District 11 released brackets for the basketball postseason over the weekend, as this year’s open tournament format because of COVID allowed every team a spot in the postseason.

That meant all 53 boys programs in the area would be eligible to participate, but four teams, most notably Easton, already declared that they weren’t going to take place in the tournaments, which conclude March 13 at the PPL Center in Allentown.

Bethlehem Catholic, Liberty and Freedom are all taking their shot at this year’s tournaments, as the Patriots enter as defending champions in 6A. Freedom (1-9) came into the tournament as the twelve-seed and opened on the road against fifth-seeded Stroudsburg (6-3).

Eighth-seeded Liberty (3-8) hosted ninth-seeded Emmaus (3-8) on Tuesday as well.

The quarterfinal round is set for Thursday. Should Freedom win they would take on fourth-seeded Allen (8-4). A Liberty victory would set them up with a date against top-seeded Pocono Mountain West (7-1).

Bethlehem Catholic (10-4) enters the 4A tournament as the top-seed and will host either eighth-seeded Saucon Valley (3-8) or ninth-seeded North Schuylkill (3-10). The Hawks appear to be in prime position to make a run to the 4A championship, as second-seeded Central Catholic (13-4) and third-seeded Northwestern (13-5) are in the bottom half of the bracket. Only district champions advance to the PIAA tournament this year.

Below are the rest of the matchups for the district postseason in 6A and 4A.

Class 6A

Pigtail Round, March 2

No. 9 Emmaus (3-8) at No. 8 Liberty (3-8)

No. 12 Freedom (1-9) at No. 5 Stroudsburg (6-3)

No. 11 Whitehall (3-12) at No. 6 Nazareth (8-7)

No. 10 Pleasant Valley (2-9) at No. 7 Dieruff (5-8)

Quarterfinals, March 4

Emmaus/Liberty winner at No. 1 Pocono Mountain West (7-1)

Stroudsburg/Freedom winner at No. 4 Allen (8-4)

Whitehall/Nazareth winner at No. 3 Parkland (10-3)

Dieruff/Pleasant Valley winner at No. 2 Northampton (7-2)

Semifinals

March 8 at PPL Center

Championship

March 11 at PPL Center

Class 4A

Pigtail Round, March 3

No. 9 North Schuylkill (3-10) at No. 8 Saucon Valley (3-8)

Quarterfinals, March 5

North Schuylkill/Saucon winner at No. 1 Bethlehem Catholic (10-4)

No. 5 Jim Thorpe (12-7) at No. 4 Pine Grove (10-6)

No. 6 Lehighton (11-9) at No. 3 Northwestern (13-5)

No. 7 Wilson (5-5) at No. 2 CCHS (13-4)

Semifinals

March 8

Championship

March 11 at PPL Center