Monroeville placed second in D-III last year. Do the Eagles bump up to No. 1 this season?
Volume 7
Issue 6
Managing Editor Eric Frantz
Recruiting Editors Mark Porter, Bill Kurelic
Staff Writers Kirk Larrabee, Steve Helwagen, Dave Biddle Contributors
Tom Jenkins, Jeff Williams, Kurt Stubbs, Brad Morris, Shayne Combs
Photography
Stephanie Porter, Gary Housteau, Nick Falzerano, Joe Maiorana, Jim Rinaldi, Scott Grau, Jim Metzendorf, Os Figuero, Ben Barnes
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online at Subscriptions Order www.jjhuddle.com. One year ($19.95), two-year ($34.95) and threeyear ($49.95) subscriptions available.
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Ohio High Magazine is published online nine times a year and also produces an online and hard copy issue in July (Football Preview/Year in Review). Ohio High is an independent source of news and features relating to Ohio high school sports. Ohio High strives to report information based on fact, but assumes no responsability for any inaccuracies that may appear. Ohio High is not authorized, sponsored or sanctioned by any university, athletic conference or athletic governing body. Subscriptions are available and may be purchased online at jjhuddle.com. c Copyright 2010, Ohio High Magazine and MVP Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved. COVER PHOTOS: NICK FALZERANO (miamivalleysports.com)
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Girls Basketball Tourney Preview
A breakdown of the upcoming state tournament: Mount Notre Dame’s run over? Toledo set to dominate?
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14
Girls Hoops Biggest Surprises this season
Boys Basketball Tourney Preview
A breakdown of the upcoming state tournament: D-I already over? Who to watch in D-II, III and IV
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Boys Hoops Biggest Surprises this season
20 Wrestling State Tourney Preview
St. Ed’s in trouble? Monroeville favorite in D-III? How many titles does Graham win?
Girls Basketball State Tournament Preview
One zip code could sweep all four state titles...the 419
35th Annual Girls Basketball State Championships
Suddenly Toledo replaces Southwest Ohio as the state’s most dominant region
T
he highest concentration of basketball talent has been for the last several years in Southwest Ohio (Cincinnati/Dayton areas). Before that it was in Northeast Ohio (Cleveland/Canton/Youngstown areas) and before that in Central Ohio (Columbus area). Now for the 1st time in my 12 years of operating Ohio Girls Basketball Report as if it were in the lyrics of Bob Dylan's enhanced social conscience of the '60s...it is the 'Girl(s) from the North(west) Country' (Toledo area) leaving all others 'on the dark side of the road'. Although I am not picking all of 'em in this preview, this year's state tournament could make history as all 4 division state champions could come from the geographic northwest quadrant of our state....all from the same area code..the 419. All of the following northwest Ohio schools are legit title contenders... Division I Toledo Start (AP No. 6) or Toledo Waite (AP No. 5); Division II Tiffin Columbian (AP No. 3); Division III Findlay Liberty Benton (AP No. 1); Division IV Ottoville (AP No. 1), Kalida (AP No. 2) & Delphos St. John's (AP No. 4). In the previous 34 years of holding Ohio's high school girls basketball state tournament never before have all 4 division state champions come from the same geographic region of the state in the same year. Could this be the year the moon and the stars align themselves for northwest Ohio?...
Division I
Final Four Favorites: Cincinnati Princeton, Dresden Tri-Valley, Toledo Start & Twinsburg State Champion Favorite: Toledo Start Hey Nero....you can stop fiddling...Rome has burned all the way to
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the ground. After 7 years of dominance (2003 - 2009) by southwest Ohio teams, this year's D-I state champion will come from a region other than the Cincinnati/Dayton area. It is also reasonable to project this year could mark the 1st year in 6 years (since 2003) the Division I Final Four will be comprised of all public schools.
Fairborn Regional With Mt. Notre Dame and Lakota West coming back to the pack in southwest Ohio this year, any of 13 teams have a legit shot at representing southwest Ohio in this year's D-I Final Four. Mt. Notre Dame with the best 2-guard scoring combination in the state of Kathryn Reynolds (2011) and Raeshaun Gaffney(2012) started out the year as the favorite in this region. However, Reynolds ACL injury in December opened the door. Visually it looks like one of Division I those 6:00 AM fire sales with all 13 teams fighting to be first All four state semifnal teams through...(listed alphabetically) will be public? Butler, Fairborn, Fairmont, Division II Hughes, Lakota West, Mason, Mt. Notre Dame, Oak Hills, Can anyone stop hathaway Princeton, Springboro, Brown? Sycamore, Ursuline and Walnut Division III Hills. (Colerain and Lakota East would make it 15 teams but they Three undefeated teams choose to go into Harrison 5 make the Final Four? District which takes the winner to the Westerville (Central OH) Division IV Regional) Berlin Hiland nets fourth title Tournament or play-off basketin six years? ball is quite often decided by defense and guard play. Space prevents me from analyzing each of the 13 teams from southwest Ohio who have a legit shot at coming out of the Fairborn Regional. But, I do like Coach Jill Phillips' Princeton Vikings because of their ability to extend their defense and apply relentless defensive pressure. However, any one of these 13 teams are capable this year of beating any of the other 12 on one day for one game for one prize. Speaking of prizes there will be only one this year for southwest Ohio. Teams down there had gotten used to having 2 prizes with 2 teams in the Division I Final Four in 4 of the last 6 years as one of the prize-winning southwest Ohio teams travelled through the Central (Westerville) Regional. Colerain the highest D-I seed from SW Ohio and the most talented this year in SW Ohio with Ashley Wanninger (2010 - Xavier), Shelley Harper (2012), et al is attempting to be the 5th "poacher" in 7 years as they head to the Westerville Regional... Pickerington North (AP No. 1) and Dresden Tri-Valley (AP No. 2) will have something to say about that this year.
Tournament Preview
Westerville Regional Come the 2nd weekend in March the Cincinnati Colerain Cardinals will be re-thinking their decision to go into the Harrison 5 District as they meet up with the AP's No. 1 Pickerington North Panthers in the
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STORY BY TOM JENKINS, OGBR
Girls Basketball State Tournament Preview Junior point guard Maleeka Kynard, an Ohio State commit, has Toledo Start in the hunt for a second straight state tournament appearance.
Photo by Gary Housteau
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Girls Basketball State Tournament Preview semi finals of the Westerville (Central) Regional . Although Pick North has one of the top 5 all-time coaches on the sideline in Dave Butcher with top central Ohio players Kavuna Edwards (2011) and Nicole Olsewski (2010 Austin Peay), I like Marty Bice's Lady Dawgs from Dreseden Tri-Valley (AP No. 2) to come out of the Westerville (Central) Regional this year. Like Tom Cruise, the Lady Dawg senior trio of Hannah Luburgh (Akron), Carly Young (Akron) & Alyssa Miller (Ashland) from Tri-Valley have shown they are on a mission this year...not an impossible mission. In spite of having a relatively weak schedule, Tri Valley has shown, in beating Boardman at Classic in the Country VII this year, they can compete and beat the traditional D-I powers in the state. After getting derailed by Northland last year in the district semis, this team from the east has learned about not looking ahead...this year they won't be looking past Columbus Northland with freshman phenom, Alexis Peterson and looking ahead to Columbus Brookhaven's junior trio of Travecia Franklin, Brianna Holmes & Marah Morris or the T'Shera Lucas (2010 Kent State) led Reynoldsburg Raiders on their side of the bracket or ahead to Pickerington North or Colerain on the other side of the bracket.
