The second round of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament is set to continue with two games still on the Saturday schedule, as of 6 a.m.
After other games were postponed to Sunday, the action still includes one game each in Class 3A boys and Class 4A girls.
NEPABasketball.com editor Tom Robinson, who covers and writes about District 2 basketball for the website, is once again predicting the outcomes of games throughout the state tournament after also picking all the games in the District 2 tournament.
His predictions for the Saturday games are below.
PIAA PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS
By Tom Robinson
CLASS 3A SECOND-ROUND BOYS GAME
Holy Redeemer by 4 over Executive Education
CLASS 4A SECOND-ROUND GIRLS GAME
Jim Thorpe by 11 over Lake-Lehman
WHAT TO EXPECT
Common opponents suggest that Holy Redeemer and Executive Education are close to evenly matched. Each won by 17 points at Wilkes-Barre Area and each also lost at Scranton along with winning at home over Williamsport. Jim Thorpe and Lake-Lehman is an uncommon state matchup of teams that have already seen each other. Jim Thorpe has squared off with District 2’s best, losing only to Dunmore this season, and beat Lake-Lehman, 44-29, at home in January. Although Lake-Lehman is playing well late in the season, Jim Thorpe ranks as one of the top contenders for the state title.
RECAP
The two incorrect picks Friday came when the Western Wayne girls, predicted to win by four, lost by three and the Pittston Area boys, predicted to win by one, lost by six.
Friday’s PIAA boys pick: 2-1 (66.7 percent)
Thursday’s PIAA girls pick: 1-1 (50.0 percent)
Thursday’s total PIAA picks: 3-2 (60.0 percent)
PIAA state boys picks: 10-3 (76.9 percent)
PIAA state girls picks: 9-4 (69.2 percent)
PIAA state total picks: 19-7 (73.1 percent).
Total postseason boys picks: 37-7 (84.1 percent)
Total postseason girls picks: 39-6 (86.7 percent)
Total postseason picks: 76-13 (85.4 percent)
