Boys' Hoops: Preview of Class AAA second-round playoffs
WILKES-BARRE GAR VS. NEUMANN-GORETTI
Wilkes-Barre GAR (21-6)
Coach: Paul Brown, 24th year.
Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 champs.
Projected Starters
Isaiah Francis 6-3 Sr. F
Jahlil Harvey 6-1 Sr. G
James Holmes 5-10 Sr. G
Nigebo Francis 6-7 Jr. C
Dajon Rush 6-0 So. G
Key Reserve
Greg Skrepenak 6-4 Jr. F/C
Notes. Brown has 410 wins as a head coach. He reached 400 this year on Jan. 22 in a win at Holy Redeemer. ...Five of the team's losses have come by a combined 22 points. ... Holmes leads the team with 69 three-pointers. Harvey has 34 and Isaiah Francis 16. ... Team shoots 62.8 percent from the foul line... Has made 136 three-point baskets and 494 two-point baskets. Team likes to play fast and tries to get opponents to play its style. ... Francis is a handful in the paint on defense.
Neumann-Goretti (23-4)
Won state titles in 2010, '11 and '12
Coach: Carl Arrigale, 16th year
Won sixth straight Catholic League title
Projected Starters
Lamarr "Fresh" Kimble, 6-0 Jr. PG
Ja'Quan Newton, 6-3 Sr. G (Miami)
Tony Toplyn, 6-6 Sr. F (Campbell)
Jamal Custis, 6-6 Sr. F (Syracuse for football)
Troy Harper, 6-1 Sr G (Campbell)
Key Reserves
Vaughn Covington, 5-11 Fr. G
Quade Green, 5-11 Fr. G
Notes. Newton averages 21.4 points, Kimble 11.2, Harper 11.9 ... Newton (37 treys) and Kimble (32) are top 3-point threats. ... Custis might try to be walk-on hoops player at Syracuse.
__________________________________________________________________
ABINGTON HEIGHTS VS. ARCHBISHOP CARROLL
Abington Heights (26-1)
Lackawanna League Division I champions
Projected Starters
J.C. Show 6-3 Sr. G (1,933 career points, 4-year starter)
Joe Carroll 6-0 Sr. G
Ethan Danzig 6-4 Sr. G
Tim Toro 6-7 So. F
Evan Maxwell 6-10 Senior Center
Notes. Comets have won three straight District 2 Class AAA championships. ... Show is the program's all-time leading scorer. He is bound for Bucknell. ... Maxwell will play at Liberty. ... Abington Heights has been to the state quarterfinals each of the last two seasons.
Archbishop Carroll (22-4)
Coach: Paul Romanczuk.
Won Class AAA state title in 2009
Projected Starters
Derrick Jones 6-6 Jr. F
Austin Tilghman 6-1 Sr. G
Ernest Aflakpui 6-9 Jr. C
Joe Mostardi 6-1 Sr. G
Samir Taylor 5-11 Jr. G
Key Reserves
David Beatty 6-2 Fr. G
Josh Sharkey 5-9 So. G
Ryan Daly 6-2 So. G
Nysier Brooks 6-9 So. C
Notes. Jones averages 15.2 points per game; Jones and Aflakpui are terrific shot-blockers; Mostardi is a three-point threat; Tilghman, a running back in football, has been a force down the stretch.
__________________________________________________________________________________
PHILADELPHIA ELECTRICAL VS. HOLY GHOST PREP
Philadelphia Electrical (17-11)
Coach: James "Flames" Lewis
Projected Starters
James Suber 6-6 Sr F
Devante Truitt 6-3 Jr G
Jihad Barnes 6-1 Jr G
Anthony Harris 6-4 Sr. G
Larenz Thurman 6-0 Sr. G
Key Reserve
Nysir Marshburn 6-5 So. F
Notes.Truitt and Suber average 13.3 and 11.7 points, respectively. ... Suber has a scholarship offer from Maryland-Eastern Shore. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Campbell are also keeping tabs on him. ... Thurman netted 23 points in first-round state win over Blue Mountain. Anthony Harris was next in line with 15. ... Chargers placed second to Neumann-Goretti in District 12 Class AAA tourney.
Holy Ghost Prep (23-6)
Coach: Tony Chapman, 36th year.
Projected starters
Mike Kirby 5-9 Jr. G
Tim Brennan 6-2 Jr. G
Andre Puleo 6-4 Jr. F-C
Matt England 6-4 Sr. G-F
Zahir Watkins 6-0 Sr. G
Key Reserves
Liam Brennan 6-0 Jr. G
Joe Braun 6-3 So. F
Alexander Hanssen 6-4 Sr. F-C
Notes. England averages 17.1 points. ... Chapman claimed his sixth District 1 title with a win over Bicentennial Athletic League rival Lower Moreland. ... The Firebirds placed second in the BAL to Church Farm. ... Liam Brennan drilled seven first-half treys against Lower Moreland. ... Kirby is the floor general.