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6A GIRLS
Altoona going for a SC sweep
THE SCOOP: With Mifflin County opting out of the playoffs, Altoona and State College will meet for the third time this season to decide which team moves on to the PIAA subregional and locks up one of two spots in the PIAA Class 6A playoff bracket.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Altoona
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Altoona sr. Jaiden Krull; Altoona jr. Melana Eyer; Altoona jr. Lanie Wilt; State College sr. Diana Tsarnakova; State College jr. Tori Risha; State College fr. Sheree Wilson
MOST INTRIGUING MATCHUP: State College vs. Altoona
SLEEPER: State College
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: Neither State College or Altoona has any "bad" losses this year. The Lady Little Lions have lost both of the previous games against Altoona, first by 16 and then trimming the margin of defeat to 10 later in the season.
Altoona split with Central Dauphin, and State College lost to CD twice, and both teams played Williamsport close.
Altoona is the favorite but can't afford a cold night shooting the basketball, because the distance between the Lady Lions and State College is smaller than it was a year ago. Both teams will have a long stretch without games going into this contest, which is also a concern for rhythm shooters.
Altoona is at its best when it is scoring in transition and getting to the basket with occasional kick-outs for 3-point attempts and must get a few easy baskets because things can slow down and get tougher in the half-court offense.
The winner of this game will play the winner of the District 10 vs. District 8 champion at a District 6 site on Saturday, March 2. Both of the teams involved in that game will move on to the state playoffs.
5A GIRLS
Tigers need to snap out of funk
THE SCOOP: Shikellamy probably surprised some people by playing Hollidaysburg competitively in last year's district final for the majority of the game, and its best player, Lily Fatool, is back and can score with anyone. Meanwhile, the Lady Tigers have been limping down the final stretch of the season.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Hollidaysburg
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Hollidaysburg jr. Bella Vent; Hollidaysburg so. Clare Padamonsky; Hollidaysburg so. Makenna Weimert; Shikellamy so. Lily Fatool; Central Mountain jr. Taylor Doyle; Selinsgrove jr. Kristin Shaffer
MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: Shikellamy vs.
Hollidaysburg
SLEEPER: Shikellamy
MIRROR'S TEAM TO BEAT: Hollidaysburg
NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: One
WHO THEY'LL PLAY IN INTERDISTRICTS: 6-1 vs. 3-6
ANALYSIS: Hollidaysburg will have no problems winning its semifinal game against Selinsgrove, which has just five wins and lost to Shikellamy, 51-6, earlier this season.
That might be exactly what the Lady Tigers need after late-season losses to Williamsport, Altoona and Forest Hills, though the second half of that game against the Lady Rangers showed what Hollidaysburg can do defensively when healthy as Hollidaysburg nearly completed a huge rally against a very good team.
On the other side of the bracket, Shikellamy has already beaten Central Mountain twice, but by extremely slim margins in relatively low-scoring games. Both teams are young, but Shikellamy's success in the postseason last year should provide an edge that helps the Braves get back to the district final.
The Lady Tigers are also pretty young this year, so winning a district title and getting experience in the PIAA tournament is really important. Winning districts means a winnable home playoff game in the first round of states before the roadblock that has been stifling Hollidaysburg the past few years, the WPIAL runner-up.
4A GIRLS
Semifinal game could decide title
THE SCOOP: Juniata is the top seed, but Penn Cambria and Johnstown might be playing for the District 5-6 Class 4A championship when the teams meet in the semifinals of what is an evenly-matched bracket.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Penn Cambria
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Juniata jr. Regan Lowrey; Penn Cambria sr. Izzy Andersen; Penn Cambria sr. Kaylee Harpster; Penn Cambria so. Makenna McCoy; Johnstown so. Zayona Thomas; Johnstown so. NaLonai Tisinger
MOST INTRIGUING MATCHUP: Penn Cambria vs. Johnstown
SLEEPER: Penn Cambria
MIRROR'S TEAM TO BEAT: Johnstown
NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING: One
WHO THEY'LL PLAY IN INTERDISTRICTS: 6-1 vs. 7-4
ANALYSIS: Once again, Juniata's strength of schedule creates a major question mark going into this tournament. The Lady Indians are 14-8 but don't play many teams from District 6 or to the level of many of the teams in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference that Penn Cambria and Johnstown have been playing all season.
