C-K boys hoping to extend historic season in Class 2A

PLAYOFF PARADE: DISTRICT 6 CLASS 2A BOYS PREVIEW

THE SCOOP: Heritage Conference champion United is undefeated and state ranked and the clear favorite in this bracket, but Claysburg-Kimmel has had a historic season and Bishop McCort plays a tougher schedule than both of the two seeds ahead of it, so there will be possible land mines waiting for the Lions.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Portage

PLAYERS TO WATCH: United sr. Carter Payne; United sr. Dmitri Worthington; Bishop McCort sr. Nick Dressick; Bishop McCort sr. Angelo Gallucci; Claysburg-Kimmel sr. Brayden Haney; Claysburg-Kimmel sr., Christian Treon; Claysburg-Kimmel so. Gavin Treon; Northern Cambria sr. Malik Fox; Juniata Valley sr. Jett Rand; Juniata Valley sr. Kyler Spurlin; Moshannon Valley sr. Kaden Mills; Moshannon Valley sr. Troy Canner; Homer-Center jr. Joey Kosmack; Portage sr. Easton Slanoc; Portage so. Llehson Walker

MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: Bishop McCort vs. United

SLEEPER: Bishop McCort

MIRROR'S TEAM TO BEAT: United

NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: Three

WHO THEY'LL PLAY IN INTERDISTRICTS: 6-1 vs. 7-7; 6-2 vs. 9-3; 6-3 vs. 7-2

ANALYSIS: The top three seeds are all from different conferences -- United (Heritage), Claysburg-Kimmel (Inter-County) and Bishop McCort (Laurel Highlands), and it's going to come down to the question of how well those conferences prepared those respective teams for the postseason.

The Heritage Conference has had plenty of success at this level with Portage winning three out of the last five, United winning one and Northern Cambria making it to the finals in a couple. West Branch claimed one for the ICC in 2024, and a LHAC team actually hasn't won this bracket since Bishop Guilfoyle won its third in a row in 2020. Before that run was Bishop McCort's last championship in 2017.

United was rarely tested in the Heritage this season save for a couple matchups with Conemaugh Township, but the Lions won a close game over Berlin Brothersvalley and had possibly a District 6 championship-game preview in a 71-61 win over Bishop McCort.

Portage will meet United for a third time in the first round. The defending champions lost to the Lions by 43 and 33 in the previous two meetings.

Juniata Valley has the firepower to upset Northern Cambria, but the Green Hornets have been struggling down the stretch of the season and not shooting well. They did recently take second-seeded Claysburg to overtime, however.

The Bulldogs should be able to win their quarterfinal game which could set up a big game against Bishop McCort. C-K has plenty of talent, and Brayden Haney -- who is the boys all-time leading scorer -- is as talented as anyone in the bracket, but the Bulldogs will have to keep their composure when they get into a tight game, something they have struggled with at times this season -- but no team enters the postseason hotter.