Here we go ... yet again.
And after splitting earlier thrillers -- Math, Civics & Sciences claimed the regular-season scrap at home; Vaux took the Philly Public League playoff at a neutral site -- these titans are about to square off for a third time.
Meaningful game? Definitely.
Not only will Tuesday's matchup at Philly's Benjamin Franklin High School decide the season series and provide one or the other with city bragging rights, but the victor also gets to play one more time.
For a state championship.
While it's obviously appropriate that the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the latest PennLive.com/Patriot-News Class A basketball rankings collide at some point, unfortunately it won't be in the state title game.
Oh, well.
Should be a dandy.
Records are current through March 17.
1. Vaux (22-8) -- last week: 1 -- While Jamie Ross' Cougars had an easy time with Sullivan County (76-41) in the second round of the state playoffs, Church Farm put up a mighty scrap in Friday's quarterfinals before falling 68-64. Amir Butler and Lester Mattox shared 31 points, providing just enough cushion since the No. 5 Griffins were determined not to let Rysheed Jordan (9 points) run amok. Mattox and Butler also uncorked productive efforts against Sullivan County, combining for 28 points in the lopsided victory. Content to let the game come to him, Jordan still pitched in with 11 points and five assists. Up next is Tuesday's dustup with No. 2 Math, Civics & Sciences.
2. Math, Civics & Sciences (26-2) -- last week: 2 -- With an eye or two already focused on a potential rubber match with No. 1 Vaux, Dan Jackson's Elephants eased past Sankofa Freedom 71-59 in Friday's state quarters. Jeremiah "Lump" Worthem tossed in 25 points, while Britton Lee added 15 and sharp-shooting Louis Myers chipped in 10. Lee and Myers were effective earlier in the week, dividing 38 points as MC&S used one effective spurt to turn back then-No. 9 St. John Neumann 62-46. With three of his future Robert Morris coaches looking on -- Worthem is heading there, too -- Lee also dished out seven assists. More should come Tuesday, when Jackson's Elephants charge into their scrap with No. 1 Vaux.
3. Lincoln Park (22-6) -- last week: 4 -- Thanks to a monster effort from big fella Elijah Minnie (42 points, 20 rebounds), Mark Javens' Leopards survived a last-second heave in Friday's quarters and held off Bishop Carroll 86-84. Maverick Rowan added 23 points and Ryan Skovranko 11 for Lincoln Park, which led 48-34 at the break. Rowan, Skovranko and Antonio Kellem hooked up for 45 points earlier in the week -- the 6-8 Minnie yanked down 14 boards -- as Javens' Leopards used a late surge (18-7) to turn back Ridgway 51-34. So, with a win over Johnsonburg in Tuesday's semis at Clarion University, Lincoln Park will clinch a third straight berth in a state title game.
4. Johnsonburg (29-2) -- last week: 6 -- By sidelining Shade 54-49 and Smethport 54-43 in successive outings last week, Bill Shuey's gritty Rams ran their winning streak to 12 games and moved into Tuesday's semis opposite No. 3 Lincoln Park. Cole Peterson was the hero in last Tuesday's victory -- backcourt partner Cameron Grumley was bothered by an injury and played little -- pouring in 26 points as Johnsonburg slipped past Shade. Peterson then tacked up 14 points, while Grumley added 13 and Frank Kocjancic chimed in with 12 as the Rams sidelined 9-A playmate Smethport in Friday's quarters. Now it's back to Clarion for an all-or-nothing matchup with Lincoln Park.
5. Church Farm (23-7) -- last week: 5 -- Needing a late 19-4 rally just to survive Tuesday's second-round matchup with Mahanoy Area 42-36 -- Aondofa Anyam and Joey Shelton shared 25 points -- Marc Turner's Griffins pushed No. 1 Vaux in Friday's quarters before falling 68-64. Tyler Ofray, Mlynue Reeves and Larry Cermak combined for 40 points in Church Farm's season finale, while Anyam limited Vaux star Rysheed Jordan to just nine points.
6. Bishop Carroll (23-6) -- last week: 10 -- Outgunning then-No. 3 Vincentian for the second time, Cosie Aliquo's high-octane Huskies parlayed double-doubles from Marcus Lee (33 points, 13 boards) and Scott Ranck (27 points, 10 rebounds) into a 92-85 victory in Tuesday's second round. Brandon Martinazzi added 18 points for Carroll, then poured in 28 three nights later as Aliquo's outfit pushed Lincoln Park before falling 86-84. Ranck banked 26 points -- he had a last-second, full-court heave that nearly fell -- and Lee wound up with 16 for a Carroll side that will return four starters.
7. Vincentian (26-2) -- last week: 3 -- George Yokitis' Royals dropped just two games all season, but both came against a ramped-up Bishop Carroll outfit that liked the same frisky pace his club preferred. And despite pushing four players into double figures -- Ryan Wolf (27), Jim Kenna (20), Matt Rathz (14) and Tony DiNardo (11) -- the WPIAL champs met up with nemesis Carroll in Tuesday's second round and dropped a 92-85 decision.
8. Smethport (24-4) -- last week: Not ranked -- Riding a double-double from Zach Smith (19 points, 13 rebounds) and 12 points from Clay Schuler, Dan Zeigler's Hubbers upended Clairton 37-35 in Tuesday's second round, causing Clairton skipper Matt Geletko to unleash all sorts of post-game vitriol. Schuler netted 16 points and Smith bagged 15 -- he passed Mike Dodge to become Smethport's career scoring leader (1,628) -- but that would not be enough as Johnsonburg registered a 54-43 victory in Friday's quarters.
9. Clairton (17-8) -- last week: 7 -- Unable to solve Smethport, Matt Geletko's Bears dropped a 37-35 decision in Tuesday's second round -- despite 13 points and five rebounds from Terrish Webb. While a last-second trey from Bryon Clifford nearly fell for Clairton, converting just 1 of 9 attempts at the free-throw line also proved troubling for the Bears. Tyler Boyd, like Webb a Pittsburgh football recruit, added seven points for Geletko's club.
10. Ridgway (23-6) -- last week: 8 -- Victimized by a late Lincoln Park surge in Tuesday's second round, Tony Allegretto's Elkers tumbled 51-34 despite an 18-point effort from Sam Roselli. Josh Mitchell added eight points for Ridgway, which trailed by just six points (33-27) at the end of three quarters.
OUR HONORABLE MENTIONS
Previous No. 9 St. John Neumann (24-3) suffered through one lengthy dry spell, but that was enough to send Paul Petcavage's Golden Knights to a 62-46 loss to Math, Civics & Sciences in Tuesday's second round. Jordan Cole and Alize Johnson shared 31 points for Neumann. ... Sankofa Freedom (16-12) advanced to Friday's quarters, but lost 71-59 to Math, Civics & Sciences. ... Mahanoy Area (22-6), Pius X (21-4) and Shade (26-2) had their seasons ended in Tuesday's second round, all of them suffering close setbacks. Mahanoy led Church Farm 32-23 after three quarters, but could not hang on. ... Sullivan County (23-4), meanwhile, was overwhelmed by Vaux 76-41 in the second round. ... Bishop Guilfoyle (20-6) and Kennedy Catholic (17-7) were sidelined in the opening round.
MICHAEL BULLOCK: mbullock@pennlive.com
BULLOCK ON TWITTER: @thebullp_n