2024-25 Lehigh Valley boys basketball: Colonial League South features an interesting mix of potential contenders

The Colonial League boys basketball season begins Tuesday night and perhaps the most intriguing division of the three five-team subsets is the South where there is the leagues only new coach in Palisades Chris Burrier and the most veteran coach, Catasauquas Eric Snyder who is beginning his 33rd season.

There are also three schools that have had their share of success over the years Salisbury, Saucon Valley, and Southern Lehigh.

The Falcons and Panthers have won five league titles one fewer than Bangor, which has the most at six and the Spartans two.

Catasauqua also has two league crowns with the last coming in 2006.

With the exception of Southern Lehigh in 2019 and 2020, East teams have dominated the championship charts since 2013 with 10 of the last 12 titles going to either Bangor (6), Notre Dame (3) and Wilson (1).

Can a team from the South break through this year? The division has its share of talented players and optimistic coaches looking for good things.

Catasuqua: Frankie Pujols has come on strong each of the past two seasons, making 132 2-point field goals last season and having five games of 20 points or more.

Palisades: At 6-foot-6, Will Anderson is one of the tallest players in the league and figures to big a force inside.

Salisbury: Bryan Gonzalez had more 3-pointers (31) than 2-pointers (28) and figures to be one of the best outside shooters in the league and division.

Saucon Valley: Jack Robertson has been a big part of the Panthers revival and will be one of the best players in the league after averaging more than 15 points per game last season.

Southern Lehigh: Joseph Plessl flourished from long range last season, making 53 3-pointers.

(1) Can Saucon Valley validate its revival with a league championship? (2) Can Salisbury follow up its summer-league title with one in wintertime? (3) Can Catasauqua and Southern Lehigh improve enough to make the league tournament? (4) Can new Palisades coach Chris Burrier give the Pirates program some much-needed stability and bring his winning ways from Northampton Community College to Kintnersville? Catasauqua at Bangor Palisades at Wilson Saucon Valley at Moravian Academy Dec.

2: Blue Mountain visits Southern Lehigh to open the Spartans season.

Dec.26: Catasauqua plays Bethlehem Christian School in the Slatington Rotary Tournament Predicted order of finish: 1.

Saucon Valley; 2.

Salisbury; 3.

Southern Lehigh; 4.

Catasauqua; 5.

Palisades.

A team-by-team look: Coach: Eric Snyder (33rd season 375-410) Last year: 9-14, 8-9 CL.

Lost to Executive Education 76-37 in the District 11 3A quarterfinals.

Players to watch: Frankie Pujols (5-10, Jr.

G) 13.9 ppg; Hamaad Jenkinds (5-10, Jr.

G); Reece Lopez (5-11, Jr.

G); Jeremiah Cofie (6-3, Sr.

F); Matt Fotta (6-4, Sr.

F); Manny Bolmer (5-9, Jr.

G); Dylan Lorah (5-11, Jr.

G); Cayden Weaver (5-10, Jr.

G); Josiah LaFond (5-10, Jr.

G); Aalany Nix (5-11, Fr.

G); Aiden Reilly (5-10, So.

G).

Outlook: Catty made a solid improvement last year, more than doubling its win total from 2022-23.

Pujols has established himself as one of the leagues top scorers and if he gets some help the Roughies could contend for a spot in the expanded eight-team postseason tournament.

Were not a very tall team, but we do have a fair amount of guards who are very quick, aggressive and very good ball handlers, Snyder said.

They share the ball, look to make each other better and shoot well.

We have to be fast quick and aggressive in everything we do.

Rebounding will be emphasized due to our deficit in height and we have to be better offensively and make good decisions.

Coach: Chris Burrier (first season) Last season: 3-19, 2-16 CL.

Players to watch: Will Anderson (6-6, Sr.

C); Jack Trickel (6-1, Jr.

G); Lincoln Cook (6-2, So.

G); Blake Oglialoro (6-2, Jr.

G/F); Nate Fox (5-10, Jr.

G); Riley Andrew (6-4, So.

F); AJ Cheski (6-4, Sr.

F); Greg Grochowiak (6-4, Sr.

C).

Outlook: Burrier takes over for the Pirates who went through two coaches last season.

He was an assistant coach with a consistently strong Northampton Community College mens collegiate program before coming to the high school ranks.

He was there for five seasons in which NCC was nationally ranked, including 2023 when the Spartans went to the NJCAA Final Four.

My goal is to teach these players how tp succeed and play at the college level, Burrier said.