Canton Regional As expected and predicted, there was a shift in power in the D-I northeast last year...just expected the shift to be towards the Tigers of Twinsburg with the Lady Pups of Canton McKinley having an outside chance...well, the Lady Pups led by then freshman phenom, Ameryst Alston and under the direction of Coach Pam & Willie Davis found their way to Columbus. This year there are 3 teams that have a legit shot to get to Columbus from the Canton (northeast) D-I Regional ...Youngstown Boardman (AP No. 10), Canton McKinley (AP No. 9) and Twinsburg (AP No. 3). The return of Doriyon Glass to the backcourt gives Boardman a shot. Although they are a long shot we have to remember that Spartan seniors Glass, Darryce Moore (Ohio State) and Monica Touvelle (Youngstown State) had their freshman seasons culminate at the Final 4 in 2007. Couple that with the fact that Coach Moschella and his near 600 wins is a master of preparing his teams for one game against one opponent. The Lady Pups of Canton McKinley led by now super soph Ameryst Alston, junior Lemeisha Lennon and senior Sydnee Penn (Shawnee State) have a chance to repeat their trip to Columbus but I like Twinsburg to come out of this region. Former Solon head coach and 1st year at the helm of the Twinsburg program, Julie Solis has this team poised for a run at a state title. After a rough opening to the season with a 27 point loss to D-II power Hathaway Brown, Twinsburg has re-grouped and has run the table to date with a quality win over D-III power Regina as well as wins over tradition rich Chaminade Julienne and Lakota West in this year's Classic in the Country VII. Twinsburg's 6'4 Malina Howard is playing up to her national ranking and freshman Ashley Morrissette has come of age and is no longer playing like a freshman.
Norwalk Regional Last year I stated Toledo Start was the clear cut favorite to come out of the Norwalk (northwest) Regional...correct...this year Toledo Start is again my favorite to come out of the D-I northwest but not so clear after getting waxed by Toledo Waite by 20 in early February. There are only 3 teams in Ohio that can start 5 NCAA D-I prospects this year and Toledo Start is the only D-I school that can do so...D-II Hathaway Brown and D-III Regina are the other 2. That being said all 5 that start for Start are nationally ranked NCAA Division I prospects... 5’10 Tiffani Blackman (senior / Seton Hall), 6’3 Azia Bishop (junior), pg Maleeka Kynard (junior / Ohio State), 2g Jaymie Jackson (sophomore)
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and Sharon Sweeney (freshman) with 6'4 CeDra Evans (sophomore) coming off the bench. As stated previously the northwest quadrant of the state has the highest concentration of talent of any other geographic region in Ohio. With that said the D-I state title this year lies with whoever comes out of the Norwalk Regional...and that will be Toledo Start (AP No. 6) or Toledo Waite (AP No. 5)...not even Marion Harding (AP No. 4) with Shawnta' Dyer (2010 Louisville) and Brenae Harris (2011) who have run the table so far can challenge these 2 powerhouses from the Toledo City League. As demonstrated in early February, only Toledo Waite with arguably the best player in Ohio, 6’3 senior Natasha Howard (Florida State), can challenge these talented Spartans from Roy C. Start. There is a reason Natasha Howard is one of 2 players from Ohio to be named McDonald's All-American...she is good enough to put her team on her back and go the distance...she is that good...once she puts her team on her back her biggest challenge will be to keep them from jumping off !!!
Division II
Final Four Favorites: Chaminade Julienne,Chillicothe Unioto,Hathaway Brown & Walsh Jesuit State Champion Favorite: Hathaway Brown Where Division I this year will be dominated by the public school sector, I expect D-II this year to be dominated by the private schools in 3 of the 4 regions. With that said, it will be a dog fight in 3 of the 4 regions. Only the Barberton Regional (Northeast Ohio) has a clear cut "lead pipe lock".
Barberton Regional The No. 1 seeds in each of the 4 districts comprising this region should advance to this regional...Salem (sorry Struthers); Geneva (sorry Conneaut); Canton South (AP No. 9) (sorry Hoban), and; Hathaway Brown (AP No. 5) (sorry Chagrin Falls). With the exception of Hathaway Brown everyone else's season comes to an end at this regional. This year's reigning D-II State Champion Hathaway Brown will be making their 4th consecutive trip to Columbus. No one in this region can compete with The Blazers ...period. HB is one of 3 teams in the state of Ohio that can start 5 NCAA D-I prospects. The other 2 teams are D-I Toledo Start and D-III Regina. Geneva is untested by virtue of their schedule. As good as Amy Scullion (2010 Ohio State) of Salem is she does not have enough support nor does Canton South's Shavon Robinson (2010 Ohio U). Hathaway Brown is the clear cut favorite to repeat as the D-II state champion. No one in this division has played the schedule that The Blazers have played which was arguably the toughest in the state regardless of division. No one in this division has the talent or the depth to go 32 minutes with The Blazers. With seniors Alexis Dobbs (American U), Mylan Woods (Northwestern), Erica Almady (Miami OH); juniors Molly Crosby, Tanisha Lawler, Sarah Poland & Alanna Guy and freshmen Vanessa Smith & Nia Marshall, the only team in Division II that can beat Hathaway Brown is Hathaway Brown...they have shown signs that can happen !!!
Ontario Regional Popular opinion calls it a 2-horse race in the Ontario Regional...Walsh Jesuit (AP No. 1) and Tiffin Columbian (AP No. 3)...Tiffin Columbian and Walsh Jesuit. Come post time for all the horses to go in the gates the field will be full with Lima Shawnee, Lima Bath, Perkins (AP No. 6), Wauseon, Willard and newcomer Rocky River being formidable challengers. Led by super soph Hannah McCue, Rocky River is new to the field as they come over from the
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Girls Basketball State Tournament Preview Senior point guard Alexis Dobbs and Hathaway Brown are looking for thier fourth straight trip to the D-II state semifinals.
Photo by Gary Housteau
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Girls Basketball State Tournament Preview Barberton Regional where they were a regional semi-finalist last year. By the time they reach the 16th pole and round into the home stretch the regional semi final game between Tiffin Columbian and Walsh Jesuit will determine this year's representative at the state final 4. Both Walsh Jesuit and Tiffin Columbian have too much depth and too much experience for the other schools named above to challenge either. At the finish line I like Walsh Jesuit over the Jill Stein (2010 Bowling Green) led Tornadoes from Tiffin. The outside game Walsh Jesuit has with super soph Rachel Theriot and seniors Sarah Sureck, Cheryl Yu and Kara Goliak to go with the inside power of Nneka Offodile (2010
in December...but then in January as if with a wave of a magic wand, 1st year head coach, Duane Williams transformed this team into a legit contender. They beat University NJ and played even with D-I pick Twinsburg (44-40) at Classic in the Country VII. The Eagles then go home from Berlin and beat Kettering Alter and Dayton Carroll. I guess it ain't how you drive it is how you arrive...it helps when you have McDonald's All-American Samarie Walker behind the wheel. Chaminade arrives in Columbus this year.
TBA Regional (Central / Eastern OH Regional) Looking at this regional a Bob Seger line keeps popping in my head...'like working on a mystery without any clues'. Heck, the OHSAA has not even determined the site of this regional formerly known as the Zanesville Regional. All I do know is that River View will not be making its 4th Final 4 in 5 years and whoever the representative from this region is, it will be a newcomer to the Final 4 dance card in Columbus. I like Cambridge but I don't think their schedule has not made them tournament ready; I like 6'4 junior Chelsea "The Butler Did it" Butler and Minerva with their 2 quality wins over Canton South (AP No. 8)...the only 2 losses Canton South has to date but they are not seeded in their district; I like Coach Feasel's Olentangy Lady Braves with 6'2 Christine Delaney (2010 Lake Erie College) who dropped to Division II this year but unsure of their capabilities other than on I-270 Beltway; I like Miami Trace and have for the last couple of years but they have come up short in each of those years; I like Chillicothe Unioto (AP No. 10) and their quality win over Cincinnati Indian Hill (AP No. 7) earlier in the year but, uhm...but, uhm...no buts...by default I like Chillicothe Unioto to be the newcomer to the Final 4 D-II dance card...but then again it could be Colonel Mustard in the Library with the Candlestick Holder !!!
