Class AAAA
The games: Harrisburg (28-2) vs. Schenley (27-3), 7 p.m. tomorrow, Altoona; Chester (27-5) vs. Philadelphia Simon Gratz (25-6), 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, Norristown.
Noteworthy: Senior guard D.J. Kennedy leads Schenley with a 17.2 average. Senior center DeJuan Blair averages 16 and junior guard Deandre Kane 14.4. ... One of Harrisburg's key players off the bench is Zech Runkle, a 6-3 senior guard. His name is spelled Zach on the roster, but he has asked to be known as Zech, short for Zechariah, a prophet in the Bible. ... Harrisburg's only losses are to Philadelphia Prep Charter and St. Benedict's (N.J.). ... Simon Gratz is the alma mater of Rasheed Wallace (Detroit Pistons) and Aaron McKie (Los Angeles Lakers). ... Chester is the alma mater of Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan, who was a star player for the Clippers in the mid-1960s. Chester has Pitt recruit Nasir Robinson, a junior guard who had 33 points in a quarterfinal victory against West Lawn Wilson. Robinson made 16 of 21 shots from the field and grabbed 12 rebounds. Chester also has 6-7 junior Russell Johnson, who had 22 points and 13 rebounds in a 70-55 second-round victory against Southern.
Predicted winners: Schenley and Chester.
Class AAA
The games: Grove City (26-4) vs. General McLane (26-4), 7 p.m. today, Edinboro University; Greencastle-Antrim (19-11) vs. James Buchanan (26-4), 8 p.m. today, Shippensburg University.
Noteworthy: Five of Grove City's past eight games have gone into overtime, and the Eagles have won all five. ... General McLane is trying for a championship double. The school also won the PIAA Class AAA football championship and a number of players on the football team are on the basketball team, including guard Drew Astorino, a Penn State football recruit. ... James Buchanan and Greencastle-Antrim have played three times this season. James Buchanan's Shane Rife had 20 points and 10 rebounds in a quarterfinal victory against Springfield-Delco. ... Greencastle-Antrim defeated West York, 60-58, in the quarterfinals. West York was ranked No. 1 in the state. Greencastle-Antrim has brothers Jordan and Jaren Gembe and their father, Garon, is the team's coach. ... The Greencastle-Antrim-James Buchanan game is sold out.
Predicted winners: General McLane and Greencastle-Antrim.
Class AA
The games: Aliquippa (29-2) vs. Jeannette (24-4), 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, Palumbo Center; Philadelphia Imhotep Charter (22-7) vs. Philadelphia Prep Charter (25-4), 6 p.m. tomorrow, Ben Franklin.
Noteworthy: Jeannette's Terrelle Pryor averages 21.2 points and Davonte Shannon 16.7. Jerry Hall has scored in double figures five of the past six games. This is Jeannette's second semifinal appearance in school history. The other was 1974. This is Aliquippa's 13th semifinal appearance. ... Aliquippa's Jonathan Baldwin averages 21.3, Herb Pope 19.9 and Antonio Reddic 19.6. Brandon Lindsey, a Pitt football recruit, has scored 10 and 11 points the past two games. ... Philadelphia Prep Charter is the defending PIAA champion and features the Morris twins -- 6-8 Marcus and 6-9 Markieff. Both have signed with Memphis and Marcus averages 20 points a game. Prep Charter is trying to become the first team to win back-to-back Class AA titles since York Catholic in 1978-79. Point guard Jesse Morgan also has been a key. He was dismissed from the team last year. ... Prep Charter beat Imhotep Charter, 52-50 and 52-48, earlier this season. Imhotep Charter's Kashief Edwards is a 6-6 forward who has signed with Niagara. Teammates Jermaine Washington and Tamir Johnson have signed with Central Connecticut State, a Division I school in the Northeast Conference.
Predicted winners: Aliquippa and Philadelphia Prep Charter.
Class A
The games: Du Bois Central Catholic (26-3) vs. Kennedy Catholic (22-5), 7 p.m. today, Clarion University; Reading Central Catholic (27-4) vs. Scotland School (19-9), 7 p.m. today, Central Dauphin East.
Noteworthy: Kennedy Catholic is trying to reach the title game for the ninth time in 22 seasons. Kennedy Catholic starts two sophomores at guard -- Marsell Holden and Kyle Randall. Holden averages 15 ppg. ... Reading Central Catholic had only one day to get ready for the game. The Cardinals' quarterfinal game against Bishop Hoban was postponed twice because of snow and played Sunday. Reading Central Catholic beat Scotland School, 49-43, in the District 3 title game a few weeks ago. Reading Central has 6-6, 220-pound Colin Naugle, who had 24 points and 12 rebounds in a quarterfinal victory against previously undefeated Bishop Hoban. He is a Delaware football recruit. ... Scotland School has been in the championship game six times in the past 16 seasons and has won four titles. If Scotland School and Kennedy Catholic win, it will set up a rematch of the 2002 title game, won by Scotland School.
Predicted winners: Du Bois Central Catholic and Reading Central Catholic.