We are approaching the end of the regular season for high school basketball. Teams a starting to turn green in the District 11 power rankings, signifying their playoff berth in their respective class for the district tournament.

Pocono Mountain East and West boys continue to stand atop the mountain, with West continuing to lead from the front after a 10-point victory over the Cardinals. The Panthers look like a top contender for the EPC title and the Class 6A title. While the Cardinals have a strong chance of making the EPC tournament, a Thursday night loss to Northampton doesn’t help their case. Additionally, Mark Dudley’s squad is 2-4 against potential playoff teams; that isn’t a confident stat as the postseason approaches.

Pleasant Valley has the next best record among the public schools, but the Bears still need a few more wins to guarantee a district playoff spot. Four of their remaining games are against teams with losing records, but they’ll need at least one win against a team with a winning record to get to 11. That said, it’s a nice turnaround of Bobby Hahn after a disappointing record last season. Zach Prator has played well for Pleasant Valley, as has sophomore forward Sebastian Sacci. 

Notre Dame – East Stroudsburg is also in contention for a playoff spot in 1A. The reigning back-to-back district champs are currently fifth, and the top six teams qualify for the postseason. Their final few weeks are tough, arguably a tougher strength of schedule compared to some of the other teams on the mountain. Senior guard Preston Protheroe will need to continue his herculean effort to give his team the edge.

East Stroudsburg North is the only team in the are that hasn’t won a game in 2025, yet the Timberwolves are benefitting from an overall weak Class 5A that allows them to remain in playoff contention. Denzal McKenzie has pieces, but so far they continue to struggle and lose. Hopefully that turns around before February gets here.

Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg South are continuing their rebound. Nothing new to report besides the debut of a promising player for the Cavaliers – freshman guard Julian Acevedo. He’s missed most of the season due to an injury, but he looked OK in his debut against Liberty, dishing out four assists. Scott Moskovitz was right to speak highly of his skill.

On the girls side of the mountain, Stroudsburg is clearly the best team in the area. McKayla Strunk is only a couple of games away from 1,000-career points, and the Mounties are preparing for their ninth district tournament appearance in 11 seasons.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Astound Broadband or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

It always gets here faster than you think, but this week marks the passing of the halfway point of the high school basketball regular season in Pennsylvania.

There’s some interesting matchups this week (see our broadcast schedule page here on our website) and, with a few exceptions, it’s mostly divisional opponents facing each other for a second time after this week wraps up.

That being said, let’s take a look at some of the highlights from recent games seen on ATVN, including top plays from Allen, Central Catholic, Easton, Emmaus, Liberty Northampton and Parkland with more EPC notes below…

Astound TV Network Sports: Allentown vs. Northampton (12/24)

Astound TV Network Sports: Emmaus vs. Easton (11/24)

Astound TV Network Sports: Liberty vs. Northampton (12/24)

Astound TV Network Sports: Dieruff vs. Allentown Central Catholic (12/24)

Central Catholic, Whitehall and Liberty are the teams in the Lehigh Valley sections of the EPC that have already qualified for district playoff berths.  As for the league playoff picture, there’s currently 11 teams still in the hunt for the top 8 post-season spots, with no team a sure lock for the number one position.

On the girls side, Emmaus, Pen Argyl and Northwestern are the teams that have clinched a district playoff spot.  In addition to some great girls hoops games we’ve broadcast already this winter, we’ll be featuring more of the teams in the post-season hunt the next few weeks on the Astound TV Network.

We’ll have more on the “Mountain” teams coming up in Mason Smith’s blog…check back to our website later this week for his latest insights on those teams!

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Astound Broadband or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

The new year is officially upon us, along with the start of the second half of basketball season. We have a good sample size of every team, and all six public schools in the Poconos can be divided into three categories on the boys’ side.

At the top is Pocono Mountain East and West High School, who sit near the top of Class 6A. The Panthers ended 2024 with two quality wins over Liberty and Parkland while surviving a slugfest with Scranton Prep. The Cardinals bounced back from their close loss to William Allen and finished 3-0 to become District 11 and the EPC’s first 10-win team. You could argue that East’s schedule isn’t the toughest, but they open 2025 with four potential district playoff teams, including West. If Mark Dudley’s squad is legitimate, we’ll know at the end of next week.

