Abington heats up down the stretch to secure district spot, plus a look at the pairings

Abington has learned to help itself.

The Galloping Ghosts needed to get hot down the stretch to make the District One Class 6A playoffs. And it wasn't going to be easy.

With an NBA-like stretch run of five games in six days, it was time to strap up and play ball, and Abington did just that.

Thursday, the Ghosts defeated visiting Quakertown 54-36. On Friday, they closed out the regular season with a 56-31 triumph over Hatboro-Horsham to push their winning streak to five straight. The win gave them the No. 23 spot in the 24-team District One 6A tournament.

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On Friday, Abington travels to No. 10 Conestoga to begin the district tournament. The winner of that game will play at No. 7 West Chester East, which has a bye, on Feb. 22.

"I told them to keep on fighting, that we're in it as long as they keep winning," said Abington head coach Charles Grasty. "This is a beautiful experience. I told them that we're with them. They've taken to what I've told them, and you can see the results. It's very encouraging."

Abington started shaky but was up 30-21 at halftime. A 17-9 run in the third pushed them to a 47-28 unshakeable advantage.

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"We did what we had to do," said senior Derrius Lucas, who led Abington with 12 points, including 8-for-12 from the free throw line, against Quakertown. Against Hatboro-Horsham, he led the Ghosts with 16 points. "We needed to win."

And they did.

Here's a look at the rest of the District One tournament field:

Note: Dock Mennonite is in Class 3A, which plays in a tournament with District 11 teams. That bracket hasn't been released yet. Dock (19-3) currently holds the No. 2 spot in the power rankings.

Class 6A

(12 teams advance to the PIAA tournament)

No. 17 Penn Wood (12-6) at No. 16 Pennsbury (13-6) on Feb. 18. The winner will play at top-seeded Methacton (20-2) on Feb. 22.

No. 24 Garnet Valley (14-8) at No. 9 Upper Dublin (16-6) on Feb. 18. The winner will play at No. 8 Spring-Ford (13-7) on Feb. 22.

No. 20 West Chester Henderson (13-7) at No. 13 Great Valley (16-5) on Feb. 18. The winner will play at No. 4 Bensalem (17-5) on Feb. 22.

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No. 21 Wissahickon (14-8) at No. 12 Norristown (16-6) on Feb. 18. The winner will play at No. 5 Haverford (16-4) on Feb. 22.

No. 18 Neshaminy at No. 15 Council Rock North on Feb. 18. The winner will play at No. 2 Lower Merion (18-3) on Feb. 22.

No. 23 Abington at No. 10 Conestoga on Feb. 18. The winner will play at No. 7 West Chester East on Feb. 22.

No. 19 Perkiomen Valley (15-7) at No. 14 Central Bucks East (15-7) on Feb. 18. The winner will play at Cheltenham on Feb. 22.

No. 22 Plymouth-Whitemarsh (15-7) at Central Bucks South (15-7) on Feb. 18. The winner play at Downingtown West (16-5) on Feb. 22.

Boys 5A

(Six teams advance to the PIAA tournament)

No. 9 Holy Ghost Prep (13-9) at No. 8 Sun Valley (14-8) on Feb 18. The winner will play at No. 1 Radnor (19-2) on Feb.23.

No. 12 Chichester (9-12) at No. 5 Penncrest (12-10) on Feb. 18. The winner will play at No. 4 Upper Moreland (14-8) on Feb. 23.

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No. 10 West Chester Rustin (11-11) at No. 7 Marple Newtown (13-9) on Feb 23. The winner will play at No. 2 Chester (9-12) on Feb. 23.

No. 11 Upper Merion (11-10) at No. 6 Bishop Shanahan (11-11) on Feb. 23. The winner will play at No. 3 Phoenixville (16-6) on Feb. 23.

Boys 4A

(One team advances to PIAA tournament)

No. 4 New Hope Solebury (2-20) at No. 1 Collegium Charter (20-2) on Feb. 22.

No. 3 Springfield Township (10-10) at No. 2 Pope John Paul II (12-7) on Feb. 22.

The championship game will be played at a site to be determined on Feb. 26.

