In reference to the weekly Pennsylvania state high school boys basketball rankings compiled by a Harrisburg newspaper and distributed statewide by the Associated Press, five of the best high school basketball teams in Pennsylvania are on display at SPORTSfever Challenge XIV at Kutztown University's Keystone Hall Arena.

HOFFMAN FORD SPORTSfever Challenge XIV
Sunday January 20, 2008
Kutztown University Keystone Hall Arena

Delone Catholic vs Communications Tech, 1:30 pm
Delone Catholic girls vs Prep Charter, 3:00 pm
Susquehanna Twp. vs Prep Charter, 4:30 pm
CD East vs Frankford, 6:00 pm

According to the January 14, 2008 edition of the state rankings, the No. 1 (Communications Tech) and No. 2 (Susquehanna Township) teams in the AAA rankings and the No. 1 team (Prep Charter) in the AA rankings are joined by two teams (Central Dauphin East in AAAA and Delone Catholic in AA) those same rankings list under Teams to Watch.

But this array of high profile teams flashing championship pedigree is nothing new for SPORTSfever Challenges.

The 13 SPORTSfever Challenges since 1999 produced eight teams that went on to win state championships that same season and seven other teams that reached state finals but had to settle for runnerup status. Since 1999, 74 of 132 Challenge teams (56 percent) have qualified for the state tournament in the same season.

Last season, one-third of the teams that advanced to the state championship games at Penn State were SPORTSfever Challenge teams. The York Catholic girls (AA), Reading Central Catholic (A) and Prep Charter (AA) boys all won PIAA State championships. Aliquippa (AA) and Greencastle-Antrim (AAA) boys lost in the state championship game. But first, they all competed in SPORTSfever Challenges earlier in the season.

Of the 34 teams that competed in the 2007 Challenges XI, XII & XIII, 10 won District championships and 12 additional teams qualified for the state tournament. In all, 22 of 34 teams (65 percent) that competed in SPORTSfever Challenges in 2007 qualified for the state tournament plus the North Catholic boys reached the Philadelphia Catholic League Final 4.

The record of Challenge teams in 2007 state tournament was 36-16 for a .692 winning percentage.

The Final Associated Press State Basketball Rankings after the state tournament reflected that state tournament success of Challenge teams. 10 boys teams and five girls teams were ranked in their respective top 10s; three teams were No. 1 and eight were ranked No. 3 or higher.

And there were 20 players from Challenge teams in 2007 that earned all-state basketball honors.

It's a good chance fans are watching a future district and state champion or a high school all-stater and college athlete at SPORTSfever Challenge XIV.

“The road to the state championship goes through the SPORTSfever Challenge," said Communications Tech (2006 AAA boys state finalist) coach Lou Biester. "We always look forward to the challenge. Count us in every year.”

There are many memorable teams (15 state finalists), matchups (two Challenge matchups became rematches in the state championship game) and coaches (27 state championships among 15 coaches who have had teams in Challenges) and performances by teams and their individual stars who now play major and small college basketball and football and one--Jameer Nelson (Chester, 1999)--who is now a NBA star.

Who will emerge from Challenge XIV?

Scouting Report
Boys
Delone Catholic (York-Adams Division 4, District 3 AA) vs Communications Tech (Philadelphia Public League Division B, District 12 AAA)
Coaches: Jim Dooley, Delone Catholic; Lou Biester, Comm Tech
Go-to-guys: Chris Hartman (6-6, Jr.), Delone; Andrew "Scootie" Randall (6-6, Sr.)
Main rotation: Delone--Hartman, Cody Smith (5-10, Jr.), Noah Landi (6-0, Jr.), Tyler Mummert (5-10, Sr.), Adam Naymick (6-2, Sr.); Comm Tech--Randall, Shaquille Shannon (6-1, Soph.), Chris Jones (6-0, Sr.), Antonio Monroe (6-0, Jr.), Manny Jordan (6-5, Sr.)
SPORTSfever's Take: Both coaches are proven veterans with plenty of miles on their treads. A fantastic basketball talent, Randall was second team all-state in 2007 and averaged 23.4 in his first 13 games this season. The Phoenix like the up tempo but come looking for the controlled tempo-style of teams west of the City, to ready for the state tournament. Delone is comfortable making opponents work on defense. Hartman is a force in his own league and now will gain a reputation on a much larger scale. State runnerup in 2006, CT wants another look at state final. Delone lost opener at Trinity then won next 15, despite running shorthanded because football team qualified for state tournament.

