Williams Valley head coach Shane Zellers talks with his squad during a timeout in Friday's District 11 Class AA championship game against Marian at Martz Hall (Photo by Eli Doyle).

Haven girls, boys to both play PIAA games at CACL Center

The quest for a PIAA basketball state championship will begin on their home floor for six Schuylkill League teams.

The Schuylkill League had seven girls’ teams and three boys’ teams advance through their respective district tournaments and qualify for the PIAA Basketball Tournament, which begins Friday-Saturday, March 6-7.

With first-round games in each 32-team bracket being held at home sites, six area teams earned home games.

The Schuylkill Haven girls and Schuylkill Haven boys will both play on their home floor. The District 11 Class 3A runner-up Hurricane girls (22-5) will entertain 12-4 Philadelphia Academy Charter (10-8) at 7 p.m. Friday at the CACL Center, while the District 11 Class AA champion Haven boys (17-8) will host District 3 runner-up Delone Catholic (23-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday.

The District 11 Class AA champion Williams Valley girls (18-6) will host District 4 runner-up Southern Columbia (12-13) at 7 p.m. Friday. Also Friday, the District 11 Class A runner-up Weatherly boys (18-6) will entertain District 1 third-place finisher Plumstead Christian (10-14) at 7 p.m.

Saturday, the District 4 Class A champion Lourdes girls (25-2) will host 3-6 Conestoga Christian (16-9) at 1 p.m., while the District 11 Class 4A runner-up Blue Mountain girls (14-12) square off with District 2 runner-up Valley View (19-6) at 1 p.m.

Three area girls’ teams will embark to the Philadelphia area for their first-round games.

Friday, Pine Grove (14-11) will take on District 12 champion Imhotep (15-10) at 6 p.m. at Ben Franklin High School, while District 11 AA runner-up Marian (14-11) faces District 12 runner-up Vaux (12-7) at 6 p.m. at Philadelphia Girls’ High School. Saturday, District 11 A runner-up Weatherly (8-16) squares off with District 12 champion Motivation (11-4) at noon at Lincoln High School in Philadelphia.

The final Schuylkill League qualifier, the Lourdes boys, trek to Easton to face District 11 Class A champion Bethlehem Christian at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Here’s a complete list of first-round games for Schuylkill League state qualifiers, with radio broadcasts included:

FRIDAY

Class A boys — 1-3 Plumstead Christian (10-14) at 11-2 Weatherly (16-8), 7 p.m.

Class A boys — 4-3 Lourdes (12-13) vs. 11-1 Bethlehem Christian (25-2), Easton MS, 7:30 p.m.

Class AA girls — 4-2 Southern Columbia (12-13) at 11-1 Williams Valley (18-6), 7 p.m. (T-102)

Class AA girls — 11-2 Marian (14-11) at 12-2 Vaux (12-7), Girls’ HS, Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

Class 3A girls — 11-4 Pine Grove (14-11) vs. 12-1 Imhotep (15-10), Ben Franklin HS, Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

Class 3A girls — 12-4 Philadelphia Academy Charter (10-8) at 11-2 Schuylkill Haven (22-5), 7 p.m. (WPPA)

SATURDAY

Class AA boys — 3-2 Delone Catholic (23-1) at 11-1 Schuylkill Haven (17-8), 1 p.m. (T-102)

Class 4A girls — 2-2 Valley View (19-6) at 11-2 Blue Mountain (14-12), 1 p.m. (WPPA)

Class A girls — 3-6 Conestoga Christian (16-9) at 4-1 Lourdes (25-2), 1 p.m.

Class A girls — 11-2 Weatherly (8-16) vs. 12-1 Motivation (11-4), Lincoln HS, Philadelphia, noon

For complete PIAA basketball brackets, visit the PIAA website at http://www.piaa.org/sports/championship_details.aspx?sport=basketball