Boys 2A

(One team advances to PIAA tournament)

No. 4 Calvary Christian (10-12) at No. 1 Church Farm (12-8) on Feb. 22.

No. 3 Delco Christian (5-14) at No. 2 Bristol (11-10) on Feb. 22.

The championship game will be played at a site to be determined on Feb. 26.

Boys 1A

(Two teams advance to PIAA tournament)

No. 4 Faith Christian (10-12) at No. 1 Phil-Mont Christian (14-6) on Feb. 22.

No. 3 Plumstead Christian (11-11) at No. 2 Coventry Christian (15-8) on Feb. 22.

The championship game will be played at a site to be determined on Feb. 26.

Girls 6A

(12 teams advance to the PIAA tournament)

No. 17 Conestoga (13-8) at No. 16 Great Valley (14-8) on Feb. 18. The winner will play at No. 1 Plymouth Whitemarsh (22-0) on Feb. 23.

No. 24 Kennett (12-7) at No. 9 Haverford (17-4) on Feb. 18. The winner will play at No. 8 Downingtown East (17-4) on Feb. 23.

No. 20 Downingtown West (15-7) at No. 13 Upper Dublin on (15-7) n Feb. 23. The winner will play at No. 4 Pennsbury (20-2) on Feb. 23.

No. 21 Council Rock South (13-9) at No. 12 Central Bucks West (16-6) on Feb. 18. The winner will play at No. 5 Abington (18-4) on Feb. 23.

No. 16 Coatesville (14-8) at No. 15 Central Bucks South (12-10) on Feb. 18. The winner will play at No. 2 Souderton (20-2) on Feb. 23.

No. 23 Owen J. Roberts (16-6) at No. 10 Neshaminy (14-5) on Feb. 18. The winner will play at No. 7 Perkiomen Valley (17-4) on Feb. 23.

No. 19 Hatboro-Horsham (12-8) will play at No. 14 Garnet Valley (14-8) on Feb. 18, The winner will play at No. 3 Methacton (20-2) on Feb. 23.

No. 25 Central Bucks East (10-11) at No. 11 Spring-Ford (16-5} on Feb. 18. The winner will play at West Chester Rustin (18-4) on Feb 23.

Girls 5A

(Five teams advance to the PIAA tournament)

No. 9 Merion Mercy (10-12) at No. 8 Mount St. Joseph (12-10) on Feb. 18. The winner will play at No, 1 Springfield Delco (15-6) on Feb. 22.

No. 12 Academy Park (11-10) at No. 5 Harriton (14-7) on Feb. 18. The winner will play at No. 4 Bishop Shanahan (14-8) on Feb. 22.

No. 10 Upper Perkiomen (15-7) at No. 7 Villa Maria Academy (10-11) on Feb. 18. The winner will play at No. 2 Marple Newtown (15-5) on Feb. 22.

No. 11 Penncrest (10-12) at No. 6 Radnor (13-7) on at Feb. 18. The winner will play at No. 3 Upper Moreland (17-5) on Feb 22.

Girls 4A

(Two teams advance to the PIAA tournament)

No. 4 New Hope Solebury (11-10) at No. 1 Gwynedd Mercy (20-0) on Feb. 22.

No. 3 Collegium Charter (13-8) at No. 2. Villa Joseph Marie (16-6) on Feb. 22.

The championship will be played at a site to be determined on Feb. 26.

Girls 2A

(One team advances to the PIAA tournament)

No. 4 Bristol (6-11) at No. 1 Delco Christian (14-8) on Feb. 22.

No. 4 Morrisville (10-2) at No. 2 Sacred Heart (8-10) on Feb, 22.

The championship will be played at a site to be determined on Feb. 26.

Girls 1A

No. 4 Phil-Mont Christian (3-19) at Faith Christian (18-6) on Feb. 22.

No. 3 Jenkintown (12-10) will play at No. 2 Christian Academy (11-7) on Feb. 22.

The championship will be played at a site to be determined on Feb. 26.

Note: The District One champ then plays the District 12 champ in the District One/12 regional. Those two teams, plus the D-One runner-up, advance to the PIAA tournament.

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This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: District One basketball tournaments: Pairings fot boys, girls hoops