Lady Devils no longer an underdog in Class 3A

PLAYOFF PARADE: DISTRICT 6 CLASS 3A GIRLS PREVIEW

THE SCOOP: In one of the more surprising upsets of the year last season, Central Cambria knocked off River Valley to win a District 6 title. The Lady Devils lost some talented players from that team, but continued to shock everyone with some major wins this year and enter this postseason on everyone's radar.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Central Cambria

PLAYERS TO WATCH: River Valley sr. Alessia LeMantia; River Valley sr. Kenady Kitner; River Valley so. Maddie Twinchek; Penns Valley sr. Ellie Romig; Penns Valley jr. Paige Johnson; Central Cambria sr. Alaina Long; Central Cambria jr. Katie George; Marion Center jr. Maci Miller; Cambria Heights sr. Kinley Rogal; Cambria Heights jr. Lilly Karlheim; Central sr. Adyson Poet; Central sr. Madeline Benton; Central jr. Addie Imes

MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: Marion Center vs. Central Cambria

SLEEPER: Cambria Heights

MIRROR'S TEAM TO BEAT: Central Cambria

NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: Three

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

ANALYSIS: A year after being the darkhorse underdog, Central Cambria will have to excel in a different role -- defending champion favorite. Some of the key faces from last year's run like lone senior Alaina Long and leading scorer Katie George are back, and the Lady Devils have simply found a way to win most games in crunch time -- no matter how good the opponent is.

All season it looked as though Marion Center was going to be the team that served as Central Cambria's biggest test in this bracket, but the Lady Stingers suffered a 40-point loss to Forest Hills after winning the Heritage Conference championship. That certainly raises a red flag after Central Cambria was able to knock off River Valley (also from the Heritage Conference) in last year's final.

Cambria Heights played much better than its record this season. The Lady Highlanders, who lost seven games by single digits this year, played Marion Center close in a game earlier this season. Kinley Rogal runs the show with her senior leadership, but Cambria Heights is well rounded and could have a different leading scorer each night. In an interesting tidbit, Cambria Heights coach Eric Thomas coached Central Cambria coach Brittany (Sedlock) Bracken in high school at Northern Cambria. With Thomas at the helm and Bracken playing a major role, Northern Cambria made it to the PIAA championship game in 2010.

The other local team in the field, Central, is vastly improved from last year's team and could have a puncher's chance after playing a tough Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference schedule.

River Valley and Penns Valley have both shown flashes of competitiveness this season, but either of those teams advancing out of this bracket seems unlikely.