The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Boys basketball district capsule
A look at upcoming high school boys basketball sectional/ district tournaments involving News-Herald coverage area teams:
DIVISION I Northeast 1 — Twinsburg Top seeds:
3 Nordonia, 4 Akron Hoban, 5Mentor, 7Canton GlenOak
Other area teams: 25 Euclid,
33 North Favorites:
Nordonia, Hoban, Mentor
Up next: District champion advances to Kent Regional Outlook: Mentor is in an intriguing position as it opens the tournament with a game against North followed by a date with Warren Howland or Cuyahoga Falls. With the Cardinals’ ability from deep from Ian Ioppolo (22.3 points, 453s) and Matthew Biddell (18.5points, 363s) as well as being able to work inside, the Cardinals should punch their ticket to the district round. The challenge when they get there is they are on the top half of the bracket with No. 3seed Nordonia. The Cardinals will need their inside game, led by Kobe Frasure-Azzano (10.6), to come up big. The Cardinals have made a big emphasis on crashing the boards this season as Biddell, Ian Ioppolo and Ryan Ioppolo are also averaging over seven boards a game. Against the Knights in a district semifinal and a potential matchup with Hoban, they will need that to be a big factor.
Northeast 2 — Alliance Top seeds:
1 Stow-Munroe Falls, 6Green, 9Massillon Jackson, 11 Dover
Other area teams: 14 Riverside, 32 South
Favorites: Stow-Munroe Falls Up next: District Champion advances to Kent Regional
Northeast 3 — Euclid Top seeds:
2 Akron SVSM, 8 Walsh Jesuit, 10Louisville, 12 Brush
Other area teams: 20 Chardon, 21Mayfield, 22University Favorites: Akron SVSM, Walsh Jesuit
Up next: District champion advances to Kent Regional Outlook: Brush earned a first-round bye into a sectional
final and awaits a showdown with one of its old WRC rivals in Chardon or Mayfield. The winner of that Feb. 25 matchup will meet Akron SVSM in a district semifinal. A preview could be on tap when the Arcs and Fighting Irish tangle Feb. 10. But the Arcs can’t overlook the Hilltoppers or Wildcats. Chardon brings a gritty style of defense mixed with fastpaced offense. Ethan Faber isn’t afraid to go to the hole as he averages 16.7points per game. The Hilltoppers also have Kyle Palovich and Sammy Sulka, who both average over 8.5 rebounds a game. The Wildcats can also put up points
in a hurry behind Kyle Irwin, who averages 23.5points, 11.2rebounds and 3.2assists per game. But with Brush’s supporting cast working well with leaders Marlon Barnes and Tyler Williams, the Arcs will be ready for the challenge.
DIVISION II
Northeast 1 — Boardman Top seeds: 2 Canfield, 3 Alliance, 4 Chaney, 7 Ravenna Other area teams: 9 Madison, 10NDCL, 22Geneva, 28 Kenston
Favorites:
Canfield, Alliance, Chaney
Up next: District champion advances to Canton Regional Northeast 2 — NDCL
Top seeds: 1 Ursuline, 5 Girard, 6 Gilmour, 8 Jefferson
Other area teams: 12 Hawken, 17 West Geauga, 25 Harvey Favorites: Ursuline
Up next: District champion advances to Canton Regional Outlook: The Lancers have had ups and downs but earned a high seed and will begin the postseason at home against Field before they welcome Salem or Struthers in a sectional final. The Lancers are led by Brandon Rose, who can work inside and out with an average of 17.1 points per game. With Adisa Molton healthy and running the offense (4.2assists per game) as well as the supporting cast getting healthy, that could be a problem for the rest of the field. Also keep an eye on Hawken. The Hawks have several players who can score well in any given contest as well as a trio of strong guards who aren’t afraid to let the shots rip from deep. With the trio of Taj Caver, Da’Ron Hill and Gregory Price able to handle the outside, the Hawks also have David Dettelbach inside who averages 9.5 rebounds a game. If you’re looking for a district sleeper, keep the Hawks in mind. Northeast 3— Stow
Top seeds: 3 Buchtel, 8 Elyria Catholic, 10Rocky River, 11 East Tech
Other area teams: 18 VASJ Favorites: Buchtel
Up next: District champion advances to Canton Regional Northeast 5 — Louisville Top seeds: 2 Holy Name, 4 CVCA, 7Glenville, 9Tallmadge Other area teams: 21 Benedictine
Favorites: Holy Name, CVCA Up next: District champion advances to Canton Regional
