Thursday, February 12, 2009

WPIAL Class AA basketball playoffs breakdown

Class AA
Boys
Top seeds: No. 1 Jeannette, No. 2 Beaver Falls, No. 3 North Catholic, No. 4 South Fayette
Bits and pieces: Jeannette is the defending WPIAL and PIAA champion. Last year's team was led by Terrelle Pryor. Whether the Jayhawks deserve the seeding is debatable as their top non-section wins were against Monessen and West Shamokin. ... Following the WPIAL football playoffs, Beaver Falls senior Todd Thomas guaranteed the Tigers would go undefeated. Beaver Falls lost four games but is considered the favorite by many. ... At 20-2, Washington has the talent to make a run in coach Ron Faust's final year. The continued emergence of junior Troy Wilson keys the Prexies' chances. ... South Fayette has won 16 in a row.
Sleeper: Washington. The Prexies beat South Fayette earlier this year and the two could meet again in the quarterfinals.
Championship: Beaver Falls over South Fayette.

Girls
Top seeds: 1. Sto-Rox, 2. Beaver, 3. Seton-La Salle, 4. Ford City
Bits and pieces: Washington, the No. 8 seed, enters the playoffs on an 11-game win streak and in senior Jocelyn Floyd arguably features the top defensive player in the WPIAL – boys or girls. ... Floyd is a Duquesne recruit while Ford City's Marisa Wolfe is a Penn State recruit. ... Sto-Rox has beaten top teams ranging from Upper St. Clair to North Catholic. ... Beaver's Carly Vendemia will join Floyd at Duquesne.
Sleeper: Riverside.
Championship: Sto-Rox over Seton-La Salle.

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