The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Westlake, EC embark on Sweet 16 girls hoops
Rob DiFranco previews tonight’s girls basketball regional semifinals involving Morning Journal coverage area squads, with Westlake on the court in Division I and Elyria Catholic in D-III.
WESTLAKE VS. TOLEDO NOTRE DAME ACADEMY
What: Division I regional semifinal When: 8 p.m., March 4
Where: Norwalk, 350 Shady Lane Drive
Records: Westlake 22-3, Notre Dame 20-3
On deck: The winner advances to a regional final against Akron Hoban or Perrysburg.
For the record: The Demons made it through the gauntlet that was the D-I Elyria Catholic District relatively unscathed. Westlake defeated the seventh, sixth and fifth seeds en route to its first district title since 2016. In their way now is Notre Dame Academy, the top seed from the Toledo District. The Eagles were state runnersup in 2015and 2017and look poised to make another run at that state title. The Demons’ workhorses, Gina Adams and Abby Carrington, will need to carry over their dominant performances from the district title game for Westlake to knock off Notre Dame.
DiFranco’s pick: Notre Dame
ELYRIA CATHOLIC VS. TUSLAW
What: Division III regional semifinal
When: 7:45 p.m., March 4
Where: Cuyahoga Falls, 2300 4th Street
Records: Elyria Catholic 24-1, Tuslaw 22-3
On deck: The winner advances to a regional semifinal where it will face Warren Champion or South Range.
For the record: Elyria Catholic stomped its way through the D-III North Ridgeville District for the third consecutive year. But this time the Panthers won’t face Doylestown Chippewa in the regional semi, as they have for the past two seasons. Awaiting them is 22-3Tuslaw. The Mustangs have won eight in a row and finished tied atop the Principals Athletic Conference. With a group of eight seniors, Elyria Catholic has the experience and drive to move past this round.
DiFranco’s pick: Elyria Catholic