DISTRICT 6 CLASS 4A BOYS PREVIEW

THE SCOOP: Central won its first District 6 championship in 30 years last season by beating Huntingdon and will likely have the chance to win another against the same Bearcats squad.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Central

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Central sr. Dylan Hoover; Central sr. Christian Heuston; Central so. Jesse Muthler; Juniata sr. Jasper Shepps; Huntingdon sr. Elliott Guisler; Huntingdon sr. Caleb Rutter; Somerset jr. Aiden Roby

MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: Huntingdon vs. Central

SLEEPER: Huntingdon

MIRROR’S TEAM TO BEAT: Central

NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: One

WHO THEY’LL PLAY IN INTERDISTRICTS: 6-1 vs. 7-4

ANALYSIS: Central won last year’s championship, 50-41, and won a regular-season game over Huntingdon earlier this year, 46-45, but if the Bearcats make the championship game, they will be live underdogs.

Huntingdon owns two wins over Tyrone — a team Central lost to twice — and recently played Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference semifinalist Clearfield within single digits on the road.

The Scarlet Dragons recently suffered through a three-game losing streak to Tyrone, Hollidaysburg and Bishop Guilfoyle in which their offense really struggled, averaging just 36 points per game. Shooting has been a concern for Central throughout the season, but there have been standalone games where it has shined — such as its win over Class 1A top seeded Williamsburg in which the Dragons made 11 3-pointers.

Juniata has a similar record and results heading into this year’s postseason as it did last year when the Indians did not provide much of a challenge to the Bearcats in a 75-48 semifinal loss.