District 1 Looking For Seventh-Straight State Title
By Joseph Santoliquito
Philadelphia, PA (CBS)—The western side of the state likes to say it dominates football when it comes to the best in Pennsylvania, though there is a strong argument against that. There is no doubt, however, that the eastern half of Pennsylvania, particularly District 1, which is comprised of high schools in the four counties surrounding Philadelphia, rule basketball.
The PIAA District 1 playoffs (seedings and matchups below) will begin Friday night, weather permitting, with Conestoga as the No. 1 seed, followed by traditional state powerhouse Chester, Great Valley, Spring-Ford and defending state champion Lower Merion seeded No. 9.
History says there is a very strong chance a state champion will emerge from the field of 32 teams in District 1.
Over the last six years, PIAA District 1 has won the Class AAAA title (large school), and in four of those six state finals it was a matchup of two District 1 teams.
Since 2000, District 1 teams have won 10 of the last 14 state championships. The last non-District 1 team to win the state title was DeJuan Blair-led Schenley in 2007.
And this field of 32 may not even be the best. Roman Catholic (19-3) could arguably be the best Class AAAA team in the state, and coupled with Class AAA Archbishop Carroll (19-3) and Neumann-Goretti (18-4) could easily be the best team—overall—in Pennsylvania.
It will certainly make this time of year very interesting as the district playoffs begin and the more intriguing Catholic League playoffs.
Below are the district seedings and the past 14 PIAA Class AAAA state champions.
CLASS AAAA
Friday night begins first round. All higher seeds host and all games start at 7 p.m.
No. 32 Norristown (12-10) at No. 1 Conestoga (20-4)
No. 17 Methacton (15-7) at No. 16 Ridley (13-8)
No. 25 Bishop Shanahan (14-9) at No. 8 Penn Wood (15-6)
No. 24 Central Bucks East (12-9) at No. 9 Lower Merion (17-6)
No. 29 Kennett (13-9) at No. 4 Spring-Ford (15-2)
No. 20 Harriton (14-9) at No. 13 Coatesville (12-9)
No. 28 Academy Park (14-6) at No. 5 Pennsbury (18-4)
No. 21 Central Bucks South (12-8) at No. 12 Oxford (18-5)
No. 31 West Chester Henderson (11-9) at No. 2 Chester (17-5)
No. 18 Souderton (6-9) at No. 15 Pennridge (15-7)
No. 26 North Penn (11-9) at No. 7 Abington (17-3)
No. 23 Haverford High (13-9) at No. 10 Upper Darby (14-7)
No. 30 Wissahickon (13-10) at No. 3 Great Valley (21-2)
No. 19 Radnor (14-8) at No. 14 West Chester Rustin (15-7)
No. 27 Downingtown East (10-9) at No. 6 Plymouth-Whitemarsh (19-3)
No. 22 Central Bucks West (12-8) at No. 11 Penncrest (15-8)
PIAA Class AAAA State champions
2000 Chester vs. Uniontown 73-48 (1-indicates District 1 winner)
2001 Coatesville vs. Schenley 70-57 (1)
2002 Harrisburg vs. Uniontown 69-62
2003 State College vs. Chester 76-71
2004 Penn Hills vs. Parkland 57-48
2005 Chester vs. Lower Merion 74-61 (1)
2006 Lower Merion vs. Schenley 60-58 (1)
2007 Schenley vs. Chester 78-71
2008 Chester vs. Norristown 81-77 (1)
2009 Penn Wood vs. William Penn 72-53 (1)
2010 Plymouth-Whitemarsh vs. Penn Wood 58-51 (1)
2011 Chester vs. Mt. Lebanon 72-60 OT (1)
2012 Chester vs. Lower Merion 59-33 (1)
2013 Lower Merion vs. Chester 63-47 (1)
Joseph Santoliquito is a contributing sports blogger for CBS Philly.
