Friday, February 24, 2012

Picking the winners, WPIAL quarterfinals

Butler over Chartiers Valley?

Seneca Valley over Mt. Lebanon?

Peters Township over Woodland Hills?

When it comes to the WPIAL Class AAAA boys basketball playoffs in 2012, expect the unexpected. No. 2 Chartiers Valley - my championship pick - along with No. 3 Mt. Lebanon and No. 4 Woodland Hills all lost first-round games. The upsets not only blew open the bracket, it shows how difficult predicting playoff games can get.

Through the first round of boys games, the record is a solid but far from standout 34-14. A .708 win percentage is impressive in baseball, but when it comes to picking playoff winners, it's a bit shabby.

Through the first round of girls games, it's almost an identical 34-15 for a .694 win percentage.

Boys
Class AAAA
Shaler over Plum, Pittsburgh Central Catholic over Peters Township, North Allegheny over Butler, Gateway over Seneca Valley
Class AAA
New Castle over Mars, Trinity over Beaver, Montour over Blackhawk, Hampton over Central Valley
Class AA
Monessen over Shady Side Academy, Greensburg Central Catholic over Northgate, Beaver Falls over Jeannette, Quaker Valley over Sto-Rox
Class A
Lincoln Park over Sewickley Academy, Vincentian Academy over Serra Catholic, North Catholic over Union, Clairton over Cornell

Girls
Class AAAA
Bethel Park over Oakland Catholic, Baldwin over Shaler, Mt. Lebanon over Pine-Richland, Hempfield over Upper St. Clair
Class AAA
Hopewell over Elizabeth Forward, Chartiers Valley over Uniontown, South Park over South Fayette, Blackhawk over New Castle
Class AA
Seton-La Salle over Beaver Falls, Keystone Oaks over Greensburg Central Catholic, Bishop Canevin over Avonworth, Steel Valley over New Brighton
Class A
North Catholic over St. Joseph, Riverview over Monessen, Vincentian Academy over Winchester Thurston, Fort Cherry over Cornell

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