Division III
Photo by Nick Falzerano
Kettering Alter and Dayton Carroll are just two of the teams that will vie for the D-II Springfield Regional title. The race also includes CJ, Tippecanoe and Kenton Ridge. Loyola MD) and soph Liz Reeves will be too much for Tiffin Columbian to overcome.
Springfield Regional Like its D-I counterpart in the southwest region, the Springfield Regional (formerly the Vandalia Regional) will be the most competitive and have the most crowded field of any of the 4 D-II regionals with 7 teams having a shot to come out not to mention the bevy of individual talent that will be on display. The Mason 3 district will be particularly interesting as McDonald's All-American co head coach Scott Rogers' No. 1 Cincinnati seed Indian Hill Braves are joined by No. 1 & No. 2 Dayton seeds Tipp City Tippecanoe (AP No. 4) and Dayton Carroll. In the other 3 districts comprising this regional, Kettering Alter (AP No. 2) and Big Walnut will not be challenged where Chaminade Julienne (AP No. 8) should be challenged by the Kenton Ridge Cougars in their district finals. If I was asked to write this prognosticating article in December, I would have the Ashley Christie (2010 Mt. St. Mary's University) led Alter Knights making their 3rd consecutive Final 4 appearance. I would have stated that Chaminade Julienne has no chance...they were awful
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Final Four Favorites: Findlay Liberty Benton, Middletown Madison, Oak Hill & Regina State Champion Favorite: Regina Of all 4 divisions, Division III will have the most teams return to Columbus for an encore performance in this year's Final Four...3 of the 4...Liberty Benton (AP No. 1), Oak Hill (AP No. 3) and Regina (AP No. 2). Unlike last year where Regina ran the table (27-0) the Royals have shown some areas of vulnerability this year giving rays of hope to the other 3 teams at the D-III dance. The odd thing this year is I expect Liberty Benton, Middletown Madison and Oak Hill to all be 20-0 coming into the Final Four and Regina being the only team in the D-III Final Four to have any losses...2 in the left hand column, one to D-II Hathaway Brown and one to D-I Twinsburg. Nonetheless, I must give credit where credit is due...the AP has this one right in that all 4 of these schools are the top 4 in the AP Poll.
Cuyahoga Falls Regional As Jackie Wilson once sang 'the whispers are getting louder'...come high noon on March 20, 2010 those whispers will reach an all time decibel level where some will be cheering "long live the Queen" while others will be rejoicing "ding dong the witch is dead"...on that date the Regina Royals' 12 year reign with 7 state championships will end as the school is closing its doors at the end of this school year and the landscape of Ohio D-III girls basketball will change. In their quest for a 7th title, Regina is one of 3 schools that can put 5 legit NCAA D-I prospects on the floor...the best point guard in the
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Girls Basketball Surprises
Surprises this season? There have been plenty... A look at some of the biggest stories of the y ear in gir ls baske tba ll: Bottle neck in Southwe st Div ision I Like everyone I fully expected traditional powers Mt. Notre Dame and Lakota West to come back to the pack in the D-I southwest region. I just did not expect the pack to be so big in numbers...13 teams have a legit shot to come out of the D-I Fairborn Regional...some have a better shot than others but it will not be a surprise no matter who comes out of there. Alphabetically: Butler, Fairborn, Fairmont, Hughes, Lakota West, Mason, Mt. Notre Dame, Oak Hills, Princeton, Springboro, Sycamore, Ursuline and Walnut Hills. It would be 15 but Colerain & Lakota East chose to go into the Harrison 5 district which takes the winner to the Westerville (Central OH) D-I Regional. As a sub-surprise to this category would be Oak Hills reeling off 10 wins in a row to start the season. Num be r of NC AA D-I Colle ge Sig nees Since the 1999-2000 season Ohio has averaged 65 to 80 NCAA D-I college signees with the most being from the 2003 class when 103 players from Ohio signed D-I college scholarships. Between 2003 and 2008 10 to 12 Ohio teams a year started 5 legit NCAA D-I prospects. This year there were only 3 teams (Hathaway Brown, Regina & Toledo Start) capable of starting 5 legit NCAA D-I prospects yet Ohio has had 67 players to date sign NCAA D-I college scholarships. One would have to surmise that parody is a result of the talent being more evenly spread out. M c D on a l d ' s O v e r s i g h t The McDonald's All American Selection Committee got 2 of them right from Ohio in selecting Natasha Howard (Toledo Waite / Florida State) and Samarie Walker (Chaminade Julienne / UConn). I think there are 5 to 6 players from Ohio that were deserving this year. In 2003 Ohio had 5 McDonald's All-Americans. (Alison Bales - Beavercreek / Duke; Jessica Davenport - Columbus Independence / Ohio State; Dee Davis - Cincinnati Princeton / Vanderbilt; Brandi Hoskins - Chaminade Julienne / Ohio State, and Brittany Hunter - Columbus Brookhaven / UConn). I did not expect Ohio to have 5 this year but I did think 3 to 4 would be selected especially with the game being held in Columbus
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OH. {Note: The McDonald's Selection Committee did get the coaches right with Dave Schlabach (Berlin Hiland) & Dr. Scott Rogers (Indain Hill)} Most Surprising Wins & B eat Downs There were several quality contending teams that had surprising beat downs and 'scratch your head' wins this year in the same season. The following are 5 that stand-out. - Chaminade Julienne's gettting a double digit beat down by Lutheran East in December at the Braggin' Rights Classic then winning over nationally ranked University NJ at Classic in Country VII. - Columbus Brookhaven getting beat by 20+ in early December at Toledo Start then beating Africentric in February for the Columbus City Championship. - Toledo Start win over Top 10 Potter's House (FL) at Classic in the Country VII then in early February getting beat down by 20 at Toledo Waite. {Note Toledo Start is the only Ohio team to beat Potter's House of the 8 Ohio teams that have played thme over the last 2 years.}. - Twinsburg's 25+ point beat down by Hathaway Brown in late November then in January an overtime win against Regina. - Youngstown Boardman's 30+ point beat down by Hathaway Brown in early December then later in the month beating Canton McKinley.
I m p a c t of F r e s h m a n Not since 1999 - 2000 season when the Class of 2003 were freshmen have so many freshman impacted the success of their high school varsity teams especially at some of the larger enrollment and traditional powerhouse schools. Those freshmen include the following 12 players from around the state...(folks before you get too excited that someone is not listed, this is not intended to be a complete list nor a top list of impact freshmen)
Liste d alphabet ically: Zenobia Bess (Gahanna Lincoln); Paige Cashin (Newark); Destini Cooper (Reynoldsburg); Aaliyah Dotson (Canton McKinley); Marley Hill (Pickerington Central); Ashley Morrissette (Twinsburg); Alexis Peterson (Columbus Northland); Hannah Plybon (Orrville); Emily Roper (Cincinnati Princeton); Vanessa Smith (Hathaway Brown); Sharon Sweeney (Toledo Start); Martha Thompson (Regina) - T om J e n k i n s , O G B R
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Girls Basketball State Tournament Preview state Tay'ler Mingo (2010 Florida State); 6'2 PaSonna Hope (2010 Ol' Miss); 6'2 junior Therany Dunnigan; super soph Nirra Fields, and freshman Martha Thompson Although Regina's road to Columbus is a bit more challenging than last year, in the end from Pymatuning Valley to Smithville to Orrville to Youngstown Ursuline to Akron Manchester to Loudonville that age-old anthem of "Wait Until Next Year" will be echoing throughout the Cuyahoga Falls Region!!!
