When the WPIAL Playoffs begin for basketball, the top teams from each division play each other to find out who is the best in the WPIAL. The top finishers in the WPIAL tournament then move onto the PIAA tournament to compete for the state championship. But there is never a true champion as six teams can claim they’re “WPIAL Champions” because of the six classifications.

Inspired by March Madness season, here is a model of what a 64-team tournament would look like in the WPIAL:

– 2021-22 basketball season

– The bracket combines all classifications (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A).

– The rankings are based on the MaxPreps formula. It takes into account team record and strength of schedule.

– Four teams are grouped with the same seed. Of that same seed, the four get separated into geographical regions of Western Pennsylvania.

– The bracket is formatted with the 1-seed playing the 16-seed, 2 vs. 15, 3 vs. 14, etc. The top finisher from each region will enter a Final Four.

NORTH Regional

1. New Castle (22-1)
2. Mars (21-3)
3. Lincoln Park (17-7)
4. Butler (13-10)
5. Deer Lakes (16-6)
6. Union Area (22-2)
7. Shady Side Academy (17-6)
8. Hampton (13-11)
9. Burrell (15-9)
10. Neshannock (18-5)
11. Central Valley (10-9)
12. Leechburg (18-5)
13. Armstrong (11-11)
14. Beaver (9-13)
15. Beaver Falls (10-11)
16. Laurel (13-9)

SOUTH Regional

1. North Hills (23-0)
2. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (18-5)
3. Laurel Highlands (23-0)
4. Gateway (15-5)
5. Our Lady of Sacred Heart (21-0)
6. Belle Vernon (19-4)
7. Bethel Park (16-7)
8. Washington (17-3)
9. Greensburg Central Catholic (18-3)
10. Imani Christian (15-6)
11. Canon-McMillan (12-9)
12. Norwin (9-11)
13. Peters Township (8-14)
14. Uniontown (14-9)
15. Hempfield (7-16)
16. Brentwood (15-8)

EAST Regional

1. Fox Chapel (22-1)
2. North Allegheny (15-9)
3. Penn Hills (18-5)
4. Highlands (18-6)
5. Carlynton (20-2)
6. Avonworth (17-6)
7. South Fayette (14-9)
8. Shaler (14-10)
9. Kiski (15-8)
10. Freeport (13-10)
11. West Shamokin (14-7)
12. Chartiers Valley (8-15)
13. Penn-Trafford (9-13)
14. Monessen (19-5)
15. Woodland Hills (8-15)
16. Franklin Regional (7-14)

WEST Regional

1. Quaker Valley (22-0)
2. Montour (20-4)
3. Mount Lebanon (16-8)
4. Pine-Richland (12-12)
5. Upper St. Clair (16-8)
6. Seneca Valley (9-13)
7. Fort Cherry (22-2)
8. Seton-La Salle (17-4)
9. Blackhawk (12-10)
10. South Allegheny (17-6)
11. Sto-Rox (12-8)
12. West Allegheny (10-12)
13. Keystone Oaks (11-11)
14. McKeesport (8-13)
15. Moon (7-14)
16. Elizabeth Forward (14-9)

*Record is a factor but doesn’t solely determine the rankings

Possible Venues

• First and Second Rounds: Site of the Higher Seed
• North Regional Semifinals and Championship: Slippery Rock University
• South Regional Semifinals and Championship: Duquesne University
• East Regional Semifinals and Championship: Seton Hill University
• West Regional Semifinals and Championship: Robert Morris University
• Final Four and WPIAL Championship: University of Pittsburgh

A 64-team bracket would take six rounds to complete. The WPIAL could cut the regular season length a few games short, creating the time for six rounds.

To determine which teams earn a bid to the PIAA tournament, the WPIAL could take the top finishers from each class in the 64-team bracket. A tiebreaker would be solved by giving the bid to the team with the highest original seed.

There would be unique matchups in a 64-team bracket that aren’t typically played in the regular season. Teams from small schools would have the opportunity to take on larger schools and vice versa. Fans in the WPIAL could even fill out brackets and predict which schools will go the distance. A 64-team bracket would bring all the classes of the WPIAL together and undoubtedly determine the best team.