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6A BOYS
Tough year in 6A boys landscape
THE SCOOP: State College, with current Notre Dame freshman Braeden Shrewsberry, was the clear top team in this field a year ago. With Shrewsberry gone, the Little Lions are still the team most likely to claim District 6 gold, but an extended run like State College had last year by any District 6 team at the PIAA level this year in this classification is unlikely.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: State College
PLAYERS TO WATCH: State College sr. Luke Torbic; State College jr. Reed Melvin; State College jr. Charlie Yartz; Mifflin County sr. Jayden Bilger; Mifflin County fr. Jack Curry
MOST INTRIGUING MATCHUP: State College vs. Mifflin County
SLEEPER: Mifflin County
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: Altoona opted not to enter the playoffs after finishing 1-21 with its lone win coming against Harrisburg.
The decision gives Mifflin County a bye into the championship game against top-seeded State College.
Neither State College or Mifflin County had a winning record this season, but the Little Lions have played a tough schedule. The teams have not played each other but have a few common opponents, including Altoona. The Little Lions beat the Mountain Lions by 20 and 22, and Mifflin County beat Altoona by 13.
The Huskies suffered through an eight-game losing streak when playing the strongest part of their schedule in the middle of the season, and State College also struggled against its best competition.
The Little Lions have often been the team to beat in District 6, especially since the expansion to six classifications, and that should be the case again this year. Their chances of winning the subregional involving District 8 and District 10 teams, however, seem unlikely.
5A BOYS
Tigers aiming to end drought
THE SCOOP: Hollidaysburg, with a huge and talented senior class, has its best chance to win a District 4-6 championship since it last won in 2018. Defending champion Central Mountain graduated its two best players, and this tournament is the Golden Tigers' to lose.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Central Mountain
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Central Mountain sr. Xavier Persun; Central Mountain jr. Hunter Hoy; Hollidaysburg sr. Cole Walters; Hollidaysburg sr. Mason Goodman; Hollidaysburg sr. Jake Hileman; Hollidaysburg sr. Leyton Weimert; Hollidaysburg sr. Jon Holsopple; Shikellamy sr. Lucas Wetzel; Selinsgrove sr. Ries Naugle; Selinsgrove jr. Gavin Bastian
MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: Hollidaysburg vs.
Selinsgrove
SLEEPER: Selinsgrove
MIRROR'S TEAM TO BEAT: Hollidaysburg
NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: One
WHO THEY'LL PLAY IN INTERDISTRICTS: 6-1 or 4-1 vs. 3-7
ANALYSIS: Though Bellefonte did not qualify for the District 4-6 Class 5A playoffs, the Red Raiders played all four teams in the tournament, which might provide some clues as to how everything will play out.
Hollidaysburg defeated Bellefonte twice, by 25 and by 24. Bellefonte lost to Selinsgrove by 13, and the Red Raiders fell to Central Mountain and Shikellamy by five points each. Going by those scores, the Golden Tigers seem to be the prohibitive favorite, but common opponents can't always tell the entire story.
The Golden Tigers have not played any of the teams they will see in this tournament but should be able to handle Shikellamy, especially at home, in the semifinals.
The other semifinal should be competitive. Central Mountain, the defending champion, has lost to Selinsgrove twice, but both games were close.
The Seals have a good overall record, but they haven't played a lot of strong competition.
Hollidaysburg has been building toward this season and this tournament. The Golden Tigers have tested themselves in tough tournaments and summer leagues and played well through a tough Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference slate this season. It's time for Hollidaysburg to finally add another district title to the school's trophy case.
