Which SEPA Teams Can Win 6A State Title?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is a review of six teams from southeastern Pennsylvania that we believe have a legitimate chance at winning this year's PIAA 6A state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have also noted a potential “roadblock” for each of these 6A bracket teams that could dash their title dreams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Archbishop Wood (12-3): </strong>The good news for Wood (16-8) is that all their key players are eligible for the state tourney, and they are battle tested. The bad news is that they have a difficult road to the championship game. Still, Catholic League POY [player_tooltip player_id='1189096' first='Jalil' last='Bethea'] (23 ppg.; 46% on 3s; multiple DI offers) is talented enough to carry this squad to the 6A Final. Plus, with DI / DII talent around him like 2024 standout [player_tooltip player_id='1483181' first='Josh' last='Reed'], sophomore studs [player_tooltip player_id='1382983' first='Deuce' last='Maxey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1188627' first='Milan' last='Dean'] as well as power forward [player_tooltip player_id='1013075' first='Carson' last='Howard'] (11 &amp; 8 per; East Stroudsburg commit), Bethea can have a so-so night and Wood will still advance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Roadblock to a ‘Chip</strong>: potential 2^nd Round game vs. D1-6A champion Plymouth Whitemarsh</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lower Merion (1-3):</strong> To be honest, LM (21-4) is a long shot to win the 6A title. However, when you combine excellent coaching with a high IQ lineup and phenomenal 3-level scorer [player_tooltip player_id='991391' first='Sam' last='Brown'] (18 ppg.; Penn commit), the Aces have a chance to defeat any team in this tourney. Rounding out LM's five-guard lineup is floor general [player_tooltip player_id='1382972' first='Justin' last='Poles'], shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='1472576' first='Sam' last='Wright'] and combo guard John Mobley. LM's floor spacing and patience is always a real issue for opponents in a single elimination tournament like states.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Roadblock to a ‘Chip</strong>: potential 2^nd Round game vs. PCL Champion Roman Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Plymouth Whitemarsh (1-1): </strong><strong>Plymouth Whitemarsh (24-4; D1-6A Champions; Suburban One League champions) plays an </strong>up-tempo, high energy and tenacious brand of basketball. It is entertaining for fans and a nightmare for opponents. On the perimeter, stretch-4 [player_tooltip player_id='1188211' first='Qudire' last='Bennett'] (19 ppg. in Districts), scoring combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='1123895' first='Chase' last='Coleman'] (19.5 ppg. in District play) and point-god [player_tooltip player_id='1116013' first='Jaden' last='Colzie'] (12 ppg. in D1-6A action) provide the buckets. Meanwhile athletic wing [player_tooltip player_id='1589161' first='Jahseir' last='Sayles'] and power forward Lincoln Sharpe(6'5”)clean the glass at both ends and anchor a staunch defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Roadblock to a ‘Chip</strong>: potential 2^nd Round game vs. PCL contender Archbishop Wood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reading (3-1): </strong>This past weekendsuperstar point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1378453' first='Ruben' last='Rodriguez'] (2x Berks POY; Rider commit) led Reading to its third straight District 3-6A title. But this group wants more and they ae talented enough to make a deep 6A tourney run. Senior shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='1279628' first='Aris' last='Rodriguez'] (14 ppg. 45 3PM) is a creative scorer who has registered multiple 30-spots this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1382975' first='Myles' last='Grey'] (13 ppg.) is another senior who college coaches should be calling. Keep an eye on junior guard Yadiel Cruz. He posted a breakout season this winter and will be a major factor during states.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Roadblock to a ‘Chip</strong>: potential Quarter Final game vs. Erie; potential Final Four game vs. District 1 runner up Spring Ford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Roman Catholic (12-1): </strong>Unfortunately for Roman, preseason transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1577636' first='Jermai' last='Stewart-Herring'] (starter averaging 13 ppg.) was deemed ineligible for the state tourney by the PIAA. However Roman has the star power as well as the depth to overcome Stewart-Herring's absence. Superstar guard [player_tooltip player_id='991334' first='Xzayvier' last='Brown'] (16 ppg.; St. Joe's commit) and 2025 standout power forward [player_tooltip player_id='1188620' first='Shareef' last='Jackson'] (11 ppg. &amp; 8 rpg.) will be options one and two. Point-forward [player_tooltip player_id='1116024' first='Anthony' last='Finkley'] (9 ppg., 5 rpg. &amp; 4 apg.; St. Joe's commit) and wing [player_tooltip player_id='1400497' first='Erik' last='Oliver-Bush'] (8 ppg. &amp; 5 rpg.) are more than capable of stepping up their scoring production to compensate for the loss of Stewart-Herring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Roadblock to a ‘Chip</strong>: potential Final Four game vs. Plymouth Whitemarsh or Archbishop Wood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Spring Ford (1-2): </strong>This seasonSpring Ford's up-tempo, 3-point happy offense pushed them to 25 wins and a runner-up finish in the District 1-6A tournament. The bulk of their point production comes from the elite backcourt duo ofshooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='1460771' first='Jacob' last='Nguyen'] (16 ppg.; 61 3PM) and combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='1281774' first='EJ' last='Campbell'] (12.5 ppg.). Nguyen is a walking bucket. Campbell plays a downhill, attacking style of basketball. Rock steady floor general Caleb Little brings poise and composure when needed. 6'4” sophomore Tommy Kelly is an underrated option for SF. Unfortunately, SF was dealt a brutal path to the 6A title contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Roadblock to a ‘Chip</strong>: 1^st Round game vs. Central York (22-7); potential Quarter Final game vs. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (District 7 champions); potential Final Four game vs. Reading (District 3 champions)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->