5 reactions to the OHSAA girls basketball district tournament draws
The girls basketball postseason is still two weeks away, but it is firmly in sight after Sunday’s district tournament draws.
In the Central District, defending regional champion Pickerington Central (18-3) earned the top seed in Division I. Granville (16-1), Mechanicsburg (17-1) and Newark Catholic (17-0) lead the field in divisions II, III and IV, respectively.
This was the first season in which seeds were determined statewide by a ratings percentage index adopted by the Ohio High School Athletic Association rather than coaches’ votes.
The Central District still employs an open draw in which coaches place their teams on the bracket.
Here are five takeaways from the draws:
1. Intriguing rematches dot Division I bracket in central Ohio
That is not to mention the potential regional matchups, some of which likely will be derailed because there’s always that “dark horse” team somebody sees coming but few, if any, actually pick to get out of the district.
A handful of league opponents have the chance to meet. No. 11 Canal Winchester (15-5) could get the chance to avenge two OCC-Capital losses to likely league champion and fifth-seeded Big Walnut (17-2) in a district semifinal, and the first regional semifinal March 5 at Otterbein could pit OCC-Cardinal powers Olentangy (19-1) and Marysville (18-3).
Olentangy, which should get a stiff semifinal challenge from No. 7 Reynoldsburg (15-6), is the second seed and Marysville is third. Olentangy swept Marysville in the regular season.
And this one isn’t a rematch, but neighboring seeds might provide the most intriguing first-round matchup Feb. 21 when No. 23 Newark (8-11) hosts 24th-seeded Grove City (8-11).
2. Pickerington Central, Olentangy Liberty could be on collision course
Central, the top-ranked team in the state poll, won’t face an opponent seeded better than 10th in pursuit of a ninth consecutive district title.
If brackets hold, Central’s regional semifinal opponent would be No. 4 Olentangy Liberty (15-5). The OCC-Central champion Patriots handed Olentangy its only loss, 51-40 on Jan. 20, but fell to Marysville 39-27 on Saturday night.
No. 8 Watterson (13-6) or ninth-seeded Westerville Central (16-3) could await Liberty in a district final.
3. Granville headlines Division II bracket in Central District
The top-seeded Blue Aces wouldn’t face a team seeded better than 10th until the district final, and a chance at their fourth championship in a row could feature a matchup against anyone from No. 3 Centennial to backyard rival Heath, the ninth seed. Heath hopes it can atone for a 64-32 loss to Granville in mid-December.
Centennial (16-1), which will face Africentric in the City League championship game Saturday, has a chance to prove its mettle after playing mostly City schools in the regular season. The Stars, who have outscored their opponents by more than 600 points, would play No. 6 North Union in the second round.
Second-seeded Buckeye Valley (17-2) and No. 4 Bloom-Carroll (15-4), led by Miami University signee Emily Bratton, highlight the other side of the bracket.
In the Southeast District, undefeated and second-seeded Circleville (18-0) is looking at a likely district final against No. 3 Thornville Sheridan. Circleville is 3-0 since star freshman center Addison Edgington was severely injured in a car crash Jan. 26.
Led by North Florida signee and all-time leading scorer Jamisyn Stinson, Sheridan (20-0) is seeking its second state tournament appearance in three seasons under Pickerington Central graduate J.D. Walters.
Neither would face top-seeded Proctorville Fairland until the regional final.
4. Africentric prepares for Division III title run
The defending state champion Nubians (18-2) roll into the City title game having allowed single-digit points to league foes in three of the past four games, with the exception being a 62-58 win over Westerville South on Jan. 27. Africentric’s only losses came to defending Division II champion Cincinnati Purcell Marian and Edison (New Jersey) Academy.
Should the second-seeded Nubians win their 17th district title in 20 seasons, they will feed into what on paper could be a loaded Springfield regional. Casstown Miami East, Kettering Alter and Waynesville, ranked first, third and fourth in the state, respectively, all could be in the field out of the Southwest District.
That is likely why top-seeded Mechanicsburg eschewed the 18-mile drive to Springfield and would go to the Elida regional. Teams in the Indians’ path include No. 3 Amanda-Clearcreek (15-5), fourth-seeded Marion Pleasant (16-3) and No. 7 Johnstown (13-6).
5. Newark Catholic leads field in Division IV
The undefeated and third-ranked Green Wave seek their first district championship since 2021, and their side of the bracket includes three of the next five seeds in No. 3 Madison Christian (15-3), No. 4 Wellington (17-3) and No. 6 Mount Gilead (10-10).
If the brackets hold, Newark Catholic would see defending district champion and second-seeded Fisher Catholic (15-3) in the district final. NC defeated Fisher 56-52 on Dec. 17.
That winner would probably get Waterford in a regional semifinal at Pickerington North. Newark Catholic edged Waterford 62-61 in overtime last Monday.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OHSAA girls basketball: 5 takeaways from the postseason pairings