Lexington Regional Expect the Liberty Benton Eagles to soar out of this region although they could encounter some turbulence along the way. Led by senior stalwart Amanda Hyde, Liberty Benton returns 4 of their 5 starters from last year Final 4 (23-2) team. Rejoining Amanda Hyde in the Eagles' formation heading back to Columbus this year are sharp shooting sophomore Caite Craft, junior Shanay Gibson and senior Amber Peterson. To land safely at the Schottenstein Center the LB Eagles will have to fly past the Flyers of Milbury Lake (AP No. 6) in the districts, then withstand the battering attack of the Tinora Rams from Defiance (AP No. 8) in the regional semis, then survive and advance against the New London Wildcats or the Collins Western Reserve Roughriders or the Megan White (2010 Tennessee-Martin) led Heath Bulldogs in the regional finals. The reward last year for getting out of this region was Liberty Benton got to face Regina in the state semifinals (lost 59-30). This year the reward would be not having to face Regina until championship Saturday
Athens Regional Walking softly and carrying a big stick...a big oak stick..the Oaks from Oak Hill are second only to Regina in Division III to be a 'lead pipe lock' in making an encore appearance at this year's State Final Four. Trying to turn these Oaks into paper and furniture are several lumber"jills"...the Karli Beasley led North Adams Green Devils, Coach Jack Vanreeth's now D-III West Muskingum Tornadoes, Chillicothe Zane Trace and the AP's No. 5 ranked Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley Trojans. One thing that all of these teams will have to learn...in order to chop down these Oaks you need a chainsaw not a hatchet...akin to Sean Connery in 'The Untouchables'..."don't bring a knife to a gunfight" Just take a look at Coach Hale's forest of Oaks..they return all 5 starters...in fact they return their top 8 from last year's 25-2 D-III state runner-up team. Led by fearless point guard junior Mikie Strite these Oaks are poised to make this the 2nd of 3 to 4 consecutive Final Four appearances. With only losing 2 of their top 8 next year, I will go on the record now and predict the Oak Hill Oaks will be next year's D-III state champion...this year it is still Regina's to lose.
Springfield Regional How appropriate that the newcomer to this year's D-III Final Four dance will come from a newly named regional...this regional was formerly known as the Vandalia Regional. This is also the most interesting of the 4 Division III regionals in that I can see any of 3 teams coming out...in reverse order of my picks...No. 3 would be Anna, No. 2 would be Columbus Africentric and my pick to come out of this regions is Middletown Madison. Ana is like that Aunt who just won't go away...you know the one that is always..."your hair is too long" or "your skirt is too short"...that one. Ranked No. 9 in the AP poll, I have the Rockets on the outside looking in. Anna's advantage is in the bracket position where they are opposite of both Africentric and Madison. With Africentric and Madison meeting in the regional semis both could think their semi final is the
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regional final game leaving Anna a shot to spank either one...just like that Aunt that won't go away. Having been a fixture in the D-IV Final Four since 2007 with 3 appearances and 2 state D-IV championships, Coach Will McKinney's Lady Nubians are acting like The Jeffersons and are 'moving on up' this year. I really like the Raven Ferguson (2011) led Africentric Lady Nubians but I think it will take them a year to navigate their way through the D-III waters before getting back to Columbus. Coach John Rossi's Middletown Madison Mohawks are my pick to come out this regional this year. Each year they have made a progressive step towards getting to the Final Four. Last year Madison advanced to the regional finals before losing to Versailles. The Mohawks have the best one-two offensive punch in the Springfield Regional with the strong inside out play of highly recruited 6'2 junior Ally Malott and 5'10 senior Lindsey Hoskins (Lehigh). Note: The Springfield Regional semifinal between Columbus Africentric and Middletown Madison will be well worth the price of admission no matter what the cost. The match-up between Africentric's Ferguson and Madison's Malott will feature 2 of the top 3 college prospects in Ohio's junior class plus you get the undercard match-up of Madison's Hoskins (Lehigh) against Africentric's junior Brittany Thomas (Akron).
Division IV
Final Four Favorites: Berlin Hiland, Columbus Harvest Prep, Maria Stein Marion Local & Ottoville State Champion Favorite: Berlin Hiland For the last 5 years it has been Berlin Hiland...Berlin Hiland ...Columbus Africentric...Berlin Hiland...Columbus Africentric...With Columbus Africentric having moved up to Division III this year that leaves Berlin Hiland looking for a new dance partner at The Schott. Massillon Regional The D-IV Massillon Regional is a mirror image of the D-III Springfield Regional in that it is a 3 horse race...Mogadore, Lutheran East & Berlin Hiland...sorry Kirtland (AP No. 7) but I don't think you have seen anyone on your schedule like the high flying Falcons of Lutheran East who you will face in your district finals. The Jordan Poth led Mogadore Wildcats have been creeping quietly under the AP's radar all year. Like Anna in the Springfield D-III regional, Mogadore's advantage is in the bracket position where they are opposite of both Hiland and Lutheran East. With Hiland and Lutheran East meeting in the regional semis both could think their semi final is the regional final. There is no question that the Lutheran East post combination of Latisha Walker (2010 Xavier) and Amber Bogard (2011) are not only the most dominant in this regional but are one of the best post combinations in the state regardless of division. There is no question that Berlin Hiland entered the season with one of the best 3-guard combination in the state regardless of division and without question the best in D-IV with seniors Hilary Weaver (Lehigh), Noelle Yoder (Bowling Green) and Mykaila Mast (Ohio Dominican). Mast went down with a late November knee injury...enter the Miller girls sophomore guards McKenzie & Regan. As stated earlier come tournament / play-off basketball at any level defense and guard play are the keys. Post play gets you to the tournament but superior guard play prevails in the end. Berlin Hiland with its superior guard play makes its 11th Final Four appearance this year in McDonald's All-American co-head coach Dave Schlabach's 19 years at the helm. Elida Regional The 4 districts comprising the Elida Regional are the most balanced
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Girls Basketball State Tournament Preview of any of the 4 D-IV regionals. Like the D-I Fairborn Regional there are 14 teams that could come out of the Elida D-IV Rregional. In the Archbold District there are 4 teams in legit contention for the title...Pettisville, Edgerton, Stryker and Toledo Christian. In the Attica District there are also 4 teams vying for the title...New Riegel, Bucyrus Wynford (AP No. 8), Mt. Blanchard Riverdale and Fostoria St. Wendelin In the Findlay District, I really like Toledo recruit junior Stephanie Recker and the Pandora Gilboa Rockets but they have to get by Van Buren in the semis and either Arlington or Holgate in the district finals. In the Lima District the battle for the title will come down to 2
Canton Hoover and having beaten D-II contender Indian Hill (AP No. 7) on the big stage at Classic in the Country VII. Coach David Dennis and Warriors of Harvest Prep hit the lottery this past summer when Grove City did not pass its levy and initially did away with all extracurricular activities where the 3 college D-I prospects from Grove City, juniors Shicole Watts, Shortee Beavers and Chelsea McKnight, came with the OHSAA "ok" looking for a home in Canal Winchester. In one of the best regional championship games in the state I like the Warriors of Harvest Prep over the Wildcats from Waterford. Springfield Regional The more things change the more they stay the same...'same as it ever was'...Talking Heads. Just like last year the winner that comes out of the Van Wert District will be the winner of the Springfield Regional…period...no "ifs"...no "ands"...no "buts". With 3 of the AP's Top 4 in Division IV in the Van Wert District, it will be the most competitive and fiercely fought of any of the 64 District Championships in the state of Ohio...will it be Ottoville (AP No. 1)?; will it be Kalida (AP No. 2)?, or; will it be Delphos St. John's (AP No. 4)? I do know it will be great theater and the most entertaining district playoffs in the state...small schools with large...real large followings plus some bad blood between schools...Jerry Bruckheimer could not script it any better. The AP got it right last year with Convoy Crestview being the top team in the Van Wert district...I am going to go with the AP again this year in picking Ottoville to be the last team standing in the Van Wert District...sorry Fort Loramie and the Tipp City 2 District ...sorry Houston and the Tipp City 1 District...sorry Cincinnati Country Day and the Tipp City 3 District we will try to get you speaking roles in next year's sequel.
Summary
Photo by Gary Housteau
Berlin Hiland (and senior guard Noelle Yoder) is looking to make its 11th state semifinal appearance. The Hawks have won three of the last five D-IV state titles.
schools with statewide recognized coaches...Coach Nann Stechshulte and her Minster Wildcats against Coach Treva Fortkamp and her Marion Local Flyers. Coach Fortkamp and her Marion Local Flyers have the easiest path to the regional semis, have more depth and better size than any of the teams from the other 3 districts... Flyers file flight plans for Columbus!
