PIAA Class A Boys State Playoff Outlook
Posted: March 7th, 2018, 10:55 am
Western Team to beat - Kennedy Catholic
Kennedy Catholic has won the past two state championships, and it seems like they have a very good chance for a third. The Eagles will be moving the whole way to Class AAAAAA next season, which should be more of a challenge for them. Kennedy has two or three high-major division one recruits on the roster, which most teams can't match in Western PA, let alone teams at the Class A level. Maceo Austin is a 6-4 shooting guard that holds offers from Pitt, Penn State, and WVU. Oscar Tshiebwe is a 6-9 power forward with offers to the likes of West Virginia and Georgetown among others. Nobody else can really match with this team.
Eastern Team to Beat - Girard College
The Cavaliers made it to Hershey last year, and perhaps a chance at a rematch with Kennedy Catholic is on the horizon. Girard College features one of the top sophomores in the state in Mikeal Jones, a 6-8 wing that already holds an offer to play for Villanova. His play could be the difference in them making another deep run this season.
Local team to beat - Bishop Carroll
The D6 champs enter the state playoffs with a favorable draw, with Imani Christian coming to Ebensburg to play the Huskies at neighboring Central Cambria. Cosie Aliquo's team plays at a fast pace with a pressing style of basketball, which is tough to prepare for in the postseason. Tristan McDannell and Ben Eckenrode are two good scoring options, and a healthy Carson Errter makes for a very strong backcourt.
Sleeper - Shade
Looking at how the bracket works out, Shade may have a chance to win some games and make a run. The Panthers have a talented lineup led by 6-3 scoring machine, Brady Fyfe. The potential second-round game with Vincentian could be a lot of fun, as both teams like to get up and down and play fast.
Stuck in the East - Blacklick Valley
With the way the brackets work out, sometimes local teams get shifted, and that happens to be the case with Blacklick Valley. The Vikings are making their first trip to the state tournament since 1991, and they will be playing out of the "Eastern" side of the bracket. Blacklick Valley will take on District 3 runner up, Lancaster Country Day. Lancaster Country Day is led by a junior guard, Andrew White who averages 17 a game. The Vikings will counter with a high-scoring junior guard of their own, Jude Gdula.
First Round Game to Watch
Shanksville vs. St. Joseph's Academy
Sometimes the bracket works out where you have a District 5 team matching with a District 6 team. The two districts are so intertwined that the matchups always tend to be intriguing. Shanksville has been a mainstay power in District 5 for a few years now, while St. Joe's is an upstart program that will be making its first appearance in the state playoffs. The key for the Wolves will be slowing down Shanskville's sensational junior guard, Dawson Snyder.
First Round Picks
York Country Day over Plumstead Christian
Sullivan County over Nativity BVM
Millville over Lincoln Leadership
Faith Christian over Berks Christian
Lourdes Regional over Greenwood
Girard College over Sankofa
Susquehanna over Conestoga Christian
Lancaster Country Day over Blacklick Valley
Vincentain over Cameron County
Shade over Cornell
Elk County Catholic over Jamestown
Bishop Carroll over Imani Christian
Johnsonburg over Eden Christian
Shanksville over St. Joseph's
Union over North Clarion
Kennedy Catholic over Propel Andrew Street
Kennedy Catholic has won the past two state championships, and it seems like they have a very good chance for a third. The Eagles will be moving the whole way to Class AAAAAA next season, which should be more of a challenge for them. Kennedy has two or three high-major division one recruits on the roster, which most teams can't match in Western PA, let alone teams at the Class A level. Maceo Austin is a 6-4 shooting guard that holds offers from Pitt, Penn State, and WVU. Oscar Tshiebwe is a 6-9 power forward with offers to the likes of West Virginia and Georgetown among others. Nobody else can really match with this team.
Eastern Team to Beat - Girard College
The Cavaliers made it to Hershey last year, and perhaps a chance at a rematch with Kennedy Catholic is on the horizon. Girard College features one of the top sophomores in the state in Mikeal Jones, a 6-8 wing that already holds an offer to play for Villanova. His play could be the difference in them making another deep run this season.
Local team to beat - Bishop Carroll
The D6 champs enter the state playoffs with a favorable draw, with Imani Christian coming to Ebensburg to play the Huskies at neighboring Central Cambria. Cosie Aliquo's team plays at a fast pace with a pressing style of basketball, which is tough to prepare for in the postseason. Tristan McDannell and Ben Eckenrode are two good scoring options, and a healthy Carson Errter makes for a very strong backcourt.
Sleeper - Shade
Looking at how the bracket works out, Shade may have a chance to win some games and make a run. The Panthers have a talented lineup led by 6-3 scoring machine, Brady Fyfe. The potential second-round game with Vincentian could be a lot of fun, as both teams like to get up and down and play fast.
Stuck in the East - Blacklick Valley
With the way the brackets work out, sometimes local teams get shifted, and that happens to be the case with Blacklick Valley. The Vikings are making their first trip to the state tournament since 1991, and they will be playing out of the "Eastern" side of the bracket. Blacklick Valley will take on District 3 runner up, Lancaster Country Day. Lancaster Country Day is led by a junior guard, Andrew White who averages 17 a game. The Vikings will counter with a high-scoring junior guard of their own, Jude Gdula.
First Round Game to Watch
Shanksville vs. St. Joseph's Academy
Sometimes the bracket works out where you have a District 5 team matching with a District 6 team. The two districts are so intertwined that the matchups always tend to be intriguing. Shanksville has been a mainstay power in District 5 for a few years now, while St. Joe's is an upstart program that will be making its first appearance in the state playoffs. The key for the Wolves will be slowing down Shanskville's sensational junior guard, Dawson Snyder.
First Round Picks
York Country Day over Plumstead Christian
Sullivan County over Nativity BVM
Millville over Lincoln Leadership
Faith Christian over Berks Christian
Lourdes Regional over Greenwood
Girard College over Sankofa
Susquehanna over Conestoga Christian
Lancaster Country Day over Blacklick Valley
Vincentain over Cameron County
Shade over Cornell
Elk County Catholic over Jamestown
Bishop Carroll over Imani Christian
Johnsonburg over Eden Christian
Shanksville over St. Joseph's
Union over North Clarion
Kennedy Catholic over Propel Andrew Street