WPIAL clinched: A comprehensive look at the boys basketball playoff picture through Feb. 4, 2026

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 | 10:54 PM

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After a frosty start, the stretch run is just about over as the WPIAL boys basketball playoff field is up to 71 teams that have clinched district postseason berths.

A reminder of the playoff format this season as sections with eight or more teams send the top five teams to the playoffs while sections with seven or fewer schools will send the traditional top four teams.

If two or more teams tie for the final playoff spot and the head-to-head tiebreaker does not break the tie, all of the tied teams qualify.

Here is the latest list of teams that earned a district playoff berth through Wednesday along with the remaining scenarios for the final few spots.

*Won or shared section championship

Class 6A

7 of a possible 12 playoff teams have clinched

Section 1

*New Castle Red Hurricanes

Pine-Richland Rams

Seneca Valley Raiders

• Still, so many different things can happen. The above three have clinched and Butler and North Allegheny are in spoiler mode. That leaves North Hills, Fox Chapel and Woodland Hills fighting for a playoff spot with the chance that all three could qualify. Here is the schedule: Thursday — Pine-Richland at North Hills (HSSN), New Castle at North Allegheny (HSSN). Friday — North Hills at Woodland Hills (HSSN), Butler at Fox Chapel (HSSN), Seneca Valley at Pine-Richland. North Hills will clinch with a win Thursday against Pine-Richland.

Section 2

Upper St. Clair Panthers

Central Catholic Vikings

Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils

Hempfield Spartans

• Norwin and Imani Christian enter the final section game tied for fifth place with 6-7 records. Norwin visits Hempfield and Imani Christian travels to Central Catholic. If the Knights and Saints finish in a tie, both qualify for the playoffs.

Class 5A

11 of a possible 20 playoff teams have clinched

Section 1

*Gateway Gators

Franklin Regional Panthers

Penn-Trafford Warriors

• Four teams are tied for fourth place with at least two playoff berths up for grabs. Laurel Highlands, Uniontown, McKeesport and Latrobe are all 6-7. The slate for Friday has Laurel Highlands hosting Penn-Trafford (HSSN), Uniontown at Franklin Regional (HSSN), McKeesport at Gateway (HSSN) and Latrobe hosting Albert Gallatin. In the head-to-head tiebreakers, McKeesport is 3-1, Uniontown is 2-2, Latrobe is 2-2 and Laurel Highlands is 1-3.

Section 2

*Penn Hills Indians

Shaler Titans

• Three teams are tied for third place with at least two playoff berths up for grabs. Indiana, Hampton and Kiski Area are all 6-5. Kiski Area is home to Penn Hills on Thursday, then Indiana hosts Plum and Hampton welcomes Shaler on Friday. All three are in with a win. Head-to-head tiebreaker records are Kiski Area 3-1, Hampton 2-2 and Indiana 1-3.

Section 3

*Thomas Jefferson Jaguars

Peters Township Indians

South Fayette Lions

• Ringgold and Baldwin are tied for fourth place with 4-7 records. On Friday, Ringgold is at Trinity and Baldwin is home to Thomas Jefferson. If they finish tied for fourth, both teams will qualify for the postseason.

Section 4

*Chartiers Valley Colts

Lincoln Park Leopards

Moon Tigers

• Mars and Montour are tied for fourth place with 5-6 records. On Friday, Mars hosts Chartiers Valley and Montour is home to Moon (HSSN). If they finish tied for fourth, both teams will qualify for the postseason.

Class 4A

11 of a possible 15 playoff teams have clinched

Section 1

North Catholic Trojans

Knoch Knights

Burrell Buccaneers

Deer Lakes Lancers

• Freeport and Highlands are both 4-7 and need to win Friday and get help. Highlands visits Valley and Freeport is home to Knoch Friday. They both must have Deer Lakes lose at North Catholic (HSSN) on Friday.

Section 2

*Quaker Valley Quakers

Central Valley Warriors

Hopewell Vikings

Avonworth Antelopes

Section 3

Derry Trojans

Elizabeth Forward Warriors

Belle Vernon Leopards

• East Allegheny (4-7) can clinch with a win at home against Yough on Friday. Greensburg Salem (4-7) can clinch with a victory over visiting West Mifflin on Friday. If they finished tied for fourth place, both will qualify.

Class 3A

16 of a possible 17 playoff teams have clinched

Section 1

*Mohawk Warriors

Aliquippa Quips

Ellwood City Wolverines

Riverside Panthers

Section 2

*Bishop Canevin Crusaders

Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles

Washington Little Prexies

Sto-Rox Vikings

• McGuffey can clinch a playoff berth with a win at home over Washington on Friday.

Section 3

South Park Eagles

Seton LaSalle Rebels

South Allegheny Gladiators

Shady Side Academy Bulldogs

Section 4

*Southmoreland Scotties

Ligonier Valley Rams

Charleroi Cougars

Waynesburg Central Raiders

Class 2A

19 of a possible 20 playoff teams have clinched

Section 1

Jeannette Jayhawks

Clairton Bears

Bentworth Bearcats

Springdale Dynamos

Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions

• Frazier (3-9) can qualify with wins over Bentworth on Friday and Jeannette on Saturday and a Greensburg Central Catholic (5-8) loss to visiting Springdale on Friday.

Section 2

*Sewickley Academy Panthers

Eden Christian Academy Warriors

Winchester Thurston Bears

Brentwood Spartans

Section 3

*Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers

Jefferson-Morgan Rockets

Fort Cherry Rangers

Beth-Center Bulldogs

West Greene Pioneers

Section 4

Neshannock Lancers

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers

Laurel Spartans

Shenango Wildcats

Union Scotties

Class A

7 of a possible 10 playoff teams have clinched

Section 1

Nazareth Prep Saints

Avella Eagles

Aquinas Academy Crusaders

Summit Academy Knights

• Cornell (2-7) can clinch a playoff berth with a win over visiting Summit Academy (3-5) on Friday and a Summit Academy loss to visiting Nazareth Prep on Saturday.

Section 2

*Neighborhood Academy Bulldogs

Serra Catholic Eagles

Monessen Greyhounds

• St. Joseph is 4-4 and Geibel Catholic is 3-5. St. Joe’s is at Neighborhood Academy on Friday and at Geibel Catholic on Saturday. Geibel Catholic is at Monessen on Friday and hosts St. Joseph on Saturday.