Seeding the WPIAL boys basketball playoffs can be a difficult process. For a tricky situation, look at Section 5-AAA, which produced four local postseason participants in South Fayette, McGuffey, Trinity and Washington.
The Lions finished second in the section, which was easily the best state-wide in the classification a year ago and better than people expected this season. SF is considered a top-five team this year and probably won't be seeded lower than sixth when the pairings are released Tuesday night.
The question remains, what to make of McGuffey, Trinity and Washington?
All three teams tied for third place and split the season series amongst each other.
At 13-8, McGuffey finished with the better overall record of the three, but lost its most recent games against Washington and Trinity. Considering the Highlanders are making their first postseason appearance since 2001 and played the weakest non-section schedule of the three, expect them to receive a lower seed.
Trinity is 12-9 headed into tonight's game against Sto-Rox, which should only help the Hillers' seeding if they win. The Hillers won three straight, including wins over McG and Wash High. Plus, let's not forget Trinity beat Washington early in the season at the EQT Energy Classic.. That gives Trinity a stronger case for a higher seed.
The one bracket I'd want no part of is Class AAAA. The top two teams - Shaler and Chartiers Valley - are easy, but it's a jumbled mess after that.
Class AAAA
1. Shaler, 2. Chartiers Valley, 3. Woodland Hills, 4. Hempfield, 5. Mt. Lebanon, 6. North Allegheny, 7. Plum, 8. Gateway, 9. Penn-Trafford, 10. Bethel Park, 11. Kiski Area, 12. Pittsburgh Central Catholic, 13. Seneca Valley, 14. Peters Township, 15. Butler, 16. McKeesport, 17. Norwin
Class AAA
1. New Castle, 2. Montour, 3. Hampton, 4. Keystone Oaks, 5. South Fayette, 6. Mars, 7 Greensburg-Salem, 8. Uniontown, 9. West Mifflin, 10. Blackhawk, 11. Central Valley, 12. Beaver, 13. Trinity, 14. Washington, 15. Southmoreland, 16. Thomas Jefferson, 17. Knoch, 18. McGuffey, 19. Indiana, 20. Elizabeth Forward, 21. Kittanning, 22. Highlands, 23. South Park
Class AA
1. Beaver Falls, 2. Monessen, 3. Sto-Rox, 4. Greensburg Central Catholic, 5. Shady Side Academy, 6. Quaker Valley, 7. Summit Academy, 8. Wilkinsburg, 9. Frazier, 10. Jeannette, 11. Shenango, 12. Seton-La Salle, 13. Riverside, 14. Brentwood, 15., Ford City, 16. Neshannock, 17. Chartiers-Houston, 18. Northgate, 19. Brownsville, 20. Aliquippa, 21. West Shamokin, 22. Freeport, 23. S.S. Beaver, 24. Riverview, 25. California, 26. Fort Cherry
Class A
1. Lincoln Park, 2. North Catholic, 3. Vincentian Academy, 4. Clairton, 5. Serra Catholic, 6. Cornell, 7. Bentworth, 8. Union, 9. St. Joseph, 10. Sewickley Academy, 11. Geibel, 12. Avella, 13. Western Beaver, 14. Jefferson-Morgan. 15. Quigley Catholic, 16. Carmichaels
1 comment:
Vincentian lost to Serra, Clairton beat Serra by 12 and took them to overtime in the other. Clairton crushed a good Bentworth team by 20. Clairton gets the 3. With the exception of the OT loss to Serra, All of Clairton's losses came to good AA, AAA, and AAAA teams.
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