With just three play dates remaining in the regular season, the number of open playoff spots is dwindling quickly. The top four teams in each of the WPIAL’s 17 sections qualify for post-season play, plus unbreakable ties for the final spots. Section play is scheduled to end on Feb. 7 with the Basketball Steering Committee meeting on Feb. 10. The brackets will be released by the League the following night.
Class 6A–defending WPIAL/PIAA champion Peters Township is still alive, but barely. At the moment, the Indians are three games back of the final spot with three games to play. Peters Township must win out, Baldwin lose out and Connellsville must lose at least once. Canon-McMillan is already eliminated.
Class 5A–Trinity has clinched a playoff spot and can wrap up second place in Section 1 with a win Thursday at Moon.
Class 4A–Ringgold (2-9) cannot reach the playoffs.
Class 3A–Charleroi (7-4), Brownsville (6-5) and Beth-Center (4-6) are all alive for the final two spots in Section 2. McGuffey, Washington and Waynesburg have been eliminated.
Class 2A–Burgettstown (7-2) and Chartiers-Houston (7-2) have clinched playoff berths and will meet Monday at Burgettstown, likely with second place on the line. Fort Cherry (4-6) is tied with Frazier and is still alive for the fourth spot but the Rangers lost both regular season meetings with the Commodores. FC plays Bishop Canevin (10-0) and Burgettstown while Frazier takes on Carmichaels (1-8) and Bentworth (0-9). If the teams finished tied, Frazer is in, Fort Cherry out. Camichaels and Bentworth have been eliminated.
Class 1A–West Greene, Avella and Monessen have clinched playoff spots. California (5-5), Jeff-Morgan (3-6) and Mapletown (1-7) are still alive for the fourth spot in Section 2. The Trojans will take the final spot unless they lose both remaining games (Monessen, Jeff-Morgan). Even with that, if the Rockets don’t also beat Avella and Monessen, California would qualify. Mapletown’s road is long and complicated and anything shy of winning four straight plus lots of help above them will eliminate the Maples.