Even though Archbishop Carroll was the lone team parked in the Class AAA portion of the PennLive.com/Patriot-News state basketball rankings to lose last week, the Patriots won't be penalized and dropped. Or even banished.
Not when it's No. 2 Neumann-Goretti that authors the spanking.
Other than that blemish -- and while there were several mighty close calls -- everything turned out just fine. Like 16 wins in 17 tries fine.
OK, then.
Records are current through Feb. 24.
1. Imhotep Charter (23-4) -- last week: 1 -- Getting a clutch banked leaner from Abraham Massaley in the pivotal final seconds, Andre Noble's Panthers claimed a 67-66 victory over Vaux Sunday at Temple's Liacouras Center and their fourth Philly Public League title in five seasons. Brandon Austin netted 23 points and Deryl Bagwell added 15 for Imhotep, which has run off nine straight victories. No. 8 came earlier in the week against Communications Tech, a 66-40 thumper that featured 18 from Austin and 12 from Basil Thompson. Imhotep still has quite a bit of work to do before embarking on a PIAA Class AAA title run as a date with No. 2 Neumann-Goretti is set for Friday at St. Joseph's Hagan Arena. At stake? Plenty. Not only District 12-AAA's No. 1 seed in next month's state tournament, but also the top spot in this poll.
2. Neumann-Goretti (19-5) -- last week: 2 -- Chasing its fifth consecutive Philly Catholic League championship, Carl Arrigale's Saints moved another step closer by smacking Archbishop Carroll 57-34 in Wednesday's semis at the Penn Palestra. Ja'Quan Newton led a trio of double-figure scorers with 18 -- John Davis and Troy Harper each tacked on 11 -- as Neumann-Goretti handled Carroll for the 27th time in 28 tries. Awaiting Arrigale's Saints in tonight's PCL final, which also is set for the Palestra, will be St. Joseph's Prep. Neumann-Goretti also has a formidable opponent lurking in Friday's 12-AAA dustup at St. Joseph's Hagan Arena as Imhotep Charter hopes to hand the three-time state champs a loss just before the PIAA Class AAA playoffs begin.
3. Allentown Central Catholic (21-3) -- last week: 3 -- Encountered almost no resistance in Friday night's District 11-AAA quarterfinals as Dennis Csensits' Vikings rolled Tamaqua 77-37 at Northampton High School. Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman poured in 26 points for ACC -- which was making its first appearance since tumbling in the Lehigh Valley Conference semifinals -- while Jean Lee Baez and Mike Kammerer each tacked on 12. Up next for Csensits' Vikings is a date in Tuesday's 11-AAA semis at Allentown's William Allen High School against sixth-seeded Salisbury.
4. Archbishop Carroll (19-5) -- last week: 4 -- Paul Romanczuk's Patriots had the early lead on Neumann-Goretti in Wednesday's Philly Catholic League semifinals, but that 14-7 advantage was wiped out by a 14-0 N-G run and Carroll never recovered. Final score? Neumann-Goretti 57, Carroll 34. Gifted 6-6 soph Derrick Jones bagged 11 points for the Patriots, but no one else reached double figures for Romanczuk's startled ballclub. Will play again before the state tournament, as a scrap with Philly Electrical for the District 12-AAA third seed is set for Wednesday night at Archbishop Ryan High School.
5. Susquehanna Twp. (24-2) -- last week: 5 -- While Vince Rogers' top-seeded Indians opened District 3-AAA tournament play with a convincing 74-36 mauling of Manheim Central -- 12 players scored for Susquehanna Twp., but no one reached double figures -- then struggled against tempo-conscious Northeastern before prevailing 43-38 in Friday's quarterfinals at Giant Center. Joe Marshall scored 12 points and absorbed a late Khalid Nwandu charge as the Tribe advanced to tonight's 3-AAA semis and a matchup with Mid-Penn Keystone Division playmate Palmyra. Palmyra was the only team to defeat Rogers' ballclub during the regular season, so stay tuned.
6. Abington Heights (23-2) -- last week: 6 -- Ken Bianchi's streaking Comets ran their winning streak to 14 games by downing Berwick (90-46) and Honesdale (63-53) in their first two District 2-AAA playoff outings. While balance carried Abington Heights to an easy victory over Berwick -- Evan Maxwell scored 20 points and T.J. Murray added 14 for a Comets club that popped five players into double figures -- Bianchi's bunch needed 22 from all-state guard J.C. Show and 15 more from Kevin Elwell to turn back Honesdale in Friday's quarters. Up next in Tuesday's 2-AAA semis is a dangerous Scranton Prep side that's already pushed the Comets twice before falling.
