GREENTREE — Let the games begin.

The WPIAL basketball playoff brackets were released Tuesday night with Butler's boys drawing one of the biggest challenges among area teams.

The Golden Tornado (14-8), seeded 15th in the 16-team Class AAAA field, take on second-seeded Chartiers Valley (19-3) at noon Saturday at North Allegheny.

“The fact we're seeded No. 15 shows our section didn't get a whole lot of respect,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “Nobody believes we have a chance in this game except the guys in our locker room.

“We'll prepare and we'll be ready to play.”

The Colts are led by the McConnell father-son team. Coach Tim McConnell recorded his 500th career victory this season. His son, Matty, is averaging 30.5 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals per game.

“Tim is one of the top coaches in the region,” Clement said. “His son is phenomenal. Clearly, guarding him and trying to contain him will be our biggest challenge this season.

“They've got a nice supporting cast around him, too.”

Mars' boys and girls teams drew byes in Class AAA. The Planet boys (21-1) are seeded No. 1 while the girls (18-4) are seeded No. 2. Neither plays until next week.

In Class AAA boys, Knoch will face Greensburg Salem at 8 p.m. Friday at Hampton. The winner gets Beaver Falls next week.

“We don't know anything about them,” Knights coach Ron McNabb said of Greensburg Salem. “We'll get to work right away studying film and formalizing a plan.

“We're just thrilled to be back in the playoffs and being a part of this. I'm pleased with the way our team has responded since we lost (point guard) Austin Hannes to injury. We've adjusted well.”

Like Butler's boys, Seneca Valley's girls face a daunting task. They will play top-seeded and defending WPIAL champion Penn-Trafford in Class AAAA Tuesday, at a site and time to be determined.

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic's girls (17-5) are the No. 2 seed in Class A and face Ellis at 1 p.m. Saturday in Fox Chapel. The Trojanettes' section rival, Vincentian Academy, is the No. 1 seed.

CWNC's boys face Winchester Thurston at 8 p.m. Friday at North Allegheny.

CWNC is also the only Butler County school hosting games in the first round, with doubleheaders Friday and Saturday. The Class AA boys Shady Side Academy-Riverside game is at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, following the Aliquippa-Imani Christian game at 1 p.m.

Imani Christian plays Vincentian at 8 p.m., Friday in Class A boys at CWNC, following the Washington-Shenango Class AA girls game at 6:30 p.m.

“In the steering committee's collective opinion, these are the fairest brackets for all teams involved,” WPIAL executive director Tim O'Malley said. “Their efforts are always in your best interests, though they're not always met with universal support.”

Unlike past seasons, the WPIAL has formulated a “play-back” system to determine its final qualifiers for the PIAA Tournament. All teams losing in the quarterfinal round will be involved in additional games to try to extend their respective seasons into the state tourney.

“This deviates from how we normally determine those teams,” O'Malley admitted. “This new system will be in place for the next couple of years. We'll see how it goes.”

Other notes on the WPIAL tourney:

North Allegheny is the No. 1 seed in Class AAAA boys.

Former Butler coach and current Ambridge mentor Mark Jula won his 500th game this year. Mike Mastroianni of Quaker Valley and Joe Lafko of Hamton recorded their 400th victories.

There were two undefeated teams in the WPIAL this year — Aliquippa and Sewickley Academy boys. No girls teams were undefeated.

Of the 264 boys and girls teams in the WPIAL, 147 made the tournament, including 27 newcomers.

There were 18 teams to go unbeaten in section play this season and 48 schools have their boys and girls teams in the tournament.

BoysFridayClass AAAKnoch (13-9) vs. Greensburg Salem (10-12) at Hampton, 8 p.m.Class ACardinal Wuerl North Catholic (13-8) vs. Winchester Thurston (11-7) at North Allegheny, 8 p.m.SaturdayClass AAAAButler (14-8) vs. Chartiers Valley (19-3) at North Allegheny, noonTuesdayClass AAAMars (21-1) vs. Montour (9-13)/Laurel Highlands (12-10) winner at site and time TBDGirlsSaturdayClass ACardinal Wuerl North Catholic (17-5) vs. Ellis School (10-9) at Fox Chapel, 1 p.m.TuesdayClass AAAASeneca Valley (13-9) vs. Penn-Trafford (21-1) at site and time TBDWednesdayClass AAAMars (18-4) vs. South Park (12-10)/Hopewell (9-13) winner at site and time to be determined