High school boys basketball tournament capsules

No. 5 Columbia vs. No. 1 Lutheran East

What: Division III Garfield Heights District semifinal When: March 5, 7 p.m. Where: Garfield Heights High School, 4900 Turney Road, Garfield Heights

For the record: Columbia picked up a seven-point win over Kirtland in a sectional final and was led by Josh Borling with 19 points and Jake Kile with 14. It’s encouraging to see the 11-10 Raiders earn a postseason victory on the road, but top-seeded Lutheran East will pose a whole new set of challenges. The reigning Division IV champs moved up to D-III thanks to Competitive Balance and played a tough regularseason schedule as the newest member of the Lake Erie League. The Falcons are battle-tested and seem like a lock to advance to the final. McNees’ pick: Lutheran

East

No. 4 Manchester vs. No. 1 Wellington

What: Division III Wooster District semifinal When: March 5, 7 p.m.

Where: Wooster High School, 515 Oldman Road, Wooster

For the record: Wellington topped ninth-seeded Loudonville in a sectional final and did it without major contributions from leading scorer Maxwell Joppeck. When the senior was virtually taken out of the game near the end of the season by opposing defenses, the Dukes struggled to fill the void, but figuring it out in the postseason is a good sign. Joppeck needs to come alive in the playoffs if Wellington’s going to make a run beyond the district, but having others step up around him, like Noah Diermyer who scored 28 points in the sectional final, is just as crucial and the Dukes seem to be figuring it out at the right time. McNees’ pick: Wellington