By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/28/09
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) playoffs heat up Saturday with quarterfinal action. This week’s Phillylacrosse.com Boys’ Rankings:
1. La Salle (18-4) – The District 12 champion Explorers had little trouble with Central Bucks East in their first-round victory. Now the stakes get higher as they meet District 1 runner-up Downingtown East at Harriton at 3 p.m. Last week: No. 1.
2. Conestoga (22-1) – The District 1 champion Pioneers looked their typical dominant selves in a 13-7 first-round win over Garnet Valley. Next is District 11 champ Emmaus at Harriton at 1 p.m. Last week: No. 3.
3. St. Joseph’s Prep (16-2) – The Hawks gave La Salle all it could handle in last Thursday’s 5-4 loss in the District 12 title game. Right now, that’s little consolation as it left them out of the PIAA playoffs. Last week: No. 2.
4. Haverford School (16-8) – The Fords finished strong as Inter-Ac League Postseason champions and regular-season co-champions. Call it a successful season. Last week: No. 5.
5. Downingtown East (20-3) – The Cougars face the ultimate test Saturday against La Salle. Last week: No. 4.
6. Malvern Prep (11-9) – The Friars came on strong late in the year after many injuries and gave Haverford a run for Inter-Ac honors. Last week: No. 6.
7. Emmaus (19-4) – The Green Hornets proved a District 11 team can contend with their 7-5 first-round win over Lower Merion. But now they must raise they level against Conestoga. Last week: No. 7.
8. Springfield-Delco (18-5) – The Cougars clearly got the best state draw by being the District 1 third-place finisher. After dispatching District 3 champ Hempfield, 10-1, now they get District 3 third-place finisher Carlisle at Penn Manor High in Millersville at 2 p.m. Last week: No. 8.
9. Central Bucks East (16-6) – The Patriots ran into a buzzsaw against La Salle. Still, they won another league crown and took fourth in by far the deepest district; nice year!. Last week: No. 9.
10. Lower Merion (17-6) – The Aces ended a solid season on a tough note as an injury (to Jordan Wolf) and mistakes hurt badly in the loss to Emmaus. But the fifth-place showing in District 1 is admirable. Last week: NR.
Teams to watch (in alphabetical order): Abington, Episcopal Academy, Garnet Valley, Hatboro-Horsham, Owen J. Roberts, Radnor, Unionville, Upper Dublin, West Chester East.
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