Scranton is the top seed as it prepares to begin pursuit of a third straight District 2-4 Class AAAA boys' basketball championship.

The Lackawanna League Division 1 champion Knights and Hazleton Area are both 18-4 and have each gained byes in this weekend's quarterfinal round.

Hazleton Area will remain as the second seed regardless of its Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 playoff outcome. The Mountaineers have won the first-half title and play Crestwood tonight for the second-half championship.

The tournament begins Friday night when fifth-seeded Wyoming Valley West (11-11) plays fourth-seeded Williamsport (14-9) at Berwick at 7:30. The winner will take on Scranton in the February 29 semifinals.

Sixth-seeded Wallenpaupack (8-14) plays third-seeded Delaware Valley (17-5) Saturday at North Pocono at 4:30. The winner faces Hazleton Area in the February 29 semifinals.

Both teams that reach the March 3 final will play in the state tournament.

For more coverage of the Lackawanna League and District 2 basketball playoffs, return to www.golackawanna.com/sports.