KEITH GROLLER'S BASKETBALL PICKS

Last week we gave you a rundown on how District 11 boys teams have fared in the state tournament since 1991. You saw a lot of 1-1s there, indicating our teams often lost in the second round of the PIAA's version of "March Madness."

We'll see if any of the three teams from The Morning Call coverage area -- Marian in A, Notre Dame in 2A and Liberty in 4A -- can get to the middle weekend of the tournament, which to me, is the benchmark of a successful state tournament run.

All three have very difficult tests.

You've got Marian and Notre Dame playing defending state champs in Girard College and Imhotep Charter and you've got Liberty playing the team that eliminated it and Parkland from last year's tournament en route to the state finals.

How do we see the boys games unfolding?

Here's a look at the entire boys bracket:

CLASS A

Reading CCHS (Dist. 3 champ) over Math, Civics and Sciences (Dist. 12 champ)

Girard College (Dist. 1 champ) over Marian (Dist. 11 champ)...just too much speed and size for the fundamentally-sound Colts.

Greenwood (Dist. 3, No. 2) over Old Forge (Dist. 2 champ)

Lebanon Cath. (Dist. 3, No. 3 ) over Mansfield (Dist. 4 champ)

Sewickley Academy (Dist. 7 champ) over Elk County Christian (Dist. 9 No. 2)

Tussey Mountain (Dist. 5 No. 2) over Rocky Grove (Dist. 10 champ)

Lincoln Park (Dist. 7 No. 2) over Southern Fulton (Dist. 5 champ)

Conemaugh Valley (Dist. 6 champ) over Neshannock (Dist. 7, No. 5).

CLASS 2A

Imhotep Charter (Dist. 12 champ) over Notre Dame-GP (Dist. 11 champ)...closer than you'd probably expect however.

Hughesville (Dist. 4 champ) over Devon Prep (Dist. 1 No. 2)

West Phila. Catholic (Dist. 12 No. 2) over Holy Cross (Dist. 2 champ)

Strawberry Mansion (Dist. 12 No. 4) over Pius X (Dist. 1 champ)

North Catholic (Dist. 7 champ) over Shady Side Academy (Dist. 7 No. 4)

South Fayette (Dist. 7 No. 3) over Washington (Dist. 7 No. 5)

Rochester (Dist. 7 No. 2) over Beaver Falls (Dist. 7, No. 7)

Mercyhurst Prep (Dist. 10 champ) over Greensburg CC (Dist. 7 No. 6)

CLASS 3A

Eastern York (Dist. 3 champ) over Dobbins (Dist. 12 No. 2)

Abington Heights (Dist. 2 champ) over Mifflinburg (Dist. 4 No. 2)

Neumann-Goretti (Dist. 12 champ) over Holy Redeemer (Dist. 2, No. 2)

Archbishop Carroll (Dist. 12 No. 3) over Danville (Dist. 4 champ)

Lancaster Cath. (Dist. 3 No. 2) over York Suburban (Dist. 3 No. 6)

Chartiers Valley (Dist. 7 champ) over West Allegheny (Dist. 7 No. 3)

Bradford (Dist. 9 champ) over West Mifflin (Dist. 7 No. 4)

Hampton (Dist. 7 No. 2) over Montour (Dist. 7 No. 6)

CLASS 4A

Penn Wood (Dist. 1 champ) over Neshaminy (Dist. 1 No. 6)

Pennsbury (Dist. 1 No. 5) over Scranton (Dist. 2 champ)

La Salle College (Dist. 12 champ) over Hempfield (Dist. 3 No. 2)

Liberty (Dist. 11, No. 2) over York (Dist. 3, No. 4 )....Maybe a homer call, but I've been told York doesn't play great defense and the Hurricanes may be able to exploit some things it couldn't last year. Foul shooting could tip balance to Bearcats however.

Plymouth Whitemarsh (Dist. 1 No. 2) over Frankford (Dist. 12 No. 4)

Reading (Dist. 3 champ) over Roman Catholic (Dist. 12 No. 3)

Mount Lebanon (Dist. 7 champ) over North Allegheny (Dist. 7 No. 4)

Gateway (Dist. 7 No. 2) over Hollidaysburg (Dist. 6 champ)

FROM KEITH GROLLER