Susquehanna Twp. (Mid-Penn Keystone Division, District 3 AAA) vs Prep Charter (Philadelphia Public League Division C, District 12 AA)
Coaches: Vince Rogers, Susquehanna Twp.; Dan Brinkley, Prep Charter
Go-to-guys: Matt Jones (6-3, Sr.), Susquehanna Twp.; Ferguson Myrick (6-6, Jr.)
Main rotation: ST--Jones, Ben Dupree (5-10, Soph.), Tajh Turner (5-11, Soph.), B.J. Smith (6-1, Sr.), Akeem Wilson (6-6, Jr.); PC--Myrick, Tyree Harris (6-7, Jr.), Parrish Grant (6-2, Jr.), Jesse Morgan (6-4, Jr.)
SPORTSfever's Take: Prep Charter has won back-to-back AA state championships and can't be counted out to win a third. The quickness of Susquehanna Township's back court duo of Dupree and Turner make them a force for any opponent. The 6-10 twin towers of Markeiff and Marcus Morris are in prep school this season, preparing for the big time but Myrick (19.1 ppg through first 10 games) and Harris have emerged in the paint for the Huskies. When he turns on his game, Jones (18.8 ppg through first 14 games), a third-team all-stater in 2007, can carry the Indians. ST is searching for a threat from beyond the arc while PC has a number of options from the perimeter.

Central Dauphin East (Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division, District 3 AAAA) vs Frankford (Philadelphia Public League Division B, District 12 AAAA)
Coaches: Bruce Leib, C.D. East; Ben Dubin, Frankford
Go-to-guys: Jonathon Breeden (6-0, Jr.), C.D. East; Malik Tinsley (6-6, Sr.), Frankford
Main rotation: CDE--Breedon, Amani Glenn (5-8, Jr.), Demond Bates (5-9, Jr.), Shane Sweigart (6-3, Sr.) Quion Gunning (6-3, Sr.); Frankford--Tinsley, Malik Ballard (5-11, Sr.), John Booker (6-1, Sr.), Steven Haynes (6-2, Sr.), Khayree Brown (6-3, Sr.)
SPORTSfever's Take: The Panthers are easily one of the surprise teams in the state this season. Leib brought his "make-the-most-of-what-talent-you-have" from Hazleton, where his teams dominated District 2, to C.D. East, where he found a collection of talented athletes needing to find the same page. When Breedon transferred from Harrisburg, he gave the Panthers a compass and they have rolled to their best start to a season ever. Bates with 39 three-point baskets in the first 15 games, and Glenn provide a perimeter scoring threat that opens up the floor for Breedon and the paint for Gunning, who pounds the glass in Barkley-fashion. Tinsley (21.8 ppg through 13 games) is a Division 1-caliber talent who needs to add academics to the mix. The Pioneers are stocked with athletes who can match up with any opponent but a thin junior class hurts the Pioneers' depth and keeps Dubin working to help his veterans avoid foul trouble and tired legs.

Girls
Delone Catholic (York-Adams Division 4, District 3 AAA) vs Prep Charter (Philadelphia Public League Division AAA, District 12 AAA)
Coaches: Gerry Eckenrode, Delone; Paul Riser, Prep Charter
Go-to-gals: Jennifer Scherer (5-9, Sr.), Delone; Lashay Banks (5-11, Soph.), Prep Charter
Main rotation: Delone--Scherer, Janice Erbe (5-7, Soph.), Arielle Placke (5-10, Jr.), Crystal Cline (5-7, Sr.), Meagan Raville (5-9, Sr.); PC--Banks, Nyderra Lee (5-3, Fresh.), Erin Hunley (5-5, Sr.), Raven Jones (5-6, Jr.), Aleya Miller (6-0, Sr.)
SPORTSfever's Take: Prep Charter is an emerging AAA player in the Public League and Eastern PA. Delone doesn't have a dynamic Division 1 player leading its attack like it did when it won three straight AA state championships (2003-2005) but is always a tough out with veteran coach Eckenrode, who has 204 wins in his 9th season at Delone. Jones and Miller were second-team AAA all-stars in the Pub last season while Banks battled through an injury-plagued season in 2007. The Lady Huskies have logged a lot of miles looking for tough competition and they will find that Delone belongs on that list of teams.

Players from 2007 Challenge teams who earned Associated Press All-State Basketball Team honors
1st Team All-State
Malcolm Eleby, Franklin Learning Center, 6-2, Sr.
Marcus Morris, Prep Charter, 6-9, Sr.
Herb Pope, Aliquippa, 6-8, Sr.
Markieff Morris, Prep Charter, 6-10, Sr.
Colin Naugle, Reading Central Catholic, 6-5, Sr.
Kelly Britcher, Westmont Hilltop, 6-0, Sr.
Megan Stewart, York Catholic, 5-6., Sr.
Amanda Weaver, York Catholic, 6-2, Sr.

2nd Team All-State
Andrew Randall, Communications Tech, 6-5, Jr.
Jaren Gembe, Greencastle-Antrim, 6-0, Sr.
Kashief Edwards, Imhotep Charter, 6-6, Sr.
Jonathan Baldwin, Aliquippa, 6-6, Jr.

3rd Team All-State
Mike DeMarco, Hazleton, 6-3, Sr.
Kenny Spotwood, Frankford, 6-3, Sr.
Tommie "T.J." Sykes, Simon Gratz 6-4, Sr.
Rob Estep, West York, 6-2, Sr.
Matt Jones, Susquehanna Township, 6-2, Jr.
Antonio Reddic, Aliquippa, 6-2, Sr.
Dwayne Davis, Strawberry Mansion, 6-4, Jr.
Brittany Csatlos, Sharon, 5-6, Sr.