WPIAL boys, girls basketball teams lock up PIAA tournament berths

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, February 24, 2019 | 11:36 PM

797400_web1_gtr-LatrobeCM04-022419 — Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Canon McMillan’s Thomas Samosky drives past Latrobe’s Reed Fenton during quarterfinal WPIAL action Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 at Norwin High School.

While the Path to the Pete continues into the semifinals this week, the Road to Hershey will tip off next week.

A handful of WPIAL teams from each class will advance to the PIAA postseason field, ranging from five teams to seven teams.

While all four semifinalists have clinched state playoff berths, teams that fell in the quarterfinals are still alive … for now.

Once again this season, the district is using the follow-the-winner format to determine some of the representatives.

Quarterfinals losers must nervously wait for results from the semifinals and some of the title games to find out if their season continues in the PIAA postseason or if uniforms will be collected this week.

Classes with 5 qualifiers, the four semifinalists and the team that loses to the champion in the quarterfinals qualify.

Classes with 6 qualifiers, the four semifinalists and the two teams that lost to the finalists in the quarterfinals qualify.

Classes with 7 qualifiers, the four semifinalists, the two teams that lost to the finalists in the quarterfinals and the team that lost to the team in the quarterfinals that lost to the team in the semifinals of the eventual champion.

Here is the list of teams that have qualified for the boys and girls basketball playoffs. which begin March 8.

The number next to the class is the number of WPIAL teams that will participate in the PIAA playoffs.

Boys Class 6A (5)

Boys Class 5A (6)