WPIAL clinched: Boys basketball playoff qualifiers through Jan. 27, 2026
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Tuesday, January 27, 2026 | 11:10 PM
Moon’s Hunter Kopay scores against Mars’ Ben Detisch on Jan. 5. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
After a frosty start, the stretch run is underway as the 2026 WPIAL boys basketball playoff field is starting to build.
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 Tuesday.
*won or shared section championship
Class 6A
3 of at least 10 playoff teams have clinched
Section 1
*New Castle Red Hurricanes
Section 2
Upper St. Clair Panthers
Central Catholic Vikings
Class 5A
8 of at least 17 playoff teams have clinched
Section 1
Gateway Gators
Section 2
Penn Hills Indians
Shaler Titans
Section 3
Thomas Jefferson Jaguars
Peters Township Indians
Section 4
Chartiers Valley Colts
Lincoln Park Leopards
Moon Tigers
Class 4A
6 of at least 12 playoff teams have clinched
Section 1
Knoch Knights
North Catholic Trojans
Section 2
Quaker Valley Quakers
Section 3
Derry Trojans
Belle Vernon Leopards
Elizabeth Forward Warriors
Class 3A
5 of at least 16 playoff teams have clinched
Section 1
Mohawk Warriors
Aliquippa Quips
Ellwood City Wolverines
Section 2
Bishop Canevin Crusaders
Section 3
None
Section 4
Southmoreland Scotties
Class 2A
9 of at least 19 playoff teams have clinched
Section 1
Jeannette Jayhawks
Clairton Bears
Section 2
Sewickley Academy Panthers
Eden Christian Academy Warriors
Section 3
Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers
Jefferson-Morgan Rockets
Fort Cherry Rangers
Section 4
Neshannock Lancers
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers
Class A
3 of at least 8 playoff teams have clinched
Section 1
Nazareth Prep Saints
Section 2
Neighborhood Academy Bulldogs
Serra Catholic Eagles
More Basketball
• Defending champion South Allegheny gets ‘hot at the right time,’ rallies past Shady Side Academy• Aliquippa races past South Park, reaches Class 2A finals with revenge in mind
• ‘We’ll take an ugly win:’ No. 1 Chartiers Valley gets past Moon, earns spot in Class 5A finals
• High school roundup for Feb. 24, 2026: Neshannock, Winchester Thurston reach Class 2A finals
• Westmoreland County high school basketball notebook: Jeannette senior thrives with vote of confidence