7. Mars (21-3) -- last week: 7 -- With big man Josh Goetz bagging 20-plus points in victories over South Park (65-37) and Uniontown (79-55) -- Goetz grabbed 10 boards against Uniontown -- Rob Carmody's Planets clinched a spot in the WPIAL semis for the first time. In addition to the 23 points Goetz posted against South Park, Mitchell Buzard (15) and Matt Getsy (14) also registered double-figure efforts. Three nights later, in Mars' historic win over Uniontown, Goetz (22), Buzard (18), Getsy (11) and Owen Nearhoff (16) posted 10 or more points as the Planets ran their winning streak to eight games. Up next in Tuesday's semis is two-time PIAA Class AAA runner-up Montour.
8. Berks Catholic (24-3) -- last week: 8 -- While Snip Esterly's Saints may be halfway to their second consecutive District 3-AAA championship, they've found the path to gold mighty, mighty treacherous thus far. Needing a second-half surge and a shared 38 points from Nana Foulland, Mike Miller and Connor Jack, Berks Catholic scrapped past Bermudian Springs 49-32 in its 3-AAA opener. Then, three nights later, the Saints needed another second-half rally, overtime and 23 points from the 6-9 Foulland (9 rebounds, 4 blocks) to nip Bishop McDevitt 58-56 at Giant Center. Esterly's Saints, now lugging a 19-game winning streak, will be back at Giant Center tonight for what should be a dandy 3-AAA semifinal-round scrap Donegal.
9. Chartiers Valley (21-3) -- last week: 9 -- Popping four players into double figures in each of their first two WPIAL tournament scraps, Tim McConnell's high-powered Colts spent last week sidelining Knoch (77-43) and sidestepping South Fayette (67-62). And while Michael Boulos, Matty McConnell, Spencer Casson and Haedyn Herzer shared 66 points in Char Valley's round-of-16 win over Knoch, Boulos, McConnell, Casson and Dom Castello combined for 62 as the Colts turned back South Fayette. Up next for Tim McConnell's Colts in Tuesday's WPIAL semis is Beaver Area, the first club to defeat the Section 5 champs during the regular season.
10. Montour (20-4) -- last week: 10 -- Adam Kaufman's tested Spartans cranked out two more postseason victories last week -- Montour reached the last two PIAA Class AAA championship games -- opening the WPIAL playoffs by handling Ambridge (43-25) and Thomas Jefferson (59-40) without too much difficulty. Devin Wilson and Rob Julian were the primary protagonists for Montour, sharing 24 points in the win over Ambridge and 38 as Kaufman's club charged past TJ. Now sporting a 12-game winning streak, the Spartans will square off against No. 7 Mars in Tuesday's WPIAL semifinals.
OUR HONORABLE MENTIONS
Thinned out some, especially in District 3-AAA as Greencastle-Antrim, Gettysburg and Steel-High all had their seasons ended abruptly in the round of 16. And at home, too. Still playing and hopefully moving forward in 3-AAA play are Donegal (25-1), Palmyra (17-7) and Bishop McDevitt (17-7). ... Beaver Area (19-3) seems to have righted itself and has reached the WPIAL semis. Thomas Jefferson (17-7), Uniontown (17-4) and South Fayette (14-10) still harbor state playoff hopes, but one and possibly two of those teams will not qualify. Meanwhile, previous HMs West Mifflin and Central Valley are done. ... General McLane (18-5) and Girard (19-4) advanced to Tuesday's District 10-AAA semis, but Hickory was ousted in last week's quarterfinal round. ... Pottsville (21-4) won its 13th straight game in the 11-AAA quarters -- Dave Mullaney's Crimson Tide has won 20 of 21 -- but Wilson Area was upended in overtime and eliminated. ... Glen Mills (14-9) became the heavy favorite to claim 1-AAA gold following Holy Ghost Prep's surprising loss in the quarters. ... Philly Electrical (14-11) will head for the state playoffs after taking on No. 4 Archbishop Carroll in Wednesday's 12-AAA third-place game. ... Top-seeded Danville (19-4) will meet Shikellamy in the 4-AAA semis. ... Newcomers Scranton Prep (17-7) and Crestwood (16-7) -- along with GAR Memorial (15-8) -- are trying to reach the 2-AAA title game and the state tournament.
MICHAEL BULLOCK: mbullock@pennlive.com
BULLOCK ON TWITTER: @thebullp_n