KNOCK....KNOCK - Hey Hills What's Dat ? - "No Worries Dude, That's Only Opportunity Knocking For the Portledge Basketball Programs"

Yeah there's a little pressure out there. The Colts feel it, the Who Dat Saints feel it....even Eli Manning who isn't even playing feels it. There are also some other teams on our athletic radar that will feel a little pressure this week as the IPPSAL Girls and Boys Varsity Basketball Championship Tournaments come around. Who Dat ? Well it would be the Portledge Lady Panther and Portledge Panther Varsity Basketball teams - Dat Who ! In an incredible turn around from a few years ago the Portledge Girls and Boys Varsity teams have managed to secure a first and second seed, respectively, in the IPPSAL Championship Tournaments. There will be a double-header Semi Final extravaganza this Tuesday night with the Girls playing first at 4:30, followed by the Boys at 6:30. Wouldn't it be grand to see both squads take advantage of the 'home court cookin' and reach the IPPSAL Championship game. That possibility definitely exists as the Lady Panthers come in with a league mark of 15 and 1. They have dominated IPPSAL play during the season and deserve a spot in the Championship. Deserve does not garuantee, however, and the Lady Panthers will have their hands full with whoever they play, but particularly so if the opponent turns out to be the Upper Room. The Lady Royals match up well with our girls and played them very tough in the teams' first meeting back in December. If Solomon Schechter is victorious on Monday over Lexington, however, the Portledge / Upper Room match up will not take place and we will see an even more traditional rivalry game between the Lady Panthers and the Lady Lions of Solomon Schechter. Either way, the Portledge girls have to play their game and take it to the opponent.

On the other hand, in the case of the Portledge Varsity Boys team we have a bit of an underdog story. Mirred in 5th place just ten day ago, and out of the play offs all together, the Panthers caught a big break when Lake Grove folded their team, thus forfeiting their last game - to be played at Portledge, and Kew Forest won a tough game on the road at Waldorf - where the Big W hadn't lost all season. These events seemed to energize the Panthers as they went on to win their last three league games over Lexington, Solomon Schechter and Knox to finish with a final league mark of 8 and 4, which turned out to be good for 2nd place and home court advantage in IPPSAL play. The Scechter game was particularly impressive as the Panthers, led by Chritian Sbarro's twenty something points, came back from a 13 point 4th quarter defecit to keep the dream of home court alive. Whether they face Solomon Schechter, in what would be a fierce rematch, or have to take on a Waldorf team that has already beaten them three times this season, the Panthers face a significant challenge on their way to Championship game play. Like both Super Bowl teams though, the Panthers are HOT, so why not make a place for them in Thursday's Championship game. Hold onto your hats Portledge Bsketball fans 'cause it should be quite a week. To get you psyched everyone should catch the MSG Varsity broadcast of the aforementioned Portledge comeback game at SSDS this Monday night at 8:00pm on Cablevision CH. 14, and by all means be at Wellington Gym on Tuesday afternoon / evening for some exciting play off basketball. Goooooo Panthers!!