It wasn't as dramatic as most championship games are, but Penncrest will take it.

The Lions thumped Ridley, 45-26, Tuesday night in the Central League championship game at Harriton High School. The teams' only other meeting this season went to overtime, with the visiting Green Raiders stealing a victory.

This time, it was all Penncrest (21-3), which won its first league title since 1999 and only its seventh all-time. Senior Rodney Duncan inflicted most of the damage, dropping in 20 points. Fellow senior and backcourt mate Andrew Radomicki dropped in 12 for the Lions, who outscored the Green Raiders (16-8) in each quarter.

Both teams could end up seeing each other in the District One Class AAAA playoffs, which commence Friday. Eighth-seeded Penncrest will host No. 15 Owen J Roberts and 19th-seeded Ridley heads to No. 14 Central Bucks South.

For more on the Central League championship game, pick up a copy of Wednesday's Daily Times.

It's going to be an all-Delaware County final in the Central League championship tournament.

That became official when Penncrest put the finishing touches on its 51-40 victory over Springfield and, at Bala Cynwyd Middle School, Ridley pulled a 42-40 upset of top-seeded Lower Merion.

In Penncrest's victory, Ian Campbell led three double-figure scorers with 14 points. Rodney Duncan had 13 and Andrew Radomicki scored 11. The storyline for the Lions was Matt Atkinson (9 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 7 steals), who came very close to a quadruple-double.

"We're very excited to be in this situation," said Penncrest coach Mike Doyle, whose team has steadily improved its win total in each of his seven years at the helm.

For Ridley, it was all Cameron Gunter, who had 15 points and 10 boards. But Marc Dziadon stole the spotlight. He only made two shots the entire game --- and one of them was a running layup as time expired, sealing the Green Raiders' upset. Shawn Church tossed in 13 points.

ABOUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP ... No. 4 Ridley takes on No. 2 Penncrest for the title Tuesday night in a 7 p.m. tipoff at Harriton High. Should be a good one.

Here's an up-to-date look at the standings in the Central League:

Central League
Team .........................Lg. Record, Ov. Record
Lower Merion ............ 11-1, 11-5
Penncrest .................. 10-2, 16-2
Ridley ....................... 10-2, 13-4
Springfield ................. 8-4, 11-6
Conestoga ................. 7-5, 10-8
Strath Haven .............. 6-6, 9-9
Marple Newtown ........ 6-6, 8-10
Upper Darby .............. 6-7, 8-9
Radnor ...................... 5-7, 8-9
Harriton .................... 3-9, 7-10
Garnet Valley.............. 1-11, 1-16
Haverford .................. 0-13, 0-17

And here's a closer glance at the Central League:
1. The Top Seed. If Lower Merion wins out, the Aces own the top seed in the league's four-team championship tournament. They knocked off Penncrest in the teams' only meeting. And Ridley, which beat Penncrest, has an all-important meeting with Lower Merion Feb. 5 that could determine some top-spot seeding.

2. The reason for the tourney. The fact that Lower Merion beat Penncrest meant that the league would hold a title tourney for a second straight year. The only loophole that would prevent such a playoff would be a team going 16-0 in the league slate. Frankly, I don't see that ever happening. That would be like running the table in the Big East Conference - it's just too difficult, too competitive a league.

3. The Triple A Teams. Marple Newtown beat Strath Haven, which beat Springfield, which beat Harriton, which beat Marple Newtown. And round and round the Class AAA teams go. Sometime, somewhere, one of them is going to emerge from the pack. When that happens, consider that team a title contender. The only other solid District One Class AAA squad outside the Central is Holy Ghost Prep.

4. At the bottom. In the 2007-08 season - my first year on the boys basketball beat - Garnet Valley and Haverford finished in the top five of the Central standings and advanced to the District One Class AAAA playoffs as a result. How the tides have turned, with both programs struggling ever since. Here's hoping they can grab a couple wins here at the end and build momentum toward next season.