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.