BASKETBALL

WPIAL basketball playoff preview

Chuck Curti, Assistant Sports Editor
Moon's Aaron Johnson shoots a layup during the game.

BOYS AAAA

Area teams in Moon Area

Projected top four seeds: Mt. Lebanon, Gateway, Shaler, Connellsville

The skinny Mt. Lebanon is the defending Class AAAA champ, but Gateway, runner-up last year, will give the Blue Devils a serious run. The Gators have the best player in Quad-A - if not the WPIAL - in junior Tyler Scott. While Moon Area finished fourth in its section, the Tigers can't be counted out. Of their seven losses, the Tigers suffered only one by double digits (Jan. 7 at Mt. Lebanon) and lost three by one or two points. The Tigers counter with their own star player in Aaron Johnson, the leading scorer among players in The Times' area.

Projected winner: Gateway

BOYS AAA

Area teams in Blackhawk, Central Valley, West Allegheny

Projected top four seeds: South Fayette, West Mifflin, Highlands, Blackhawk

The skinny South Fayette moved up to Class AAA after winning the PIAA Class AA title last year, and most of those same players are back. Highlands boasts high-scoring guard Micah Mason, who scored 64 points in a win over Valley. Blackhawk has the talent to make a deep run with junior Cory Ostach leading the way. The emergence of freshman Chandler Kincade has helped the Cougars as well; he's 6-foot-5 but can move and handle the ball. And don't discount West Allegheny. Although they went only 6-6 in Section 2-AAA, the Indians won the WPIAL as a No. 16 seed four years ago, and made it to the semifinals last year as a pigtail team. "We've got a lot of seniors and a lot of leadership and a lot of experience from last year's playoff run," West Allegheny coach Josh Bears said. "I think we're definitely going to be a tough out."

Projected winner: West Mifflin

BOYS AA

Area teams in Beaver Falls, Quaker Valley, Aliquippa, Ellwood City, Riverside

Projected top four seeds: Greensburg Central Catholic, Beaver Falls, Sto-Rox, Monessen

The skinny Beaver Falls, with a healthy Sheldon Jeter, has positioned itself to potentially be the top seed in Class AA, although Greensburg Central Catholic has been the favorite for much of the season. The Tigers enter the WPIAL playoffs on an 11-game winning streak, which started with a 29-point throttling of Blackhawk on Jan. 12. The Tigers' smallest margin of victory in that stretch was 12 against Quaker Valley. The Quakers will be a threat to anyone because of their defense; the Quakers allowed only 41.8 points per game, third fewest in the WPIAL.

Projected winner: Beaver Falls

BOYS A

Area teams in Rochester, Lincoln Park, OLSH, Cornell, Sewickley Academy, Quigley Catholic

Projected top four seeds: Rochester, Vincentian, Lincoln Park, North Catholic

The skinny Most anticipate that the Class A title will come down to Rochester and Lincoln Park - providing the WPIAL puts them on opposite sides of the bracket. Lincoln Park has struggled of late but seems to have found a legitimate third scoring option in Sharron-Moreland Jones to complement Chaquille Pratt and Devontae Watson. "But it takes five guys," coach Mark Javens said. "If we get some other guys to step up a little bit ... we'll be OK." Rochester is rolling, having won 11 in a row. The Rams were the Class AA runner-up a year ago. "We want that gold," senior center Giovanni Ellis said. "We didn't get it last year, so we have to get it this year." Vincentian went 19-1, but nine wins came in a weak Section 2-A, and its most impressive wins were over Class AA Riverside and Ellwood City.

Projected winner: Rochester

GIRLS AAAA

Area teams in None

Projected top four seeds: Mt. Lebanon, Shaler, Bethel Park, Penn-Trafford

The skinny There are no area teams in this bracket, but that doesn't mean there won't be any local influence. Dori Anderson Oldaker, the former Blackhawk player and coach, is the coach at Mt. Lebanon and will be looking to lead the Blue Devils to their third straight title.

Projected winner: Mt. Lebanon

GIRLS AAA

Area teams in Blackhawk, Ambridge, Hopewell, West Allegheny

Projected top four seeds: Indiana, New Castle, Kittanning, South Park

The skinny New Castle began the season as the overwhelming favorite to repeat as champion, but that changed when star player Kaylynn Waters went down with a season-ending knee injury. The Red Hurricane still will be a formidable foe, but it would not be surprising to see either of its Section 2-AAA counterparts, Blackhawk or Ambridge, make a run at the Palumbo Center. The Cougars have a strong 1-2 punch with Alexa Hayward and Alexis Graham, while Ambridge becomes even more formidable when center Erin Smith and Precious McCracken score in bunches like they have recently. Indiana knocked New Castle out of the PIAA playoffs last year en route to a silver medal.

Projected winner: Indiana

GIRLS AA

Area teams in Beaver Falls, Riverside, New Brighton, Quaker Valley, OLSH

Projected top four seeds: Deer Lakes, Seton-La Salle, Avonworth, Riverside

The skinny Beaver Falls and Riverside both have strong teams that could contend, and Riverside could be a sleeper in Class AA. Two of the Panthers' three losses were to Class AAA playoff team Hopewell (two points) and Section 5-AAA co-champion Montour (four ). Quaker Valley must be considered the surprise team of Class AA. The Quakers went 8-4 in Section 6-AA, including two wins over Sto-Rox, which finished second in the section (9-3). "Who knows what happens once you get there?" said New Brighton coach Lance Frederick. "It's a clean slate."

Projected winner: Seton-La Salle

GIRLS A

Area teams in Aliquippa, Rochester, Quigley Catholic, Sewickley Academy, Cornell

Projected top four seeds: Monessen, Vincentian, Aliquippa, Fort Cherry

The skinny This could be the most interesting tournament of any in the WPIAL. Aliquippa would seem to have all the ingredients necessary to win: height, athleticism and strong senior leadership. The Quips' two losses were to Quigley and Class AA title contender Deer Lakes. Vincentian, however, is the defending Class A champion and returns most of the key players from that team. Monessen enters the playoffs as one of only two unbeaten teams (22-0) in the WPIAL (South Fayette boys at 19-0 is the other). Rochester and Quigley can't be counted out, particularly the Rams. Rochester lost to Aliquippa twice by a combined six points and possesses two star players in Hayden Kimbrough and Ivorie Law.

Projected winner: Vincentian