Pickerington Regional Two of the four seats are in the Pickerington Regional are already reserved...Waterford (AP No. 10) from the Athens 2 District and Columbus Harvest Prep (AP No. 5) from the Westerville District. New Boston Glenwood or Reedsville Eastern (AP No. 6) are the odds on favorite to fill the seat for the Athens 1 District. St. Mary Central Catholic from Sandusky, Mansfield St. Peter's, Colonel Crawford or Norwalk St. Paul are the contenders to fill the seat saved for the Lexington District. With Waterford and Harvest Prep on opposite sides of the bracket these 2 favored teams should match up for a great regional championship game. Coach Jerry Close and his veteran Waterford club are led by 6'1 senior power forward Sina King (Akron). These Wildcats have been tested having gone the distance with traditional D-I power North
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This year’s 35th Ohio High School State Tournament Championships will feature at least 10 new "faces" of the 16 teams competing for each of the 4 state titles. Determining who is going to Columbus is going to make for great theater at all 3 levels, district, regional and state and in all 4 divisions over the next several weeks. The OHSAA does a tremendous job coordinating and putting on what friends of mine from across the country call the best high school state tournament in America. Just think 800 teams…not an easy task. Come out and support this great game. Come out and support all the teams, players and coaching staffs that have worked hard all year and made sacrifices to compete in this great game. – OH
THE OHIO GIRLS BASKETBALL REPORT
Ohio Girls Basketball Report started 12 years ago has become over the last 9 years the No. 1 single-state scouting service in America. Currently there are 208 colleges across America that subscribe to Ohio Girls Basketball Report and rely on the information provided by Tom Jenkins and his staff in evaluating players from Ohio. Tom has over 45 years of playing, coaching and evaluating experience associated with the game of basketball. He is devoted solely to the promotion of the game of Ohio girls basketball through his publication, Ohio Girls Basketball Report and the promotion of the players of the game through his services.
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Boys Basketball State Tournament Preview
Will public schools win all four divisions?
88th Annual Boys Basketball State Championships
Individual and team talent is immense this season; The Nation’s No. 1 team headlines the chase
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s we near the end of the Ohio boy’s basketball regular season with the annual tournament draw coming up this weekend, it’s time to give our astute analysis and highly educated predictions. Of course, astute and highly educated aren’t words usually associated with us but we will go with it. Here is our attempt at greatness. Teams listed are the ones we consider the favorites at each site and not every team at each district.
Division I
Final Four: Lakewood St. Edward over Cincinnati Moeller, Columbus Northland over Massillon Jackson. State Championship: Columbus Northland over Lakewood St. Edward In Division I, the four regional sites that will make up the state tournament are Cleveland State, Xavier University, Akron University, and the Columbus Fairgrounds. One winner from each site will advance to this year’s state tournament at Value City Arena on the campus of The Ohio State University.
Cleveland State Regional The Cleveland State Regional will consist of four district sites including Grafton, Euclid, Solon, and Broadview. At Grafton, three teams from the Northeast Ohio Conference will be looking to advance in Brunswick, Medina, and Strongsville along with dark horses Olmsted Falls and Westlake. At Euclid, it should be a three-team race with Mentor, Lyndhurst Brush, and Solon. The Solon District has a host of top-notch clubs looking to advance
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including Warren Harding, Cleveland St. Ignatius, Garfield Heights, Cleveland Heights, Euclid, and Shaker Heights. This is by far the toughest district in the region. At Broadview, Lakewood St. Edward’s, Midpark, Revere, and Parma should be the top teams. District Winners: Brunswick, Mentor, Warren Harding, Lakewood St. Edward Regional Champion: Lakewood St. Edward
Tournament Preview
Xavier Regional The Xavier Regional is a bit different with the draw deciding which teams will stay at Xavier and the ones who will shift to Columbus. This regional will be made up of four Southwest Districts while the fifth SW site winner will head to Columbus. This sector is really hard to say with a plethora of good teams Division I that are all very similar. Here is a look at who we think are the top Can anyone stop a teams. The list includes: Northland repeat? Cincinnati LaSalle, Cincinnati Division II Moeller, Cincinnati Princeton, Cincinnati Winton Woods, Huber Will familiar faces should Heights Wayne, and Trotwoodshow up in Columbus? Madison with the likes of Division III Cincinnati Aiken, Cincinnati Woodward, Cincinnati St. Xavier, Will four public schools Cincinnati Elder, Cincinnati make the Final Four? Walnut Hills, Cincinnati Colerain, and Middletown are looking to Division IV make some noise. Can Dayton Jefferson get District Winners: Cincinnati done? LaSalle, Huber Heights Wayne, Cincinnati Moeller, Cincinnati Princeton Regional Champion: Cincinnati Moeller
it
Akron Regional The Akron University Regional will consist of four district sites including Canton, Copley, Bowling Green, and Toledo. At the Canton Civic Center, Massillon Jackson, Canton McKinley, North Canton Hoover, and Canton Timken should be the favorites at this site. The Copley District will have favorites in Twinsburg, Barberton, and Akron East. At Bowling Green University, Perrysburg, Mansfield Sr., Marion Harding, Findlay, and Holland Springfield all have a legitimate shot of advancing. At the Toledo University, Toledo St. John’s, Toledo Central Catholic, Toledo Whitmer, Toledo Rogers, Toledo St. Francis DeSales, and Sylvania Southview will be looking to advance. District Winners: Massillon Jackson, Copley- Twinsburg, Mansfield Sr., Toledo St. John’s Regional Champion: Massillon Jackson Columbus Regional The Columbus Fairgrounds Regional will consist of four district sites
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STORY BY KURT STUBBS, OHSHOOPS.COM B o y s B a s k e t b a l l S t a t e T o u r n a m e n t P r e v i e w
Senior J.D. Weatherspoon and Northland are looking to win a second straight state title and a national championship. Photo by Nick Falzerano
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Boys Basketball State Tournament Preview including three from Columbus and one from the Southwest. The Columbus draw will put all of the area teams including Tri-Valley (East) and Logan (Southeast) into three different districts during the online draw this weekend. The SW team will come from the fifth district. Here are some of the top D-1 Columbus-area teams. The list includes: Columbus Northland, Gahanna Lincoln, Westerville South, Westerville North, Upper Arlington, Dublin Coffman, Mount Vernon, Columbus Beechcroft, Columbus Brookhaven, Pickerington North, Pickerington Central, and Olentangy Orange. District Winners: Columbus Northland, Gahanna Lincoln, Westerville North, Cincinnati Winton Woods Regional Champion: Columbus Northland
Division II
Final Four: Dayton Dunbar over Cleveland Benedictine, Columbus DeSales over Toledo Libbey State Championship: Dayton Dunbar over Columbus DeSales In Division II, the four regional sites that will make up the state tournament are Canton, Kettering Fairmont, Ohio University, and Bowling Green University. One winner from each site will advance to this year’s state tournament at Value City Arena on the campus of The Ohio State University.
