Last week, I blogged about the inadequacy of the PIAA when it allowed Glen Mills to host a play-in game to the Class AAAA state bracket.

And here we go again.

In Tuesday's second round of the Class AAA playoffs, the game between District One's Strath Haven and District Three's York Suburban was officiated by . . . a District Three referee crew from Berks County.

York Suburban won the game, 59-45. In the contest, York went to the foul line for 20 attempts and Haven had 10 free throws. The Trojans were whistled for seven fouls and the Panthers were called for 18, including a technical. Clearly, we have a couple discrepancies on our hands.

Now, I don't want to be the one to call out the PIAA this time of the year. And by no means do I want to insinuate that the referee crew was making calls to favor York. I saw the exact referee trio at the Archbishop Carroll/Phoenixville game last week, and they were just about as fair and thorough as I've seen all season.

And with 64 playoff games across the boys and girls hoops scenes taking place in a 48-hour span, it’s safe to assume that Pennsylvania's governing body for high-school athletics is probably stretched a bit thin.

But… when your season is on the line, a line has to be drawn.

"I don't think it came down to that," said Strath Haven coach Steve Lewis. "I don’t think my team made the right decisions, the ones necessary to win the game."

Added star guard Calvin Newell: "I wish they would have let us play the game and made it a little closer (in foul calls)." When Newell, pictured, was informed that a District Three crew called his final high school game, he said, "It happens."

The fact is, it shouldn't. The PIAA should know better, so as to preserve on-court talent as the dividing line between teams, and not the scheduling of a referee crew.

According to the Phoenix News, Phoenixville big man George Harper has decided to quit the team only days before the District One Class AAA playoffs begin.

This makes the bracket wide open.

The story, from one of the Daily Times' sister papers, makes the case that Harper, a 6-7 junior power forward, left the Phantoms following their loss Friday in the Pioneer Athletic Conference playoffs. The story cites that Harper, an American Christian transfer, had difficulties with coaches and teammates, and academic and disciplinary pitfalls.

This is a huge blow for the Phantoms (18-5, 11-2), who won the regular-season title in the PAC-10's small-schools division. They are the Class AAA top seed and, on Saturday, will face the winner of a first-round game between No. 8 Octorara and No. 9 Pottstown.

What does this mean for Delaware County teams?

Well, fourth-seeded Marple Newtown certainly has an easier route to the district final, with the Phantoms out of the picture. (Harper torched the Tigers for 14 points in the title game of their holiday tournament. Harper, who has received recruiting interest from Georgetown and Seton Hall, was the tourney's MVP.)

And on the other side of the bracket, it's one less team No. 6 Strath Haven and No. 7 Springfield will have to contend with, should they string a few wins together.