Barbosa Quits as Becahi B-Ball Coach to take Over Executive Charter

Ray Barbosa, who led the Bethlehem Catholic Golden Hawks to a District XI title and a serious state championship run in boys basketball earlier this year, is stepping down as their coach to assume that same role at Executive Charter in Allentown.

As a player, Barbosa was all-time leading scorer at Allen High School. He played college ball at James Madison and UMBC, and even played pro ball in Puerto Rico.

He was head coach of Becahi's program for three years. Though he previously coached AAU, his appointment at Bethlehem Catholic was his first high school head coach job.

Toomey Anderson, the LV Ambassador of Basketball, has previously noted that of 108 boys and girls teams in District XI, there are only seven minority head coaches. Ed Jennings, who runs the SCBL program believes this exclusion carries over to the referees, too. This is no knock on the many excellent basketball coaches who really look out for their players, like Doug Snyder (William Allen), Dennis Csensits (Allentown Central Catholic) or Steve Yoder (Emmaus). But as positions open up, there is an overflowing talent pool of minority basketball coaches that do deserve consideration.

Earler this year, Morning Call senior sportswriter Keith Groller highlighted Dr. Shawn Munford, the head coach of the East Stroudsburg South Cavaliers and 6A District XI champs. He grew up in a single-parent home in Philly, and though he at one time played professional basketball, he went on to earn his physics PhD and is now a professor. But Munford is also a life coach, and not just a basketball coach.

He represents a class of coaches, black and white, who really look out for the kids who play for them. We are fortunate in the Lehigh Valley that so many of these coaches are more interested in the kids than the scoreboard. .

Central Squeaks By Easton in OT, 59-54

On paper, this should have been a blow-out. Easton has won only three games this season. Central's young boys basketball team is 10-4 and is on a four-game winning streak, with big wins against Allen and Nazareth. But nobody told the Rovers they were supposed to lose, and they came out on fire. I noticed this in the JV game, in which Central was stunned. Unfortunately for the Vikings, the Varsity was just as pumped.

Central lost the first, second and third quarters. It's been hampered by the loss of sophomore Shack DeZonie. Recuperating from a concussion, he's had to sit out the last two games and may have to sit out one or two more before he's cleared. Central could have used him last night.

In the end, what saved Central were Aiden Elwood's 3s (he had 5 of them) and Zay Jennings' free throws (14 for 16). In addition, both of these players were big on rebounds (Zay had five and Aiden had 6). Tim Susko also galvanized the team with a crucial steal, three rebounds and a crucial free throw.

Free throws by Dat Lambert and Zay Jennings in OT iced the game.

Dat had quite a few fans last night. His mom and sister are his biggest fans, but two of my friends came to watch him and Central play tonight. NorCo Fiscal Affairs Director Jim Hunter, who claims to be an Easton fan, has been spotted with a Central finger.

Central plays 9-4 Northampton on Saturday in what should be a barn burner. Easton plays Northampton on Thursday and hopefully, will soften them up.

According to the January 11 rating by LVBasketballRankings, the top 15 LV basketball schools are as follows: 1) Parkland; 2) Pocono Mtn West; 3) Emmaus; 4) Salisbury; 5) Whitehall; 6) Allentown Central Catholic; 7) Allen; 8) Bethlehem Catholic; 9) Liberty; 10) Northampton; 11) Freedom; 12) Southern Lehigh; 13) Nazareth; 14) Stroudsburg; and 15) Bangor. Nazareth has had the biggest drop, from #5 to #13.

Blogger's Note: I shot what I thought was a great video of Easton's terrific band. But my fat finger blocked the view. In the meantime, here's a shot that Dat's friend Danny took of him during the Dieruff game.

Allentown Wins Basketball War Against Bethlehem

Elusive Deandre Tillett sinks Becahi free throw. 

This weekend was a treat for high school basketball fans, who got to see three high school teams from Allentown measure up against three Bethlehem schools for baller bragging rights at the 12th annual Yasso-Rothrock Christmas City Classic. Allentown schools may struggle on the gridiron, but a basketball court is a different story. Hoops City, which hosts one of the best summer leagues in the northeast at Cedar Beach, won two of the three games.. These were league games, too, so they count.

For me, it was great to see so many young men whom I remember watching as tots. They are a great group, and as far as I'm concerned, they are all winners.

Becahi defeats Dieruff, 73-60. -  After a disappointing season last year, the reinvigorated Golden Hawks seemed to catch the Huskies completely off-guard. Senior Kweku Dawson-Amaan effortlessly scored 27 points by somehow always be in the best post position. He was no show-off, either. He just did his job. Just when Dieruff would bottle up Kweku, Senior Miciah Fraction would take it downtown. Nine of his 13 points were three-pointers. Beca is going to be very tough this year.

Vikings Plunder Freedom, 55-42. - If this game had ended at the first quarter, Freedom would have won. Nick King sent in a three-point buzzer beater from half-court as the quarter ended, giving the Patriots an 11-6 lead. But after that, it was all Central or perhaps i should say is was all Zay Jennings. This diminutive senior was everywhere, and ended the game with 28 points, including four 3-pointers. This very talented team is also very young. Eight of the 11 varsity players are just sophomores. One of them is big Shackylle Dezonie, who looks more like an NFL lineman than a basketball player. He scored 11.