Canton Regional The Canton Civic Center Regional will consist of four district sites including Stow, Kirtland, Boardman, and Canton. At Stow, the teams to look out for are Cleveland Benedictine, University School, and Walsh Jesuit. At Kirtland, there isn’t really one team that stands out. Cleveland Collinwood and John Hay will have good records while Mentor Lake Catholic and Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin are formidable. At Boardman, Poland and Youngstown Cardinall Mooney should be a two-horse race. The Canton District has Akron SVSM, Akron Buchtel, Louisville, and Alliance Marlington. District Winners: Cleveland Benedictine, Cleveland Collinwood, Poland Seminary, Akron SVSM Regional Champion: Cleveland Benedictine
Kettering Regional The Kettering Fairmont Regional will consist of four district sites including three from Dayton Districts and one from Columbus. Neither Dayton nor Columbus have specific districts at this point so this will be a little foreshadowing. The list of top Dayton teams includes: Dayton CJ, Roger Bacon, Thurgood Marshall, Wilmington, Dayton Dunbar, Kettering Alter, Bishop Fenwick, Indian Hill, Bethel-Tate, Bellbrook, St. Paris Graham, Bellefontaine, Eaton, Kenton Ridge, Tippecanoe, Urbana, and Springfield Shawnee. The list of top D-II Columbus teams includes: Columbus DeSales, Columbus Bishop Watterson, Bexley, Canal Winchester, Eastmoor Academy, Bishop Hartley, Centennial, and Columbus East. District Winners: Dayton Dunbar, Dayton Thurgood Marshall, Columbus Bishop Watterson, Cincinnati Roger Bacon Regional Champion: Dayton Dunbar
Athens Regional The Ohio University Regional will consist of four district sites including Ohio University Eastern, Coshocton, Ohio University, and Columbus. At Ohio University Eastern, Carrollton, Coshocton, Meadowbrook, and East Liverpool should be the favorites. At Coshocton, Zanesville, Minerva, Dover, John Glenn, Claymont,
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and New Philadelphia will be the front runners for a very competitive district. Ohio University will have Logan Elm, Chillicothe, Waverly, Hillsboro, Athens, Washington CH, Vinton County, and Vincent Warren. The list of top D-II Columbus teams includes: Columbus DeSales, Columbus Bishop Watterson, Bexley, Canal Winchester, Eastmoor Academy, Bishop Hartley, Centennial, and Columbus East. District Winners: Carrollton, Zanesville, Logan Elm, Columbus DeSales Regional Champion: Columbus DeSales
Bowling Green Regional The Bowling Green University Regional will consist of four district sites including Westlake, Ohio Northern, Bowling Green, and Ashland. At Westlake, Bay Village, Avon, and Vermilion look to be the favorites. At Ohio Northern, Celina, Elida, Lima Bath, and Van Wert are the front runners. The Bowling Green top dogs should be Defiance, Toledo Libbey, Rossford, Eastwood, and Napoleon. At Ashland, Port Clinton, Lexington, Mansfield Madison, and Bellevue are the favorites. District Winners: Bay Village, Celina, Toledo Libbey, Lexington Regional Champion: Toledo Libbey
Division III
Final Four: Findlay Liberty-Benton over Oak Hill, Cincinnati Taft over Orrville State Championship: Cincinnati Taft over Findlay Liberty-Benton In Division III, the four regional sites that will make up the state tournament are Ohio University, Bowling Green, Canton Field House, and Kettering Fairmont. One winner from each site will advance to this year’s state tournament at Value City Arena on the campus of The Ohio State University.
Athens Regional The Ohio University Regional will consist of four district sites including three from the Southeast and one from New Philadelphia out of the East. The Southeast Districts aren’t officially set so we will once again be foreshadowing. The list of top Southeast teams include: Oak Hill, Ironton, Chesapeake, Peebles, Zane Trace, Piketon, Portsmouth, Lucasville Valley, Wheelersburg, South Point, Belpre, and Eastern Brown. At New Philadelphia, Sugarcreek Garaway, St. Clairsville, Shenandoah, Bellaire, West Muskingum, and Buckeye Trail are all in the mix. District Winners: Ironton, Oak Hill, Chesapeake, Sugarcreek Garaway Regional Champion: Oak Hill
Bowling Green Regional The Bowling Green University Regional will consist of four district sites including Mansfield, Napoleon, Elida, and Columbus. Just like the other Columbus districts, the draw will determine what district each team falls into. At Mansfield, Plymouth, Ontario, and Western Reserve should all be in the hunt. At Napoleon, Archbold, Metamora Evergreen, Delta, and Defiance Tinora are the favorites. At Elida, Findlay Liberty-Benton, Coldwater, Ottawa-Glandorf, St. Henry, Lima CC, Delphos Jefferson, Elmood, and Riverdale will be in contention at the best small-school district in Ohio. The list of top D-III Columbus teams include: Cardington Lincoln,
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Boys Basketball State Tournament Preview Madison Plains, Bloom-Carroll, Marion Elgin, Bishop Ready, North Union, Centerburg, Grandview Heights, and Fredericktown. District Winners: Plymouth, Archbold, Findlay Liberty-Benton, Bishop Ready
Canton Regional The Canton Field House Regional will consist of four district sites including, Painesville, Wooster, Warren, and Salem. At Painesville, Cleveland VASJ and Cleveland CC should be the favorites. At Wooster, Orrville, Jerome Hillsdale, Smithville, Wooster Triway, and West Salem Northwestern will all be in the hunt.
Regional Champion: Cincinnati Taft
Division IV
Final Four: Harvest Prep over Continental, Dayton Jefferson over Youngstown Christian State Championship: Dayton Jefferson over Harvest Prep In Division IV, the four regional sites that will make up the state tournament are Bowling Green, Columbus Fairgrounds, Canton Field House, and Kettering Fairmont. One winner from each site will advance to this year’s state tournament at Value City Arena on the campus of The Ohio State University.
Bowling Green Regional The Bowling Green University Regional will consist of four district sites including Liberty-Benton, Gibsonburg, Napoleon, and Elida. At Liberty-Benton, New Riegel, Van Buren, Vanlue, Leipsic, North Baltimore, McComb, Miller City, and Pandora Gilboa will all have a say. At Gibsonburg, Toledo Ottawa Hills, Toledo Christian, and Lakeside Danbury should be the favorites. The Napoleon District should be Antwerps’ to lose. At Elida, Columbus Grove, Continental, and Kalida will be involved in a tough three-way dance. District Winners: Pandora-Gilboa, Toledo Ottawa Hills, Antwerp, Continental Regional Champion: Continental
Photo by Nick Falzerano
Dayton Dunbar senior Geron Johnson is one reason the Wolverines are a D-II state title contender. Johnson and Dunbar are ranked No. 1 in the state. The Warren District should come down to LaBrae and Newtown Falls. At Salem, East Canton, East Palestine, Campbell Memorial, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Youngstown Ursuline all have a chance to advance. District Winners: Cleveland CC, Orrville, Newton Falls, Campbell Memorial Regional Champion: Orrville
Kettering Regional The Kettering Fairmont Regional will consist of four district sites including three Dayton Districts and one Columbus. The top D-III Dayton-area teams include: Anna, Hamilton Badin, Tipp City Bethel, Jamestown Greeneview, Middletown Madison, Dayton Northridge, Preble Shawnee, Versailles, Twin Valley South, New Lebanon Dixie, Reading, Cincinnati Taft, Cincinnati Shroder, Cincinnati Summit Country Day. The list of top D-III Columbus teams include: Cardington Lincoln, Madison Plains, Bloom-Carroll, Marion Elgin, Bishop Ready, North Union, Centerburg, Grandview Heights, and Fredericktown. District Winners: Cincinnati Taft, Cincinnati Shroder, Middletown Madison, Bloom-Carroll
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Columbus Regional The Columbus Fairgrounds Regional will consist of four district sites including Ohio University, Willard, and two from Columbus. The Ohio University District will have South Webster, Reedsville Eastern, Beaver Eastern, Racine Southern, and Symmes Valley. The top D-IV Columbus-area teams are Harvest Prep, Newark Catholic, Tree of Life, and Grove City Christian. At Willard, Tiffin Calvert, Carey, and Bucyrus Wynford should be favored. District Winners: South Webster, Harvest Prep, Carey, Newark Catholic Regional Champion: Harvest Prep
Canton Regional The Canton Regional will consist of four district sites including Byesville, Struthers, Warren, and Garfield Heights. At Byesville, Shadyside, Berlin Hiland, Tuscarawas CC, Bishop Rosecrans, Malvern, and Strasburg will all be in the mix. At Struthers, Lake Center Christian, McDonald, Wellsville, and Youngstown Christian are the favorites. The Warren District should belong to Vienna Mathews. At Garfield Heights, Dalton, Rittman, Bedford Chanel, and Lutheran East are all in the mix. District Winners: Shadyside, Youngstown Christian, Vienna Mathews, Dalton Regional Champion: Youngstown Christian
Kettering Regional The Kettering Fairmont Regional will consist of four district sites including three from Dayton and Wapakoneta. The top D-IV Dayton-area list of teams include: Dayton Jefferson, South Charleston Southeastern, Fort Loramie, Springfield CC, Yellow Springs, Sidney Lehman Catholic, Cincinnati Seven Hills, Lockland, and Russia. At Wapakoneta, Fort Recovery, New Bremen, New Knoxville, Marion Local, Delphos St. John’s, Fort Jennings, and Ottoville will make for a staunch district tournament. District Winners: Dayton Jefferson, Delphos St. John’s, Cincinnati Seven Hills, Fort Loramie Regional Champion: Dayton Jefferson — OH
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Boys Basketball Surprises
Who did what that wasn’t supposed to?
