March 25, 2026

PIAA’s 1A–5A Basketball Problem

Over the past 17 high school basketball seasons for boys and girls, 1A–5A no-boundary schools have won a combined 107 of 138 state championships. That’s a .775 winning percentage. If we focus only on the boys’ side, the disparity is even more pronounced. Over the same period, 1A–5A no-boundary schools have won 61 of the last 69 state championships—a .884 winning percentage.

The last boundary schools to win in each classification were:

✔️ 2024 – 2A (Aliquippa)

✔️ 2021 – 3A (Loyalsock)

✔️ 2019 – 5A (Moon)

✔️ 2016 – 4A (Aliquippa)

Since 2017, there han’t been a 1A boundary school state champion. By “traditional boundary,” I do not mean charter or magnet schools, which in some cases can draw athletes from multiple school district boundaries.

On the girls’ side, no-boundary schools have won 46 of the last 69 state championships. While the disparity is not as large as on the boys’ side, it still represents a .666 winning percentage. In 5A, no-boundary schools are 10–7 over the past 17 championships. In 4A, they are 16–1. In 3A, they are 12–5. Aside from 6A, 2A is the only classification where boundary schools hold an advantage, with a 7–2 edge. However, no-boundary schools have still won six of the last nine 1A state championships.

So what about 6A, the state’s largest classification?

6A is the only classification—on both the boys’ and girls’ sides over the past 17 years—where boundary schools have won more state championships than no-boundary schools. Boys boundary schools are 11–6, while girls boundary schools are 13–4.

Why is this relevant? Because the only factor consistently preventing no-boundary dominance in 6A is large enrollment size. For example:

Male Enrollment

2026: Central Dauphin (791) vs. Imhotep Charter (273) — Central Dauphin won the championship.

2024: Parkland (1,379) eliminated Archbishop Wood (285) in the semifinals. Central York (728) went on to win the championship.

2023: Reading (2,273) vs. Roman Catholic (540) — Reading won the championship.

2021: Reading (2,273) vs. Archbishop Wood (285) — Reading won the championship.

2017: Reading (2,273) eliminated Archbishop Ryan (300) in the semifinals and went on to win the championship.

The average male enrollment of the last five boundary schools to win a championship is 1,168. The average for the last five no-boundary champions is 454. In other words, boundary schools needed to be approximately 2.5 times larger to win.

Female Enrollment

2026: Upper Dublin (487) eliminated Archbishop Carroll (297) in the semifinals and went on to win the championship.

2025: Perkiomen Valley (700) eliminated Archbishop Carroll (297) in the semifinals and went on to win the championship.

2022: Cedar Cliff (557) eliminated Archbishop Carroll (297) in the second round. Plymouth Whitemarsh (603) went on to win the championship.

2021: Nazareth (615) eliminated Archbishop Carroll (297) in the opening round. North Allegheny (1,008) went on to win the championship.

2019: Neshaminy (1,255) eliminated Cardinal O’Hara (400) in the quarterfinals. Peters Township (480) went on to win the championship.

The average female enrollment of the last five boundary champions is 655. The average for the last five no-boundary champions is 348. In other words, boundary schools needed to be roughly 30% larger to win.

I understand that creating and maintaining competitive balance between these two types of schools is a significant challenge for the PIAA, and that no solution will be perfect. However, the data suggests that post-season intervention is necessary. Regardless of one’s position on the boundary vs. no-boundary playoff debate in Pennsylvania, there is sufficient evidence across 1A–5A boys and girls basketball to conclude that boundary schools are at a competitive disadvantage. 

