Boys Basketball: Radnor, Chichester lead Delco playoff contingent

The District 1 boys basketball brackets are out, and for the first time in decades, so is Chester.

The Clippers finished 26th in the final Class 6A standings, outside the 24-team field. Chester (12-10) has only missed states, much less districts, three times in the last four decades.

Eleven Delaware County teams will be in the postseason, however, led by the top two seeds in the 5A field. Brackets were unveiled Sunday at the seeding meeting and remain unofficial until Monday.

Unbeaten Radnor (23-0) and Del Val champion Chichester (19-3) are first and second, respectively. Both receive first-round byes, opening the tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 22. They need to win only one game to reach the semifinals and be among the six teams to make the PIAA tournament.

Radnor will get Delco opposition, with No. 8 Sun Valley (15-7) taking on No. 9 Marple Newtown (11-11) in Friday’s first round. The loser of that game sees its season end. Radnor beat Sun Valley, 53-28, in the quarterfinal round last year.

Chichester awaits the winner of No. 7 Holy Ghost Prep (12-10) and No. 10 Upper Moreland (13-9). Radnor, Marple Newtown and Chichester qualified for states last year.

Four Delco squads are in the 24-team Class 6A field, from which 12 qualify for states. Garnet Valley (15-8) earned the final first-round bye as the eight seed. It awaits the winner of No. 9 Methacton (15-7) and No. 24 Conestoga (11-11) in the first round on Feb. 21. Garnet Valley made states last year as the No. 24 seed, despite losing to then top-seeded Methacton in overtime in the quarterfinals. The Jaguars swept the season series against Conestoga.

The other three Delco teams have difficult paths to states. Penn Wood (15-6), which made states last year, host No. 19 Norristown (10-11) in the first round Friday night. No. 21 seed Haverford (12-10) seeks a second straight states spot when it travels to No. 12 William Tennent (16-6). Upper Darby (17-7) drew the 10th seed and hosts No. 23 Cheltenham (12-10).

One win will get Delco Christian to states in Class 2A. The Knights (12-10) are the third seed and will travel to No. 2 Church Farm (17-4) for the semifinals on Feb. 21, with two teams off to states. The Griffins beat DC, 76-53, on Jan. 31.

Two of the four teams in the Class A field make states. Chester Charter Scholars Academy earned the top seed at 17-5. They host Plumstead Christian (10-12) on Feb. 21. Christian Academy (10-12) is the third seed. It visits No. 2 Phil-Mont Christian (15-7).