West also added two more members to its 1,000-point class as Adrian Brito and KJ Coles both reached the mark over Christmas break. Brito enters 2025 as the favorite to win EPC Player of the Year, and Coles could be in contention for an All-State selection.

At the bottom of the EPC Monroe Division are Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg South, two programs that are clearly in a rebuild, but may have found some pieces for the future. Jaiden Martinez-Tovar has proven he can score at a varsity level for the Cavaliers, but the team overall still has growing to do when it comes to winning basketball.

For the Mounties, freshman guard Tae El-Bassiouni has played his way into the starting lineup as the team’s leading scorer. The son of head coach Tarik El-Bassiouni is one of several young players with high ceilings, including Jarel Jackson and Josh Ivers-Green. This season will serve as a good experience for those players.

Then you have two teams in the middle – East Stroudsburg North and Pleasant Valley. Both teams have had disappointing starts to the season, but have the pieces and play style to be better in 2025. The Bears are three spots out of eighth place in District 11 6A, but they’ve gotten what they expected from center Zach Prator, who’s hovering around 20 points per game. The test will be if the guards can slow the game down and be the perimeter support Prator and Sebastian Sacci need.

For the Timberwolves, a veteran rotation with athleticism shouldn’t be 2-8, but that where Denzal McKenzie and North finds themselves entering 2025. Fortunately, Class 5A is uncommonly weak this season, so their current record still has them in the playoff picture. Time is running out for them to figure it out, though. Hopefully they can rattle off some wins to get the momentum going.

On the girls’ side, Stroudsburg is by far the team to beat on the mountain. Matt Field’s squad is the only one that’s .500 or better, but the test is when the team plays Pocono Mountain West, who swept the season series last year. Senior McKayla Strunk is also close to being the third Pocono player to reach 1,000-career points this season.

Stroudsburg will also be testes when it leaves the mountain for competition, seeing as that’s what it will take to achieve postseason success.

Things are heating up for high school sports early in 2025!

Tuesday on ATVN we’ll have two great boys basketball matchups as Liberty plays Freedom and Allentown Central Catholic plays Whitehall–all four teams have had impressive starts to the year to date!

Then on Wednesday, a rematch of one of the biggest wrestling matches in the NATION from last year as Bethlehem Catholic plays Easton – this will be broadcast on Astound TV and streamed for free on our YouTube channel: YouTube.com/AstoundTVNetwork

Speaking of outstanding wrestling action, here’s some of the top highlights so far this year from teams at Nazareth, Northampton and Easton…

Astound TV Network Sports: Girls Wrestling – Northampton vs. Nazareth (12/24)

Astound TV Network Sports: Boys Wrestling – Nazareth vs. Easton (12/24)

Astound TV Network Sports: Boys Wrestling – Northampton vs. Nazareth (12/24)

Additionally, we’d like to showcase basketball highlights from Emmaus, Freedom and Dieruff at “The Shop” this week…

Astound TV Network Sports: Boys Basketball – Emmaus vs. Dieruff (12/24)

Astound TV Network Sports: Boys Basketball – Freedom vs. Emmaus (12/24)

We’ll also have more highlights from local boys and girls basketball and wrestling action…check back next week to the “SportsTalk Shop” to see more of your favorite teams and players!

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Astound Broadband or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

First of all, we want to wish a wonderful start to the new year to all our viewers/readers here at The SportsTalk Shop and look forward to another great year of covering local sports in our coverage areas in 2025!

We start off our first blog of the New Year with a look at some of the top plays and players from our high school basketball broadcasts from games played at the end of 2024, featuring impressive individual and team performances from Allen, Bangor, Freedom, Easton, Nazareth, Whitehall, Saucon Valley, Salisbury and Catasauqua through the first few weeks of the basketball season…

Astound TV Network Sports: Bangor vs. Salisbury (12/24)

Astound TV Network Sports: Nazareth vs. Allentown (12/24)

Astound TV Network Sports: Freedom vs. Easton (12/24)

Astound TV Network Sports: Saucon Valley vs. Catasauqua (12/24)

Astound TV Network Sports: Parkland vs. Whitehall (12/24)

We jump right into doubleheader HS sports coverage early in 2025 as we’ll bring you a girls/boys basketball doubleheader this Friday, followed by a girls basketball/boys wrestling doubleheader on Saturday.  Check the “Sports on ATVN” webpage here on our website for the latest game details.

We’ll also have more highlights from local boys and girls basketball and wrestling action…Check back next week to The SportsTalk Shop to see more of your favorite teams and players!

