As the calendar turns to mid-February, it’s hard to imagine high school basketball season is in its last week of regular season competition.

For some teams in District 9, this week means not only the end of the season, but the end of careers for senior players and an early offseason before the spring sports get back in action in March.

The 2016-17 season, on both the boys and girls side of the spectrum, has seen its fair share of storylines, from the Elk Catholic boys’ bid to have back-to-back undefeated seasons for the first time in school history to both Coudersport programs going a combined 42-1 through Sunday with a pair of North Tier League titles.

Another storyline is the PIAA’s decision to increase from four to six classes, meaning some traditional district rivalries are no more. With teams spread amongst six classes now, brackets are likewise slimmer than in the past, though the number state-playoff bids remain seemingly unchanged.

Now that the season is winding down, the playoff pictures have become increasingly clearer. Most of the field is decided, while the only movement between teams should be in the middle seeds as teams complete their schedules this week. Alas, schools still have a choice of whether to enter the playoff field or not, though most abide by the need to have a .500 record.

Below is a full analysis of the boys playoff outlook heading into the 11th and final week of the season.

A girls outlook will be published Tuesday.

CLASS A Boys

Class A boys was one of the traditionally stronger brackets in the past, with Elk Catholic, DuBois Central Catholic and Johnsonburg all making runs to the state title game since 2006. The 2017 bracket, like in years prior, should still figure to be top-heavy. However, with Coudersport, Ridgway, Clarion-Limestone and Clarion being bumped up to AA, this year’s bracket doesn’t have the traditional depth.

In what figures to be a six- or seven-team field in which four teams advance to states, Elk Catholic — which enters the week 21-0— is already set as the top seed. What happens below depends largely on the outcome of tonight’s Cameron County at Oswayo Valley game.

The Red Raiders, at 13-7, enter as the second seed if playoffs were to start today. However, head coach Mark Guido’s squad largely controls its own destiny:  beat OV then take down  4-17 DCC.

Otto-Eldred, North Clarion and OV all enter the week with one game remaining and identical 12-9 records, and will join Cameron County as seeds two through five. Port Allegany (11-10), plays Galeton tonight and will be the sixth seed.

Johnsonburg enters the week 10-11 and play at DuBois tonight, but with a big win at Kane on Friday, the Rams could look at the thinned out field could have Johnsonburg thinking playoffs.

Advancing to the district final is imperative for teams in Class A because the third-place finisher likely gets a date with District 10 power Kennedy Catholic and the fourth-place team draws the District 7 (WPIAL) champion.

Class AA Boys

The best collection of teams on the boys’ side resides in AA, led by undefeated Coudersport (22-0) as the top seed. Ridgway, which narrowly lost to the Falcons in overtime earlier in the year, should be the second seed. Clarion-Limestone (17-4), Keystone (16-4), Clarion (14-6) and Brockway (14-8) round out what figures to be a six-team bracket, with the top three advancing to states.

Class AAA Boys

The best news for Kane (15-6) in Class AAA might be that Brookville, which beat the Wolves handily last month, won’t finish with a .500 record and might opt out of the playoffs. After winning last year’s Class AA title, the Wolves will need to get its signature win of the season: Karns City, with two games left, could vault over the Wolves for the top spot this week.

Likely third-seed while Moniteau is 13-8. Only the champion advances to the state tournament.

Class AAAA Boys

A pair of D9 League rivals and one former league opponent should be representatives in the AAAA field. Clearfield will be the top seed at 21-1, while Punxsutawney (13-7) and St. Marys (13-9) will be the two and three seeds.

St. Marys topped the Chucks on Friday night to avenge an early season loss. However, Punxsutawney has two games remaining (including vs. Bradford High on Friday), so the Chucks can clinch the second seed by at least splitting their remaining games.

Bradford High enters the week just 7-12, but have gone 4-1 in five February games. A win against undefeated Elk Catholic in the Owls’ Nest might mean playoffs for BHS, which beat St. Marys last week.