Canaries Fly Through Liberty Hurricane, 72-62. -  Liberty has some great players like sophomore Alex "the Iceman" Serrano, who just goes out and scores. But how do you defend against an offense that includes Talek Williams (30 points) and Tyrese martin (20 points)? The answer is you don't. Allen dominated this summer at Cedar Beach and is on ots way to a great season.

Vive la France at Sportsfest!

ABC, a team from France, is one of the entries in this year's A-town Throwdown at Sportsfest. I was thrilled to be able to speak to some of the players yesterday and exchange a few pleasantries in their own language.

Central Catholic, who played them yesterday, invited the team to their tent for some hot dogs after the game. Today, starting at 9 am, the 16 varsity boys teams who are still in the hunt will continue. The ultimate winner will have to succeed in four games on the hottest day of the year.

These include Allen, Becahi, Ben Franklin, CB West, Central, Delaware Valley Charter, East Stroudsburg North, Easton, Emmaus, Freedom, Nazareth, Northampton, Parkland, Quakertown and Reading.

Morning Call Features My Grandson's AAU Basketball Team

My grandson Dat Lambert and head-banded Mikey Esquilin, are the
two players in white who were selected all-tournament in Ohio.

Time to brag a little. Sorry. After basketball season finished last year, my grandson immediately started playing AAU basketball. After school, he hits the books, and then starts shooting until it's time for practice. His team, the McHoops Blue Chips, was just featured in The Morning Call. It's a collection of 8th and 9th graders from Becahi, Central Catholic, Parkland, Emmaus, Easton and Whitehall. They are coached by Dawud Abdur-Rahkman, an assistant coach at Muhlenberg College. The team has outright won two tournaments and came in second at a recent tournament in Ohio. It was just invited to play in this weekend's Parkland's Trojan Classic AAU tournament.

Dat with Jared Sullinger

So far, I've missed all but the first tournament. I've been assigned dog-sitting duties. But on Saturday, I'll get a chance to watch them play.

In case you're wonder how a freshman guard stacks up against an NBA player, wonder no more.

In Ohio, Celtics power forward Jared Sullinger, 6'9", came to watch the kids play, and posed with my grandson Dat during a break. Now Dat is nearly six feet tall, but compared to Sullinger, he looks like a peanut.

I think I could take them both, but don't want to embarrass them at such young ages.

Allen Nearly Scores 100 Points Against Becahi Boys' Basketball

In the waning moments of a basketball game, the team that is head usually tries to pass the basketball back and forth to keep the other side from getting the ball and scoring. But last night, the roles were reversed. Bethlehem Catholic's Golden Hawks, down by a ton, frantically passed the ball back and forth to keep the William Allen Canaries from scoring their 100th point. They succeeded in holding Allen to 98 in a lopsided loss to one of the Lehigh Valley's better teams.

I may be mistaken, but think no Lehigh Valley team has scored 100 points in a game this season.

Beca is having a tough season. But they should be around .500 next year. In two years, they will be scary.

Hello From Lovely York

Some of you go to Florida for your vacations. Perhaps Europe. Me, I'm in York. I fit right in with the dumb bells.  I'm here as the scorekeeper in a Becahi Boys Basketball tournament on Monday and Tuesday. It's being played at York Vo-Tech.

The Danville Ironmen defeated Becahi during Monday night's clash. It wasn't close, with the final tally being 59-37. Lead Becahi scorers were Chance Neilly (10 points) and Dat Lambert (7 points). The lead Ironman scorer was Shayne Riley, who scored 21 points, including 3 3-pointers.

So far, I have managed to get the Becahi coach lost three times.  He's beginning to wonder whether I've been sent in by the enemy. 

I'm no coach and have little knowledge of basketball. They did play poorly. I understand that much. It's been a tough season. Several starters decided at the last minute that they needed to focus on their grades, and I can't blame them for wanted to do well academically. Another starter had the flu. But they are a great group, like so many of the other teams I've seen. Things are going to change for the better next year. There are se great players coming up. It should stay that way for at least three years. 

Many of you have read my stories about my grandson Dat, growing up and playing football, baseball and basketball. Most of you have been very supportive and kind. Well, Dat got his first start last night. I thought you'd like to know. Though he scored 7, including a 3, they were all in the first quarter. He did get stuck on the sides twice. 

Unfortunately, his mom was at work and missed his first start. But his aunt was there. 

Tonight, Beca will play again, this time against York Catholic, at 6 pm. 

Because I'm away, I don't really have much for you today. My regular blogging schedule will resume on Wednesday.

Notre Dame Continues Its March to 'Ship

After poking holes in Holy Family today, Notre Dame's 8th grade basketball continues its march to the the championship, just one game behind the juvenile delinquents at St. Anne's. I see a mighty battle brewing. Notre Dame lost the first encounter by two, but team Accountant Lou Hershman was in Texas. He's canceled all plans, has sharpened his pencils, and is ready to debate the score.

If they win the Diocesan championship, they play the Vatican.