The WPIAL released its boys and girls basketball playoff brackets on Monday, as more than two dozen Westmoreland County squads learned their postseason paths. The Jeannette boys, the defending WPIAL Class 2A champs, earned the top seed in their bracket, while fellow defending champions Greensburg Central Catholic girls and Belle Vernon Area boys received the third and eighth seeds in their respective brackets.

On the boys side in Class 6A, Hempfield Area garnered the No. 5 seed after finishing in third place in Section 2 at 8-6. As a result, the Spartans will play fourth-seeded Seneca Valley on Thursday, Feb. 19 at a time and location to be determined. Also in the bracket, Norwin received the ninth seed, as the Knights went 6-8 from Section 2, finishing in a tie for fifth. The Knights will play at No. 8 Fox Chapel Area at 7 p.m. next Monday.

In the 5A field, Franklin Regional was seeded eighth, as they finished as runner-up in Section 1 at 9-5. The Panthers will welcome No. 9 Shaler Area next Tuesday at 7 p.m. Penn-Trafford received the No. 13 seed, courtesy of a third-place finish from Section 1 with a mark of 8-6. Thus, the Panthers will face homestanding and fourth-seeded Moon Area at 7 p.m. next Tuesday. Additionally, Greater Latrobe secured a spot by finishing in a tie for fourth place from the section with a record of 7-7. The Wildcats, seeded No. 14, host No. 19 Mars Area in a preliminary-round matchup at 7 p.m. Thursday.

In 4A, Derry Area collected the fourth seed, as the Trojans won Section 3 with a record of 10-2. As a result, DA will play host to No. 13 Deer Lakes at 7 p.m. Friday. Moreover, the Leopards, who tied for second in Section 3, host No. 9 Burrell on Friday at 7 p.m. The Buccaneers placed third with a mark of 6-6 in Section 1. Lastly, Greensburg Salem received the No. 12 seed by tying for fourth in Section 3 at 5-7. The Golden Lions will play at No. 5 Hopewell on Friday at 7 p.m.

The 3A bracket is highlighted by Southmoreland, which earned the fifth seed. The Scotties, who went 10-0 to win Section 4, host No. 12 Washington next Tuesday at 7 p.m. Ligonier Valley also qualified, collecting the No. 11 seed after a third-place finish in Section 4 at 6-4. The Rams will face homestanding No. 6 seed Keystone Oaks next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

In 2A, the Jayhawks earned the top seed by going 14-0 in Section 1. Next Monday, the Jayhawks will host the winner of No. 16 Brentwood and No. 17 Beth-Center. Additionally, Greensburg Central Catholic punched its ticket as the No. 18 seed, placing fifth in Section 1. The Centurions will play at Union Area at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Lastly in 1A, Monessen is in as the No. 4 seed and will host fifth seed Aquinas Academy next Wednesday at 7 p.m.

On the girls side in Class 6A, Norwin was seeded second as a result of a second-place finish in Section 2 at 8-2. Consequently, the Knights will host No. 7 Hempfield Area on Friday, Feb. 20. The Spartans tied for fourth in Section 2 with a mark of 3-7.

In 5A, Penn-Trafford received the sixth seed, tying for the Section 2 title at 11-1. The Warriors will play host to No. 11 Franklin Regional on Friday at 7 p.m. The Panthers went 7-5 to finish fourth in Section 1. Moreover, Greater Latrobe was seeded No. 10 after placing third in Section 2 at 8-4. The Wildcats will play at seventh seed Fox Chapel Area at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Kiski Area also qualified as the No. 16 seed, as the Cavaliers finished in fourth in Section 2 with a record of 5-7. As a result, the Cavs will trek to play top-seeded and host South Fayette at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

In the 4A bracket, Belle Vernon Area earned the fourth seed, winning Section 3 with a mark of 13-1. Consequently, the Leopards welcome No. 13 Lincoln Park next Monday at 7 p.m. Burrell received the ninth seed, placing third in Section 1 with a record of 8-4. The Buccaneers will play at No. 8 Hampton next Monday at 7 p.m. Mount Pleasant Area, which took fourth place in Section 3 at 7-7, garnered the No. 11 seed. The Vikings will play at No. 6 Beaver Area at 7 p.m. next Monday.

The field in 3A features Greensburg Central Catholic, which was seeded third after finishing at 12-2 and the runner-up in Section 2. The Centurions play No. 14 Mohawk at Fox Chapel Area High School at 6 p.m. Friday.

In 2A, Jeannette collected the No. 10 seed, as the Jayhawks finished in a three-way tie for second place in Section 4. As a result, Jeannette will play at seventh seed Burgettstown next Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Finally in Class 1A, Monessen garnered the No. 10 seed, producing a matchup at No. 7 Sewickley Academy next Monday at 6 p.m.