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Astound Broadband or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

Raise your hand if you thought the top two teams in District 11’s Class 6A would not only be from the Poconos but just moved up after being in 5A last season. You’d be lying if you did, but the start has been impressive for Pocono Mountain East and Pocono Mountain West boys basketball.

The Panthers are the clear favorite in the division and probably the EPC, with two of its last three wins against Parkland and Liberty. Adrian Brito is stuffing the stat sheet, and KJ Coles can catch fire at any moment. Jon Mateo and Eryan Silva continue to deliver as veteran players. The only knocks on West are a) the rebounding must improve and b) they must find a backup for Brito. Tru Godwin allows Williams to shuffle his guards around, but someone has to step up and get Brito a breather.

East going 9-1 through its first 10 games has been a pleasant surprise. Rayshawn Harris has continued to shine, but now sophomore Aiden Pierre is finding his rhythm after a quiet start. The Cardinals continue to have multiple double-digit scorers as a part of a balanced output. The only argument against the Cardinals’ start is that most of their wins have come against teams with losing records.

Mark Dudley’s squad will have a chance to prove it isn’t just a weak schedule, as its next three games will be against teams with winning records – Delaware Valley, Whitehall and Pocono Mountain West.

Outside of that, the rest of the mountain has had a rough start. After defeating Stroudsburg in a non-EPC game, East Stroudsburg North lost seven straight; Stroudsburg, Pleasant Valley, and South only won one. Notre Dame – East Stroudsburg, the Poconos’ 1A program and reigning district champs, got its second win with a young group. 

Barring a dramatic second-half adjustment, the two Pocono Mountain School District programs are the clear favorites from up north. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t talented players elsewhere. Pleasant Valley center Zach Prator has continued to win the matchup over Adrian Brito; North’s Ozias Washington has had some nice scoring performances; and Notre Dame’s Marc Jackett is playing up to his potential as the Spartans’ anchor.

On the girls’ side, Stroudsburg senior McKayla Strunk is as good as advertised, slowly getting closer to 1,000 career points after an 18-point performance against Northampton. However, the Mounties lack the supportive firepower to be a more significant threat to the EPC, as shown by a 49-36 loss to Northampton.

Pocono Mountain West is still in the fight with a 3-5 record after a loss to Liberty. Emma Campusano has been a pleasant surprise for the Panthers, but putting this team together has been a slow grind.

After that, the rest of the mountain has combined for three wins, a clear indication of a rebuilding year for most teams. A little grace is warranted, as three of those schools have new head coaches. And with more divisional games coming up, there may be a chance to get some wins to boost the spirits.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Astound Broadband or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

When we make promises, we make sure to follow through.

So after a record breaking 2023 year in which our network broadcast more high school events – AND offered a wider variety and featured more schools than ever before – going one better for 2024 was going to be quite a challenge.

On behalf of a very hard working staff at the Astound TV Network, I am honored to pass along that – for the third straight year – we were able to ADD to the number of high school broadcasts AND the number of different sports teams we covered in 2024.

Among our new network-record setting accomplishments for over the last 14 months include:

• First ever girls volleyball doubleheaders broadcast
• First ever girls/boys soccer championships broadcast (and live streamed for free to everyone)
• Record number of viewers to a single broadcast
• First ever stand-along girls wrestling broadcast (and live-streamed for free to everyone)
• First ever District girls wrestling championships broadcast
• Coverage of the Colonial League girls softball “Play Day”
• First ever girls and boys lacrosse District championships
• More high school baseball and girls softball broadcasts than ever before
• More high school football broadcasts than ever before
• More high school boys AND GIRLS basketball broadcasts than ever before
• An entire football and basketball regular season of live games streamed for FREE for everybody
• More features and a wider variety of sports covered on our “ATVN SportsTalk” show than ever before
• Every single school in our Lehigh Valley AND Delaware Valley coverage area was featured on our network for the first time ever
• More Colonial League broadcasts for football, boys and girls basketball than ever before
• More District football, boys and girls basketball playoff games than ever before
• Expanding our on-air announcing staff to bring you more and varying opinions and insights with commentators from different backgrounds and experiences
• Expanded coverage of girls field hockey, girls and boys lacrosse, girls basketball and more interviews on sports that previously had not been covered, with regular features and blog entries
• PLUS…retaining all of the 2023 “records” that we added to our plate last year and continued to bring you in 2024, including the first-ever Colonial League baseball championships and adding new sports to our broadcasting schedule

…AND…at the height of one of our busiest times of the year (this year, the end of the high school football season coinciding with the first high school basketball games of the year…all on the SAME DAY), we were able to produce and air our annual Dream Come True telethon, beating our goal and raised over $72,000 for this incredibly worthy cause, which helps out the families in our community and benefits seriously, chronically and terminally ill children!

