Get ready for hoops action in boys, girls

Staff Writers Nate Barnes and John Kampf preview the day of basketball with sectional and district capsules.

(1) CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN VS. (2) ANDREW OSBORNE

What: Division IV district championship game When: 4 p.m., March 2 Where: Grand Valley High School, 111 Grand Valley Ave., Orwell

Records: Cornerstone 18-4, Andrews 18-3

On deck: Winner advances to the Massillon Perry Regional to play the winner of Sandusky St. Mary and New Washington Buckeye Central at 8 p.m. on March 7

For the record: A rematch of a regular-season game that the Patriots won, 5748. A big difference this time around is CCA junior guard Michaela Cloonan (knee) isn’t expected to play, as she has missed the last five games and was still in a knee brace during her team’s 57-13 win over Maplewood in a district semifinal. Even without Cloonan, CCA cruised thanks in part to its smothering full-court defense and efficient shooting. The Patriots made 17 of 18 shots after missing their first six shots of the game. Maplewood was never in the game after that. Cornerstone will likely continue that full-court type of play against AOA, but the Phoenix were at their best in their semifinal win over Bristol when they could get out and run with people like senior Nika Humeniuk and freshman Tai Roberts. Andrews had some trouble in the halfcourt game when Bristol slowed the pace and played zone. Could Cornerstone go against its modus operandi (man-to-man full court) and play some zone in this game? Possibly. The key for Cornerstone is to push tempo, score in transition and then make the 3s when they get into the halfcourt sets. AOA needs to keep 6-foot Humeniuk out of foul trouble and get scoring balance from others such as Roberts and Darina Dyazhuk.

Kampf’s pick: Cornerstone Kampf’s Feb. 28 record:

2-1 Kampf’s season record: 46-5 (.902)

PAUL DICICCO — FOR THE NEWS-HERALD Cornerstone Christian’s Madison Cloonan shoots against Mentor on Jan. 7. Cloonan and the Patriots will play Andrews Osborne on March 2 in a Division IV district final at Grand Valley.