[Bracketology]
Should Uniontown, Laurel Highlands be on the same side?
Where should Hampton be seeded without standout player Peter Kramer?
Should Uniontown and Laurel Highlands be on the same side of the bracket?
Should some second-place teams in sections be seeded higher than some section champs?
Those are some of the questions the WPIAL basketball committee must answer when it meets Monday to make the WPIAL playoff pairings and seedings.
The WPIAL will announce the brackets late Monday afternoon.
This season, the higherseeded team will play at home in the first round, provided its gym is suitable for a playoff game. If not, it will be moved to a neutral site.
Any teams that receive a firstround bye will play their first playoff game at home.
But we’re here to save the WPIAL some time.
Here are some opinions on how the brackets should be set up. (Seeds are in parentheses.):
CLASS 6A
Matchups: Norwin (8) at New Castle (1); Butler (5) at Mt. Lebanon (4); Baldwin (7) at Central Catholic (2); Seneca Valley (6) at Upper St. Clair (3).
The scoop: This is the easiest bracket to seed because there are only eight teams. Maybe there is some debate about whether Central Catholic or Upper St. Clair should be seeded second. But it doesn’t matter. If the brackets are going to be set up where teams from the same section don’t play in the first game, then Upper St. Clair has to play Seneca Valley and Central Catholic has to play Baldwin.
CLASS 5A
Matchups: Penn-Trafford (16) at Penn Hills (1); Woodland Hills (9) at Mars (8); Fox Chapel (13) at Gateway (4); McKeesport (12) at Moon (5); Trinity (15) at North Hills (2); Bethel Park (10) at Shaler (7); Kiski Area (14) at Peters Township (3); South Fayette (11) at Thomas Jefferson (6).
The scoop: This might be the toughest bracket to seed because there are many moveable parts. Some might think there is a debate to the No. 1 seed after Penn Hills lost to Woodland Hills on Friday. No way. Penn Hills most definitely deserves it. Penn Hills is 16-3, with the only other losses coming to Philadelphia perennial power Archbishop Wood and Class 6A No. 2 seed Central Catholic. Penn Hills also crushed No. 4 seed Gateway. There might be some debate between North Hills and Peters Township for the No. 2 and 3 seeds, but North Hills should get the nod with a better schedule. It’s nice when the WPIAL is able to keep section opponents away from each other until the semifinals. The WPIAL should keep Section 4 teams away from playing each other in the quarterfinals because that was undoubtedly the best section. A big question here: What to do with South Fayette and Fox Chapel? South Fayette is playing well and lost a number of close games, but the Lions still finished fourth in their section. Fox Chapel doesn’t seem to be a No. 13 seed, but if you try to keep section opponents from playing in the first round and if South Fayette deserves to be ahead of Fox Chapel, then it’s hard to get Fox Chapel much higher than 13.
CLASS 4A
Matchups: Knoch at Avonworth preliminary-round game winner to face Lincoln Park (1); Beaver (9) at Quaker Valley (8); Blackhawk (13) at Hampton (4); Elizabeth Forward (12) at North Catholic (5); West Mifflin (15) at Laurel Highlands (2); Belle Vernon (10) at Highlands (7); Freeport (14) at Uniontown (3); Montour (11) at South Allegheny (6).
The scoop: The biggest question is what to do with Hampton? The Talbots finished 20-2 and would normally be the No. 2 seed. But junior guard Peter Kramer, the team’s top scorer, is ineligible for the playoffs because of the PIAA transfer rule. If the committee is going to truly seed teams on their strength, then no way Hampton is nearly as strong without Kramer. It doesn’t mean Hampton should drop all the way to 6 or 7, but the No. 4 seed is fair. Uniontown and Laurel Highlands tied for the section title and split two games, both going to double overtime. So let’s put them at the 2 and 3 seeds, and if they both win their first two games, things will be settled in the semifinals. Although South Allegheny and Quaker Valley tied for a section title, a few second-place teams look to be stronger and deserving of a higher seed.
CLASS 3A
Matchups: McGuffey (16) at Steel Valley (1); Seton LaSalle (9) at Yough (8); Brownsville (13) at Neshannock (4); Ellwood City (12) at Deer Lakes (5); Derry (15) at Mohawk (2); Beaver Falls (10) at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (7); Keystone Oaks (14) at Shady Side Academy (3); Burrell (11) at Washington (6).
The scoop: Don’t be deceived by Steel Valley’s 12-9 record. The Ironmen were without star player Makhai Valentine for the first few games of the season. A few other Steel Valley players also missed more games early in the season after coming back from football. Steel Valley has won 11 of the past 13. Steel Valley won its section outright. The other three sections had ties for first place. Those ties made the top eight seeds a little harder to figure. Seton LaSalle is playing as well, or better, than many teams since Connor Spratt came back from injury.
CLASS 2A
Matchups: Bentworth at Laurel preliminary-round game winner at Aliquippa (1); Chartiers-Houston (9) at Serra Catholic (8); Nazareth Prep (13) at Greensburg Central Catholic (4); Clairton (12) at Shenango (5); Carmichaels at South Side Beaver preliminary-round game winner at Bishop Canevin (2); Jeannette (10) at Northgate (7); Propel Braddock Hills (14) at Fort Cherry (3); Burgettstown (11) at Eden Christian (6).
The scoop: There could be some debate as to what team should get the No. 2 seed, but Bishop Canevin’s schedule gives the Crusaders the edge. This classification is the only one with two preliminary-round games.
CLASS 1A
Byes: Imani Christian, Union and Carlynton.
Matchups: Summit Academy (9) at Rochester (8) winner at Imani Christian (1); Avella (13) at Geibel (4); Mapletown (12) at Neighborhood Academy (5); Jefferson-Morgan (10) at Aquinas Academy (7); Western Beaver (11) at Monessen (6) winner at Carlynton (3).
The scoop: Monessen and Geibel tied for a section title, but Carlynton, which finished second to Union in the section, deserves the No. 3 seed. And if Carlynton gets No. 3, you want to keep Geibel and Monessen away from each other in the quarterfinals. So, Monessen goes to the No. 6 seed and Neighborhood Academy gets bumped up to No. 5.