Through it all, we continued to receive very positive feedback from our viewers on both the quantity – and quality – of our broadcasts and humbly thank you for your viewership, your continued support and for taking the time out of your busy schedules to let us know what you like, and that you appreciate our efforts.

Again…because of YOU…we are able – and are very happy – to focus on your kids and your teams in our coverage and are anxious to do so again in 2025.

But as I also mentioned last year, we never want to rest on previous accomplishments and are always looking to do more for our viewers and customers! If you have a suggestion or ways we can improve even more on our coverage of your local teams, sports and student-athletes, please send them to me at: chris.michael@astound.com

Last but not least, I will be off for the holiday season and this will be my last blog post for the 2024 calendar year, but check back to “The SportsTalk Shop” as Mason Smith will have more insights and opinions on local basketball while I’m away.  I’ll also be back early in 2025 with videos showcasing our annual top “plays of the year” featuring local student-athletes from the Astound viewing area, plus more news on our local sports teams.

In the meantime, have a wonderful holiday season and a great start to the New Year!

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Astound Broadband or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

This week here at “The SportsTalk Shop”, we start honoring the top teams and individual accomplishments as designated by the local leagues and districts in the ATVN viewing area and salute the fall sports “All Stars.”

These are determined by the given league or district’s criteria and are posted as we receive them from the respective organizations.  If you have a listing that you would like us to include in upcoming posts, please send them to me at: chris.michael@astound.com

(If you don’t see your favorite sports/athletes mentioned, you may want to send a friendly reminder to the person who handles this at your local school.  Also, each league has different “rules” and not all leagues in our coverage area “host” all-star listings – that’s not Astound’s decision).

We start our list of honorees with the EPC boys and girls golf “all conference teams” …

Regular Season Champion: Nazareth Area High School

Tournament Champion: Nazareth Area High School

EPC Most Valuable Player (Male): Hunter Probst – Stroudsburg

EPC Most Valuable Player (Female): Camryn Hoff – Nazareth

EPC Golf First Team All-Conference:
Gavin Pychinka – Northampton
Zachary Miller – Nazareth
Evan Walters – Emmaus
Lydon Patascher – Pleasant Valley
Landon Benner – Parkland

EPC Golf Second Team All-Conference:
Holden Sparks – Nazareth
Evan Martz – Pocono Mountain East
Allie Tarreto – Nazareth
Matt Rader – Central Catholic
Charlie Gold – Parkland

EPC Golf Third Team All-Conference:
Kohler Strohl – Northampton
Kyan DeLong – Emmaus
Derek Moyer – Northampton
Jeff Snyder – Pocono Mountain East
Jayden Bleiler – Northampton

Next, it’s the Eastern Pennsylvania Conferences girls tennis “all conference” listings…

EPC Most Valuable Player: Alexandria Warsing – Parkland

EPC Girls Tennis (Singles) First Team All-Conference:
Alexandria Warsing – Parkland
Helena Lynn – Liberty
Ellyana Jacobs – Easton

EPC Girls Tennis (Singles) Second Team All-Conference:
Elizabeth Trott – Pocono Mt East
Malka Parker – East Stroudsburg South
Maddie Groff – Allentown Central Catholic

EPC Girls Tennis (Singles) Third Team All-Conference:
Sophia DiGiacinto – Nazareth
Bernadette Gasser – Allentown Central Catholic
Stephanie Zheng – Liberty

EPC Girls Tennis (Doubles) First Team All-Conference:
Aarohi Vaze/Kiana Miles – Parkland
Abigail Mayes/Katie Bruno – Liberty
Malena Stetz / Gabriela Tranguch- Emmaus

EPC Girls Tennis (Doubles) Second Team All-Conference:
Sonia Lee/Kate Gilchrist – Parkland
Brooke DiGiacomo / Natalie Hillegass – Emmaus
Lydia Moyer/Danielle Barnes – Nazareth

