DISTRICT 6 CLASS 1A GIRLS PREVIEW

THE SCOOP: The best district in any classification in the state is back for another round. Two-time defending PIAA champion Bishop Guilfoyle Academy is a favorite to repeat as both District 6 and state champion, but Bishop Carroll Catholic, Saint Joseph’s Academy and Williamsburg are all teams 100 percent capable of winning a state championship as well if things fell their way.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Bishop Guilfoyle Academy

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Bishop Guilfoyle sr. Stella Yeskey; Bishop Guilfoyle jr. Anberlyn Petrecca; Bishop Guilfoyle jr. Morgan Ruggery; Saint Joseph’s sr. Naomi Crispin; Saint Joseph’s sr. Lauren Himes; Saint Joseph’s sr. Aubrey Yartz; Bishop Carroll jr. Ava Pablic; Bishop Carroll jr. Adelyn Myers; Bishop Carroll so., Emily Lucko; Williamsburg sr. LeeAnna Royer; Williamsburg jr. Levada Gorsuch; Williamsburg fr. Bella Royer; Blacklick Valley sr. Mackenzie Kinter; Purchase Line so. Rylee Mahaffey; Juniata Valley sr. Anna Taylor; Juniata Valley jr. Aubrey Anderson

MOST INTRIGUING MATCHUP: Saint Joseph’s Academy vs. Bishop Guilfoyle Academy

SLEEPER: Saint Joseph’s Academy

MIRROR’S TEAM TO BEAT: Bishop Guilfoyle

NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: Four

WHO THEY’LL PLAY IN INTERDISTRICTS: 6-1 vs. 9-4; 6-2 vs. 9-3; 6-3 vs. 7-2; 6-4 vs. 7-1

ANALYSIS: A year ago the four teams that advanced out of this bracket all went on to win at least two state playoff games and took up the entire bottom half of the bracket once the PIAA quarterfinals rolled around, and there is a great chance of all four teams — BG, Carroll, St. Joe’s and Williamsburg — pulling off the same feat this year.

Bishop Guilfoyle has improved from last year and tested itself against some of the top teams in all classifications across the state — and held up very well. The Lady Marauders are deep and can beat teams in many different ways.

Bishop Carroll was much improved in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference this year and lost just two conference games. In addition, the Lady Huskies own a win over Saint Joseph’s Academy. Seniors Madison Delauter and Sarah Miller are important players to the team, but the core is still young and getting better.

For Saint Joseph’s Academy, there will likely be a sense of urgency this postseason. Its top four players — Naomi Crispin, Aubrey Yartz, Lauren Himes and Jacee Cunningham — are all seniors. It’s do or die for this group this year.

Williamsburg is in a unique window where it still has established stars like LeeAnna Royer and Levada Gorsuch, along with reliable senior Regan Prough, but the Lady Pirates also boast an incredible group of freshmen including Brynn Lower, Bella Royer and Faith Detwiler that will be good for years to come and have a very high ceiling.

The teams in the bottom half of the District 6 bracket will have a very hard time breaking through and winning a game that would earn them a spot in the PIAA playoffs. Juniata Valley is likely the best of the bunch and has two excellent players in senior Anna Taylor and junior Aubrey Anderson with a team around them that has improved throughout the season and owns a win over District 5 power Everett, but the Lady Hornets recently lost starter Lucy Fouse to an injury.