4A BOYS
Dragons need hot-shooting night
THE SCOOP: Johnstown has spent the last two seasons re-establishing itself as one of the premier boys basketball programs in this part of the state, and the Trojans are hoping this is the postseason they can build that reputation state-wide.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Johnstown
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Juniata so. Jasper Shepps; Central sr. Hunter Smith; Central jr. Eli Muthler; Johnstown sr., Dion Dixon; Johnstown sr., Jahmir Collins; Johnstown jr. Donte Tisinger
MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: Central vs. Johnstown
SLEEPER: Central
MIRROR'S TEAM TO BEAT: Johnstown
NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: One
WHO THEY'LL PLAY IN INTERDISTRICTS: 6-1 vs. 4-3
ANALYSIS: Central has been the top seed in this bracket the last two seasons but fell in the championship game to Penn Cambria in 2022 and Johnstown last year.
A year ago, Dragons coach Paul Frederick was hoping Somerset would enter the playoff bracket so Central didn't have a long stretch without a game. That falls on Johnstown this year as the Golden Eagles once again have opted out of the postseason.
Central will get a home semifinal game against Juniata in a game it should win. The Scarlet Dragons play a much tougher schedule, but they also don't play a style in which they often blow out opponents, so Juniata might hang around a little bit.
For Central to have a chance against Johnstown, it will need to play much better than it did when it managed just 23 points against the Trojans in a loss during the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference semifinals. Earlier in the season, Central made nine 3-pointers and lost to Johnstown, 50-45.
If Central can make outside shots, it can contend with Johnstown. Players like Eli Muthler and Hunter Smith are used to winning in whatever sport they play, and if the Dragons can make a lot of hustle plays, they are capable of frustrating Johnstown and getting the Trojans out of their game.
With that said, Johnstown is the better team this season, and like Hollidaysburg in 5A, has spent the majority of the year testing itself against the best competition it can play to prepare for a postseason run.
3A BOYS
Favorite BG faces challenges
THE SCOOP: With as good as Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic's boys basketball program has been lately, the Marauders have not won a district title since 2021. The Marauders are the favorite to end that streak this year, but there are some land mines to navigate along the way.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Penn Cambria
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Bishop Guilfoyle jr. Jude Haigh; Bishop Guilfoyle jr. Trevor Rehm; Westmont Hilltop sr. Jonathan Crocco; Westmont Hilltop sr. Noah Brownlee; Forest Hills sr. Si McGough; Forest Hills so. Koy McGough; Forest Hills fr. Dylan Stohon; Tyrone jr. Sam Crilly; Tyrone jr. Andrew Escala; River Valley sr. Dom Speal; Penn Cambria sr. Easton Semelsberger; Penns Valley so. Fletcher Ironside; Richland sr. Luke Raho; Bald Eagle Area sr. Kahale Burns
MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: Westmont Hilltop vs. Bishop Guilfoyle
SLEEPER: Tyrone
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 higher seeds should be the favorites in each of the quarterfinal games, but there are a couple of things to look out for in a few of the games. Penn Cambria, the defending champion, is certainly an underdog against Forest Hills, but when the Panthers are hitting from 3-point range, they can challenge anyone. Westmont Hilltop has the talent to give Bishop Guilfoyle a scare in the semifinals, but River Valley is the Heritage Conference champion and will be no pushover in the quarters. Penns Valley lost to Tyrone twice in the regular season, but the second time was by only seven points and the Rams recently took Central to overtime before losing.
If the semifinals end up being all-LHAC matchups Westmont-BG and Forest Hills-Tyrone, it will be interesting considering neither of those matchups occurred in the regular season thanks to the expanded league. Westmont is well coached, has senior leadership and is always dangerous in the postseason, but playing at BG is always very difficult. Forest Hills is young and could get frustrated with the Golden Eagles' defense. Tyrone played very well down the stretch and may be maturing at the right time.
Bishop Guilfoyle would be the favorite in any championship game, because Jude Haigh is the best player in this bracket, and no player matches the size and athleticism of Trevor Rehm inside, but Tyrone played BG tough on the Marauders' floor earlier this year and has the outside shooting to shock anyone as the Eagles did to Johnstown earlier this year.