Got that? A look at the best - and some not so great - surprises in boys basketball thus far
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very year there are surprises in Ohio boy’s high school basketball, but for different reasons. For instance, some teams surprise us by winning a lot more games than we originally expected while others for one reason or another just couldn’t live up to the lofty expectations. The same goes for players as some kids explode onto the scene from virtually zero exposure the previous year. We are going to look at some of the biggest surprises thus far in 2009-2010.
Mentor making noise up north In D-1, one team in particular began making waves after a threeday run in San Diego (CA) that culminated with a 70-67 triumph of previously unbeaten Massillon Jackson. However, sitting at 8-0, it didn’t seem like the Mentor Cardinals were getting much love around the state until January 10th at Cleveland State. The Cardinals, who are known for making big runs in a short period of time, erased a sizeable first half lead against unbeaten Warren Harding and endured two overtimes to manage a 99-91 victory. The win went a long way for Mentor’s publicity. The Cardinals followed with a 32-point blowout win over a good Cleveland Heights team and then victories over Euclid and Cleveland VASJ helped solidify its high ranking. Mentor ran off 14-straight wins to start the season before losing to Shaker Heights (76-69) on February 5 followed by a loss to Lakewood St. Edward (78-63) the next night. The Cardinals second leading scorer, senior Jaron Crowe, missed the Heights game with a knee injury and was nowhere near 100 percent while scoring 12 points against Ed’s. “In my opinion, Crowe is one of the best guards in the state,” said Mentor boss Bob Krizancic. Even the head coach was a bit surprised by the torrid start despite knowing his team would be pretty good. “I thought we would be good because of our guards, but didn’t expect to start 14-0,” Krizancic relayed. “I do think we can make a run in the tourney because we have been to the regional the past two years and three of the past four. When we are healthy we are a very good team, but we must be able to run and press to be successful.” Those in Northeast Ohio knew of Cole Krizancic and his abilities,
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but even the biggest of hoop junkies in that area couldn’t have prognosticated what type of season the Mentor junior is having. Krizancic made second team Northeast Lakes All-District a season ago when he averaged 16 points per game. This season, the head coach’s son, has been on another playing level scoring 27.4 per outing. “He has turned into a completed player,” said Mentor head coach Bob Krizancic who is also Cole’s father. “His ability to get to the rim is the biggest difference from last year.”
Westerville South is proving height isn’t everything. The Wildcats, with zero players over 6-foot-2 on the varsity roster, are still unbeaten. Most Columbus-area basketball aficionados had South pegged for a quality basketball team, but no one was talking undefeated. South has played very few close contests and owns quality wins over Westerville Central (2), Logan Elm and Bishop Watterson along with its most impressive win over rival Westerville North. Quite a few state-wide basketball junkies have proclaimed the South/North crowd was the biggest they have seen thus far in 2009-2010. The Wildcats are led by 6-foot-2 junior guard Traevon Jackson, who does almost everything for his club. The strong lefty is the son of former Ohio State and NBA star, Jimmy Jackson. It was 21 years ago (1989) that Jackson’s father led Toledo Macomber-Whitney to the D-1 state title. Party for 4! It was no surprise that Columbus Northland was going to be the cream of the crop in Ohio, but going undefeated was in question with the likes of Findlay Prep (VA), Oak Hill Academy (VA), and Detroit Country Day (MI) on the schedule. The Vikings have disposed of Prep and Oak Hill while the Country Day contest was cancelled due to the weather. At this point, it almost looks inevitable for Northland to run the table. However, Northland (16-0) is just a quarter of the story. Four teams including the Vikings have a chance to run the table in the Central District (D-1). Upper Arlington, Gahanna Lincoln and Westerville South all have a chance to end the regular season undefeated. That feat is almost unbelievable considering the four teams are all in a 30mile radius of one another.
We don’t rebuild we reload! In D-II, three teams are thriving after losing key components off of last year’s teams. Logan Elm is coming of a trip to the D-II state tournament and lost not one but two 1,000-point scorers in Tim Congrove and Brandon Amann. What could they possibly do for an encore? The Braves are 15-2 with no signs of slowing up. Logan Elm has setbacks to Hamilton Township and unbeaten Westerville South with quality wins over Waverly, Chillicothe, Zane Trace, Bloom-Carroll, and Canal Winchester. How about Columbus St. Francis DeSales? The Stallions made the D-II state tournament yet again in 2009, but four starters graduated. Fortunately, one of those four wasn’t senior Nick Kellogg. The Ohio University signee has helped a group of new starters to a (17-2) record with its only losses coming to teams from Florida. Perhaps the biggest surprise of them all has been Dayton Chaminade Julienne. The Eagles lost guard Ryan Bass to Dayton Dunbar via transfer, but have shown very little ill-effects in starting the year (15-2). Bass was the leading scorer in the Greater Catholic League last season at 18.6 points per game. It seems the move has worked out well for both parties as Dunbar is No. 1 in the state in D-2 and CJ was No. 2 for a few weeks.
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STORY BY KURT STUBBS, OHSHOOPS.COM Sometimes surprises aren’t a good thing especially when a team doesn’t quite live up to expectations. In some regards, Wilmington has been a bit of a disappointment considering the hype that was placed on the Hurricane by most people in the know. The criticism, however, may not be justified. Wilmington has played much of the season without last year’s leading scorer and Ashland signee Jordan Berlin. The 6-foot-3 senior has played sparingly in just four games this season including marginal minutes in the last two affairs. Berlin has scored a mere 20 points this season after dumping 300 last year. It hasn’t all been bad, senior Quentin Rollins is getting 18.1 points
Photo by Nick Falzerano
Chaminade Julienne (and senior forward Joe Staley) are one of the state’s biggest surprises this year and a threat to win the D-II Kettering Regional. per game in leading the Hurricane to a respectable (10-5) record. Rollins is a Miami (OH) signee. Wilmington’s defeats have been to some pretty good competition in Dunbar, The Christ School (NC), Miller Grove (GA) and Columbus DeSales. Don’t be surprised if the regular season disappointment turns into tournament time delight with a healthy Berlin.
Change of scenery doesn’t bother East Canton. Now in D-III, former D-IV stud East Canton is thriving and off to its best start in school history at (15-0). “We have a really nice group of kids,” head coach Chad Spurgeon said. “This is a senior-laden team that has really bought into the team concept. We have had slow starts in half our games, but these kids don’t get rattled. We always seem to dig our heels in and start getting stops on defense.”
State Championship Slump! Cleveland Central Catholic, the defending D-III state champions, had lofty expectations heading into 2009-2010 with the return of one of the premier juniors in the state (Anton Grady) and Navy commit Chall Montgomery. However, couple a strong schedule with graduat-
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Boys Basketball Surprises ing three starters, and it has been a tremulous start for the Ironmen. The Ironmen started the year 0-6 before beating Padua Franciscan and Gilmour Academy. CCC, after the winless start, has won 7-of-10. Central Catholic’s first six games consisted of Akron SVSM, Cleveland VASJ, Lakewood St. Edward’s, Cleveland Benedictine, Akron Hoban and Cleveland East Tech then later against Cleveland St. Ignatius and another game with VASJ. To say the schedule has been demanding would be an understatement. Don’t be surprised to see CCC make a nice run come tourney time despite the slow start.
