High school boys basketball tournament capsules

(2) BRUSH VS. (3) CLEVELAND HEIGHTS

What: D-I Euclid District semifinal Where: Euclid High School When: March 7, 7 p.m. Records: Brush 20-3, Cleveland Heights 13-10 On deck: The winner advances to the Euclid District final March 9 against the winner between Mentor and Solon.

For the record: Cleveland Heights played a quality schedule, bolstered by its games in Lake Erie League play. The Tigers are talented, led by 6-foot-9 Louisville commit Jae’Lyn Withers and Nigel Martin. Weeks after a loss to East Tech, Cleveland Heights hammered the Scarabs by 38 points in a sectional final. The Tigers will present a challenge to Brush, which seeks its first district final berth under Coach Chet Mason. Seniors DJ Dial and Andre Harris, alongside junior big man John Hugley, will have interesting individual matchups in the contest. As a team, the Arcs are effective in the offensive halfcourt and defend well. Barnes’ pick: Brush

(2) EUCLID VS. (3) GARFIELD HEIGHTS

What: D-I Solon District semifinal

Where: Solon High School, 33600 Inwood Drive When: March 7, 7 p.m.

Records: Euclid 16-7, Garfield Heights 12-11

On deck: The winner advances to the Solon District final March 9 against the winner between Shaker Heights and Twinsburg.

For the record: Garfield Heights ended Euclid’s season each of the past two seasons and the Bulldogs defeated the Panthers in Garfield Heights earlier this season. Euclid’s loss was part of a 1-4 start against a brutal five-game slate to open the year. From there, the Panthers found their stride and finished the season 14-3. Garfield Heights may also not be at full strength for the rematch. Leading scorer Meechie Johnson was injured late in the Bulldogs’ sectional final victory over Nordonia, and 6-foot-9 forward Brison Waller did not play. Either way, the Panthers are a different team than the one that lost at Garfield Heights earlier this year as Garvin Clarke and Mario Lacy Jr. have led them to one of their best seasons, so far, in recent memory. Barnes’ pick: Euclid

(2) LAKE CATHOLIC VS. (6) GENEVA

What: D-II Ashtabula District semifinal Where: Ashtabula Lakeside High School, 6600 Sanborn Road

When: March 7, 7 p.m.

Records: Lake Catholic 185, Geneva 15-8

On deck: The winner advances to the Ashtabula District final March 9 against the winner between VASJ and Perry.

For the record: Geneva advanced to the district round with an upset of No. 3-seed Harvey, as the Eagles put forth a gritty defensive effort and made the Red Raiders uncomfortable for 32 minutes. Geneva’s next task is Lake Catholic, last year’s district runner-up. Nick Stoltz, Grant Mihalick and their teammates will need to find a way to slow down the Cougars’ elite pair of juniors, Luka Eller and Luke Frazier. Lake Catholic returned to the district round with a sectional final win over Chardon. Ryan Boruszkowski stepped up to score 23 points in that game. Eller, at 6-foot-7, and the Cougars have a distinct size advantage over the Eagles but need to be sure to match their toughness.

Barnes’ pick: Lake Catholic

(3) BENEDICTINE VS. (7) AURORA

What: D-II Stow District semifinal Where: Stow-Munroe Falls High School, 3227 Graham Road

When: March 7, 7:45 p.m. Records: Benedictine 1310, Aurora 10-14 On deck: The winner advances to the Stow District final March 9 against the winner between Revere and CVCA.

For the record: Aurora avenged its regular-season loss to Gilmour with an upset victory on the Lancers’ home floor. The Greenmen face a taller task in Benedictine. The Bengals won their last five games of the regular season and had little trouble in a 81-46 victory over Chagrin Falls. Benedictine is deep and will pose more matchup problems for Aurora than Gilmour with Bowling Green commit Davin Zeigler, Miami committ Andy Barba, Jashun Cobb, Eric Buckner and BJ Busbee in the backcourt. Rory Kilbane anchors the Bengals in the frontcourt with his tenacity and an elite ability to draw charges.

Barnes’ pick: Benedictine