2A BOYS
Bulldogs trying to make history
THE SCOOP: Claysburg-Kimmel is enjoying its best season in more than 40 years, and a quarterfinal victory over defending champion United would mean a state-playoff appearance at the minimum in this competitive field filled with only Heritage Conference and Inter-County Conference teams.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: United
PLAYERS TO WATCH: West Branch sr. Isaac Tiracorda; West Branch jr. Owen Koleno; Northern Cambria jr. Ty Dumm; Northern Cambria jr. Caleb Dolney; West Shamokin jr. Bradyn Rodgers; Claysburg-Kimmel sr. Elias Ritchey; Claysburg-Kimmel so. Brayden Haney; United sr. Isaac Worthington; Homer-Center jr. Max Voyda; Marion Center sr. Evan Risinger; Mount Union sr. Bryce Danish
MOST INTRIGUING MATCHUP: United at Claysburg-Kimmel
SLEEPER: Northern Cambria
MIRROR'S TEAM TO BEAT: West Branch
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: This bracket comes down to one thing, which conference is better, the Inter-County Conference or the Heritage Conference?
One of the biggest tests of that will be the No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup between Claysburg-Kimmel and United. The Bulldogs enter the playoffs on a four-game winning streak and are coming off an impressive win over Juniata Valley, which is the No. 2 seed in Class 1A.
United is the defending champion but graduated some talented players, and the Lions have been inconsistent this season. One concerning thing to consider for C-K is that a common opponent of both teams, Tussey Mountain, lost to United by 22 and beat Claysburg-Kimmel twice.
Top-seeded West Branch has a 1,000-point scorer in Isaac Tiracorda, but its best player is junior Owen Koleno, who will do well against any team in this bracket.
The bottom half of this bracket involved all Heritage Conference teams that have beaten each other up throughout the season. Second-seeded Northern Cambria seems to be the best of the bunch but has beaten Homer-Center, Marion Center and West Shamokin all by slim margins in regular season play, and it wouldn't be shocking to see any of them turn the tables on the Colts.
1A BOYS
Wide-open field highlights 1A
THE SCOOP: This tournament is wide open. Any team from top-seeded Conemaugh Valley to seventh-seeded Bishop McCort could be raising the District 6 championship by the time this bracket is complete.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Portage
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Conemaugh Valley sr. Landon Percinsky; Conemaugh Valley jr. Jeremy Dietz; Juniata Valley sr. Chris Deihl; Juniata Valley sr. Connor Robinson; Juniata Valley sr. Charlie Mattas; Williamsburg sr. Rowan Gorsuch; Williamsburg jr. Logan Brantner; Portage jr. Bode Layo; Portage jr. Trae Kargo; Bishop Carroll sr. Luke Repko; Bishop Carroll so. Jace Casses; Bishop McCort so. Angelo Gallucci; Blacklick Valley sr. Alex Reba; Ferndale jr. Caleb Fenton
MOST INTRIGUING MATCHUP: Bishop Carroll at Portage
SLEEPER: Bishop McCort
MIRROR'S TEAM TO BEAT: Bishop Carroll
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: Conemaugh Valley has won a lot of close games this year, which is evidence the Jays can perform in the clutch but also that they are not unbeatable.
Defending champion Portage and Bishop Carroll are both teams that could prove that. The Huskies, before losing a few games down the stretch, appeared to be the team to beat in this bracket due to the level of competition they play, their defense and their ability to have multiple scorers enjoy big nights.
But down the stretch, Carroll had some lopsided losses and a setback to Bishop McCort which could impact its confidence level going into the postseason. Portage, which won District 6 titles in 2A in 2021 and 2022 before winning the 1A crown last season, has players with playoff experience and will be at home.
Juniata Valley and Williamsburg are favorites on the other side of the bracket, but the Green Hornets must get through previously mentioned McCort, which has played a tougher schedule than JV. The Hornets should be able to lean on a senior trio of big-time scorers in Chris Deihl, Connor Robinson and Charlie Mattas, but they will need a better defensive effort than usual. If Valley and Williamsburg meet in the semifinals, expect a thriller. Both regular-season games were high scoring and came down to the wire.