WPIAL clinched: Boys basketball playoff qualifiers through Friday, Jan. 30, 2026

By: Don Rebel
Saturday, January 31, 2026 | 12:22 AM

After a frosty start, the stretch run has just over a week left as the WPIAL boys basketball playoff field is building with 53 teams that have now clinched a district postseason berth.

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 Friday.

*Won or shared section championship

Class 6A

5 of at least 10 playoff teams have clinched

Section 1

*New Castle Red Hurricanes

Section 2

Upper St. Clair Panthers

Central Catholic Vikings

Hempfield Spartans

Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils

Class 5A

10 of at least 17 playoff teams have clinched

Section 1

*Gateway Gators

Penn-Trafford Warriors

Section 2

Penn Hills Indians

Shaler Titans

Section 3

*Thomas Jefferson Jaguars

Peters Township Indians

South Fayette Lions

Section 4

Chartiers Valley Colts

Lincoln Park Leopards

Moon Tigers

Class 4A

7 of at least 12 playoff teams have clinched