The Wheels have fallen off! Injuries, illness, and you name it, it’s all affected Wheelersburg in one way or another. The Pirates, who were expecting big things this season especially after receiving Portsmouth transfer junior Andrew Bendolph, have struggled to a (6-9) start thanks in large part to the injury bug. “It has been a tough year starting with the loss of our point guard Brandon Schankweiler before the season with a shoulder injury,” Wheelersburg coach Tom Barrick stated. “(Andy) Stegman has missed a game with an injury and we have another starter out with mononucleosis.” Barrick believes other factors have played into his team’s lackluster season. “We have lost five games in the last minute, so if those games go the other way this conversation isn’t happening,” believes the Pirates mentor. “We as coaches have been saying all year the one thing that has hurt us the most is consistency. We haven’t been able to stay consistent. We can’t play 28 minutes and expect to win a 32-minute game.” The Pirates have lost six games by five points or less, two by 10, and one by 11. Through all the misfortunes of this season, a deep tournament run is not out of the question.
Continental is moving about the state. In D-4, the Continental Pirates are off to a blazing start (15-1). It’s not surprising to see Continental playing well because they do that on a yearly basis, but the way last season ending had some questioning how they would respond. Continental was (14-6) last year, but lost in the first round of the tournament to a (5-15) Hamler Patrick Henry outfit. The debate is over, but tournament success will write this team’s legacy. Outside of close victories against Lima Temple Christian and Archbold, the Pirates have been slicing up their opponents by an average margin of 27.4 points per game.
This is stuff legends are made of! Richard ‘Dick’ Kortokrax’s storybook ending came up a bit short last year after losing to Oak Hill in a heart-breaking double overtime affair in the D-IV state championship game. However, the legend wasn’t done being asked by the board to return for another season. This is the same board that wanted him out. Most were wondering why Kortokrax didn’t ride off in the sunset with his state runner-up trophy, but the veteran knew what was coming. The Wildcats lost virtually the whole team including four starters from last year’s unit, but leading scorer Jordan Basinger returned. What Kortokrax knew that most didn’t was Kalida’s sophomore class has a chance to be special. With Basinger leading the young group, Kalida has won eight-straight with wins over Columbus Grove, Leipsic, Ottoville, and Defiance Tinora along with early season triumphs of Pandora-Gilboa and Delphos Jefferson. Its only losses are to Archbold and St. Henry, which occurred well over a month ago. Kalida (12-2) will meet Continental on February 19th in what should be a classic. — OH
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Wrestling State Tournament Preview
A sudden shift in who wins trophies? Maybe...
73rd Annual Wrestling State Championships
Graham a favorite for its 10th straight Division II title, but D-I and III up for grabs...or are they?
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o sport in Ohio has a more attended single-event championship than wrestling. Not track, not basketball…not even – dare we say – football. Nope. This past year, 9,845 people attended the Division I state football final between Cleveland Glenville and Hilliard Davidson. The D-I basketball final between Columbus Northland and Cincinnati Princeton was played in front of 12,104. The state wrestling tournament’s fifth session – the session in which the state finals are contested – was staged before a staggering 14,787 last year. Expect similar numbers this year. And expect some dramatics and different outcomes. For the last three years Lakewood St. Edward, Graham and Troy Christian have won the Division I, II and III state titles, respectively. There’s a great chance at least one of those teams WON’T repeat this season and a good chance two might not. The only safe bet heading into this year’s 73rd annual state wrestling championship? Graham will leave the Schottenstein Center with its 10th straight D-II title on March 6.
Division I
Some pundits – and very well respected ones – say that St. Edward’s string of 13 straight state titles ends this season. Even the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association has the Grizzlies ahead of the Eagles (in the final poll released Wednesday, Wadsworth edged St. Ed’s 68-65 for No. 1). As for me…I have to see it to believe it. For the last 13 years St. Edward has taken on all comers in the season’s final tournament and conquered them all – convincingly. Prior to last year’s 111.5-91 victory over Massillon Perry, the Eagles
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closest margin of victory during their parade had been 23.5 in 1999 (St. Ed’s beat Huber Heights Wayne 116.5-93). Last year the Grizzlies finished a disappointing fifth after exploding in the early rounds. Wadsworth, which trailed St. Edward by just five points after two sessions last year, had four wrestlers make the semifinals and all four lost. The Eagles also had four wrestlers in the semifinals and all four won. There is wrestling…and then there is state tournament wrestling. St. Edward enters the postseason this weekend ranked No. 10 in the country by the Amateur Wrestling News. Wadsworth is No. 8. It has to be said that no match-up heading into the state tournament is more intriguing than this one. Often times wrestling comes down to wanting to see two individuals square off. This year the Division I buzz is about these two teams. Wadsworth has beaten St. Does St. Edward’s string of Edward three times in the last 13 straight get snapped? two years in dual meets and with Division II its 36-23 win this season captured the state duals champiWho many individual titles onship for the second consecuwill Graham win? tive year. Division III But again, the Grizzlies have not beaten the Eagles at state – Does Monroeville add a and that’s what it’s ultimately team title to its resume? about. Potentially each team has five state finalists so the state title could come down to those wrestlers who simply earn state berths, win a couple matches and place. St. Edward seems to be strong in the lighter weights, while Wadsworth is tougher at the heavier ones. What this also means is that the Ashland District suddenly became a huge player in deciding the state title. Both St. Edward and Wadsworth are in that qualifier. And how about this… Potentially the state title could come own to the final match as both teams’ heavyweights are expectd to make a run at the state title. And when they hooked up at the state duals, Wadsworth’s Ben Buzzelli beat St. Edward’s Greg Kuhar 3-2. Yep, this race is that close. Champion: Lakewood St. Edward Runner-Up; Wadsworth Darkhorse: St. Ignatius
Tournament Preview
Division II
Last year Graham turned in the most dominant performance in the 72-year history of the state wresting tournament. The Falcons had seven individual champions, which broke the previous record of six set by Cleveland West in 1951. Graham also broke the record for total team points with 282, besting St. Edward’s previous mark of 229. Overall, Graham qualified 13 wrestlers to state and all of them
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STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ
Wrestling State Tournament Preview Monroeville junior Chris Phillips is looking to win his third state title. Phillips is ranked No. 1 in the country at 171 pounds.
Photo by Nick Falzerano
stood on the podium. The Falcons also had wrestlers place second (two), third (three) and seventh. This year they could do even better. Seriously. The most dominant high school program in the state – regardless of gender or discipline – the Falcons also enter the postseason in the hunt for a national championship, which would be their second in three years. Graham is currently tied with Apple Valley, Minnesota at No. 1 in the Amateur Wrestling News national rankings. The Falcons had been No. 3 prior, but then on Jan. 30 they blasted then No. 1 Blair Academy (N.J) in a home dual, 36-21. While Graham doesn’t have any wrestlers going for their fourth state titles (like David Taylor did last year), they have plenty of hammers, including four who are looking to defend their titles. Champion: Graham Runner-Up: Oak Harbor Darkhorse (for second): Walsh Jesuit
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Division III
Two years ago Monroeville finished third in the D-III team race. Last year the Eagles were second – by a point – to Troy Christian (113112). If Monroeville wins a state title, it is going to be this year. The Eagles have three wrestlers – juniors Hunter Stieber, Cam Tessari and Chris Phillips – looking to win their third state title and one – senior and Ohio State recruit Logan Stieber – who is looking to win his fourth. And barring a miracle they will. The question remains though will the four horsemen generate enough points – and will they get enough help – to win the team title? The answer is yes. Champion: Monroeville Runner-Up: CVCA Darkhorse: West Jefferson — OH
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