If you are going to win a girls basketball state title in the Single-A bracket, most likely, the road runs through Altoona and reigning champion Bishop Guilfoyle.
The Lady Marauders are undefeated, one of the few teams in the state, and are primed to win another crown. But winning District 6 gold could prove as difficult – or maybe more – than capturing a state title. Northern Cambria, Conemaugh Valley (Johnstown) and Williamsburg are all top 6 in the state, according to the Harrisburg Patriot.
In fact, only one eastern school, District 11 power Nativity BVM (Pottsville), cracks the top 5 along with the District 6 schools. That’s why it should prove interesting when the brackets kick into gear this week.
Two state-ranked teams could collide in District 6’s Double-A bracket also, as Southern Huntingdon County (Three Springs) and Ligonier Valley are seeded one and two, respectively. It’s not an easy road through as Mountain League teams Penns Valley Area (Spring Mills) and Tyrone, in addition to district defending champ Bishop McCort (Johnstown), stand in their path.
Here is a brief look at the districts in Eastern and Central Pennsylvania:
District 2
Single-A: Two berths to state tournament
Finals: Old Forge over Forest City
Double-A: Three berths to state tournament
Semifinals: Dunmore over Meyers, Mid-Valley over Riverside
Finals: Dunmore over Mid-Valley
Third-Place: Riverside over Meyers
Triple-A: Three berths to state tournament
Semifinals: Abington Heights over Nanticoke, Holy Redeemer over West Scranton
Finals: Holy Redeemer over Abington Heights
Third-Place: West Scranton over Nanticoke
Quad-A: Two berths to state tournament
Semifinals: Hazleton Area over Williamsport, Valley West over Scranton
Finals: Hazleton over Valley West
District 4
Single-A: Three berths to state tournament
Semifinals: Lourdes over Mansfield, Cow Valley over Montgomery
Finals: Lourdes over Cow Valley
Third-Place: Mansfield over Montgomery
Double-A: Three berths to state tournament
Semifinals: South Williamsport over Lewisburg, Loyalsock over Wellsboro
Finals: South Williamsport over Loyalsock
Third-Place: Lewisburg over Wellsboro
Triple-A: Two berths to state tournament
Semifinals: Shikellamy over Athens, Shamokin Area over Danville
Finals: Shamokin over Shikellamy
District 6
Single-A: Four berths to state tournament
Semifinals: Bishop Guilfoyle over Conemaugh Valley, Northern Cambria over Williamsburg
Finals: Guilfoyle over Northern Cambria
Third-Place: Williamsburg over Conemaugh Valley
Double-A: Three berths to state tournament
Semifinals: Southern Huntingdon over Tyrone, Ligonier over Penns Valley
Finals: Southern Huntingdon over Ligonier
Third-Place: Tyrone over Penns Valley
Triple-A: Two berths into state tournament
Semifinals: Bellefonte over Lewistown, Forest Hills over Philipsburg
Finals: Bellefonte over Forest Hills
Quad-A: Two berths into state tournament
Semifinal: Altoona over Hollidaysburg
Final: State College over Altoona
Tom Fox is sports editor at The Lock Haven (Pa.) Express. He can be reached at tfox@lockhaven.com.
