A-K Valley basketball playoff preview capsules for Saturday’s games

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, February 16, 2018 | 5:27 PM

Saturday’s games

Girls

Class 4A

First round

No. 7 Freeport (13-8) vs. No. 10 Elizabeth Forward (14-7)

3 p.m. at Fox Chapel

On the air:TribHSSN.triblive.com

Winner plays: No. 2 Blackhawk (18-2)

Layup lines: This is a rematch of a first-round game from last season, which Freeport won 56-50 in overtime. Jenna Manke scored 21 points in Freeport’s first playoff win since 2004. … Freeport returned all but one starter from last season’s PIAA playoff qualifier. Manke, a forward, is an Allegheny commit. The Yellowjackets won 10 of their final 13 games and finished second in Section 1-4A behind No. 1 Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic. They allow 40 points per game.

No. 12 Deer Lakes (9-13) vs. No. 5 Central Valley (15-5)

3 p.m. at North Hills

On the air: 1230-AM, 1460-AM/TribHSSN.triblive.com

Winner plays: No. 4 Keystone Oaks (17-4)

Layup lines: Deer Lakes returns to the playoffs for the third consecutive season. The Lancers fell to Beaver in the first round last season. The fourth-place team out of Section 1-4A, Deer Lakes started 1-5 before a midseason five-game winning streak that proved pivotal in clinching a playoff spot. The Lancers allow 43.6 ppg.

Class A

No. 6 St. Joseph (13-9) vs. No. 11 Geibel (9-11)

Noon at Fox Chapel

On the air: 590-AM/TribHSSN.triblive.com

Winner plays: No. 3 Quigley Catholic (14-8)

Layup lines: St. Joseph returns after making it to the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA tournament last season. Three starters came back from that group, including senior Chloe Kurpakus (18.8 ppg). Senior Alex Jones, the top reserve last season, now averages 16.9 ppg as a starter. The Spartans tied for second in Section 3-A and won five of their last six games. … Geibel tied for second in Section 2-A with Avella, St. Joseph’s first-round opponent in 2017.

— Doug Gulasy

Tags: Central Valley, Deer Lakes, Elizabeth Forward, Freeport, Geibel, St. Joseph