The PIAA basketball first round concludes Saturday in boys Class 6A, 3A and 2A along with girls Class 5A, 4A and Class A.
Allderdice has played in 45 PIAA boys basketball postseason games and have nearly split with 23 wins and 22 losses all-time.
The Dragons’ last 10 games in the state playoffs dating to 2016 have all been against WPIAL opponents.
They are 5-5 in those games, including a 2022 first-round battle at home against Central Catholic.
The Dragons beat the Vikings in overtime, 45-43, thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers in overtime from Mike Quigley.
On Saturday, City League runner-up Allderdice will once again host the No. 3 seed from the WPIAL in Central Catholic at 1 p.m.
The Dragons are 18-8 and won two state subregional games over Erie and State College since losing to Obama Academy in the City League title game in overtime, 64-58.
The Vikings have had a magnificent season, winning 12 straight games at one point.
They are 22-3 and coming off a WPIAL consolation round rout of Seneca Valley, 66-46, after falling to New Castle in the 6A district semifinals, 52-49.
This is the second meeting of the season between the two nearby basketball powers.
Central Catholic raced out to a 20-6 lead after one quarter at Allderdice and cruised to victory, 61-44.
Enzo Khalil led the Vikings with 22 points while Jack Stoessel added 20 points.
Keith Taylor was the lone Dragons player to reach double-digit scoring with 10 points.
This is the third all-time meeting in the state playoffs between Allderdice and Central Catholic.
They first meet on the Road to Hershey nearly 40 years ago when the Vikings downed the Dragons in the 1988 quarterfinals, 38-28.
Central Catholic went on to play in the PIAA championship game that year, falling to Carlisle.
Here are the other three state first-round games involving WPIAL boys 6A teams.
• Cedar Crest (14-12) at Upper St. Clair (24-1) at 1 p.m.
• Seneca Valley (14-11) at Red Lion (22-4) at 2 p.m.
• West Lawn Wilson (17-9) at New Castle (23-2) at 2 p.m.
Reset
It has been a tough two weeks for the Mohawk program after it became the only boys basketball top seed to not reach the WPIAL championship game.
In fact, the Warriors didn’t even reach the Class 3A final four.
After losing its season opener by four points to Class 6A power Central Catholic, Mohawk ripped off 21 consecutive victories, including two wins by 11 and 22 points over the No. 2 seed and eventual champion Aliquippa.
However, the Warriors were stunned in the district quarterfinals by 2025 champion South Allegheny, 64-63.
The team had had time to regroup, picking up consolation round wins over Southmoreland and Seton LaSalle.
Now Mohawk tries to reset and shoot for state gold as it begins the PIAA 3A postseason with a trip to Bedford to face District 5 champion Everett at 1 p.m.
Everett, also nicknamed the Warriors, is 14-10 and is coming off wins over North Star in the District 5 finals, 67-44, and a regional seeding victory over Perry from the City League, 60-47.
This is the first state playoff game for Everett in 17 years. Its last playoff victory in the PIAA postseason was 31 years ago when it defeated Richland in the 1995 first round.
The District 5 Warriors are 0-3 all-time in the state playoffs against WPIAL opponents.
The WPIAL Warriors have played six of their nine state playoff games in the last four years.
Here are the other six state first-round games involving WPIAL boys 3A teams.
• Cranberry (22-3) at Aliquippa (18-6) at 1 p.m.
• Shady Side Academy (10-16) at Forest Hills (23-4) at 1 p.m.
• Westmont-Hilltop (19-6) at South Allegheny (16-9) at 1 p.m.
• Seton LaSalle (19-7) at Eisenhower (21-3) at 1 p.m.
• Perry (4-20) at South Park (21-4) at 1 p.m.
• Ligonier Valley (14-12) at Bishop Guilfoyle (23-4) at 2:30 p.m.
Head east, young men
Neshannock is the No. 7 seed out of the WPIAL as it prepares for the PIAA Class 2A boys basketball tournament.
