The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Basketball tournaments resume this evening
Marissa McNees has capsule previews for girls regional semifinals involving Avon Lake and Bay, and boys district semifinals in Division III (Elyria Catholic) and D-IV (Open Door vs. Columbia).
AVON LAKE VS. CANTON MCKINLEY
What: Division I Norwalk Region semifinal
When: March 5, 8p.m. Where: Norwalk High School, 350Shady Lane Drive, Norwalk
Records: Avon Lake 21-3, McKinley 22-1
On deck: The winner advances the the regional final where it will face the winner of Toledo Notre Dame Academy-Medina.
For the record: Avon Lake defeated Olmsted Falls, 52-48, to capture the program’s first Division I district title in a game that turned out to be as good as advertised. Unfortunately, the Shoregals’ reward for success is a date with the second-ranked team in Division I, Canton McKinley. The Bulldogs boast the reigning Ohio Ms. Basketball and an Ohio State recruit in Kierstan Bell, who had 25 points, seven rebounds, five steals, four blocks and two assists in a district final win over Wadsworth, as well as a talented roster all around. Avon Lake will need to sustain its highest level of basketball to give McKinley any type of run.
McNees’ pick: McKinley
BAY VS. BELLEVUE
What: Division II Ada/Mansfield regional semifinal When: March 5, 7p.m. Where: Mansfield Senior High School, 124N. Linden Road, Mansfield
Records: Bay 19-6, Bellevue 23-2
On deck: The winner advances to the Ada/Mansfield regional final where it will face the winner of Toledo Rogers-Napoleon. For the record: Like Bay, Bellevue is also coming off back-to-back district championships and the Redmen advanced to the Ada/ Mansfield regional final last season before running into state power Toledo Rogers. Bay beat Cloverleaf, 54-43, but enters the contest with eighth-ranked Bellevue as the underdog. The Rockets have displayed a wellbalanced offense over the course of the postseason and will need to take it to the next level to advance to the regional final.
McNees’ pick: Bellevue