6A BOYS

Altoona hoping third time a charm

THE SCOOP: Defending champion State College has won four of the six Class 6A championship games since the classification was introduced in 2017, and the Little Lions will be the favorite to win it again this season.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: State College

PLAYERS TO WATCH: State College sr. Braeden Shrewsberry; State College jr. Isaac Dye; State College sr. Ryan Perks; Altoona sr. Jalen Triplin; Altoona sr. Ashton Neely

MOST INTRIGUING MATCHUP: State College vs. Altoona

SLEEPER: Altoona

MIRROR’S TEAM TO BEAT: State College

NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: Two from subregional

WHO THEY’LL PLAY IN INTERDISTRICTS: 6/8/10-1 vs. 7-3; 6/8/10-2 vs. 7-2

ANALYSIS: Mifflin County opted not to enter the playoffs after winning just three games and losing its season finale to Altoona, so this bracket will be made up of just a District 6 championship game on Friday at Mount Aloysius before playing in a subregional game against the winner of a game between the District 10 champion and the District 8 champion. Both teams in that subregional game will advance to the PIAA playoffs.

Altoona and State College played two completely different games during the regular season, but both were won by the Little Lions. State College won the matchup in Altoona by 13 but scored only 38 points. In State College, the Little Lions won by 25 and scored 68 points but the game was very close at halftime.

The Mountain Lions have been playing much better down the stretch of the season and are senior-led. At one point, Altoona won six of seven games with the only loss in that stretch coming to State College. The Little Lions are led by Penn State commit and the son of PSU coach Micah Shrewsberry, Braeden Shrewsberry, who has the ability to light up the scoreboard quickly and carry State College through shooting slumps. The key for Altoona, however, will be other State College players not getting hot as Isaac Dye did from beyond the 3-point line in the team’s second matchup.

5A BOYS

Wildcats have eyes on a repeat

THE SCOOP: Hollidaysburg has not won a District 6 title since 2018 and faces a tough road to doing it this year. The Golden Tigers must travel to defending champion Central Mountain in the semifinal round.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Central Mountain

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Hollidaysburg jr. Jake Hileman; Hollidaysburg jr. Cole Walters; Hollidaysburg jr. Carson Rhodes; Central Mountain sr. Hayden Pardoe; Central Mountain sr. Jack Hanna; Selinsgrove jr. Ries Naugle; Bellefonte sr. Cole Crissman

MOST INTRIGUING MATCHUP: Hollidaysburg at Central Mountain

SLEEPER: Hollidaysburg

MIRROR’S TEAM TO BEAT: Central Mountain

NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: One

WHO THEY’LL PLAY IN INTERDISTRICTS: 6-1 vs. 3-7

ANALYSIS: The Wildcats defeated Hollidaysburg, 84-70, on Dec. 16 but while Central Mountain is led by a pair of seniors, Hollidaysburg’s group of young players improved throughout the season and may serve as a better test this time around.

Beating Central Mountain all comes down to slowing down its senior duo of Hayden Pardoe and Jack Hanna. The Golden Tigers can throw athletic players in like waves as they are a rare occurrence of a team that’s still young but by the end of this season, is experienced. Hollidaysburg also got one of its leaders, Jake Hileman, back down the stretch. Hileman isn’t at 100 percent yet, but his presence on the court could make a difference.

On the bottom half of the bracket, Selinsgrove already owns a four-point regular-season win over Bellefonte. Both the Red Raiders and Seals have already lost to Central Mountain, making the Wildcats the definitive favorite in this bracket, which features both District 6 and District 4 teams.

4A BOYS

There can only be one in 4A

THE SCOOP: After a down year, 2021 champion Johnstown is back in the mix for a District 6 title with a young squad while Eli Lingenfelter leads an experienced Central team trying to avenge a loss to Penn Cambria in last year’s 4A championship game. District 5’s Somerset was eligible to enter this tournament and would have been Central’s opponent in the semifinals, but the Eagles opted out.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Penn Cambria

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Central sr. Eli Lingenfelter; Central sr. Seth Bean; Central so. Eli Muthler; Johnstown sr. Nyerre Collins; Johnstown so. Donte Tisinger

MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: Central vs. Johnstown

SLEEPER: Johnstown

MIRROR’S TEAM TO BEAT: Central

NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: One

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

ANALYSIS: Central traveled to Johnstown and defeated the Trojans in the regular season. Both teams are capable of long state playoff runs, but unfortunately District 6 is back to receiving just one PIAA bid in the 4A classification, so the loser of the championship game will see its season end at Mount Aloysius.

