The Wyoming Area boys earned a home game, but it is the Pittston Area boys who carry momentum into the District 2 basketball playoffs, which begin Tuesday.
District 2 plans to post official brackets and schedules for its tournaments Sunday, but with the boys regular season already concluded Wednesday and the girls done Friday night, it is possible to project the pairings before the final announcement.
Barring any unexpected corrections or changes to the final ratings, the format that was announced in advance can be used to determine where teams will be playing in the opening round as they try to advance toward championship games at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza Feb. 25-29.
Wyoming Area has landed a quarterfinal home game in Class 4A boys while Old Forge will get a home game in Class 2A girls.
Both Pittston Area teams, the Wyoming Area girls and Old Forge boys will also be in the tournament.
A look at each of the anticipated matchups:
CLASS 5A BOYS
Pittston Area (9-13) is the sixth seed in a seven-team tournament, giving the Patriots the good fortune of being on the opposite half of the bracket from unbeaten, defending champion Abington Heights.
The Patriots will go to Crestwood Tuesday night to face a Comets team they have lost to twice.
The teams, however, are moving in different directions than when Crestwood (14-8) won the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 opener 46-38 at Pittston Area Jan. 4 and took the rematch 45-39 at home Jan. 24.
Pittston Area started out 4-3, lost 10 of its next 11, then won four straight.
The four-game winning streak represents the only games played with Silvio Giardina in the starting lineup after missing 16 of the first 18 games while the all-star guard was recovering from a knee injury. The Patriots allowed just 40 points per game in the winning streak after giving up more than 52 in the previous 11.
Crestwood had won 12 of 14 before losing four out of five to end the regular season.
If Pittston Area wins, it likely will be at Dallas Thursday. Second-seeded Dallas is hosting West Scranton Thursday.
CLASS 4A BOYS
Wyoming Area finished in a first-place tie in WVC Division 2, but a Monday playoff loss to Holy Redeemer kept the Warriors from claiming their first division title since 1971.
The Warriors also lost a WVC Tournament game at Wilkes-Barre Area Thursday.
After losing just four times in the first 16 games, the Warriors (16-8) are 4-4 in the last eight and hit the district playoffs coming off two straight conference playoff losses.
The Warriors host sixth-seeded Berwick (5-17) Tuesday after claiming the third seed among 10 teams chasing the eight berths.
Berwick is 1-1 against WVC Division 2 teams while Wyoming Area is 0-2 against the Bulldogs’ Division 1 opponents.
If Wyoming Area wins Tuesday, the next step likely will be a Thursday semifinal trip to Scranton Prep, which has made the finals seven of the eight years they have been held at the arena and has won every time.
The second-seeded Cavaliers (13-9) host seventh-seeded Hanover Area (6-16) Tuesday.
Valley View (17-5) is the top seed.
CLASS 3A BOYS
Old Forge (12-10) is the fifth seed in an eight-team field and will play at fourth-seeded Carbondale (14-8) Wednesday.
Rival and top-seed Riverside (19-3) awaits Friday, barring an upset by eighth-seeded Wyoming Seminary (4-18).
OTHER BOYS
Holy Cross (19-3) is the top seed in Class 2A.
Scranton (18-4) leads the field for the District 2-4 Class 6A Subregional.
Susquehanna (11-11) is the top District 2 team as the six-team District 2-11 Class A Subregional. The Sabers are the fourth seed and facing a potential semifinal with top-seeded East Stroudsburg Notre Dame (15-6).
CLASS 5A GIRLS
Defending champion Pittston Area (12-10) is the sixth seed in an eight-team field where all but one entry has a winning record.
The Lady Patriots will be at third-seeded Abington Heights (16-6) Wednesday.
The game is a rematch of the last two finals. Abington Heights has been to all eight finals and has won six, but Pittston Area took last year’s matchup.
The winner will play in Friday’s semifinals either at second-seeded Dallas (18-6) or home against Wallenpaupack (12-10).
CLASS 4A GIRLS
Wyoming Area and Berwick each finished 6-16.
Berwick landed the fourth seed and, with it, the home court in their Wednesday quarterfinal meeting. Wyoming Area is the fifth seed.
The winner goes to top-seeded Scranton Prep (17-5) Friday. The defending champion Classics have been to seven finals and won five titles in eight years at the arena.
CLASS 2A GIRLS
Old Forge (11-11) is the third-seed in a six-team field and will host Holy Cross (7-15) Tuesday.
The winner will play at defending champion Montrose Thursday. The Lady Meteors (12-9) have a quarterfinal bye after going to the state semifinals last year.
OTHER GIRLS
Holy Redeemer (18-5) is the top seed over defending state champion Dunmore (19-3) in Class 3A. Both teams are division champions.
Hazleton Area (19-4) is the top seed in the District 2-4 Class 6A Subregional and Mountain View (18-4) is the top seed in District 2-4 Class A. Lackawanna Division 4 champion Mountain View played in the state semifinals last season.