Professor Briggs Takes a Look at How the District 10 Hoops Playoffs Could Shape Up

| February 9, 2018


GROVE CITY, Pa. – Renowned District 10 hoops expert Professor Briggs (Ryan Briggs) of ProfessorBriggs.com recently took a look at how the District 10 basketball playoffs could shape up and was kind enough to share with us his thoughts of local teams.

(Travis Perry and Rocky Grove is hoping for another PIAA Playoff berth and possibly a District 10 title this season. Photo by Eric Elliott)

All scenarios are going into games Thursday, February 8.

BOYS’ CLASS 2A

There are 14 teams in 2A, six in Region 2 (Mercer County, plus Rocky Grove) and eight in Region 3 (the Crawford County and northern schools). Region champions get berths in quarterfinals, the other 12 teams play off for the six other quarterfinal berths.

In Region 2, West Middlesex (10-2) leads Rocky Grove (9-3) and Lakeview (8-4). Lakeview swept Rocky Grove, however, and also owns a win over West Middlesex. The Sailors host West Middlesex Friday night. West Middlesex needs two wins or one win and a Rocky Grove loss to Mercer or Greenville to clinch the top spot. Two Rocky Grove wins would guarantee the Orioles no worse than second place. All three teams could end up first, second, or third.

Wilmington (7-5) could pass Lakeview for third if the Sailors lose Friday to West Middlesex. Wilmington would need to defeat Greenville and then down Lakeview in the season finale Tuesday night. Wilmington cannot pass Rocky Grove due to losing both regular season games. If the teams end up in a 9-5 three-way tie, they would all be 2-2 among the three teams (all 2-0 sweeps) and it would come down to the second tiebreaker (record vs. 2A teams in the league). In that case, Lakeview would be 8-2, Rocky Grove would be 6-4 and Wilmington 6-4. Rocky Grove then has 2-0 edge on Wilmington.

Reynolds has a one-game lead over Mercer for the fifth spot. Those teams play Tuesday night in the finale. If Mercer wins to force a tie and season split, Mercer likely would get the higher seed due to the tiebreaker (wins over larger schools Slippery Rock and Bradford boost Mercer’s total).

In Region 3, Cambridge Springs is 11-1, while Eisenhower is 10-2. Those teams have split their meetings. Cochranton (8-4) and Iroquois (7-5) own the next two spots. Iroquois closes with Cambridge Springs and Eisenhower, however. Union City (6-6) has split with Iroquois this year and hosts Cochranton in the finale. Maplewood (3-9), Saegertown (2-10) and Youngsville (1-11) round out the standings. Maplewood plays both Saegertown and Youngsville to close the league schedule and can clinch the No. 6 spot with a win over Saegertown.

The bracket is this: FIRST ROUND: 3-5 at 2-4, 3-7 at 2-2, 2-6 at 3-3, 2-5 at 3-4, 3-8 at 3-2, 3-6 at 2-3. As of now, it would look like:
Union City at Wilmington (winner to face Cambridge Springs), Saegertown at Rocky Grove, Mercer at Cochranton, Reynolds at Iroquois (winner to face West Middlesex), Saegertown at Eisenhower, Maplewood at Lakeview.

Top four advance to state tournament.

BOYS’ CLASS 4A

There are 14 teams in Class 4A, eight in Region 5 (the South) and six in Region 6 (the North). The two region champions receive byes to the quarterfinals, the other 12 teams will battle for the six remaining quarterfinal spots.

In Region 5, Sharon (12-0) clinches the outright title with a win over Hickory (Friday) or George Junior (Tuesday). Hickory (10-2) needs a win Friday and a home win Tuesday over Franklin, coupled with a Sharon loss at GJR to share the title. Hickory may end up ahead of Sharon in tiebreaker points, should it come to that, due to a schedule that featured Class 6A teams Penn Hills and Erie, along with Lincoln Park and Beaver Falls. Grove City (8-4) will likely be third, owning a one-game lead and a 2-0 sweep of fourth-place Franklin (7-5).

