Five local basketball teams, highlighted by the District 11 champion Marian boys squad, will be participating in the upcoming PIAA playoffs.

The Marian girls have also qualified for states, as have both Northwestern teams and the Palmerton girls.

The first round of the playoffs will be held Friday and Saturday, while the second round is scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Colts, who defeated Tri-Valley in the district Class 2A championship game and own a 13-11 record, will be at home Saturday to take on District 3 runner-up Linville Hill (19-5). The winner will face either Constitution or Dock Mennonite.

Two other local squads will be home for the first round.

The Colonial League champion Northwestern boys, who fell in the district title game to Central Catholic, will host District 2 runner-up Scranton Prep, in a first-round 4A contest on Friday. The Tigers are 24-3 this season, while the Cavaliers sport an 18-7 record. The winner takes on either Berks Catholic or Simon Gratz in the second round.

Also home for the first round are the Palmerton girls, the No. 2 seed from District 11. The Blue Bombers, who lost to Central Catholic in the district 4A finals, entertain Valley View on Saturday. The Cougars are the second seed out of District 2. Palmerton enters the state playoffs at 21-6, while Valley View is 20-5. The winner faces Audenried Charter or Boiling Springs on March 12.

Area teams that have to travel to first-round state games include the Marian and Northwestern girls.

Both teams will head to the Philadelphia area.

The Fillies, who were edged in the district title game by Williams Valley, are the No. 2 seed from D-11 Class 2A and will take on District 12’s second seed MaST Charter II on Friday evening. The game will be held at Bensalem High School. Marian currently owns a 21-4 mark. Awaiting in the second round will be Muncy or Elk Lake.

Rounding out the area squads in the state playoffs are the Northwestern girls, who defeated North Schuylkill in a 4A consolation contest to qualify for states. The Tigers will travel to Ben Franklin High School to meet District 12 runner-up Neumann Goretti. The survivor from that game plays either Wyomissing or Nazareth Academy.