If the Lancers were to get hot (they did share the Section 4-2A crown with OLSH) and win four games to reach the PIAA title game, they could play another WPIAL team in Hershey.
That is because Neshannock is the only boys or girls basketball team from the WPIAL to be placed in the “eastern” side of the bracket, so some long bus rides could be looming.
So Saturday’s trek to IUP’s Memorial Fieldhouse doesn’t look as bad as Neshannock prepares to face undefeated District 6 winner United at 1 p.m.
The Lancers are 19-6 and had won eight straight before a regular season finale loss to 5A West Allegheny.
Since then, they have gone 2-2.
Neshannock beat Fort Cherry in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs then fell to Clairton in the quarterfinals.
In the consolation round, they lost to Eden Christian Academy before regrouping and beating Winchester Thurston.
The Lions are a perfect 27-0.
United was the top seed in the District 6 2A playoffs and knocked off Portage and Northern Cambria to reach the title game, where it upended Bishop McCort, 61-53.
Neshannock defeated Rocky Grove in the first round of the 2025 PIAA playoffs before falling to Greensburg Central Catholic in Round 2.
United did not qualify for the state playoffs a year ago.
Here are the seven other state first-round games involving WPIAL boys Class 2A teams.
• Saegertown (21-4) at Sewickley Academy (25-1) at 1 p.m.
• Eden Christian Academy (18-7) at McConnellsburg (25-1) at 1 p.m.
• Clairton (18-5) at Cochranton (16-9) at 1 p.m.
• Jefferson-Morgan (23-3) at Redbank Valley (18-7) at 1 p.m.
• Northern Cambria (17-8) at Jeannette (22-2) at 1 p.m.
• Conemaugh Township (18-7) at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (21-5)
• Winchester Thurston (16-10) at Mercyhurst Prep (19-6) at 1 p.m.
Roar time again
The South Fayette girls basketball program played its first PIAA playoff game 37 years ago, losing to then Kennedy Christian in a Class A first-round game, 47-35.
Between then and 2017, the Lions were 8-7 in state playoff games, going as far as the semifinals once in 2017.
In the last four years, the program is 11-3 in PIAA postseason contests.
Bringing a five-game state winning streak into the 2026 Class 5A girls basketball playoffs, South Fayette hosts Milton Hershey from District 3 Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Lions have been a dominant force in the district this season, winning 25 of their 26 games.
Their only loss was on a holiday trip to Florida when they fell by two points to Miami Country Day.
Since then, South Fayette has won 17 in a row, including WPIAL playoff victories over Kiski Area, Trinity, Peters Township and Thomas Jefferson in the 5A finals, 57-38.
Milton Hershey is 17-9 and the No. 8 seed out of District 3.
The Spartans beat Greencastle-Antrim in the first round of the D-3 playoffs, and then were upset in the quarterfinals by visiting Cocalico, 46-39. They then lost consolation games to West York and Manheim Central to fall to the final qualifying spot out of District 3.
All-time in the PIAA playoffs, South Fayette is 6-0 against teams from District 3.
This only the third state playoff game for Milton Hershey. The Spartans split two games 42 years ago in the 1984 postseason.
Here are the seven other state first round games involving WPIAL girls 5A teams.
• West York (16-10) at Penn-Trafford (20-6) at 1 p.m.
• Indiana (21-5) vs. Cathedral Prep (20-3) at Hagerty Family Events Center in Erie at 1 p.m.
• Baldwin (21-5) at Middletown (24-1) at 2 p.m.
• Manheim Central (18-8) at Thomas Jefferson (23-2) at 1 p.m.
• Peters Township (15-11) at Susquehannock (20-6) at 1 p.m.
• Trinity (18-8) at Hollidaysburg (18-4) at 1 p.m.
• Fox Chapel (15-11) at York Suburban (22-2) at 4 p.m.
4A flying high
Last year, the six Class 4A girls basketball teams from the WPIAL were a combined 4-2 in the first round and 3-1 in the second round of the PIAA playoffs.
One of the two District 7 teams that lost in the first round was South Park.