George Junior and Oil City are each 4-8 and split their two games. GJR plays Grove City and Sharon to finish while Oil City has Farrell and Grove City. Farrell is 3-9 but would tie Oil City with a win Friday. Farrell closes at Slippery Rock (0-12).

In Region 6, General McLane (7-2) clinches the top spot with a win at sixth-place Conneaut or losses by both Harbor Creek (5-3) and Warren (5-3). Warren and Harbor Creek play Friday night to potentially determine second place. Harbor Creek won the first meeting at home, 59-41. Each team split with General McLane as well.

Fort LeBoeuf (4-6) is in the clubhouse while Corry (3-6) closes at Warren. Conneaut (2-6) owns wins over LeBoeuf and Corry but closes against McLane and Harbor Creek. Fourth place is critical in Region 6 as that team will get a home game.

The bracket is this: FIRST ROUND: 6-5 at 5-4, 5-8 at 5-2, 5-6 at 6-3, 5-5 at 6-4, 5-7 at 6-2, 6-6 at 5-3. As of now, it would be: Corry at Franklin (winner plays General McLane), Slippery Rock at Hickory, Oil City at Fort LeBoeuf (winner plays Sharon), Farrell at Harbor Creek, Conneaut at Grove City (would be 3rd meeting, interestingly).

Top four teams advance to state tournament.

GIRLS’ CLASS 2A

There are 12 teams in Class 2A. Four teams in Region 1 (Mercer County) are Class 2A while Region 3 (Crawford County and north) is comprised of eight Class 2A teams. The top two Class 2A teams in each region receive byes to the quarterfinals while the other eight teams will vie for the four remaining quarterfinal spots.

In Region 1, West Middlesex (11-1) and Reynolds (7-5) have clinched the first two spots, respectively. Rocky Grove and Mercer are both 3-9, having split their two games. Should the teams end up tied, Rocky Grove likely has tiebreaker edge due to points — a win over 4A Titusville will be deciding factor.

In Region 3, Cambridge Springs (12-0) and Maplewood (11-1) will have the top two spots. Spa won at Maplewood earlier; the teams close the regular season at Cambridge Springs Monday night. Saegertown and Cochranton are both 7-5, having gone 1-1 against each other. Saegertown has a more favorable schedule to finish, playing Iroquois (2-10) and Union City (0-12).

Youngsville (5-7) lost both games to Saegertown and already fell at home to Cochranton. Youngsville visits Cochranton Thursday night. Eisenhower is 4-8 and must still play Spa and Cochranton. Iroquois and Union City have the last two spots secured.

The bracket is this: FIRST ROUND: 3-5 at 1-4, 3-8 at 3-3, 3-7 at 3-4, 3-6 at 1-3. As of now, it would be: Youngsville at Mercer (winner plays Cambridge Springs), Union City at Saegertown (winner plays Reynolds), Iroquois at Cochranton (winner plays West Middlesex), Eisenhower at Rocky Grove (winner plays Maplewood).

Top three teams advance to state tournament.

GIRLS’ CLASS 4A

Five teams total in Class 4A. Villa Maria and Mercyhurst Prep from Region 4, Oil City, Franklin and Titusville from Region 3. Villa Maria is Region 4 champion and Mercyhurst is No. 2. Oil City, Franklin and Titusville are first, second and third, respectively, among the 4A teams in Region 2.

The bracket is this: QUARTERFINAL 2-3 vs 4-2. SEMIFINALS: 4-1 vs 2-2, 2-1 vs 2-3/4-2. As of now, it would be: QUARTERFINAL: Titusville vs. Mercyhurst Prep. SEMIFINALS: Villa Maria vs. Franklin, Oil City vs. Mercyhurst/Titusville.

Champion advances to state tournament.

You can check out the rest of the District 10 regions playoff scenarios at ProfessorBriggs.com.


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