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All 12 girls basketball teams from Section 1-AAA and 4-AAA — six teams from each section – have qualified for the WPIAL playoffs. Highlands (2-8), Valley (2-8) and Knoch (2-8) finished tied for fourth in Section 1. Elizabeth Forward (2-8), Ringgold (2-8) and Belle Vernon (2-8) tied for fourth in Section 4. Because the teams split their two-game season series (the WPIAL’s only tiebreaker) all are headed to the postseason. Consider these teams’ overall records: 8-13, 7-15, 7-13, 5-14 and 5-16. This certainly will raise the question: Are too many teams allowed into the playoffs?

WPIAL playoff qualifiers

Class AAAA (17 teams)

Section 1: Penn-Trafford, Kiski Area, Norwin, Hempfield

Section 2: Gateway, Woodland Hills, Fox Chapel, Plum

Section 3: Shaler, Oakland Catholic, North Allegheny, North Hills, Pine-Richland

Section 4: Mt. Lebanon, Bethel Park, Baldwin, Upper St. Clair

Class AAA (24 teams)

Section 1: Kittanning, Mars, Hampton, Valley, Highlands, Knoch

Section 2: New Castle, Ambridge, Blackhawk, Hopewell

Section 3: Indiana, Uniontown, Mount Pleasant, Laurel Highlands

Section 4: South Park, Thomas Jefferson, West Mifflin, Elizabeth Forward, Ringgold, Belle Vernon

Section 5: Montour, Chartiers Valley, South Fayette, West Allegheny

Class AA (24 teams)

Section 1: Deer Lakes, Ford City, Elderton, Freeport

Section 2: Riverside, Beaver Falls, Neshannock, New Brighton

Section 3: Greensburg Central Catholic, Jeannette, Shady Side Academy, Springdale

Section 4: Charleroi, Washington, Brownsville, Bentworth

Section 5: Seton-La Salle, Bishop Canevin, Steel Valley, Keystone Oaks

Section 6: Avonworth, Sto-Rox, OLSH, Quaker Valley

Class A (17 teams)

Section 1: Aliquippa, Rochester, Quigley, Sewickley Academy, Cornell

Section 2: Vincentian Academy, North Catholic, St. Joseph, Riverview

Section 3: Fort Cherry, Chartiers-Houston, Avella, Carmichaels

Section 4: Monessen, Serra Catholic, Geibel, California

– Chris Harlan (charlan@tribweb.com)