PIAA basketball playoffs: Two heavyweight fights on tap

There is a pair of intriguing, must-see matchups on tap Wednesday in the second round of the PIAA Class 6A boys' basketball tournament.

Abington will clash with St. Joseph's Prep at 7 p.m. at Archbishop Ryan, and Roman Catholic will square off against Plymouth Whitemarsh at the same time at Bensalem.

Abington, which is 23-5 overall and ranked No. 2 in Southeastern Pennsylvania by the Inquirer, is sparked by 6-foot-7 forward Eric Dixon, 6-6 wing Lucas Monroe, and guard Robbie Heath.

No. 8 St. Joseph's Prep (19-8) is guided by legendary coach Speedy Morris and likewise has a solid trio: 6-7 center Ed Croswell and guards Darius Kinnel and Kyle Thompson.

No. 5 and Catholic League champ Roman (20-6) is trying for its third state crown in four seasons. The Cahillites' headliners are 6-6 wing Seth Lundy, point guard Lynn Greer, and wings Hakim Hart and Allen Betrand.

No. 3 Plymouth Whitemarsh (28-1) is powered by 7-2 center Naheem McLeod, twins Ahmin and Ahmad Williams, fellow guard Ish Horn, and 6-4 forward Alan Glover.

Plymouth Whitemarsh was 27-0 and ranked No. 19 in the country in USA Today's Super 25 before losing to Abington, 75-73, in the District 1 final.

"PW is a terrific and well-coached team," Roman coach Matt Griffin said. "We need to protect the ball, play smart, keep [McLeod] and their other guys from crashing the offensive glass, and do the little things well."

On the girls' side, Upper Dublin (23-5) will face Garnet Valley (24-4) in a Class 6A second-round contest at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Harriton.

Upper Dublin, which stunned Catholic League titlist Cardinal O'Hara in double overtime in the first round, is led by forward Nicole Kaiser and 6-2 center Jackie Vargas. Garnet Valley is paced by forward Emily McAteer (15.5 ppg.) and wing Brianne Borcky.

Here are the second-round matchups involving area teams.

(District and seeding in parentheses.)

Tuesday

Class 5A Second Round

Penncrest (1/1) vs. Northeastern (3/3), at Garden Spot, 7:30 p.m.

Abington Heights (2/1) vs. Chester (1/4), at Bethlehem Liberty, 8 p.m.

William Penn (3/2) vs. Bonner-Prendergast (12/1), at Reading's Geigle Complex, 7:30 p.m.

Milton Hershey (3/1) vs. Bishop Shanahan (1/2), at Reading's Geigle Complex, 7:30 p.m.

Archbishop Carroll (12/3) vs. Lampeter-Strasburg (3/6), at Governor Mifflin Intermediate School, 7:30 p.m.

Class 4A First Round

Conwell-Egan (12/2) vs. Bethlehem Catholic (11/1), at Souderton, 7 p.m.

Imhotep Charter (12/1) vs. Scranton Prep (2/1), at Bethlehem Liberty, 6:30 p.m.

Overbrook (12/3) vs. Middletown (3/3), at Garden Spot, 6 p.m.

Class A First Round

Plumstead Christian (1/3) vs. Sullivan County (4/3), at Pottsville's Martz Hall, 6 p.m.

Millville (4/2) vs. Faith Christian (1/1), at Pottsville's Martz Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Lourdes Regional (4/1) vs. Sankofa Freedom (12/1), at Hamburg, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday

Class 6A Second Round

Abington (1/1) vs. St. Joseph's Prep (12/3), at Archbishop Ryan, 7 p.m.

Lincoln (12/1) vs. Hempfield (3/3), at Pottstown, 7:30 p.m.

Lower Merion (1/3) vs. vs. Neshaminy (1/9), at Council Rock South, 7:30 p.m.

Reading (3/1) vs. Central Bucks West (1/4), at Bethlehem Liberty, 7:30 p.m.

Roman Catholic (12/2) vs. Plymouth Whitemarsh (1/2), at Bensalem, 7 p.m.

Class 3A Second Round

Neumann-Goretti (12/1) vs. Wyoming Seminary (2/1), at Bethlehem Freedom, 7:30 p.m.

Bishop McDevitt (12/3) vs. Notre Dame-Green Pond (11/1), at Council Rock South, 6 p.m.

Valley Forge Military Academy (1/1) vs. Loyalsock (4/2), at Milton Hershey, 7:30 p.m.

Dobbins (12/2) vs. Trinity (3/1), at Governor Mifflin Intermediate School, 7:30 p.m.

Class 2A Second Round

Math, Civics & Sciences (12/1) vs. Dock Mennonite (1/2), at Harriton, 6 p.m.

Constitution (12/2) vs. Bishop Guilfoyle (6/1), at Cumberland Valley, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday

Class 6A Second Round

Souderton (1/1) vs. Easton (11/3), at Spring-Ford, 6 p.m.

Plymouth Whitemarsh (1/6) vs. Neshaminy (1/8), at Council Rock South, 6 p.m.

Upper Dublin (1/9) vs. Garnet Valley (1/3), at Harriton, 7 p.m.

Abington (1/5) vs. Bethlehem Freedom (11-1), at Spring-Ford, 7:30 p.m.

Council Rock North (1/7) vs. Central Bucks South (1/2), at Council Rock South, 7:30 p.m.

Class 3A Second Round

Imhotep Charter (12/1) vs. North Schuylkill (11/1), at Bethlehem Liberty, 5 p.m.

St. Basil (1/1) vs. Holy Redeemer (2/2), at Bethlehem Freedom, 7:30 p.m.

Neumann-Goretti (12/2) vs. Loyalsock (4/3), at Central Dauphin East, 6 p.m.

Class 2A Second Round

West Catholic (12/1) vs. Southern Columbia (4/1), at Hamburg, 6 p.m.

Mahanoy Area (11/1) vs. Sacred Heart (1/1), at Bethlehem Freedom, 6 p.m.

Wednesday

Class 5A Second Round

Archbishop Wood (12/1) vs. Twin Valley (3/3), at Harriton, 7:30 p.m.

Susquehannock (3/4) vs. West Chester Henderson (1/1), at Garden Spot, 7:30 p.m.

Lower Dauphin (3/2) vs. Archbishop Carroll (12/3), at Governor Mifflin Intermediate School, 6 p.m.

Class 4A Second Round

Lower Moreland (1/2) vs. Scranton Prep (2/1), at Bethlehem Liberty, 6 p.m.

Bonner-Prendergast (12/1) vs. Bethlehem Catholic (11/1), at Spring-Ford, 7:30 p.m.

Gwynedd Mercy (1/1) vs. Greater Nanticoke (2/2), at Hamburg, 5:30 p.m.

Class A Second Round

The Christian Academy (1/3) vs. Benton (4/2), at Bethlehem Freedom, 6 p.m.

Jenkintown (1/1) vs. Linden Hall (3/2), at Spring-Ford, 6 p.m.