If you agree, join the other 3,500+ Pennsylvanian’s who’ve already signed Support PA H.B.41 - Separation of Public & Private Schools in PIAA Playoffs petition to seperate boundary and no boundary high schools during the playoffs. Sign 👇

https://www.change.org/p/separate-piaa-state-playoffs-for-boundary-and-non-boundary-schools-via-pa-hb41?recruiter=1399887815&recruited_by_id=c6e99140-f6fd-11f0-834c-1f030745b86c&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=petition_dashboard&utm_platform=ios_app&utm_medium=copylink&share_id=Lp2xSkFKzx

March 12, 2026

If there’s one coach in the area who knows how to navigate the state tournament, it’s Archbishop Wood girls varsity basketball coach Mike McDonald. 

In his 11th season leading the Lady Vikings, McDonald once again has his squad rolling in the playoffs. Wood beat Sun Valley 76-30 in its opening-round contest and North Pocono 70-31 yesterday in the second round. McDonald’s 14-12 squad is scheduled for a quarterfinal matchup Saturday, March 14 against 25-4 Bethlehem Catholic.

McDonald has an impressive career coaching record of 243-79 with six state titles.

March 10, 2026

Basketball is alive and well in Springettsbury Township, PA.

Over the past four seasons at Central York High School, head basketball coach Jeffrey Hoke and four-year starter Ryan Brown Jr. have accomplished a lot together.

In 2023, the Panthers posted a 22-7 record and were York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) champions, but fell short in districts and exited the state tournament after a first-round loss to Spring-Ford. In 2024, they ran it back YAIAA style — and then won it all. The 29-3 Central York Panthers captured the PIAA 6A state championship.

Last season, the Panthers captured their third consecutive YAIAA title and the District 3 championship, both firsts for the program. They danced again in the state tournament but were eliminated by Roman Catholic in the second round. The Panthers finished the season 28-3.

For the fourth consecutive season, the 24-4 Panthers are once again in the state tournament. Following a 59-54 first-round victory over Cheltenham, the Panthers will face their toughest test yet tomorrow night: the defending state champion Father Judge Crusaders.

Regardless of what happens tomorrow night, it has been one heck of a run for Hoke and Brown Jr. Together, the two are 103-17, and have earned three consecutive YAIAA championships, one district championship, and one state championship.

Brown Jr. is also the program’s fourth 1,000-point scorer in the past four seasons. He stands alone as the only player in program history with more than 1,100 points and 575-plus assists.

Original 📸: My Mid-Atlantic

March 9, 2026

In his first year as head coach of the Souderton High School boys basketball team, Brendan Stanton has guided an undersized squad past Archbishop Wood and into the Sweet 16 of the PIAA 6A State Tournament.

His 20-7 record shouldn’t come as a surprise, though. Anyone who has watched Stanton coach a high school game can quickly tell he knows what he’s doing.

His offense creates some of best floor spacing in District One. The spacing creates lanes for his guards to attack the basket. On top of this, his guards also do a tremendous job moving the ball to the open shooter. A backcourt that can knockdown the triple helps. Defensively, the Indians are scrappy. You can tell his kids want to play for him. 

Before arriving at Souderton, Stanton spent two seasons as a college assistant coach with the Arcadia Knights. Prior to that, he served as the head coach at Pope John Paul II for five seasons. During his time at PJP, Stanton accomplished the following:

- Named Pennsylvania Sports Writers AAAA Coach of the Year

- Two-time Pottstown Mercury All-Area Coach of the Year

- Led his team to the 2020-21 Pioneer Athletic Conference Championship

- Three conference championship game appearances

- Four PAC Frontier Division titles

- Two AAAA District 1 Championships

- A Final Four appearance in the PIAA State Tournament

Before beginning his coaching career, Stanton was a four-year member of the Gwynedd Mercy University Griffins men’s basketball team, where he served as a two-time captain and two-time recipient of the CSAC Sportsmanship Award. Stanton was also a Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area selection.

Stanton, now with 100 wins under his belt and the Indians will travel an hour northwest Wednesday night to Hamburg High School, where they will face the 23-3 Central Dauphin Rams for a 7:30 p.m. second-round matchup with a trip to the state quarterfinals on the line.

Source: Arcadia University Athletics 

Original 🎥: @will_film5