Basketball: Quick look at tourney fields

By Phil Anastasia

Cherry Hill East (SJ 4), Mainland (SJ 3), Haddonfield (SJ 2) and Schalick (SJ 1) earned top seeds in the upcoming boys basketball tournament, the NJSIAA announced Friday.

St. Augustine is the No. 2 seed in Non Public South A with Paul VI as the No. 3.

Holy Spirit is the No. 3 in NP B with Doane Academy as the No. 5 and Wildwood Catholic as the No. 8.

Here's a quick look:

SJ 4

CHE is the 1 but has struggled lately with four straight losses. CH East could see No. 9 seed CH West in the second round.

The crosstown rivals will meet for a second time (CHW won the first game) Saturday at the CHE Invitational.

No. 4 Rancocas Valley and No. 5 Eastern would meet in second round if form holds in first round. That would be a great second round game.

Two-time defending champion AC has a decent set-up as the No. 2 seed. CAL rival Millville is the No. 3.

SJ 3

Good luck picking this winner. Mainland is the top seed but Delsea might be the favorite as the 2 seed.

But this tourney is wide open. TR South is the 3, with Moorestown as the 4.

SJ 2

Unbeaten Haddonfield is the top seed and heavy favorite. The Bulldogs could see No. 4 Camden in the semis -- that would be a rematch of the football semis (Camden was the unbeaten home team in that game, and lost).

Defending champion Med Tech is the 3 and BCL rival Pemberton is the 2. They could clash in a high powered semifinal.

West Deptford is the 5 and will take its shot at Camden in the second round if form holds.

SJ 1

Schalick earned the top seed with a regular season win over No. 3 Pitman. Two-time champion Paulsboro, the No. 4, likely will visit Schalick in semifinals.

Pitman and No. 2 Penns Grove split in the regular season and could meet for a third time in the semis.

South A

No. 9 seed Gloucester Catholic visits No. 8 Camden Catholic in a first round game with its share of subplots. The winner gets a visit to No. 1 and two time champion St. Joe Metuchen, which features 7-foot Kentucky recruit Karl Towns.

St. Augustine got the No. 2 seed and would host No. 3 Paul VI in the semis if form holds.

Bishop Eustace got the No. 5 and will face No. 4 Red Bank Catholic in second round if first round follows the chalk. That winner likely would visit SJ Metuchen.

South B

Trenton Catholic, featuring Med Tech transfer Myles Powell and Syracuse recruit Malachi Richardson, got the No. 1 seed.

Doane Academy got the 5 and would face defending champion and No. 4 seed Roselle Catholic in second round.

But first, Doane would have to beat No. 12 St. Joe of Hammonton in an intriguing first round game. The visiting Wildcats will recognize the tight corners in the Spartans' tiny gym.

Wildwood Catholic got the 8 and will visit TCA in the second round if forms holds.

Holy Spirit is the 3. The Spartans probably will need to travel to Elizabeth and beat No. 2 the Patrick School to reach the sectional finals.

-- Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com

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