WPIAL basketball enters the home stretch, the final two weeks of section play. Playoff berths have already been clinched by girls teams at Peters Township and Trinity along with the Wash High boys. The top four teams in each section qualify and only section games count in that process. Here’s a look at where each Washington County team stands as we move into the final two weeks of the regular season.
Boys
6A Canon-McMillan (2-4) and Peters Township (1-5) are on the bottom of the six-team section but each has a win against a team above them. With four games left, they’ll need to beat beat each other as well as Baldwin, the current final qualifier from Section 2.
5A Trinity (0-6) is last in Section 2 and trails the last playoff spot by two games with four to play. But the road is not impossible for the Hillers with games remaining against the two teams right above the. Trinity must beat Moon Tuesday (a game we’ll have on WJPA-AM) and West Allegheny next week to keep hopes alive in Section 2. Ringgold (2-4) is tied with Thomas Jefferson for fourth place in Section 1. The two meet at Ringgold Tuesday, Feb. 8.
3A Wash High (8-0) has earned a playoff spot and leads Section 4, two games ahead of Brownsville with four games left. Charleroi (3-4) has dropped to fifth place, a game back of Waynesburg. McGuffey (1-6) is two games back of Waynesburg. Beth-Center (0-8) can not make the playoffs.
2A Fort Cherry (5-1) is one game back of Section 2 leader Carlynton. The Rangers host the Cougars Friday night (hear that game on WJPA-FM). Chartiers-Houston (2-4) sits in 4th place and can clinch a playoff spot with a win at home Tuesday against Northgate. Burgettstown (0-6) two games back with four left to play, including games against the section leaders. California (2-3) is in 4th place in Section 4, one game ahead of Bentworth (1-5). California has one game to make up vs. Frazier.
1A Avella (0-5) is in last place in Section 2, 1.5 games back of the final playoff position.
Girls
6A Peters Township (6-3) has clinched its berth and is currently in 3rd place in Section 2, one game back of second-place Upper St. Clair. Canon-McMillan (0-8) is in last place and can not reach the playoffs.
5A Trinity (8-0) leads Section 3 and has clinched a playoff berth. The Hillers have rolled past most section foes but edged Thomas Jefferson by four last week. Trinity hosts Albert Gallatin Thursday. The Colonials gave Trinity its closest challenge prior to the TJ game. Ringgold (2-5) is currently tied for fifth, a half-game back of Connellsville. The two split their regular season games.
3A Charleroi (3-4) has the best mark of the four county teams in Section 2, and that’s good enough for fourth place. The Cougars have games left with Brownsville (5-3), McGuffey, Bentworth (2 games) and Wash High. McGuffey (3-5) and Bentworth (2-6) are longshots at best. Wash High (0-9) can not qualify.
2A California (4-2) is in third place in Section 2, three games better than fifth place. The Trojans clinch a berth with one more win. Beth-Center (0-5) is one game back of Carmichaels for the final berth. Burgettstown (5-0) leads Section 3 with five to play including a pair of games with winless Northgate. Fort Cherry (3-2) is third, Chartiers-Houston (2-3) fourth, both likely to make the post-season. The Bucs & Rangers play at Fort Cherry Saturday (tentatively set for 1:30 pm on WJPA-FM).
1A Avella (3-3) is currently third in Section 2, losing to the top two teams, beating the three teams below them.