PIAA Western Class AA Boys Basketball Playoff Primer

Team to Beat - Beaver Falls - The Tigers look different from last season, but the local powerhouse can still play. They run an up tempo style predicated on defensive pressure. They have only lost to Lincoln Park, Montour, and New Castle, who are three of the better teams this end of the state regardless of class. They have way better athletes than any other team this end of the state.

The Contender - West Middlesex - The Big Reds have only one loss in Pennsylvania this season, and that was to Beaver Falls by ten on opening night. They have a really good talent in 6-6 wing, Dan Dogan. They can make some noise in the bottom half of the bracket.

Top Local Team - Penn Cambria - The Panthers won District Six by defeating Northern Cambria in convincing fashion. They have an exberienced bunch, and a talented 6-7 forward in AJ Leahey. They can defend fairly well, and really keep teams at their pace.

Best Road for a Local Team - Bishop McCort - The Crushers may have a run in them. They play an overachieving Burrell team in the first round. Should they advance, it would be a difficult yet winnable game with West Middlesex. They could see Westinghouse in the quarterfinals, before eventually seeing Beaver Falls in the Western Final.

Down Year- Not the same luster this season with all of the upsets in the WPIAL playoffs. Brentwood, Burrell, and Apollo Ridge are not the usual suspects. Sill some familiar faces are out there from District Seven like Beaver Falls, Greensburg Central Catholic, Jeannette, and Quaker Valley.

What to expect from the East- It has typically been a Philadelphia team for many years now, and expect no different. Sayre, Communications Tech, and Constitution are three public school teams from District 12 that could all be considered contenders.

My Picks

Beaver Falls over Bald Eagle
Mercyhurst Prep over Brockway
Greensburg Central Catholic over Penn Cambria
Quaker Valley over Lakeview
Westinghouse over Brentwood
Apollo Ridge over Northern Cambria
Bishop McCort over Burrell
West Middlesex over Jeannette

Beaver Falls over Mercyhurst Prep
Greensburg Central Catholic over Quaker Valley
Westinghouse over Apollo Ridge
Bishop McCort over West Middlesex

Beaver Falls over GCC
Westinghouse over Bishop McCort

Beaver Falls over Westinghouse