For example, Juniata lost to LHAC member Penns Valley, which is the No. 7 seed in the Class 3A playoffs, 51-29, at the end of January.
With that said, the team Juniata plays in the district final will likely be the favorite, but which team that will be remains in question.
Penn Cambria defeated Johnstown by seven earlier in the year before it lost by two late in the season. The Lady Panthers are the defending champions but lost the majority of their scoring from last year's team while the Lady Trojans are young and have been improving throughout the season.
Penn Cambria can still come at teams in waves, always has good depth and will need to lean on its defense to punch a return trip to the PIAA playoffs, where it won one game last year and nearly won a second. For Johnstown to win, the Lady Trojans will have to show discipline and patience while proving they have matured into handling big moments with the game on the line.
3A GIRLS
Top-heavy bracket in 3A
THE SCOOP: Two-time defending champion River Valley has its best player back again this year but not as strong of a supporting cast. That could open the door for Forest Hills to reclaim a bracket it once dominated before it moves up to 4A next season.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: River Valley
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Forest Hills sr. Alexis Henderson; Forest Hills sr. Arissa Britt; Westmont Hilltop jr. Christiana Gordon; River Valley jr. Ava Persichetti; Central Cambria jr. Alaina Sheehan; Central Cambria jr. Aubrey Ruddek; Central sr. Megan Diehl; Huntingdon sr. Lily Borger; Huntingdon jr. Lily Fiscus; Penns Valley so. Elle Dinges; Cambria Heights jr. Sienna Kirsch
MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: River Valley at Westmont Hilltop
SLEEPER: River Valley
MIRROR'S TEAM TO BEAT: Forest Hills
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: Forest Hills has established itself as the team to beat in this bracket with a pair of lopsided victories over a very good Westmont Hilltop team and a recent triumph over 5A top seed Hollidaysburg on the Lady Tigers' home court.
That doesn't mean taking the title from River Valley and star Ava Persichetti is a given, but it's also no given that River Valley makes it back to the title game with Westmont Hilltop and star Christiana Gordon likely standing in its way.
Regardless of what order they finish in the district, expect Forest Hills, River Valley and Westmont Hilltop all to represent District 6 well at the PIAA level.
Central Cambria has an excellent shot to move into the semifinal round as it hosts Huntingdon, a team it has already beaten, 56-38 in the regular season, at home. The Lady Devils have also played Forest Hills competitively this year as the teams played to a tie through three quarters before the Lady Rangers won by 10. Speaking of Forest Hills, though it should win its quarterfinal game relatively comfortably, expect Cambria Heights star Sienna Kirsch to put on a strong showing.
2A GIRLS
McCort has clear road to final
THE SCOOP: A year ago this bracket was pure chaos with plenty of upsets and top seeds falling left and right. In the end, Homer-Center rode a championship win all the way to the state final, and the teams that advance out of this tournament this year have a great chance to repeat that type of run.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Homer-Center
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Bishop McCort sr. Gianna Gallucci; Bishop McCort jr. Cami Beppler; Portage sr. Jenna Burkett; Portage sr. Brooke Bednarski; Portage sr. Alex Chobany; Penns Manor sr. Sarah Stiteler; Penns Manor jr. Alyssa Altemus; Marion Center sr. Lydia Miller; Bellwood-Antis sr. Chloe Hammond; Bellwood-Antis jr. Leigha Clapper; Bellwood-Antis so. Lilly Gerwert; United sr. Mollee Fry; United sr. Delaney Perrone; United jr. Maddison McGinnis; Homer-Center sr. Alaina Fabin; Southern Huntingdon jr. Haley Ross; Southern Huntingdon so. Caleigh Clark; West Branch sr. Jenna Mertz; Moshannon Valley sr. Riley Wharton
MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: Penns Manor at Portage
SLEEPER: Penns Manor
MIRROR'S TEAM TO BEAT: Bishop McCort
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: In the upper half of the bracket, the success the lower seeds enjoyed a year ago is unlikely to be repeated other than fifth-seeded Marion Center likely having an edge on fourth-seeded Southern Huntingdon, though that will be an extremely long road trip for the Lady Stingers.
