Archbishop Carroll’s Alexis Eberz looks to shoot in a PIAA Class 6A playoff game against Council Rock South on March 7. (PETE BANNAN/MediaNews Group)
By Matt Smith
Only two teams from Delaware County are still standing in the PIAA basketball playoffs, and if this postseason feels like it’s dragging, you’re not imagining things.
A scheduling conflict with Cirque du Soleil at Hershey’s Giant Center forced the PIAA to hit the pause button after last weekend’s quarterfinals. That means after this weekend’s semifinal matchups, teams will have to wait another full week before the championship games tip off from March 20-23.
Archbishop Carroll and Garnet Valley are hoping to punch their tickets to Hershey once the circus leaves town. Here’s a breakdown of their matchups in the Class 6A semifinals Friday.
Arch. Carroll vs. Perkiomen Valley at Plymouth Whitemarsh, 7:30 p.m.
The Patriots (20-9) are where they expected to be, which is on the doorstep of another state championship appearance. Two years removed from winning it all in Class 6A, Carroll once again finds itself facing mighty Perk Valley, a team it knocked off en route to the 2023 title.
For Perk Valley, the pressure to win is enormous. The Vikings (28-3) have dominated District 1, winning three straight championships, including last month against Garnet Valley. But they’ve stumbled in states the past two seasons, losing to Carroll two years ago and Cardinal O’Hara last March. This game will go a long way in shaping the legacy of the Vikings, who boast arguably the strongest starting five left in the 6A tournament.
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