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Tuesday, February 11, 1997 Page: 1B
Playoff fates on the line
Nothing really happened in the past week to clear up the District 2 boys
basketball playoff pictureWith the Wyoming Valley Conference and Northeast
Athletic Conference concluding regular-season play tonight, and the Lackawanna
League finishing up Thursday, many playoff berths remain unclaimed.
There is also the possibility for several play-in games to complete the
postseason field. With nine days remaining until the district tournament
begins, however, there is ample time to break the ties.
The District 2 boys tournament will begin Thursday, Feb. 20. The semifinal
round is Tuesday, Feb. 25, with the finals on Friday, Feb. 28. Sites, times
and pairings will be finalized at a District 2 meeting next Monday at the
Duryea VFW.
The first round of the PIAA tournament is Friday, March 7 for Class A and
AAA boys teams. The AA and AAAA state playoffs begin the following day.
The second round is Tuesday and Wednesday, March 11-12. The Eastern
semifinals are Friday and Saturday, March 14-15. The state semifinals are
Tuesday and Wednesday, March 18-19, with the PIAA finals on Friday and
Saturday, March 21-22, at Hersheypark Arena.
Here’s a look at the current playoff situation in the four classifications.
Hazleton Area (15-0) is the top seed in the eight-team tournament
regardless of what happens tonight against host Coughlin (12-3), which has
secured a playoff spot. The Cougars are the WVC Division I overall champs and
have the best winning percentage, even if Honesdale can win the overall crown
in the Lackawanna League Northern Division.
Tunkhannock (8-7), Pittston Area (8-8) and Wyoming Valley West (7-8) are
battling for the last WVC spot. The Tigers and Spartans — who have won five
consecutive games since losing at the buzzer to Hazleton Area — meet in a WVC
regular-season finale tonight in Plymouth. The Patriots’ regular season is
over.
The two remaining teams will be in the running for two wild-card berths.
Honesdale has one of the Lackawanna League’s two spots, with Scranton (9-3)
holding a two-game lead with two games to play over defending district
champion Abington Heights (7-5). Scranton and Abington Heights meet Thursday
in Clarks Summit. Abington can secure a wild-card berth by beating Bishop
O’Hara tonight.
Williamsport (17-4), the lone District 4 AAAA, has secured a berth in the
District 2 tourney by finishing its regular season with a .500 record.
— The three WVC spots are still up for grabs for the six-team tourney.
Valley View (12-0) and Wallenpaupack (9-3) are the two Lackawanna League
representatives, and Western Wayne (16-1) is the NAC qualifier.
Nanticoke (5-10) has a one-game lead on Crestwood (4-11) for the one WVC
Division I berth. The Trojans visit Berwick tonight. The Comets are at Bishop
Hoban.
Hanover Area (11-4) has a one-game lead over Wyoming Area (10-5) for the
one WVC Division II spot, with the two teams meeting tonight in Exeter.
If Nanticoke wins or Crestwood loses, the Comets will play the Division II
runner-up later this week in a play-in game to determine the WVC’s third
district playoff team.
If Nanticoke loses and Crestwood wins, those two must play first before the
AAA play-in contest with the Division II runner-up.
If Hanover Area beats Wyoming Area, the Hawks are in and the Warriors must
play the Division I runner-up in a play-in game.
If Wyoming Area beats Hanover Area, those two must play again before the
play-in game.
After the district’s first five playoff berths are determined, the rest of
the field will fight for the one wild-card spot. If Wyoming Area were to lose
the play-in game, it would be the wild-card team.
— Only Scranton Prep (11-1) is in the eight-team tourney. Meyers (12-3)
can get in with a victory over rival GAR (9-6) tonight or a Wyoming Area
victory over Hanover Area.
GAR’s only chance to avoid a play-in game with Bishop Hoban — the only
eligible WVC Division I team — is to beat Meyers and for Wyoming Area to beat
Hanover Area. The Grenadiers would then have to win the Division II
second-half and overall crowns with a minimum of three playoff games.
Mid-Valley (6-6) has a two-game edge on Carbondale (4-8) and Riverside
(4-8) for the one Lackawanna League Northern Division berth.
Montrose (14-3) has one of the two NAC berths, with Elk Lake (10-6) and
Lackawanna Trail (10-7) fighting for the second spot. The third-place finisher
would likely grab the one wild-card berth, which is awarded to the team
remaining with the best winning percentage.
— Northwest Area (14-1) can secure the top seed in the six-team district
tourney with a victory tonight over Wyoming Seminary (2-13). Bishop O’Reilly
(11-4) and Bishop Hafey (9-6) are also in from the WVC.
Bishop O’Hara (7-5) will represent the Lackawanna League, while Carbondale
Sacred Heart (11-5) and Blue Ridge (10-7) have qualified from the NAC.
Bishop Hafey is in as the wild-card team.
yz-Hazleton Area 15-0
y-Coughlin 12-3
Tunkhannock 8-7
Pittston Area 8-8
Wyoming Valley West 7-8
Berwick 4-11
y-Williamsport 17-4
y-Honesdale 10-2
Scranton 9-3
Abington Heights 7-5
West Scranton 1-11
Delaware Valley 6-11
Nanticoke 5-10
Crestwood 4-11
Hanover Area 11-4
Wyoming Area 10-5
West Side Tech 4-11
Dallas 2-13
xy-Valley View 12-0
y-Wallenpaupack 9-3
North Pocono 4-8
xy-Western Wayne …..16-1
Bishop Hoban 5-10
Meyers 12-3
GAR 9-6
Lake-Lehman 4-11
Wyoming Seminary 2-13
Mid-Valley 6-6
Carbondale 4-8
Riverside 4-8
Lakeland 2-10
xy-Scranton Prep 11-1
Bishop Hannan 5-7
Dunmore 4-8
y-Montrose 14-3
Elk Lake 10-6
Lackawanna Trail 10-7
Mountain View 1-16
xy-Northwest Area 14-1
y-Bishop O’Reilly 11-4
y-Bishop Hafey 9-6
Seton Catholic 2-13
y-Bishop O’Hara 7-5
Old Forge 1-11
y-Carbondale Sacred Heart 11-5
y-Blue Ridge 10-7
Forest City 5-12
Susquehanna 1-16
x-won first-half title y-clinched District 2 playoff berth z-won overall
title
Tom Housenick