A number of area teams have already qualified for the district playoffs even though that tournament is still a month down the road. The Allen and Emmaus boys basketball teams, both who are ranked in the state Class 6A rankings, have already cemented a spot.

But when those district tournaments do tip off starting on February 21, the scene will look slightly different than in years past. The biggest change fans will notice is the increase from four PIAA classifications to six based on student enrollment numbers.

For local schools with high enrollments, the change will almost be unnoticeable. Take schools like Allen, Emmaus and Parkland for example, which were previously in District 11’s 4A class, the highest classification in the previous format. Their leaps to Class 6A will still have those squads competing with most of the same teams in the past.

But for others, the jump up or down a classification based on the new PIAA enrollment numbers can potentially see a different landscape in the postseason.

“To be honest, the change of classifications has not significantly affected girls basketball in our area,” said Carl Scheitrum, head coach of the Emmaus girls’ team. “Some teams, like the 5A schools, are impacted and it may actually be harder to make [state] playoffs. For example, District 11 5A only has one team moving to the state playoffs, whereas 6A has four.”

Parkland, the four-time defending Class 4A boys champ, will remain in the highest classification at 6A. Much hasn’t changed in terms of familiar opponents in those classes, except for the fact that a number of girls teams will drop down to 5A.

On the boys’ side, Whitehall will also drop down to 5A as a team that had previously been in the highest district classification.

“There are no new teams in 6A,” said Parkland girls’ head coach Wes Spence. “The only change for us in terms of opponents are teams like Whitehall, Pottsville and Bangor moving to smaller classifications.

“I don’t really have a strong opinion in any direction, as it does not have a great effect on our immediate postseason competition. I am sure that there are schools who benefit from the increase in classifications, and now have an opportunity to compete in the postseason against schools who have more similar student populations.”

The move to six classifications, however, will allow for more District 11 teams to qualify for the PIAA tournament and compete for state championships. As Scheitrum had previously stated, a total of four qualifiers will make it to states from both the boys and girls 6A classes. The 4A boys and 3A girls will also receive three state tournament bids.

“I would say it’s a positive for our district in the sense that I think District 11 will get four representatives in the PIAA 6A tournament; previously we only got three in the 4A tournament,” Spence said. “If there are increases across the classifications and more opportunities to compete for state titles, then that is a positive for our district.”

As was in the past, league champions will automatically qualify as the top seeds in their respective district tournament brackets. Teams with .500 or better records will still earn a spot in that district tournament.

But unlike prior years, the opportunity for sub-. 500 squads is there to make districts if the minimum number of playoff spots in a class is not met.

“Being on the large student population end, there was never a doubt about our classification,” Spence said. “We will still be competing against the other large schools, so the shift is not as significant for us. Perhaps I will feel differently after the season seeing how the first postseason plays out under the new classifications.”

The pigtail rounds for all boys and girls games will be on February 21 and 22, with quarterfinals set for February 23-25. March 2, 3 and 4 are tentatively scheduled as the championship dates.