Boys basketball tournament capsules

(1) MENTOR VS. (5) SOLON

What: D-I Euclid District semifinal Where: Euclid When: March 6, 7 p.m. Records: Mentor 21-2, Solon 15-9

On deck: The winner advances to the Euclid District final March 9 against Brush or Cleveland Heights.

For the record: Mentor and Solon will meet for the 12th time in four seasons March 6. Each of the past three years, the Cardinals and Comets met in the Euclid District final to decide its champion. Mentor enters the district round coming off the most successful regular season in program history, which included two double-digit wins over Solon. The Comets are one of Ohio’s hottest teams with the return of Trent Williams bolstering their backcourt alongside Mike Bekelja, who dropped 30 in their sectional final victory at Solon. Mentor had little trouble and coach Bob Krizancic was able to dispatch his junior varsity players to finish off a sectional win over Mayfield. Luke Floriea, Chad Rogers and the rest of the Cardinals need to treat this game like a district final in order to secure a season sweep of Solon.

Barnes’ pick: Mentor

(1) VASJ VS. (4) PERRY

What: D-II Ashtabula District final Where: Lakeside, 6600 Sanborn Road, Ashtabula When: March 6, 7 p.m. Records: VASJ 15-8, Perry 19-5

On deck: The winner advances to the Ashtabula District final March 9 against Lake Catholic or Geneva.

For the record: Perry is arguably the hottest team in the area, having won 14 of its last 15 games headed into a district semifinal matchup with the defending district champion, Villa Angela-St. Joseph. Nate Cubbison and Drew Schiano lead a wellround starting lineup that contains players with multiple years of varsity experience. The Pirates opened the postseason with a 45-point win over Jefferson, then smacked Glenville by 38. VASJ has its eyes on returning to Columbus after the Vikings’ streak of five straight trips was ended in a regional final loss to St. Vincent-St. Mary last year. VASJ played one of the area’s most rigorous schedules and the Vikings are eight-deep with Jaden Hameed and Khalil Mitcham leading a host of contributors capable of putting them in control. More importantly, VASJ is able to execute numerous defensive schemes to neutralize opponents’ strengths. On the sideline, the matchup also pits two of the area’s top in-game coaches — Perry’s Al Iacofano and VASJ’s Babe Kwasniak — against one another.

Barnes’ pick: VASJ