Here we are, one week into the District 4 playoffs, and there's plenty to discuss. So I offer you this District 4 notebook, just in time for the semifinals (well, most of them anyway).

Champions League: Yes, the semifinals for the Class AAA girls tournament were held Monday night. The semifinals in the other three tournaments are all tonight. But although two of the teams will have already seen their season end by the time you read this, it's worth noting that the girls AAA bracket is the only one of the four tournaments in which all four semifinalists have won district titles this decade.

Milton is the defending champion, Selinsgrove won it in 2002 and 2005, Danville claimed the 2001 AAA crown and the 2003 AA championship, and Midd-West earned the 2005 AA title.

Tigers to the left of me, Tigers to the right: So, who ya got in the Class A boys tournament? I picked Lewisburg to win it all last week, and I'm staying with that prediction. But I have to admit that the Tigers have a shot, especially since the other three semifinalists -- Benton, East Juniata and Southern Columbia -- all use that mascot.

NTL down to one: Between the four tournaments, there were 13 Northern Tier League teams, but only one is in the semifinals. That would be the Athens boys, who are the top seed in Class AA. They had a bye into the semis, so their first playoff game will be tonight against Selinsgrove.

HAC vs. HAC: The Heartland Athletic Conference basically puts teams in its three divisions based on school size. There are exceptions based on talent, which is why the Lewisburg boys and Montoursville girls both play in the HAC-I. If you're wondering how teams from different HAC divisions have fared against one another in the playoffs, it's gone the way you would expect.

For example, on the boys side, the HAC-I's Selinsgrove topped the HAC- II's Shamokin 2-0. In Class A, Lewisburg pounded the HAC-III's South Williamsport 7-2 in the quarters.

In girls action, the HAC-II's Warrior Run beat HAC-III entry Muncy, and Montoursville took out HAC-II side Mount Carmel. Also in Class AA, HAC-II runner-up Lewisburg blanked the HAC-III's Millville 10-0.

In Saturday's quarters, Montoursville beat Warrior Run, HAC-II champion Loyalsock took out HAC-III champion Southern Columbia, and Lewisburg beat the HAC-III's Bloomsburg.

Based on these results, it looks like the Heartland overlords did a good job dividing the teams.

Lycoming on a roll: As mentioned above, the Midd-West girls won the 2005 Class AA title. Since then, a Lycoming County school has won the championship every year: South Williamsport in 2006, Montoursville in 2007, and Loyalsock last year. Lycoming County has an excellent chance to make it four in a row, as three of the four finalists -- Montoursville, Loyalsock and Hughesville -- hail from the county.

Lewisburg is the only one standing in the way of another Lycoming County title.

n Sports reporter Todd Stanford covers high school soccer for The Daily Item. E-mail comments to tstanford@dailyitem.com.