BG boys trying to return to mountain top in Class 3A

PLAYOFF PARADE: DISTRICT 6 CLASS 3A BOYS PREVIEW

THE SCOOP: The top three teams -- Bishop Guilfoyle Academy, Forest Hills and Westmont Hilltop -- all have legitimate dreams of a District 6 championship.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Forest Hills

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Forest Hills sr. Koy McGough; Forest Hills sr. Brandon Gregovich; Forest Hills jr. Dylan Stohon; Tyrone sr. Eli Woomer; Tyrone sr. Ashton Emigh; Bishop Guilfoyle sr. Taurean Consiglio; Bishop Guilfoyle jr. Troy Ruggery; Bishop Guilfoyle so. Alex Krimmel; Westmont Hilltop sr. Jack Wesner; River Valley jr. Max Persichetti; West Shamokin sr. Alex Talmadge; Penn Cambria sr. Caden Gibbons; Penn Cambria sr. Landon Semelsberger; Central Cambria sr. Brayden Swope; Central Cambria so. J.D. Brouse; Penns Valley jr. Spencer Althouse; Southern Huntingdon jr. Cohen Snyder; Marion Center sr. Kamden Rozier; Richland sr. Noah Lushko; Richland jr. Jamere Christian

MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: Forest Hills vs. BG

SLEEPER: Penn Cambria

MIRROR'S TEAM TO BEAT: Forest Hills

NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: Four

WHO THEY'LL PLAY IN INTERDISTRICTS: 6-1 vs. 7-7; 6-2 vs. 7-4; 6-3 vs. 7-2; 6-4 vs. 3-1

ANALYSIS: With four teams advancing out of District 6, the goal for many teams in many years might be just to make the semifinals and guarantee a spot in the state playoffs. But the top three teams have been building for this season and won't be satisfied unless they win district gold and make a long run at the state level.

Top-seeded Bishop Guilfoyle has tested itself outside of the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference in addition to dominating the LHAC throughout the regular season, but the Marauders did have a hiccup against Clearfield in their first conference loss in 48 games. Tyson Lestochi, one of BG's top guards, has been in and out of the lineup for much of the second half of the season, and his availability for the postseason is unknown.

Forest Hills lost only to Johnstown (twice) and Chartiers Valley in the regular season and has three players -- Dylan Stohon, Brandon Gregovich and Koy McGough -- that can get a basket almost any time the Rangers need one.

Westmont Hilltop only lost to the LHAC's elite -- Johnstown, Forest Hills, BG and Hollidaysburg -- but this is the time of the year where the Hilltoppers must win those games. They are well coached, and senior Jack Wesner is a very good player.

Penn Cambria should be able to win its quarterfinal game at River Valley and has a superstar player in senior Caden Gibbons. That would clinch a state playoff spot for Penn Cambria and give the Panthers a shot at BG. They have already pulled off a major upset this season with a win over Johnstown, so they will be a live underdog.

Tyrone and Central Cambria is an intriguing matchup in the first round, and the Golden Eagles only lost to potential quarterfinal opponent Westmont Hilltop by four points early in the season.