EPC Girls Tennis (Doubles) Third Team All-Conference:
Sarah Wang/Paulina Veraschaga – Liberty
Berlin Ulmer/Madison Noonan – Stroudsburg
Belle Mattson/Riley Zangari – Parkland

Last but not least, this fall’s EPC high school football “all stars” for both the league’s “all conference” and “all division” players…

2024 All-Conference All-Stars: Offense
Peyton Falzone – Nazareth
Jerek Cooper – Emmaus
Aaron Beete – Freedom
Dorian Thomas – Easton
Reilly Bechtel – Emmaus
Charles Capers – East Stroudsburg South
Shacre Colwell – Freedom
Caleb Newsome – Nazareth
Jake Pukzsyn – Liberty
Leo Dauberman – Parkland
Xzavier Pusateri – East Stroudsburg South
Kamari Coleman – Stroudsburg
Kurtis Crossman – Easton
Samuel Stephan – Emmaus
Algee Macon – Easton
Tanner Wheeler – Freedom
Brody McHugh – Emmaus
Evan Saylor – Parkland
Ryan Ellis – Freedom
Jackson Fuhrer – Easton
Matt Dorsey – Parkland
Aiden Joyce – Allentown Central Catholic
Dan Shiffert – Freedom
Mason Marcks – Parkland
Will Buck – Emmaus
Nate Stannard – Freedom
Will Day – Easton

2024 All-Conference All-Stars: Defense
Robert Edwards – Emmaus
Kurtis Crossman – Easton
Mehki Kirkland – Stroudsburg
Dylan Hill – Freedom
Tanner Wheeler – Freedom
Marquis Labossiere – Easton
Braheem Battles- Allentown Central Catholic
Adam Youwakim – Whitehall
Reilly Bechtel – Emmaus
Mekhi Grant – Easton
Jayden Macon – Freedom
Carlos Perez – Bethlehem Catholic
Jasir Frutchey – Easton
Ryan Roeder – Freedom
Marcel Burden – Parkland
Kehmahni Wimberly- William Allen
Shacre Colwell – Freedom
Marquez Wimberly – Nazareth
Jah’Khi Daves – Emmaus
Daniel Duggan – Emmaus
Aaron Beete- Freedom
Will Day – Easton
Aiden Sorrentino – Allentown Central Catholic
Leo Dauberman – Parkland
Dom Martrich – Parkland

2024 All-Conference All-Stars: Specials
Chris Ward – Pleasant Valley
Joseph Geipel – Liberty
Marquez Wimberly – Nazareth
Kamari Coleman – Stroudsburg

All-Conference Offensive MVP: Peyton Falzone – Nazareth

All-Conference Defensive MVP: Robert Edwards – Emmaus 

2024 All-Divisions All-Stars: Offense
Peyton Falzone – Nazareth
Dorian Thomas – Easton
Aaron Beete – Freedom
Shacre Colwell – Freedom
Jake Pukzsyn- Liberty
Caleb Newsome – Nazareth
Kurtis Crossman – Easton
Algee Macon – Easton
Tanner Wheeler – Freedom
Jackson Fuhrer- Easton
Ryan Ellis- Freedom
Gavin Crosson – Easton
Dan Schiffert – Freedom
Nate Stannard – Freedom
Will Day – Easton

2024 All-Divisions All-Stars: Defense
Kurtis Crossman- Easton
Dylan Hill – Freedom
Marquis Labossiere – Easton
Tanner Wheeler – Freedom
Carlos Perez- Bethlehem Catholic
Mekhi Grant – Easton
Jayden Macon – Freedom
Jasir Frutchey – Easton
Ryan Roeder- Freedom
Shacre Colwell – Freedom
Marquez Wimberly- Nazareth
Will Day – Easton
Aaron Beete – Freedom
Joseph Geipel – Liberty
Marquez Wimberly – Nazareth
Ben Bartholomew- Liberty

All-Division Offensive MVP:
*Peyton Falzone – Nazareth
*Aaron Beete – Freedom
*Denotes Co-Winner

All-Conference Defensive MVP: Mekhi Grant – Easton

Keep checking back to “The Shop” and the ATVN SportsTalk show on Thursday evenings on the Astound TV Network as we continue to spotlight local athletes in our coverage areas!

