Predicting the Class AAAA district quarterfinals

Except for three contests, the seedings held true to form in the first two rounds of the PIAA District 1 Class AAAA boys' basketball tournament.

The only opening-round "upset" was No. 17 Springfield (Delco) over No. 16 Cheltenham. In the second round, No. 9 Bensalem nipped No. 8 North Penn, and in a battle of Central League rivals, No. 13 Lower Merion topped No. 4 Upper Darby.

The biggest surprise so far, even though it was No. 6 beating No. 11, was West Chester Rustin's 59-51 victory over Penn Wood, last year's district champion and state runner-up.

Most had expected the Patriots, with their size and athleticism, to gradually wear down the Golden Knights.

That never happened, even though Keith Cochran's squad committed 20 turnovers (seven in the first quarter) and had to play without 6-foot-6 junior Anthony Nash for 12 minutes after he picked up his fourth foul 23 seconds into the second half.

Dan Myers, a 6-3 junior and seventh man, provided a big spark off the bench. He totaled nine rebounds (four on offense), five points, and four assists.

During Nash's stay on the bench, Myers; 6-4, 220-pound forward Cory Blake (17 points, nine rebounds, seven assists); wing guard Zachary Butcher (10 points, two treys); and point guard Latrell Shelton (nine points, five rebounds, four assists) kept the Golden Knights (22-3) on the path to victory.

Next for the Ches-Mont League champions is Friday's 7 p.m. quarterfinal at No. 3 Plymouth Whitemarsh, the defending state titlist.

"PW's coach, Jim Donofrio, has a great system in place and gets the most out of his kids," Cochran said. "I expect this game to be a war."

The Colonials (20-4) must guard against overconfidence. Last March, in a district semifinal at Villanova, they clobbered Rustin, 79-47.

Key in the rematch will be the duel between Nash, a Division I football recruit as a wide receiver, and 6-7 senior swingman Jaylen Bond. Bond, ticketed for Pittsburgh, is averaging 19.7 points.

On the perimeter, Shelton, Butcher, and junior Cordairo Taylor must keep PW's Marcus Badger, Stephon Baker, and Sam Pygatt from penetrating and getting easy shots.

Should Nash or Blake experience foul trouble, another stellar effort from super-sub Myers wouldn't hurt, either.

Pick: PW, 60-51.

Here is a look at Friday's other Class AAAA quarterfinals:

No. 9 Bensalem (19-5) at No. 1 Chester. (22-1), 7 p.m. Bensalem rallied in the fourth quarter to beat North Penn, 36-33, Chester, the Del-Val League champion, won its first two playoff games by an average of 29 points.

The speedy Clippers, who can go nine deep, will apply length-of-the-floor pressure against the Owls. Chester's catalysts are point guard Maurice Nelson, swingman Lamon Church, 6-3 forward Erikk Wright, and 6-5 swingman Rondae Jefferson.

Pick: Chester, 73-52.

No. 13 Lower Merion (17-7) at No. 5 Neshaminy (20-4), 7 p.m. Behind 20 points from hot-shooting sophomore guard Raheem Hall, the Aces downed the Royals, 73-66. After a so-so first-round showing vs. Central Bucks East, the Redskins routed Glen Mills, 60-36.

Lower Merion boss Gregg Downer is no doubt scheming up ways to slow down junior sharpshooter and Villanova recruit Ryan Arcidiacono (19.2 ppg.).

Pick: Neshaminy, 50-43.

No. 7 Norristown (20-3) vs. No. 2 Council Rock North (23-1), at Council Rock South, 7 p.m. The Eagles have a chance at pulling off the upset if they can get the Indians to engage in a fast-paced contest.

C.R. North, far from sharp in the second round against Wissahickon, can turn to four players for scoring: swingman Arron Goodman, point guard Aaron Morgan, and forwards Charlie Anastasi and John Raymon.

Pick: C.R. North, 49-47.