Mahanoy Area's Tanner Zawada (right) drives past Minersville's Shazier Bethea (left) in a Schuylkill League Division I game at the Mickey Holland Gymnasium (Photo by Kelly Wiley).

Its only the first week of January and one Schuylkill League boys’ basketball team remains unbeaten and has already clinched a District 11 playoff spot.

Can you guess which team it is?

Well unless you’ve lived under a rock or haven’t followed boys’ basketball in the Schuylkill League over the last three years, you’d know the answer is the Mahanoy Area Golden Bears.

The Golden Bears (11-0) earned the right to take the No. 1 spot in the initial T102 Sports Now Super 7 Boys’ Basketball poll that was unveiled Sunday night.

Undefeated Mahanoy Area has lived up to every expectation that any skeptic could’ve realistically came up with this season. The Golden Bears are followed by No. 2 Minersville, who Mahanoy Area defeated 47-30 on Dec. 16 at the Mickey Holland Gynasium in the first of two Division I league matchups on the season between the Battlin’ Miners and Golden Bears.

No. 3 Pottsville (7-4) travels to challenge the unbeaten Bears Monday in the first Division I league game of the season between the two teams.

Tri-Valley (8-2) is No. 4, followed by Blue Mountain (6-4), Panther Valley (8-3) and Pine Grove (5-8).

Expect some movement this week as league matchups resume and teams lobby for postseason contention. In addition to the Mahanoy Area-Pottsville game Monday, Blue Mountain travels to Pine Grove before hosting the Golden Bears on Thursday. The Crimson Tide will be hosting Panther Valley on Wednesday instead of Thursday this week.

Two teams to keep your eyes on include Nativity (4-6) and Marian (5-5), who will both be gearing up to find postseason contention.

T102 Sports Now Super 7 Boys’ Basketball Poll

(through games played Saturday, Jan. 4)

1. Mahanoy Area (11-0)

Last week’s results: W Shenandoah Valley (62-34), W Marian Catholic (67-53)

This week’s schedule:  Pottsville (Monday), at Blue Mountain (Thursday), at Notre Dame-E.S. (Saturday)

2. Minersville (7-2)

Last week’s results: W Williams Valley (77-27)

This week’s schedule: at North Schuylkill (Monday), Pine Grove (Thursday), Nativity (Saturday)

3. Pottsville (7-4)

Last week’s results: W Shamokin (48-46), W ELCO (67-42)

This week’s schedule: at Mahanoy Area (Monday), Panther Valley (Wednesday)

4. Tri-Valley (8-2)

Last week’s results: L Greenwood (64-60)

This week’s schedule: at Weatherly (Monday), Schuylkill Haven (Thursday), at Halifax (Saturday)

5. Blue Mountain (6-4)

Last week’s results: W Exeter Township (63-54), W Northampton (65-56)

This week’s schedule: at Pine Grove (Monday), Mahanoy Area (Thursday), at Marian (Saturday)

6. Panther Valley (8-3)

Last week’s results: None

This week’s schedule: Tamaqua (Monday), at Pottsville (Wednesday)

7. Pine Grove (5-8)

Last week’s results: L Hamburg (70-51)

This week’s schedule: Blue Mountain (Monday), at Minersville (Thursday)