Bishop McCort, which didn't suffer its first loss until the LHAC semifinals against Bishop Guilfoyle, will be a huge favorite against West Branch and the winner of Marion Center-Southern Huntingdon.
On the bottom half of the bracket, United is capable of an upset if it advances to play second-seeded Portage, which was one of the teams knocked out in the quarterfinals a year ago. Portage has beaten United twice, by 11 and nine, and is led by a strong senior class and five senior starters. That experience should help the Lady Mustangs avoid another upset, but it can also provide pressure. In the other quarterfinal game, Bellwood-Antis gets to see if moving to the LHAC for better competition pays off. B-A has traditionally played well against its quarterfinal opponent Penns Manor and is capable of an upset. But if Penns Manor gets by the Lady Devils, the Lady Comets could soar all the way to the district final. They did lose to Portage in overtime early in the season, but won the Heritage Conference title with wins over United and 3A power River Valley.
A Portage-McCort championship game would likely feature full-court pressure both ways and be a pressure-packed and fun game to watch.
1A GIRLS
BG-Williamsburg rematch is likely
THE SCOOP: Saint Joseph's, Bishop Carroll and Blacklick Valley are all very good teams, but top-seeded Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic and Williamsburg are on a collision course that may extend beyond the District 6 level.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Williamsburg
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Bishop Guilfoyle so. Alana Lightner; Bishop Guilfoyle fr. Anberlyn Petrecca; Bishop Guilfoyle fr. Maurie Querry; Bishop Guilfoyle fr. Morgan Ruggery; Williamsburg sr. Ayla Hileman; Williamsburg so. LeeAnna Royer; Williamsburg fr. Levada Gorsuch; Saint Joseph's so. Naomi Crispin; Saint Joseph's so. Jacee Cunningham; Saint Joseph's so. Aubrey Yartz; Juniata Valley sr. Maddie Hopsicker; Juniata Valley jr. Kassidy Watson; Juniata Valley so. Anna Taylor; Bishop Carroll sr. Tatum Laughard; Bishop Carroll fr. Adelyn Myers; Bishop Carroll fr. Ava Pablic; Blacklick Valley sr. Kaydence Killinger; Blacklick Valley jr. Kristin Szymusiak; Ferndale jr. Deajah Chatman; Purchase Line sr. Brooklyn Syster; Purchase Line jr. Jianna Hopkins
MOST INTRIGUING POSSIBLE MATCHUP: Williamsburg 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: Just to clarify, Williamsburg vs. Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic is the pick to be the District 6 final, but despite BG's win over the Lady Blue Pirates in the regular season, the edge in the postseason has to go to Williamsburg at first glance due to the return of senior Ayla Hileman, who missed the regular-season 41-37 loss at BG due to injury. BG isn't listed as a sleeper, however, due to being the top seed and it being fairly obvious it could also be the team hoisting the championship trophy.
BG, Saint Joseph's and Williamsburg should win their quarterfinal games. Juniata Valley is a solid team with senior leadership from Maddie Hopsicker and plenty of potential in Anna Taylor, but the Lady Hornets have always struggled against their conference foe. The Blacklick-Carroll game is a rematch from the past two seasons, both won by Carroll. Blacklick has only one loss but doesn't play the kind of competition BC does. Saint Joe's is also hurt by a lack of tough competition on its schedule, which was evident in its only loss of the season, a 67-41 loss to Williamsburg.
If Williamsburg and Bishop Guilfoyle do meet in the finals for the second year in a row, it might not be the last time they play. The teams could also meet in the PIAA semifinals for the right to go to Hershey and play in the state championship game.