In Class AAAA, we expect all but two of the higher seeds to advance to the second round.
Look for No. 18 Plymouth Whitemarsh, with junior Anthony McKie (18.5 ppg, 57 three-pointers) leading the way, to knock off No. 15 Conestoga. And, in a mini-upset, No. 17 Springfield (Delaware County) ousts No. 16 Methacton.
No. 3 Coatesville's probable second-round foe? No. 14 Penn Wood, highly dangerous with speedy guards Jerry Price and Malcolm Richardson heading the attack.
In addition to facing Chester twice in Del-Val League play, Penn Wood battled against the likes of Boys' Latin, St. Joseph-Metuchen (N.J.), William Penn, and Williamsport. The Patriots, toughened by their competitive nonleague slate, derail Coatesville.
Other intriguing second-round matchups? No. 10 Souderton at No. 7 Council Rock North, and No. 12 Bensalem at No. 5 Wissahickon.
Look for Souderton, spurred by Luke Moyer (15.3 ppg, 39 treys) and Ryan Connelly (25 treys), to send Arron Goodman (17.3 ppg.), Aaron Morgan (52 treys) and company to the consolation bracket.
Bensalem, with Julian Hyden and Leo Vincent among the catalysts, throws a scare into Wissahickon, but the Trojans, boosted by the scoring of Jordan Reed (25.8) and bruising talents of Tonah Kpassagnon, prevail.
In the other second-round matchups, Chester tops Springfield, No. 9 Norristown upends No. 8 Pennsbury, No. 13 Cheltenham upsets No. 4 Central Bucks West, Lower Merion downs Plymouth Whitemarsh, and No. 11 Abington topples No. 7 Great Valley.
Our quarterfinal pairings: Norristown vs. Chester, Cheltenham vs. Wissahickon, Souderton vs. Lower Merion, and Penn Wood vs. Abington.
Cheltenham and Wissahickon, rivals in the Suburban One League American Conference, split two taut regular-season meetings. The Trojans won, 64-63, on Jan. 17. The Panthers turned the tables, 49-47, last Friday.
