After Holy Ghost Prep put the finishing touches on Springfield Saturday, it began to settle in that HGP would draw the defending PIAA Class AAA champion in the first round of states.

Needless to say, the Firebirds weren't thrilled with that prospect. Fair enough, right? The District One champion deserves a little better a draw than Carroll. But that's how the bracket worked last year, too. Another year, another bracket ... In hindsight, perhaps PIAA should employ a power-rankings system for states.

In any case, here's some of what those around Holy Ghost had to say about Carroll:

COACH TONY CHAPMAN
"The shoe will be on the other foot, too, a little bit. More will be expected of Carroll. Even though we are district champs, we'll probably go into that game as an underdog."

"It is what it is. In a perfect world, you have a seeding thing with the PIAA and maybe you play someone not as dominant. We'll look at them and get ready to go. We're going to play hard and we're going to play a real good basketball game. If that's good enough to win, great. If it's not good enough to win, than it's not. We're going in confident."

SENIOR GUARD MICHAEL BYRNE
“We look forward to being the underdog a little bit. “Through the districts, we were the one seed. Now, we can play a little bit looser. Most people probably think we’re going to lose, so it will be nice to be the underdog.”

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So... yeah, it should be a good game. I don't predict any sort of trash-talking or bad blood. Nah, none of that. (Thanks to Bucks County Courier Times' Kevin Cooney, for the Byrne quote.)

OK, gang. You know enough about Delco's best basketball teams (assuming you like reading my game stories and features as much as I enjoy writing them). So here's a glimpse at the finest another section of District One has to offer.

Kevin Cooney, a veteran reporter at the Bucks County Courier Times, agreed to give me the low-down on the teams he covers regularly. Cooney and I go way back. (I first met the guy when I was a sports intern at the Courier Times in 2005, so I'm sure I'll talk Delco hoops with him at some point.)

But, anyway – here's what you need to know about Bucks County's best:

AAAA
Council Rock North is the hottest team in Bucks, winning 14 of its last 15 after starting the year 2-3. “They've gotten on a nice roll,” Cooney said, “and the guy behind it is John Raymon,” a senior who gives the Indians a nice inside presence. The Suburban One League's National Conference leaders are tied with Neshaminy at 9-3, but have beaten them twice.

Neshaminy. Speaking of the Redskins, they can be dangerous in the Class AAAA bracket if sophomore Ryan Arcidiacono (pictured above) “can go on some sort of a run,” Cooney said, “because they're one-dimensional, around him.” Neshaminy's scoring leader doesn't have much around him and the Redskins – who lost to Plymouth Whitemarsh, Holy Ghost Prep, Council Rock North and Bensalem – lack a signature win. The 'Skins have beaten Lower Merion, however.

Bensalem entered week ninth in the Class AAAA power rankings but, like Neshaminy, the Owls (14-6) have lost twice to Council Rock North. They've also gotten blown out at Neshaminy. The Owls are hot, having won eight in a row – thanks to senior guard Nick Christian (the leading scorer who's headed Army) and junior center Ivan Flores.

Pennsbury is the odd-team out in Bucks. They've had a lot of up seasons in recent history, but this one is down for the Falcons. Senior point guard Jesse Krasna (pictured), a varsity contributor since his freshman year, and forward Dante Devine are the engines Pennsbury needs to fire up to make a run in districts.

AAA
Holy Ghost Prep “should win the tournament,” according to Cooney. The main thing for the Firebirds is balance. Nate Lorence and Duffy Barrett give HGP good size inside, but Mike Byrne and Tyler Juchno can beat teams outside. Cooney pointed out that, against BAL opponent Christopher Dock, Ghost had 10 players scorer and six finished with between 5 and 12 points. “Their balance is what sets them apart, but they're also very defense oriented,” Cooney said.