game. Their opponent, The Bears are coached by Dan Heiland, and is led by sophomore, Cannon Campell, who is averaging 13 points per game, and Jose Hernandez, who is averaging 12.5 points per game. Other contributors are Larry Hughes, who is averaging 11 points per game and Nate Best, who is averaging 10 points per game. Recent games include a loss to Upper Dublin 70-46 and a win over Pottstown 60-58. They now take on a Southern Lehigh in the PIAA 5A Boys Basketball First Round in what should be a thriller. In what is yet another evenly matched game, I think Upper Moreland gets the edge because they have 4 players averaging 10 or more points a game, which isn’t a common theme with teams in the tournament.
Class 6A
11-2 Liberty (17-10) vs. 2-2 Wilkes-Barre Area (13-10) at Liberty HS 2:30 Saturday The Hurricanes are coached by Nigel Long and feature no shortage of big name talent, with Sr, Jake Pukszyn the driving force who averages 15.8 points per game and 165 free throw attempts, making 112 of them, 132 made 2 pointers, 17 made 3s, ad 457 points overall. Sr, Jarrell Teague is another big name, who has an eye-popping 41 made 3s and 50 made 2s, averaging 9.5 pts per game, and 256 overall points. Flying under the radar is Jr, Luke Heffernan, who has stepped up all throughout the playoffs. Although the stat sheet hasn’t shown his imapct, he has made multiple clutch 3 pointers and elevated The Canes to wins or kept his team involved. Liberty started their playoff run with an EPC Boys Playoff Quarterfinal win over Pocono Mtn West 52-44, then a 34-25 loss to Northampton in the semifinals. They then defeated Nazareth 75-65 in the District XI 6A Quarterfinals, beat Whitehall 40-35 in the semifinals, and fell 51-44 in OT to Parkland in the Championship Game. On the other side, Wilkes-Barre is coached by Jimmy Lavan, and is led by the Fuentes brothers Achilles and Robert. While they stand out, Mike Keating and David Jannuzzi also provide the team a steady presence. Recent basketball games for the Wolfpack include a 71-61 loss to the Dallas Mountaineers, a loss to the Hazleton Cougars 44-43, a loss to the Cumberland Valley Eagles 70-43, and a redemption win against Hazleton 52-47. I think this game belongs to Liberty due to the trio of Pukszyn, Teague, and Heffernan. Until a team can contain them, I can’t pick against them.
11-1 Parkland (22-6) vs. 1-9 Conestoga (18-8) at Parkland HS, Saturday at 1 The Trojans are coached by Ed Ohlson and he and the team are no stranger to deep playoff runs. This edition of the Trojans are spearheaded by Jr star guard, Blake Nassry, who is averaging 16.5 points per game 106 made 2s and 50 made 3s, and 99 for 105 at the free throw line. Sr, Jude Ruisch, Sr, Nassim Adams, and Jr, TJ Lawrence are the other members of the Trojans that strike fear into the heart of their opponents, with Ruisch knocking down 69 made 3s and 8.6 points per game. Adams is another steady force on this deep Trojans team, going 53 for 76 on the free throw line and constantly getting opponents into foul trouble. TJ Lawrence was injured most of the year, but his return has driven Parkland to new heights and unlocked their full potential. Parkland cruised to the EPC Championship Game, with a blowout win over Allentown Central Catholic 74-37, a close win over Nazareth in the Semifinals 51-46, before ultimately falling to Northampton 52-39 in the aforementioned Championship Game. However, 3 straight victories in the District 11 6A Tournament, 60-50 over William Allen in the Quarterfinals, 53-41 over PM East in the semifinals, and a 51-44 OT thriller win over Liberty in the Championship Game has them set up to face Conestoga in the PIAA Class 6A Tournament. Conestoga is coached by Sean Forcine and led by Sr Captain, Shane O’Brien, who had 14 pts, 3 blocks, and 2 assists in a recent outing. Other seniors on the team include the duo of Cory Hogan and Rowan Miller, who combined for 20 rebounds in a recent game, displaying great court awareness and delivering multiple second chance opportunities for the team. Recent games include a 55-51 loss to Spring-Ford and a 71-60 win over Chester. I think Parkland has the edge here in both talent and experience. Although they started slow in recent games against Northampton and Liberty, they came roaring back within minutes and are a tough team to contain for 32 minutes or more if you send them to OT like Liberty did.
11-4 Pocono Mtn East (13-13) vs. 3-4 William Penn (17-8) at William Penn HS Saturday 2 PM The Cardinals are coached by Joe McManus and led by, ironically, his son Dom McManus, who averages 12.3 points per game and has 24 made 3s on the season. He is also all area 2nd team and the team facilitator. Other names include Fred Allicock and Aiden Pierre. All 3 of these players led the 37-24 upset over #1 seed Northampton. Allicock had 14 points in that game, Pierre had 9 points, including a dagger 3, and McManus had 7 points. PME also beat Stroudsburg in the District XI 6A First round 42-37 before that aforementioned Northampton Quarterfinal game. They lost to Parkland in the Semifinals 53-41 and lost a consolation game to Whitehall 62-47. If PME has any hopes of a deep PIAA 6A playoff run, these 3 players will have to replicate that performance from the K-Kids game. On the other side, William Penn is coached by Kerry Glover and led by Jr, Nasir Barnes, who is averaging 26.7 points per game and 774 points on the year. He is by far the standout player on the team, as sophomore, Yoziah Romero is next closest with 11.6 points per game and 326 points on the year. William Penn’s recent games include a 68-58 win over Red Lion, a 56-54 OT loss against York Suburban, an 86-69 win over Reading, a 72-50 win over Cedar Crest, a 65-58 loss to Central Dauphin, and a 60-57 loss to Red Lion. This game is harder to pick because neither team rides momentum into this game coming off 2 losses. I will have to go with William Penn because Pocono MTN East hasn’t shown consistency in the tournament thus far and caught Northampton on an off shooting day.
11-3 Whitehall (13-13) vs 1-3 Methacton (22-4) at Methacton HS Saturday 1 PM The Zephyrs are coached by Jeff Jones and led by Sr, Sudge Hoderewski, who is averaging 16.4 points per game and has 409 total points on the year. Jack Lloyd is their second leading scorer, averaging 13 points per game and has 324 points overall. Then there are the Dogmanits brothers, Tanner and Talon. Talon is averaging 6.3 points per game and has 165 points overall. Tanner is averaging 6 points per game, has 157 points overall and has 26 made 3 pointers to go along with it. Whitehall started their playoff run as the #7 seed in the EPC Quarterfinals, where they lost an OT heartbreaker to then #2 seed Northampton, 57-46. They later entered the District XI 6A Quarterfinals, defeating Pocono MTN West, 50-47, before falling to Liberty, 40-35 in the semifinals. They defeated Pocono MTN East in a consolation game 62-47. Their opponent, the Methacton Warriors, are coached by Patrick Lockard, and led by John Leet, who had 23 points in a 82-60 win over Great Valley and 5 made 3 pointers, as well as a dagger 3 and clutch free throws in their 54-49 OT win over Springford last month. Another big name to watch is Mason Conrad, who also had a great showing vs. Great Valley, with 24 points. Their recent games include the aforementioned win against Springford, a 61-54 loss to Coatesville, and 61-56 win over Souderton. I think from a record perspective, Methacton has the clear advantage and will win this game, but don’t be surprised if Whitehall slows the game down with long possessions and gives them all they can handle, just as they did to Northampton in the EPC Tournament.
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