Juniata entered the playoffs despite a losing record and will travel to Johnstown for a semifinal contest, but will likely be traveling more than two hours and 130 miles only to lose with a running clock in play.

As for the district final, it should be can’t-miss. Nyerre Collins is the veteran leader for the Trojans, but there is a lot of young talent on this squad that is much better today than it was even at the start of the season. Fortunately for the Scarlet Dragons, they have some young players who have continued to develop as well led by Eli Muthler. Central’s senior class of Lingenfelter, Seth Bean, Rylan Daugherty and Shalen Yingling are all valuable to the team, and winning a district title would mean a lot to this group.

3A BOYS

Marauders trying to reclaim crown

THE SCOOP: There’s a good chance the winner of three of the last four Class 3A championships, Richland, will play 2021 champion Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic in the quarterfinals, but this Rams team isn’t at the same level they have been in the past. With all due respect to quality Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference teams Penn Cambria, Westmont Hilltop and Forest Hills, this is BG’s bracket to lose.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Richland

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Bishop Guilfoyle sr. Patrick Haigh; Bishop Guilfoyle so. Jude Haigh; Bishop Guilfoyle so. Trevor Rehm; Penn Cambria sr. Garrett Harrold; Penn Cambria sr. Vinny Chirdon; Westmont Hilltop sr. Ryan Craft; Westmont Hilltop jr. Noah Brownlee; Tyrone sr. Ross Gampe; Tyrone sr. Zack LeGars; Bald Eagle Area sr. Chase Thompson; Bald Eagle Area jr. Camron Watkins; Forest Hills sr. Jeremy Burda; River Valley jr. Dom Speal; Richland sr. Sam Penna; Richland jr. Luke Raho; Philipsburg-Osceola sr. Jake DeSimone

MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: Penn Cambria vs. Bishop Guilfoyle

SLEEPER: Westmont Hilltop

MIRROR’S TEAM TO BEAT: Bishop Guilfoyle

NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: Three

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

ANALYSIS: The Marauders, Panthers and Tyrone all have an excellent shot to get through to the semifinals. The Golden Eagles defeated BEA by 19 early in the season, but the Eagles came back and edged Tyrone, 52-51, on Feb. 3 and also defeated Hollidaysburg recently. A Bishop Guilfoyle-Tyrone semifinal could be fun to watch as both teams have the ability to get hot from 3-point range. Tyrone has an established big man in Ross Gampe, and BG’s Trevor Rehm has improved in leaps and bounds this season.

Westmont Hilltop split two meetings with first-round opponent Forest Hills by a combined four points, but if the Hilltoppers get past that challenge, they get another shot at Penn Cambria, which beat them by just one point on Jan. 13. The team that comes up short in that semifinal game will have to take on the loser of the other semifinal for the right to move on to the state playoffs. Penn Cambria and Tyrone met in the finals of a holiday tournament with the Panthers winning by 10.

If Bishop Guilfoyle and Penn Cambria make it through to the finals, it will be a chance to hopefully see the teams compete at full strength as star Garrett Harrold missed the regular-season game at BG. Both teams are defending district champs as the Panthers are down from 4A.

