Girls basketball tournament capsules

(3) FIRELANDS VS. (2) ROCKY RIVER

What: Division II Elyria District semifinal

When: Feb. 26, 6 p.m.

Where: Elyria

Records: Firelands 20-3, Rocky River 18-5

On deck: The winner advances to the district final against No. 4 Cloverleaf or No. 1 Bay.

For the record: Not only is the a rematch of one of the Falcons’ three regular season losses this year, it’s a rematch of a sectional semifinal from a year ago. Firelands won that game, but a lot has changed since then for both sides. The most notable being the seeding. It was an 8vs. 9 meeting in 2019. The 2020redux sees both teams ranked in the top four of the district. Firelands comes into this showdown having narrowly escaped No. 6East Tech in a sectional final.

DiFranco’s pick: Rocky River

(4) CLOVERLEAF VS. (1) BAY

What: Division II Elyria District semifinal

When: 7:45 p.m., Feb. 26

Where: Elyria

Records: Cloverleaf 17-7, Bay 18-5

On deck: The winner advances to a district final against No. 3 Firelands or No. 2Rocky River.

For the record: In a rematch of this district’s championship game from a year ago, Bay and Cloverleaf both enter off lopsided sectional final wins. The Rockets dispatched Clearview in a 33-point victory, while the Colts moved past Lutheran West by 17. This has the potential to be one of the best games of the playoffs, but if Bay continues their postseason magic they’ve had under Coach John Curran, it should be able to move on.

DiFranco’s pick: Bay

(5) WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS VS. (1) ELYRIA CATHOLIC

What: Division III North Ridgeville District semifinal

When: Feb. 26, 7:45 p.m.

Where: North Ridgeville

Records: Warrensville Heights 16-6, Elyria Catholic 22-1

On deck: The winner advances to the district final against No. 2Independence or No. 3 Lutheran East.

For the record: Warrensville Heights defeated Wellington to reach this district semifinal, and what is their reward? Elyria Catholic, fresh off a 68-point win in its sectional final. The Tigers roster just seven players, and in a normal game play just six. That might work against other teams in this district, but against the Panthers that more than likely won’t be the case. Elyria Catholic is one of if not the deepest team in the area, which is why it’s only lost once this year.

DiFranco’s pick: Elyria Catholic