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.

OK, gang - here are the up-to-date standings for the Del Val League:

DEL VAL LEAGUE
(Through Wednesday)
Team ................... League, Overall
Penn Wood ........... 5-0 ..... 13-3
Chester ................. 4-1 .... 10-4
Glen Mills ............. 3-2 ..... 6-8
Academy Park ....... 1-4 ..... 7-8
Chichester ............. 1-4 .... 8-6
Interboro ............... 0-5 .... 3-11

Here are some things to consider for the remainder of the season:
1. The Chase for the Crown. It appears to be a two-horse race yet again, between last year's co-champs Penn Wood and Chester. Should the Clippers - who lost an earlier meeting with the Patriots - get retribution in their rematch next week, it would seem to set up another shared title situation.
2. Postseason positioning. It'd be hard to imagine Glen Mills and Chichester, unless either goes on an unforeseen slide toward the regular-season finale, missing the District One Class AAAA playoffs. And Academy Park, given a little push here, could sneak in, too. So every ... game ... matters. The battle for third place in the Del Val could get ugly.
3. Bucs in the basement. For as perennially strong as its football team is, Interboro's basketball program continues to struggle. Should the Bucs go winless within league play, it would mark a second consecutive season of failing to net a single Del Val victory.