2A BOYS

New champion ready for spotlight

THE SCOOP: The last school not named Portage or Bishop Guilfoyle to win a District 6 Class 2A championship is Bishop McCort in 2017, but that will change this year as the Mustangs are down at 1A and BG is still playing in 3A due to the PIAA’s success formula. Top-seeded United is coming off a Heritage Conference championship win over Portage.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Portage

PLAYERS TO WATCH: United sr. Joe Marino; United sr. Bradley Felix; Southern Huntingdon sr. Nate Myers; Southern Huntingdon sr. Owen Winter; Southern Huntingdon sr. Lance Carbaugh; West Branch jr. Isaac Tiracorda; West Branch so. Owen Koleno; Mount Union sr., Jayvien Brumbaugh; Cambria Heights sr. Carter Lamb; Cambria Heights sr. Chris Sodmont; West Shamokin sr. Sean McCullough; Northern Cambria sr. Peyton Myers; Homer-Center sr. Michael Krejocic; Claysburg-Kimmel sr. Ethan Mauk; Claysburg-Kimmel jr. Elias Ritchey

MOST INTRIGUING MATCHUP: Cambria Heights at Mount Union

SLEEPER: West Branch

MIRROR’S TEAM TO BEAT: United

NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: Four

WHO THEY’LL PLAY IN INTERDISTRICTS: 6-1 vs. 7-7; 6-2 vs. 10-3; 6-3 vs. 10-2; 6-4 vs. 4-1

ANALYSIS: Cambria Heights and Claysburg-Kimmel were the only two teams in the Mirror’s core coverage area to qualify for this bracket, and the Bulldogs will have to win a play-in game against Homer-Center for the right to take on top-seeded United. Claysburg-Kimmel has some nice wins this year, including a victory over McConnellsburg, and should have a chance to beat the Wildcats, but its hard to see it getting past a very athletic United squad.

The Highlanders will travel to Mount Union to begin the postseason for the second straight year, though last year’s matchup was when both teams were in the Class 3A bracket. The winner of that quarterfinal game earns a trip to the state playoffs, so even though it’s tough to see either team beating United (Heights lost 62-29 to the Lions in the Heritage semifinals), winning this game means at least three more games for the winner.

West Branch is likely the best team on the bottom of the bracket and should be able to knock off the Northern Cambria-Southern Huntingdon winner in the semifinals, but United’s ability to get out and run in transition puts it ahead of the rest of this field.

1A BOYS

Favored Portage new to bracket

THE SCOOP: Bishop Carroll Catholic, the three-time defending champion in Class 1A finished ninth in the rankings and did not qualify for this year’s postseason, meaning there will be a new champion in this classification for the first time since Juniata Valley’s title in 2019. Top-seeded Portage is the defending two-time Class 2A champion but isn’t completely healthy and won’t be for its playoff run.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Bishop Carroll

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Portage sr. Mason Kargo; Portage sr. Luke Scarton; Portage so. Trae Kargo; Harmony sr. Cohlton Fry; Harmony jr. Jack Bracken; Saint Joseph’s Academy sr. Spencer Gigante; Saint Joseph’s Academy so. Michael Lower; Williamsburg sr. Zach Kagarise; Williamsburg jr. Rowan Gorsuch; Williamsburg jr. R.J. Royer; Juniata Valley sr. Reid Edwards; Juniata Valley jr. Chris Deihl; Juniata Valley jr. Charlie Mattas; Bishop McCort sr. Ethan Kasper; United sr. Max Hill; Conemaugh Valley jr. Landon Percinsky; Conemaugh Valley so. Jeremy Dietz

MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: Williamsburg vs. Portage

SLEEPER: Saint Joseph’s

MIRROR’S TEAM TO BEAT: Portage

NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: Three

WHO THEY’LL PLAY IN INTERDISTRICTS: 6-1 vs. 9-4; 6-2 vs. 9-3; 6-3 vs. 5-1

ANALYSIS: A couple weeks ago, Portage would have been a heavy favorite to win this bracket. While the Mustangs should still be considered the team to beat, a season-ending injury to 1,000-point scorer Andrew Miko’s wrist will make the road to a district title a harder one.

The Mustangs should dispatch old WestPAC foe Conemaugh Valley in the first round, but the winner of the Juniata Valley and Williamsburg quarterfinal should be a challenge in the semifinal round. The Green Hornets and the Blue Pirates split in the regular season with both winning on the other’s home floor. Fittingly the third meeting will be at a neutral site (Huntingdon) because Juniata Valley’s gym isn’t large enough to host a playoff game due to District 6 rules.

