District 1-5A playoff preview: Unionville boys, Gwynedd Mercy girls lead competitive district

There’s only 12 teams in both Class 5A fields, but both tournaments are expected to bring plenty of excitement. After dominant runs by the Radnor boys and West Chester Rustin girls last season, both Class 5A fields look more wide open this season, with multiple squads capable of taking home titles.

Both tournaments start Friday with the girls continuing with the quarterfinals Feb. 20, semifinal Feb. 23, and the championship game Feb. 28 at West Chester University. The boys play the quarterfinals Feb. 21, semifinals Feb. 24, and the championship game Feb. 29 at West Chester.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the top teams and others who might surprise in both the boys and girls brackets.

» READ MORE: District 1-6A playoff preview: Perkiomen Valley girls, Lower Merion boys poised for title

Favorites: Unionville, Upper Dublin, Radnor

All three of these programs have terrific resumes, showing their capability to beat high-level competition. Unionville is the runner-up from last season with pieces like seniors J.T. Anderson, Ryan Brown, and sophomore James Brenner, eyeing the program’s first district title since 1981.

After winning the district title last season for the first time since 1961, Radnor wasn’t expected to be back, but the Raptors continued to win with seniors like Elijah Sellers and Kessy Cox, going from deep on the bench to two of the top players in the Central League, along with returners Michael Savadove and Henry Pierce from last season’s championship run.

Upper Dublin dominated a division full of 6A schools and then grabbed an Suburban One League Tournament title on Tuesday night. Junior Ryan Mulroy is one of the best players in this bracket with Brady Fogle and Idris Rines as two others to look out for on a deep squad.

Contenders: Phoenixville

The Phantoms are two years removed from a semifinal appearance but missed out on the playoffs entirely last season. Senior point forward Max Lebiskty and junior wing Deacon Baratta lead a group that seems to be peaking at the right time after a two-game skid late in January. They’ve won by double digits in six straight games, including an 80-56 win over Pottstown — their potential draw in the quarterfinals.

Dark horse: Marple Newtown

Last year was the first time since 2018 that the top three seeds advanced through to the semifinals in the 5A field, while the fourth team was No. 12 West Chester Rustin, so expect the unexpected from the Class 5A boys bracket. Marple Newtown is the best candidate for a Cinderella run with junior guard Matt Gardler hitting a couple of buzzer beaters this season and senior PJ Esposito as another player who can heat up.

Favorites: Gwynedd Mercy, West Chester East, West Chester Rustin, Radnor, Villa Maria

It’s really hard to separate this group with many of them playing tight games against each other this season. Radnor beat West Chester East by two to open up the regular season. Gwynedd Mercy and Villa Maria split their two-regular season games, including a triple overtime game. Rustin beat Villa by three in late January.

Gwynedd has a young core led by 5-foot-11 wing Emilia Coleman with senior forward Dylan Burke back in the mix.

West Chester East’s balanced group includes a trio of three-year starters in senior guard Annie Kerns, junior guard Annalise Kubasko and junior forward Sofia Keith.

West Chester Rustin senior Riley Stackhouse (Widener) leads a team with size and good guard play. Radnor is another team with a lot of firepower, including senior Kate Gallagher and sophomore Nyah Yao, who had big games in the Central League playoffs.

The top seed has won District 1′s 5A tournament five of the seven years since the state went from four to six classifications in 2016-17. However, Villa won as the No. 7 seed back in 2022, so there’s no certainty with how the top of the bracket will shape up.

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Dark horse: Bishop Shanahan

That Villa run as a No. 7 seed two years ago came against Bishop Shanahan. The Eagles followed with a semifinal run last season. Shanahan has dropped pace with the top teams this season but seniors Sam Blumenthal (Catholic), Faith Ambrose, and Abigail Wolfe were around for that run to the title game.

This story was produced as part of a partnership between The Inquirer and City of Basketball Love, a nonprofit news organization that covers high school and college basketball in the Philadelphia area while also helping mentor the next generation of sportswriters. This collaboration will help boost coverage of the city’s vibrant amateur basketball scene, from the high school ranks up through the Big 5 and beyond.