Belleville High School boys basketball coach Ted Socharski suspected last Friday's victory over Arts would help his Buccaneers earn a home game in the NJSIAA North 2, Group 3 playoffs – and his hunch proved correct Thursday when the pairings were released.

This will be the second straight state playoff appearance for the Buccaneers (11-6), who notched the No. 8 seed in their bracket and will host No. 9 Scotch Plains on Monday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. With a win, they will likely play top-seeded Rahway on on the road.

In the other half of their bracket, neighboring rival Nutley earned the No. 14 seed and will tip off against No. 3 Chatham on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.