Whitehall boys’ basketball head coach Jeff Jones expects a huge challenge ahead for his seventh-seeded team when it opens District 11 Class 6A play against second-seeded Pocono Mountain West Saturday at Pleasant Valley.

Both teams haven’t played since they were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the East Penn Conference tournament Feb. 6. Whitehall (11-12) lost to Northampton, 57-46, and Pocono Mountain West (19-4) fell to Allen, 52-44.

Pocono Mountain West is led by senior and league MVP KJ Coles, who averages 21.3 points per contest. Sophomore post player Ted Stiehler averages 10.5 points, and junior guard Aydin Smith averages nine points.

“West is very good,” noted Jones. “They have guys who have played in big games before.

“Their main offense threat is KJ Coles, the league MVP who is averaging more than 20 points per game, and Teddy Stiehler, a sophomore big man averaging just over 10 points and was third team all-league. This gives them a solid inside-outside punch.”

Whitehall is led by senior guard Seth Hoderewski, who is averaging 16.3 points per game, and fellow senior forward Jack Lloyd is averaging 13.4 points. Senior forward Talon Dogmanits, junior point guard Tanner Dogmanits, and sophomore center Cole Rozycki are all averaging just over six points per game.

Hoderewski is optimistic about his team’s chances.

“All week, we have been focusing more on us,” said Hoderewski. “We’re cleaning up things and details matter in close games. It’s what we expect to see in the playoffs.

“This upcoming week of practices is important for us to get ready and prepared for West. They are a good team but we believe we can compete with anyone in the playoffs.”

The Zephyrs were the fourth seed in last year’s tournament and beat fifth-seeded Pocono Mountain East, 51-40, in the opening district round. They were eliminated by Northampton, 44-40, in the semifinals.

Should the Zephyrs upset Pocono Mountain West, they could face a rematch against top-seeded Northampton. Jones expects his team to be hitting on all cylinders after they had scrimmages against Lehighton and Bethlehem Catholic.

“Coach Rich Williams will have them well prepared to face us,” said Jones. “We have had some good practices and two scrimmages in preparation for the playoffs.

“Our kids will be ready.”