The PIAA basketball playoffs tip off Friday with first-round action in boys Class 5A, 4A and Class A, along with girls Class 6A, 3A and 2A.
The state playoffs are a five-round grind leading to the championship games at the Giant Center.
However, for two WPIAL boys Class 5A teams, the Road to Hershey actually begins in Hershey.
Moon, the 2024 WPIAL 5A champion, lost a heartbreaker to eventual champion Chartiers Valley in the semifinals nearly two weeks ago.
The Tigers were then stunned by Hampton in the third-place game.
So instead of hosting a game in the first round, Moon now visits the No. 3 team out of District 3, Hershey, at 6 p.m.
The Tigers, who had won eight in a row before losing their last two games, enter the PIAA postseason with a record of 20-5.
The Trojans are 22-3 and were the No. 2 seed in the District 3 playoffs, beating Manheim Central and New Oxford in the postseason before falling to West York in the semifinals, 58-50.
Hershey bounced back in the third-place game with a convincing win over Octorara, 73-39.
Last year, Moon lost to Johnstown in the PIAA opening round, while Hershey reached the PIAA 5A championship game where it lost to Neumann-Goretti, 85-71.
The other WPIAL team opening up the state playoffs in Chocolate Town is Gateway, which visits Milton Hershey at 6 p.m.
The Gators are 17-9 after winning the Section 1-5A title, beating Indiana in the first round of the district playoffs before losing to Moon in the quarterfinals, 57-43.
Gateway beat Shaler in the consolation first round before falling to Penn Hills in the battle for the 5A fifth seed.
The Spartans are 23-3 and as the top seed in the District 3 playoffs, knocked off East Pennsboro, Spring Grove and Octorara to reach the D-3 finals, where they lost to West York, 66-42.
A year ago, Milton Hershey lost in the opening round at Montour, 68-49.
Here are the other six state first-round games involving WPIAL boys 5A teams:
• Exeter Township (17-9) at Chartiers Valley (23-2) at 6 p.m.
• Cocalico (19-7) at Hampton (15-8) at 6 p.m.
• New Oxford (17-9) at Thomas Jefferson (23-3) at 6 p.m.
• Shaler (15-11) at Johnstown (18-4) at 7 p.m.
• Penn Hills (19-7) at Meadville (8-16) at 7 p.m.
• Ringgold (15-12) at West York (20-1) at 6 p.m.
City pride
Nearly three weeks ago, Obama Academy ended the long reign of Allderdice as City League boys basketball champions with an overtime triumph over the Dragons, 64-58.
It was the first time the Eagles won a District 8 title since 2020.
Six years ago was also the last time any City League basketball team not named Allderdice tasted victory in the PIAA boys basketball playoffs.
That year, after Obama defeated Allderdice in the City League finals, 50-39, and then knocked off District 10 Meadville in a PIAA subregional, 61-41, the Eagles soared to a PIAA first-round win over Penn Hills, 73-63.
Obama Academy will try to follow that 2020 trend Friday when it hosts the No. 4 seed out of District 10, Warren, at 7 p.m.
The Eagles have won three in a row and are 16-9 for the season after knocking off Clearfield in a subregional game, 57-34.
The Dragons are 15-10 and lost to Sharon in the District 10 semifinals 10 days ago, 64-56.
Here are the five state first-round games involving WPIAL boys 4A teams:
• Girard (18-8) at Knoch (22-4) at 7 p.m.
• Hickory (20-6) at Quaker Valley (20-4) at 7 p.m.
• North Catholic (19-6) at Sharon (19-6) at 7 p.m.
• Deer Lakes (12-14) at Huntingdon (15-9) at 7 p.m.
• Central Valley (18-8) at Cathedral Prep (24-1) at Hagerty Family Events Center in Erie at 7:30 p.m.
Champs begin defense
There was no letdown last year for The Neighborhood Academy after winning its first WPIAL boys Class A basketball championship on the grand stage of the Petersen Events Center.
In a “home” game played at Peters Township, the Bulldogs got by District 5 Shanksville-Shade by a mere 63 points, 95-32.
It was the first of five victories for TNA as it blew up the Class A state playoff field in winning its first PIAA title.
Now Neighborhood Academy is set to begin its title defense when it takes on the No. 3 seed out of District 6, St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy, in a game being played at Thomas Jefferson at 7:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs are 21-3 and have won 10 of their last 11 games, including winning back-to-back district titles with a victory over Serra Catholic last week, 60-48.
Their three losses have come against two Class 5A teams and WPIAL 2A champion Sewickley Academy.
The Wolf Pack are 17-10 this season. They lost to Conemaugh Valley in the District 6 semifinals, 60-30, and then defeated Williamsburg in the third-place game, 58-46.
St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy lost to Serra Catholic in the 2025 PIAA opening round, 61-49.
Here are the three state first-round games involving WPIAL boys Class A teams:
• Bishop Carroll (12-12) at Serra Catholic (14-10) at 7 p.m.
• Monessen (13-10) at Elk County Catholic (24-2) at 6:30 p.m.
• Nazareth Prep (9-13) vs. Erie First Christian Academy (18-6) at Hagerty Family Events Center in Erie at 6 p.m.