Bishop McCort will be a tough challenge for second-seeded Harmony in the quarterfinals, but if the Owls survive that, Saint Joseph’s will likely be waiting. The Wolves were 4-0 against Williamsburg and Juniata Valley this season and could be ticketed for a finals meeting with Portage.

6A GIRLS

Lady Lions hitting their stride

THE SCOOP: Mifflin County upset Altoona in the semifinals last season and went on to knock off State College in the championship. The Lady Huskies will be looking to do the same this year in reverse order, but Altoona has started to distance itself from this field as the season has progressed.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Mifflin County

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Altoona sr. Brooklyn Barron; Altoona sr. Harley McGirk; Altoona so. Lanie Wilt; Altoona so. Melana Eyer; Mifflin County sr. Marissa Gingrich; State College so. Jessica Hawbaker

MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: Mifflin County vs. Altoona

SLEEPER: Mifflin County

MIRROR’S TEAM TO BEAT: Altoona

NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: Two from subregional

WHO THEY’LL PLAY IN INTERDISTRICTS: 6/8/10-1 vs. 7-4; 6/8/10-2 vs. 7-2

ANALYSIS: Altoona is the definitive favorite, but the Lady Lions should still be on upset alert. They beat Mifflin County on the road by just three points and actually lost to State College early in the season before avenging that loss later in the year when the team was playing much better.

The Lady Lions recently capped a great season in the Mid-Penn Conference and got Brooklyn Barron back from injury late in the year, but Barron is likely not at 100 percent. Altoona is also without Taylor Lane, lost for the season earlier in the year due to injury.

State College and Mifflin County did not play against each other this season, so it’s hard to say what will happen in the semifinal matchup. However, Marissa Gingrich is the best player on either team, which is why the defending champions probably have a slight edge.

As long as Altoona plays the style it has since it started the season 0-4, it should win its fourth District 6 title in five years.

5A GIRLS

Hollidaysburg a few notches above

THE SCOOP: Hollidaysburg has won the championship here the last two seasons, and the Lady Tigers are the clear favorites again. This championship bracket is now a subregional with District 4 that no longer includes District 8 teams like Obama Academy, which won the 2017 championship.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Hollidaysburg

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Hollidaysburg sr. Alison Hatajik; Hollidaysburg sr. Sydney Lear; Selinsgrove sr. Murphy O’Brien; Selinsgrove sr. Alyssa Latsha; Shikellamy fr. Lily Fatool; Central Mountain sr. Kiahna Jones

MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: Shikellamy vs. Hollidaysburg

SLEEPER: None

MIRROR’S TEAM TO BEAT: Hollidaysburg

NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: One

WHO THEY’LL PLAY IN INTERDISTRICTS: 6-1 vs. 3-6

ANALYSIS: Shikellamy, Central Mountain and Selinsgrove are not separated by a huge margin when it comes to talent as a team, but the No. 1 seed in the field, Hollidaysburg, is on another level.

Selinsgrove has beaten a couple of Mountain League schools, the league Hollidaysburg plays in, but obviously the Lady Tigers have been a few steps above the teams in that league this year as well compiling a 22-0 mark.

On the bottom of the bracket, Shikellamy and Central Mountain have played twice with Shikellamy winning by 11 in the first game and 12 in the second. The winner of that game will have a lot of trouble with Hollidaysburg, however.

The Lady Tigers simply have too much skill both inside the paint with Alison Hatajik and outside with Sydney Lear and emerging talents like Lauren Stevenson. Only one team advances to the state playoffs out of this bracket this season, and Hollidaysburg will surely be aware of that leading to even less of a chance of a letdown. The Lady Tigers have been ranked as high as No. 2 in the state in Class 5A this season and should be expected to take care of business at the District 4-6 level here before what they hope is a long run in states.

