OSU QB IN SPOTLIGHT
Knights (9-0) top initial D-II poll; rival Millersburg is No. 2.
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It didn’t take long for unbeaten Alter and defending state champion Millersburg West Holmes to renew their girls basketball rivalry, and they haven’t even played each other.
Alter (9-0) collected nine first-place votes and was voted the top-ranked girls high school basketball Division II team in Tuesday’s debut of the Associated Press state girls polls. It’s the first time the Knights have ever been No. 1.
West Holmes (9-1), the defending D-II state champion, had five first-place votes and was No. 2 by a 130-118 margin.
Millersburg handed Alter its only loss last season in the D-II state championship, 62-45.
“It’s quite an honor,” Alter coach Chris Hart said. “Actually, it’s really humbling as well. Honestly, it’s nice for our kids. What ends up mattering is what happens in March. We have to gear toward that.”
Alter was part of a sixteam area showing among the top D-II teams. Tippecanoe (11-0) was No. 3, Valley View (9-0) No. 5, Trotwood-Madison (7-1) No. 9, Eaton (11-1) No. 10 and Kenton Ridge (11-2) No. 12.
“There’s an awful lot of good basketball teams in our area,” said Hart.
Marion Local (11-0) also was top-ranked. The Flyers had nine first-place votes for a 123-110 margin over runner-up Berlin Hiland in D-IV. Tri-Village (91) was No. 8 and Fort Loramie (8-1) No. 9 among the smallest schools.
Unbeaten Springboro (9-0) had two first-place votes and was No. 3 in D-I behind top-ranked Mason and No. 2 Powell Olentangy Liberty. Also cracking the top 10 among D-I teams were No. 7 Beavercreek (8-2) and No. 9 Sidney (8-1). Fairmont (7-3) was No. 12.
Versailles (9-2) was the only area team ranked in D-III at No. 7.
Media from throughout the state vote weekly for the boys and girls polls, which are tabulated by the Associated Press. The boys polls will continue to be released on Mondays and the girls on Tuesdays.