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Astound Broadband or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

Last week, we took a look at the “Mountain” division of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.
Today, we get our first look at highlights featuring teams in the southern portion of the EPC, including strong early season showings by the Nazareth girls, and Liberty boys basketball teams, as well as an impressive win by Northampton wrestling…

Astound TV Network Sports: Emmaus vs. Nazareth (12/24)

Astound TV Network Sports: Whitehall vs. Liberty (2/24)

Astound TV Network Sports: Northampton vs. Parkland (12/24)

We also have video highlights looking back at a couple of our last high school football “reels” from the state playoffs, featuring teams in both the Lehigh Valley and Delaware County region – Congratulations to both Bonnor-Prendie (their first in school history) and St. Joseph’s Prep for winning PIAA State Championships!

Astound TV Network Sports: Southern Lehigh vs. Bonner Prendergast (11/24)

Astound TV Network Sports: Parkland vs. Saint Joseph’s Prep (11/24)

Our high school winter sports season kicks into high gear as ATVN will be broadcasting six HS events over the next four days…tune in for all the top boys and girls basketball and wrestling action in both the EPC and the Colonial League!

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Astound Broadband or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

Eastern Pennsylvania Conference basketball began this week after several teams competed in tipoff tournaments after Thanksgiving. All six schools in the EPC North competed against each other on Tuesday and Thursday, and there are early signs of who the teams to beat in the division.

On the boys’ side, District 5A champs Pocono Mountain West, now in class 6A, is still the team to beat after a strong opening week that included two 20-point victories over Notre Dame of Green Pond and East Stroudsburg South. East Stroudsburg University commit Adrian Brito is averaging a double-double to start the year, with his most impressive game coming against the Crusaders, where he recorded 32 points and 15 rebounds. 

But the real surprise for the Panthers has been senior Jonathan Mateo, who’s had a couple of 20-point games to start his senior season. Rich Williams was confident Mateo would flourish with a larger role, and it’s coming to fruition.

The other program that’s started strongly is Pocono Mountain East. The Cardinals won their first three games, including a 73-42 blowout of Stroudsburg. In addition to returners Aiden Pierre, Parker Scoz, and Stephon Bethea, East also has transfer Rayshawn Harris, who’s brought some scoring punch with a physical frame. Harris had 28 against Dallas in the opener, while Scoz had 25 against Stroudsburg. This isn’t the first time East has started well, but there is much to like about them.

Regarding the rest of the mountain, East Stroudsburg North and Pleasant Valley are fun in their own ways. The Timberwolves are playing with a level of athleticism and pace that makes their brand of basketball entertaining, while the Bears’ senior center, Zach Prator, will give defenses fits.

Those teams met Tuesday night, and Pleasant Valley won its home opener. However, there are things to like about both teams. It will be interesting to see how they progress after a couple more weeks of EPC play.

At the bottom of the EPC North are Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg South, both programs in rebuilding years while facing contenders on the front end of their schedule. It will be a rough season for the Cavaliers and Mounties, one that will see many young guys who will take their lumps in their first varsity experience.

The girls’ side of the EPC North is the same as last year, at least at the top: it’ll come down to Pocono Mountain West and Stroudsburg. After losing by 26 to Valley View on the road, West paid it forward by beating South by 18 in the EPC opener. The Panthers are full of players ready to blossom after last year, namely Mia Bowden and Ashley Hunter-Ali, the latter of whom had a game-high 14 against the South.

East Stroudsburg women’s hoops commit McKayla Strunk has continued her scoring prowess, scoring 23 against Carbondale and 19 against East. Additionally, Teagan Strunk has taken a step forward this season, serving as the team’s leading scorer (18) in a close loss to Wallenpaupack.

We won’t see these teams compete against each other until January, but it should be another classic that fans will want to see.

Pleasant Valley, Pocono Mountain East, and East Stroudsburg South girls all have new head coaches: Angelica Zimmerman for the Lady Bears, Ben Battle for the Cardinals, and Jose Hernandez for the Cavaliers. All three programs struggled last year, so it’s reasonable to wait until we have a better idea of how those teams will look.

That leaves East Stroudsburg North, which has shown progress in its first EPC game, a 45-25 win against Pleasant Valley. It was only last year that the Timberwolves were on the other side of those score gaps. They aren’t EPC title contenders, but Jerome Taylor’s squad, led by a core of Amber Beckworth, Ayla Hashway, Maiya Baptiste and Donazia Jarrett, should be much more competitive this season.