By Owen McCue (@owenmccue)
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It’s playoff time in District 1.
The various leagues that make up the four suburban Philadelphia counties are all transitioning from the regular season to the postseason this week, with championships early next week and the District 1 tournaments to follow.
Here’s a look at the Pioneer Athletic Conference bracket/ schedule as the league has gone to a new format this year with girls/boys double headers on each day of the postseason:
First Round
Tues., Feb. 4 @ Perkiomen Valley
GIRLS: 4) Upper Merion vs. 5) Phoenixville, 5 p.m.
BOYS: 4) Pope John Paul II vs. 5) Methacton, 7 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 5 @ Spring-Ford
GIRLS: 3) Spring-Ford vs. 6) Methacton, 5 p.m.
BOYS: 3) Phoenixville vs. 6) Owen J. Roberts, 7 p.m.
Semifinals
Thurs., Feb. 6 @ Perkiomen Valley
GIRLS: 1) Perkiomen Valley vs. Upper Merion/Phoenixville, 5 p.m.
BOYS: 1) Pottsgrove vs. PJP/Methacton, 7 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 8 @ Spring-Ford
GIRLS: 2) Pope John Paul II vs. Spring-Ford/Methacton, 1 p.m.
BOYS: 2) Spring-Ford vs. Phoenixville/Owen J. Roberts, 3 p.m.
Championship
Tues., Feb. 11 @ Perkiomen Valley
Girls at 5 p.m.
Boys at 7 p.m.
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Girls
Quinn Boettinger (above) and Perkiomen Valley are the two-time defending league champs. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)
As it has for the last two years, the PAC girls side runs through Perkiomen Valley. The two-time defending league champions are led by 1,000-point scorers Grace Galbavy (Wake Forest), Quinn Boettinger (Navy) and Bella Bacani (Jefferson) and classmates Lena Stein (West Chester) and Grace Miley. The Vikings seniors have gone to the PAC title game in each of their first three seasons. PJP went perfect in the Frontier to claim a division title and a first-round bye in its seventh straight league postseason trip. Seniors Brooke Albeck and Grace Fitzgerald, junior Rylee Derecola and sophomore Sophia Vigliotta are back from last year’s postseason squad.
PV has matched up against rival Spring-Ford in the last three title games. Senior forward Kareena Preuss headlines an incredibly balanced Rams attack that also features senior guard Devon Chamberlain (Alvernia) and sophomore guard Emma Kaercher. Methacton is back in the postseason mix after a down year a season ago with senior 1,000-point scorer Abby Arnold (Arcadia) leading the way alongside classmate Jenna Kaufman and some talented youngsters. After a one-point Methacton win over Spring-Ford early in the season, the Rams won handily in the second matchup last week.
Phoenixville didn’t let a jump to the big school Liberty Division keep it out of the PAC playoffs with junior Kayden Baratta continuing to put explosive outings and Emine Ulcay leading a strong supporting cast. In their opener, the Phantoms get a former Frontier rival Upper Merion, who they took down in crossover play this season. Senior Devon Maiden and junior Kennedy Coles are a high-powered backcourt for the Vikings.
Boys
The PAC boys side has been wildly competitive this season, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see just about anyone hoist the league championship plaque.
Deymein Doctor (above) and Pottsgrove haven't lost since Jan. 4. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)
The story of the 2024-25 campaign has been Pottsgrove, which is back in the PAC playoffs for the first time since 2018. The Falcons haven’t lost since Jan. 4 with a win over reigning champion Phoenixville highlighting the win streak. Seniors Julius Marshall and Kamal Curry and juniors Deymein Doctor and Bryce Phillips have been pushing toward this type of season. Spring-Ford won its last four league games to claim the Liberty Division and the other first-round bye. Seniors Jacob Nguyen and Tommy Kelly are the lone holdovers from the team’s 2023 championship squad, while junior guard Syaire Barnes has stepped up as one of the team’s primary offensive options.
Methacton and Pope John Paul II both split their season series with the Rams and each other. The Warriors have senior guard Sal Iemmello and juniors Wes Robinson and Mason Conrad at the forefront of their attack. Robinson hit a buzzer beater to beat PJP in the most recent matchup. Second-year coach Earl Wise helped PJP navigate the Liberty Division with an 8-2 mark behind the play of senior forward Jake Robinson, junior guards Ayden Wise and Jason Green and others.
Reigning champion Phoenixville will try to start its quest to repeat against Owen J. Roberts in another division first-round matchup. Seniors Deacon Baratta (Tufts) and Brady O’Donnell and sophomore Keron Booth are back from last year’s squad. OJR has played the Phantoms tough twice this season but lost both matchups. Senior Elijah Cline and junior Danny Walker are two of the key cogs who have helped the Wildcats back to the PAC playoffs for the first time in a long, long time.
Tag(s): Home Owen McCue High School Boys HS Pac-10 (B) PAC-10 Frontier (B) Phoenixville Pope John Paul II Pottsgrove PAC-10 Liberty (B) Methacton Owen J. Roberts Spring-Ford Girls HS PAC (G) PAC Frontier (G) Phoenixville Pope John Paul II Upper Merion PAC Liberty (G) Methacton Perkiomen Valley Spring-Ford