DIVISION III Northeast 1 — Niles Top seeds:
2 Perry, 4 Beachwood, 6Pymatuning Valley, 7 Newton Falls
Other area teams: Favorites:
None 2 Perry, 4 Beachwood
Up next: District champion advances to Canton Regional Outlook: It’s a pair of familiar faces on opposite sides of the bracket. Perry and Beachwood met Jan. 27when the Bison were victorious, 70-65. Yet the Pirates earned the higher seed and welcome East Palestine to Spectator Gym on Feb. 24. If the seeds play out, then Perry will see Newton Falls in a district semifinal and a trip to the final on the line. The Pirates will need to have Jake Cubbison (21.1 points per game) as well as Brayden Richards (15.8points per game) clicking on offense. Richards also brings the rebounding with seven boards a game. The Bison are on the top half of the bracket and wait to play host the Garrettsville-Crestwood winner in a sectional final. The Bison are led by Nathan Lurie and his 28.5 points per game followed by Noah Page with 15.5. Page has also taken up the rebounding role with 8.4 per game. The Bison will need their fast style of play to establish a lead throughout the tournament. The match of them and Pymatuning Valley in a district semifinal if the seeds play out is an interesting one as the Lakers bring length and defense to the table.
Northeast 3 — Salem Top seeds:
3 Lake Catholic, 5Cardinal Mooney, 8Chagrin Falls, 12Kirtland
Other area teams: 18 Berkshire, 19Wickliffe
Favorites: Lake Catholic, Cardinal Mooney
Up next: District champion advances to Canton Regional Outlook: As teams attempted to avoid Lutheran East, this bracket became really popular really quick. The first to jump into it was Lake Catholic as the Cougars host one of the two sectional semifinals against 30 seed Mineral Ridge. The Cougars have the strong scoring duo of Aidan Fitzgerald (19.5 points) and Peyton Budrys-Rini (17.9) and both have the ability to work inside and out. Awaiting the Cougars in the sectional final would be Champion on Feb. 24. Kirtland and Berkshire are also in the top half of the bracket with the winner advancing to the same district semifinal as Lake Catholic. Chagrin Falls and Wickliffe selected the bottom half of the bracket and meet Feb. 24. The Tigers will look to their defense like they have all season to head back to a district semifinal. With James Kosmides in the middle, averaging over six blocks a game, the Tigers will be a tough challenge for the
Blue Devils as well as if they advance to a district semifinal against Cardinal Mooney.
DIVISION IV Northeast 1 — Norton Top seeds:
1 Richmond Heights, 5Mogadore, 9Southern
Other area teams: None Favorites: Richmond Heights Up next: District champion advances to Canton Regional Outlook: It’s the Spartans’ world and everyone else is living in it. Richmond Heights took the top half of the bracket and if the seeds play out they will have to play 18seed Open Door in a district semifinal. The other two top 10seeds in the bracket elected to be on the opposite side of the Spartans. Dorian Jones leads the way for Richmond Heights with 19.7 points per game, while Hosea Steele averages a doubledouble of 16points and 10.3rebounds, while De’Erick Barber averages 9.1 assists.
Northeast 2 — Struthers Top seeds:
2Warren JFK, 4 Lowellville, 7 Dalton, 10 Wellsville
Other area teams: 15 Cardinal, 32 Andrews Osborne Favorites: Warren JFK, Lowellville
Up next: District champion advances to Canton Regional Northeast 3 — Grand Valley Top seeds: 3 Cornerstone Christian, 6Badger, 8Mathews, 11David Anderson
Other area teams: Favorites:
25 Fairport Cornerstone, Badger
Up next: District champion advances to Canton Regional Outlook: The third-seeded Patriots enter the bracket on the top half of the bracket and open the tournament at home against 38seed Youngstown Academy for Urban Scholars before a potential sectional final against Bloomfield. Cornerstone looks to continue the strong performances from Quinn Kwasniak, who averages 30.5points per game with 823s. The Patriots also have Kwasniak as well as Ryan Merrill and DJ Niles averaging over four assists a game. If the seeds play out, it would be a district final between Cornerstone and Badger which has the potential to be a highscoring game.