However, South Park did not go quietly into the night. The Eagles were the No. 6 seed out of the WPIAL as they visited District 10 champion Harbor Creek.
The Eagles scratched and clawed and forced overtime, only to fall to the Huskies, 44-43.
The two are set to clash again Saturday as South Park visits Harbor Creek at 1 p.m.
It’s the same site and the same seeds as a year ago.
The Eagles are 16-10 this season and 2-2 in the postseason. They beat Freeport in the WPIAL first round and then lost to eventual champion Oakland Catholic in the quarterfinals.
In the consolation round, South Park defeated Beaver and then lost to section foe Belle Vernon in the battle for the fifth seed.
The Huskies are 21-4, the same record they had last year at this time.
In the District 10 playoffs, Harbor Creek knocked off Conneaut and Corry to reach the finals where they defeated Slippery Rock, 49-46.
This is the fifth time these teams have played in the PIAA postseason with the series even, 2-2.
South Park won the first two games, both opening-round contests in 2012 and 2013.
Harbor Creek won in a 2014 second-round clash and again last year.
Here are the other five other state first-round games involving WPIAL girls 4A teams.
• Corry (14-11) at Oakland Catholic (21-2) at 1 p.m.
• Elizabeth Forward (18-8) at Slippery Rock (19-5) at 6 p.m.
• Fairview (20-5) at Blackhawk (22-1) at 1 p.m.
• Belle Vernon (18-6) at Clearfield (18-6) at 1 p.m.
• Forest Hills (16-8) at North Catholic (20-6) at 1 p.m.
Champs shorthanded
It was 21 years ago when Hall of Fame coach Bill Cleary led Serra Catholic past Rockwood, Saegertown, Bishop Carroll, Kennedy Catholic and Marina Catholic to win the 2005 PIAA Class A girls basketball crown.
Fresh off a newly minted WPIAL championship last week, the Eagles are set to begin their quest for a second state title at home Saturday when they welcome Williamsburg at 1 p.m.
Serra Catholic edged Geibel Catholic in an emotional district Class A title game, 47-46.
The Eagles are 18-6 this season and have won 11 of their last 12 games.
However, they enter the state playoffs down two starters.
Junior Mia Brush was not eligible for the 2026 postseason after transferring to Serra Catholic, and freshman Lexi Pierce is done for the season after tearing her ACL in the third quarter of the WPIAL title game.
Williamsburg is 22-5 and the No. 4 seed out of District 6.
The Blue Pirates defeated Blacklick Valley in the quarterfinals before losing to top seed and eventual champion Bishop Guilfoyle Academy in the D-6 semifinals, 61-31.
Williamsburg also lost to St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy in the consolation game, 75-73.
Here are the other five state first-round games involving WPIAL girls Class A teams.
• Union (19-6) at Elk County Catholic (17-8) at 1 p.m.
• Sewickley Academy (16-10) at Farrell (11-12) at 1 p.m.
• St. Joseph (14-11) at Clarion-Limestone (19-7) at 1 p.m.
• St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy (24-3) at Geibel Catholic (23-2) at 1 p.m.
• Northern Bedford County (14-10) vs. Aquinas Academy (21-3) at South Park at 2:30 p.m.
Saturday on Trib HSSN
There are seven broadcasts you can listen to at TribHSSN.TribLive.com on the seventh day of March.
PIAA Boys Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 6A First Round: West Lawn Wilson at New Castle at 2 p.m. at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
PIAA Boys Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 3A First Round: Mohawk vs. Everett at 1 p.m. at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
PIAA Boys Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 2A First Round: Neshannock vs. United at 1 p.m. at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
PIAA Girls Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 5A First Round: Peters Township at Susquehannock at 1 p.m. on WJPA at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
PIAA Girls Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 5A First Round: Trinity at Hollidaysburg at 1 p.m. on WJPA at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
PIAA Girls Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class A First Round: Union at Elk County Catholic at 1 p.m. at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
PIAA Girls Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class A First Round: St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy at Geibel Catholic 1 p.m. on WMBS-AM 590, WMBS-FM 101.1 at TribHSSN.TribLive.com