Five Washington County schools have clinched spots in the WPIAL Boys Basketball playoffs. Four other teams are still alive with at least one of them assured of a berth while five teams are out of the running. Greene County has two schools still alive and three eliminated. With three game days remaining in the regular season, here’s what the picture looks like at the moment (section records):
Class 6A-Peters Township (4-4) has clinched a berth. Canon-McMillan (1-7) has been eliminated.
Class 5A-Trinity (6-5) is currently in third place and would be in if the playoffs started today, but the Hillers are behind the proverbial “eight ball” in tie-breakers at the moment. Trinity is 0-1 against Thomas Jefferson (8-3), South Fayette (6-5) and West Allegheny (5-6) and will play those three teams over the season’s final eight days. Trinity can finish anywhere from second to out of the playoffs depending on those games.
Class 4A-Ringgold (4-4) has clinched. Waynesburg (1-7) is out.
Class 3A-Charleroi (9-1), Washington (8-1) and McGuffey (7-3) have all clinched. The Cougars and Little Prexies share the lead in Section 4. Beth-Center (1-8) and Fort Cherry (1-9) have been eliminated from their section races.
Class 2A-California (5-4) and Chartiers-Houston (3-6) are both alive and at least one of them will qualify out of Section 2. The Trojans are in with any win or any Chartiers-Houston loss. The Bucs need California to lose at least twice in its final three games-vs. Brentwood (8-2), at Jeannette (8-1) vs. Bentworth (0-9)-while winning out themselves–vs. Jeannette, at Bentworth, vs. Carmichaels (1-9). If California and Chartiers-Houston tie in the standings, both make the tournament. Burgettstown (2-7) is still alive in Section 3, but must win out and get lots of help.
Class 1A-West Greene (5-4) and Jefferson-Morgan (3-6) are still alive with at least one making the tournament. Both qualify in a tie. Avella (1-8) and Mapletown (1-9) have been eliminated.