The sampling of games is relatively small, but there are some things which jump out when looking at the December part of the York-Adams boys' basketball season.

York High is ably filling the gaps left by the graduation of three starters, who combined for 43.8 points a game.

The current Bearcats feature three players in double figures -- Tavon Parker (19.5 a game), Derek Wilson (12.3) and Ramel Stephens (11.8). A fourth player, Jahaire Wilson, Derek's younger brother, is averaging 9.2 points a contest.

York was a preseason favorite to win another league title, and nothing has happened so far to change that perception. The Bearcats are 5-1 overall, which includes victories over Mid-Penn power Harrisburg and South Western,

The current York High Bearcats (5-1) feature three players in double figures. Tavon Parker, center, leads the pack by averaging 19.5 points a game this season. York High, the York-Adams League Division I leader, faces Division II leader Northeastern on Jan. 2 in an early-season matchup of title contenders. (File photo)
the team that York defeated in last year's title game.

Northeastern (5-1), which plays at York High on Wednesday, Jan. 2, has ratcheted up its defense after allowing 61.8 points a game last year. This year's Bobcats are holding teams to 46.7 points a contest.

York High and Northeastern are leading Division I and II, respectively, but the season is very young.

Central York (3-4) pushed York High before bowing, 76-71, and Dallastown is off to a 6-1 overall start under new head coach Mike Grassel.

In Division II, Kennard-Dale (0-8) hung with Northeastern before bowing, 52-48, and West York (2-5) earned victories over Dover and New Oxford last week.

Delone Catholic (4-2), which won the District 3 Class AA title last year, is primed for another playoff run this year.

The Squires feature three-sport standout Brett Smith and sophomore sensation Devon Moore. Moore, the brother of former Delone girls' star Sierra Moore, has established his own basketball identity by averaging 17.3 points a game in his first varsity season.

Smith (12.7 points a game) and Andrew Austin (13.5) are also double-figure scorers for veteran head coach Jim Dooley. Delone Catholic is the obvious pick to earn top honors

Derek Wilson, above, is the second-leading scorer for York High. He s averaging 12.3 points per game. Ramel Stephens is also averaging in double figures with 11.8 points per outing. A fourth player, Jahaire Wilson, Derek s younger brother, is averaging 9.2 points a contest for the powerful Bearcats. (File photo)
in Division IV, although the Squires have to be wary of long-time parochial school rival, York Catholic (2-3).

Division III is shaping up to be the most intriguing one of all.

Three teams, Susquehannock (5-2), Bermudian Springs (4-2) and Eastern York (6-3), have one division loss, and Littlestown (2-4) and York Suburban (2-4) have two losses.

Bermudian Springs, with four starters and a number of key contributors back from last year's 18-6 team, may have the edge in the title race.

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The top 10 boys' scorers, heading into the holiday tournaments this weekend are: Khalid Nwandu of Northeastern (22.7 points a game), Parker Bean of South Western (22.2), Evan Eberhardinger of York Suburban

Northeastern s Khalid Nwandu, center, is the leading scorer in boys basketball this season. The Bobcat standout is averaging 22.7 points a game. (Bil Bowden photo)
(19.8), Tavon Parker of York High (19.5), Dalton Reichard of Eastern (17.4), Devon Moore of Delone Catholic (17.3), Kevin Rice of West York (17.3), Josh McMahon of Dover (16.8), Mike Fox of Red Lion (16.7) and Logan Hagerman of Spring Grove (14.3).

Dick VanOlinda covers high school sports for The York Dispatch. He can be reached at dvanolin da@yorkdispatch.com or 505-5407.