Them again
Norwin has enjoyed great success under Brian Brozeski, appearing in three straight WPIAL Class 6A girls basketball championship games and winning three district crowns in the last dozen years.
However, that pales in comparison to the dominance the Altoona girls hoops programs has enjoyed through the decades.
When WPIAL runner-up Norwin (19-5) visits District 6 champion Altoona (19-4) at 6 p.m. Friday, it will be the Mountain Lions’ 109th all-time PIAA basketball playoff game.
Altoona enters the 2026 state postseason with an overall PIAA playoff record of 75-33.
This will be the fourth time the Mountain Lions and Knights have squared off in a state playoff game.
Meeting No. 1 was 46 years ago when Altoona edged Norwin in the 1980 second round, 61-60.
Thirty-nine years later, the two squared off again in the 2019 opening round with the Knights prevailing, 62-45.
Then a year ago, Norwin jumped out to a seven-point lead after one quarter and led at the half, 20-16. But Altoona stormed back to outscore the Knights in the second half 33-18 to win and advance at home, 49-38.
Brianna Hudson led the Mountain Lions with 22 points while Bella Furno paced the Knights with 14 points.
Altoona has won four PIAA girls basketball championships although it has been 30 years since its most recent state crown in 1996.
Here are the two state first-round games involving WPIAL girls 6A teams:
• Governor Mifflin (17-8) at Canon-McMillan (21-4) at 6 p.m.
• Upper St. Clair (12-12) at Allderdice (19-6) at 7 p.m.
Taking down the Devils
As the No. 3 seed out of the WPIAL a year ago, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart first defeated Seneca, then upset the District 7 champion Greensburg Central Catholic in the second round to advance to the state quarterfinals.
There, the Chargers battled District 6 champion Central Cambria, which had won its first two state playoff games by a combined 41 points.
However, the OLSH upset run continued when Claudia Ierullo scored 17 points to lead the Chargers to victory, 47-43.
The Chargers’ run ended in the state semifinals with a loss to Shady Side Academy, 43-29.
Now the Chargers and Red Devils meet again Friday when D-6 winner Central Cambria hosts WPIAL No. 6 seed OLSH at 7 p.m.
OLSH is 19-7 after finishing in third place in Section 1-3A, beating McGuffey in the first round of the district playoffs and losing to Greensburg Central Catholic in the quarters.
The Chargers won their consolation first-round game over Waynesburg, but then lost the fifth-place game against section foe Quaker Valley to end up with the sixth seed.
Central Cambria is 20-6 and defeated Philipsburg-Osceola, Penns Valley and Cambria Heights to win the D-6 championship.
Here are the other five state first-round games involving WPIAL girls 3A teams:
• Marion Center (23-4) vs. Shady Side Academy (23-2) at Fox Chapel at 6 p.m.
• Cranberry (15-10) vs. Greensburg Central Catholic (19-7) at Hampton at 7:30 p.m.
• Seneca (19-5) at Beaver Falls (23-2) at 7 p.m.
• Quaker Valley (19-7) at Northwestern (21-3) at 7 p.m.
• Seton LaSalle (16-10) vs. Karns City (24-2) at Moniteau at 7 p.m.
District battle on state grounds
While there are two WPIAL vs. City League first-round state playoff games scheduled for the opening weekend and there could be some great District 7 vs. District 7 games in the second round, quarterfinals and semifinals, the only battle of district teams in Round 1 of the PIAA postseason is in girls Class 2A.
It will be WPIAL champion Neshannock hosting the No. 7 seed, Burgettstown, at 7 p.m.
The Lancers have won 18 straight games and are 22-3 for the season.
In the WPIAL playoffs, Neshannock was victorious over Brentwood by 60 points, Laurel by 38 points, Rochester by 49 points and finally they pulled away from Winchester Thurston in the finals, 60-51.
The Blue Devils are 4-4 in their last eight games and enter the state playoffs with an overall mark of 18-8.
Burgettstown knocked off Jeannette in the WPIAL first round, and then lost to Winchester Thurston in the quarterfinals.
In the consolation round, the Blue Devils lost to Aliquippa, but then beat Laurel to qualify for the PIAA postseason.
This is only the fifth PIAA playoff game for the Burgettstown program. The Blue Devils are 1-3 in state playoff games in 1992, 2022 and 2023.
Four years ago, Neshannock beat Penns Manor, Cambridge Springs, Shennago, Bellwood-Antis and Southern Columbia to win the 2022 PIAA Class 2A title.
Here are the other six state first-round games involving WPIAL girls 2A teams:
• Union City (14-11) at Penns Manor (21-5) at 7 p.m.
• Rochester (14-11) at Kennedy Catholic (22-2) at 7 p.m.
• Aliquippa (17-8) at Keystone (14-10) at 6 p.m.
• Chartiers-Houston (21-4) at Kane (14-11) at 6 p.m.
• Everett (20-5) vs. Winchester Thurston (21-4) at Oakland Catholic at 7 p.m.
• Fort Cherry (18-7) at Wilmington (21-4) at 7 p.m.