4A GIRLS

Penn Cambria hoping move helps

THE SCOOP: Defending two-time champion Tyrone is down to Class 3A this season opening up this bracket. Johnstown won its last five games to move up as the top seed, but none of the four teams in this tournament have a winning record.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Tyrone

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Johnstown sr. Meeya Gause; Somerset sr. Shawna Walker; Juniata jr. Ava Shearer; Juniata so. Regan Lowrey; Penn Cambria sr. Emily Hite; Penn Cambria sr. Abby Crossman

MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: Penn Cambria vs. Johnstown

SLEEPER: None

MIRROR’S TEAM TO BEAT: Penn Cambria

NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: One

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

ANALYSIS: Johnstown’s late-season push earned it the top seed, meaning the Lady Trojans will get a rematch with Somerset. Johnstown just defeated the Lady Eagles by 20 on Valentine’s Day.

On the other side of the bracket, Penn Cambria faces a long road trip to Juniata. The Lady Indians don’t play a lot of other teams from District 6, and most the the schools they play are much lower than Class 4A, which is why they aren’t the top seed despite having as many wins as Johnstown. Penn Cambria’s depth and full-court pressure will likely cause a lot of problems for Juniata.

If Johnstown and Penn Cambria meet up in the District 6 final, it will be a rematch of a 52-41 Lady Panthers win on Jan. 19. Penn Cambria has been playing at Class 3A and won a District 6 title in 2019 but is choosing to play up to Class 4A this season. Emily Hite and Abby Crossman have developed into consistent scoring options on a team that was searching for that during early-season struggles.

3A GIRLS

Tough road for Tyrone in 3A

THE SCOOP: River Valley shocked many when it knocked off Forest Hills, which had won five straight District 6 titles, in last year’s district final. The Blairsville-Saltsburg combination will be back in contention this year along with the Lady Rangers and top-seeded Westmont Hilltop in this very top-heavy bracket.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: River Valley

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Westmont Hilltop so. Christiana Gordon; Forest Hills jr. Alexis Henderson; Forest Hills jr. Arissa Britt; Forest Hills so. Olivia McLeary; River Valley so. Ava Persichetti; River Valley sr. Abby Pynos; River Valley sr. Hannah Artley; Huntingdon jr. Lily Borger; Huntingdon so. Lily Fiscus; Penns Valley sr. Ann Marie McMurtrie; Richland sr. Jordyn Kinsey; Tyrone sr. Kayelin Gibbons; Tyrone fr. Alayna Woomer

MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: River Valley vs. Forest Hills

SLEEPER: Westmont Hilltop

MIRROR’S TEAM TO BEAT: River Valley

NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: Three

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

ANALYSIS: Your eyes do not decieve you. Westmont Hilltop is a sleeper here despite being the No. 1 seed. The Lady Hilltoppers were ranked below Forest Hills in the state rankings even though they owned an overtime win against the Lady Rangers and then responded by beating them again. Once again, when the bracket was released, concentration went toward River Valley’s potential semifinal meeting with Forest Hills that could determine an eventual champion while overlooking Westmont.

All three of these teams are extremely talented and will likely all make the PIAA postseason and win some games. But River Valley sophomore Ava Persichetti might be the best player in the field, which is why her team got the nod as the team to beat.

Tyrone must travel to play the defending champions after a late-season loss to Penns Manor dropped it out of the No. 4-No.5 game which would have been more manageable against a fellow Mountain League opponent. Speaking of the Mountain League, that’s all Westmont Hilltop will have to face in both the quarterfinals and semifinals, and that league — other than Tyrone and Hollidaysburg — was not strong this season.

2A GIRLS

The most loaded field in the state

THE SCOOP: Defending champion Homer-Center will be on the road throughout the entire District 6 playoffs and will likely run into the team that knocked it out of the PIAA postseason, Bellwood-Antis, in the district semifinals. Portage, the defending Class 1A champion, is up to 2A this season. In the past five years, the Lady Mustangs have played in the District 6 Class 5A and 1A championship games — now they will try and get to the 2A final.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Homer-Center

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Bellwood-Antis sr. Chelsea McCaulsky; Bellwood-Antis sr. Lydia Worthing; Bellwood-Antis so. Leigha Clapper; Portage sr. Ari Wozniak; Portage sr. Maddy Hudak; Portage jr. Jenna Burkett; Penns Manor sr. Deja Gillo; Penns Manor so. Alyssa Altemus; United jr. Mollee Fry; Homer-Center sr. Macy Sardone; Homer-Center sr. Molly Kosmack; Southern Huntingdon so. Elayna Thomas; Glendale sr. Minyhah Easterling; Bishop McCort sr. Bria Bair; Bishop McCort jr. Gianna Gallucci; Marion Center sr. Kenadee Elkin

MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: Homer-Center vs. Bellwood-Antis

SLEEPER: United

MIRROR’S TEAM TO BEAT: Bellwood-Antis

NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: Four

WHO THEY’LL PLAY IN INTERDISTRICTS: 6-1 vs. 7-8; 6-2 vs. 7-3; 6-3 vs. 7-2; 6-4 vs. 7-1

ANALYSIS: As dominant as Bellwood-Antis has been at the state level, the Lady Blue Devils have only won a couple District 6 titles under Jim Swaney (2019, 2014), and part of that is because this bracket has been consistently one of the toughest in high school girls basketball in the state of Pennsylvania over the last decade. It’s no longer surprising to see all four teams that advance to states out of this bracket win at least one game at the state level and in most cases, multiple games.

This year should be no different, and the bracket may be the deepest it has been in years. Even the play-in games have the entire district’s interest. Bishop McCort is as dangerous a No. 9 seed as you will find with players like Bria Bair and Gianna Gallucci that would star on teams all throughout the bracket. Glendale has perhaps one of the top post players in the tournament in Minyhah Easterling, but the Lady Vikings will face a challenge against a Marion Center team with wins over No. 2 seed Portage and No. 6 United.

A very good team will be going home early when Penns Manor takes on United in the quarterfinals, and the survivor of that game will likely get Portage, which has already lost to both teams. Homer-Center and Bellwood-Antis makes for a great possible semifinal matchup as both teams are led by a very good group of seniors.

The district championship game could honestly feature any of about five teams — one of which won’t even qualify for the consolation round.

1A GIRLS

Williamsburg expected to end drought

THE SCOOP: Williamsburg has not won a District 6 title since 1997, but after making it to the championship game and losing to Portage a year ago, it seems that stretch will end this season. The Lady Pirates are the favorite to not only win districts but to make a very long run in the state playoffs if not win the state championship.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Portage

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Williamsburg sr. Jayla Woodruff; Williamsburg jr. Ayla Hileman; Williamsburg fr. LeeAnna Royer; Juniata Valley sr. Makenna Hartman; Juniata Valley fr. Anna Taylor; Bishop Guilfoyle jr. Sarah Geishauser; Blacklick Valley so. Kristin Szymusiak; Bishop Carroll sr. Madison Ostinowsky; Bishop Carroll jr. Tatum Laughard; Ferndale so. Deajah Chatman

MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: Juniata Valley vs. Bishop Guilfoyle

SLEEPER: Bishop Carroll

MIRROR’S TEAM TO BEAT: Williamsburg

NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: Three

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

ANALYSIS: Williamsburg owns at least 20-point wins over second-seeded Juniata Valley, third-seeded Bishop Guilfoyle and fifth-seeded Bishop Carroll, though the Lady Hornets recently were competitive with the Lady Pirates in a 13-point loss on Feb. 9. With that said, it’s hard to imagine Williamsburg losing to either Purchase Line or the winner of the Blacklick Valley-Bishop Carroll game en route to the championship game. Williamsburg has an impressive grouping of senior talent like Jayla Woodruff, who can play outside and inside, and Kendel Norris and an upcoming freshman like LeeAnna Royer who serves as the team’s sparkplug. Ayla Hileman, a junior, holds it all together and runs the show.

On the bottom half of the bracket, Juniata Valley and Bishop Guilfoyle should win their quarterfinal games to set up an interesting semifinal with plenty of young talent from BG and Juniata Valley, which leans at times on freshman Anna Taylor. The winner of that game will be assured of a state playoff appearance and get a chance against Williamsburg in the final.

The loser will take on the winner of a rematch from last year — Bishop Carroll at Blacklick Valley. The Lady Huskies pulled off the upset last year, but Blacklick gave them all they could handle and this one could go either way. Only three teams advance to states from this bracket, so the consolation game against the other semifinal loser will be very important.