We lost some good seniors, but I am super excited about the talent we have.

Will Anderson is a returning senior that started since his freshmen year.

Lincoln Cook and Jack Trickel really grew and developed from last year.

They have also been vocal leaders for us.

We have a ton a of length and I think this could be a real bounce back year for Palisades basketball.

Coach: Jason Weaver (17th season, 229-160) Last season: 14-10, 11-6 CL.

Lost to Saucon Valley 55-47 in the Colonial League quarterfinals, lost to Saucon Valley 40-37 in the District 11 3A quarterfinals.

Players to watch: Josh Holler (6-1, Sr.

G/F); Bryan Gonzalez (6-0, Jr.

F) 6.7 ppg; Steven Lozada (6-1, Jr.

G) 5.1 ppg; Drew Petrie (5-11, Jr.

G) 5.2 ppg; Julian Makoul (6-3, So.

F); Keaton Frye (6-1, So.

F); Dom Gracia (6-0, Jr.

F); Aidan Smarch (6-3, Jr.

C); Garrett Leiner (5-10, So.

G); Gerritt Klooserman (5-11, Jr.

G).

Outook: The Falcons made a big jump last season, gong from 5-17 in 2022-23 to a 14-win playoff team last year.

They had a good summer, winning the Lehigh Valley Summer League small-school title.

While there is not one big-time scorer, they figure to have a balanced attack with several quality 3-point shooters and they hope to continue to play the same brand of defense that held opponents to 43.8 ppg last season.

We want to get out and pressure a little more than we did in the past, Weaver said.

The energy has been really positive.

The guys have been working hard.

These guys are hungry.

Weve got good kids with good attitudes.

If we come together, we should make the league and district playoffs and once were there, we want to win.

We didnt win a postseason game last year.

So, thats the next step.

Coach: Brett Snyder (3rd season, 39-18) Last year: 18-10, 13-5 CL.

Beat Salisbury 55-48, lost to Palmerton in the league tournament 45-44.

Beat Salisbury 40-37, lost to Executive 74-45 District 11 3A tournament semifinals.

Beat Panther Valley 53-43 in the District 11 3A tournament consolation.

Lost to Math Civics and Sciences in PIAA first round 67-47.

Players to watch: Jack Robertson (6-0, Sr.

G) 15.3 ppg; Elijah Miller (5-10, Sr.

G); Adam Clark (6-5, Sr.

F); Caleb Grim (6-4, Sr.

F); Andrew Gilbert (6-0, Sr.

G); Joseph Griffith (6-0, Sr.

F); Peter Albano (6-0, Sr.

G); Shane Kerosetz (5-10 Sr.

G); Chase Best (6-2, Jr.

G); Noah Weiss (5-11, Jr.

G); Mike Magnotta (5-11, Jr.

G); Eddie Cohen (6-0, Jr.

F); Matt Chaffier (5-10, So.

G); Nate Hanna (6-3 So.

F); Landon Huber (5-10 So.

G); Ethan Hughes (5-11 So.

G); Owen Buck (5-11, So.

G); Isaac Osman (5-11 Fr.

G); Pryce Robbins (6-2 Fr.

F) Outlook: The Panthers program has made vast strides the past few years, winning 39 games after going 7-15 in 2021-22.

Snyders team has a lot of experience.

and has one of the leagues best players in Robertson.

We bring back a lot of guys that have contributed for us in the past, he said.

They are a tight-knit group on and off the court.

We have a coachable group that loves to compete.

Our main focus is getting better on a daily basis at practice to hopefully have a shot at playing some meaningful games in February.

Coach: Ryan Wehr (fourth season, 43-29; 115-131 in 11 seasons overall) Last year: 7-15, 6-12 CL.

Players to watch: Joey Plessl (5-7, Jr.

G) 12.9 ppg; Sean McMenamy (5-11, Sr.

G/F); Michael Fy (6-1, Jr.

G/F); Jack Savage (6-3, Sr.

C); Frankie Boensch (6-3 Sr.

F); Josh Allen (5-9, Sr.

G); Wyatt Adams (6-1, Jr.

F); Sean Brogan (5-10 Jr.

G).

Outlook: It was an uncharacteristically tough year for the Spartans in 2022-23 as they went from 17-8 and being a league and district semifinalist the previous year to a 7-win team.

The Spartans return eight players who played in 18 or more games last season and are hoping that experience pays dividends this year.

They hope to return to being a factor in both league and district playoff races and playing their best basketball come playoff time in February..

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