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breaking down the DIV state tournament

  • Hesston
    [h=2]ya I clipped and pasted from the other site, so what......

    BREAKING DOWN THE D-IV BRACKETS[/h]CANTON REGIONAL

    Warren District:
    Favorites: Windham, Cortland Maplewood, and Vienna Mathews
    Sleepers: McDonald, Thompson Ledgemont, Warren JFK, Bristolville Bristol
    Our Pick: Windham

    Garfield Heights District:
    Favorites: Richmond Heights and Cleveland VASJ
    Sleepers: Cuyahoga Heights, Dalton, and Cornerstone Christian
    Our Pick: Richmond Heights

    Byesville District:
    Favorites: Berlin Hiland
    Sleepers: Malvern and Bishop Rosecrans
    Our Pick: Berlin Hiland

    Struthers District:
    Favorites: Mogadore and Youngstown Christian
    Sleepers: Wellsville Southern, Berlin Center Western Reserve, Sebring McKinley, East Canton, and Lowellville
    Our Pick: Youngstown Christian

    Regional Analysis:
    It's hard to not look at this region and not believe the winner is going to come from Garfield Heights or Byesville. Obviously, Berlin Hiland, the reigning DIV champion is at Byesville and is a heavy favorite to repeat but it also has Bishop Rosecrans and Malvern, who are both major contenders. Cleveland VASJ and Richmond Heights are at Garfield Heights, which rounds out the top five teams in this region. We would be very surprised if the regional winner doesn't come from one of the above mentioned teams. Windham, Vienna Mathews, and Cortland Maplewood should offer a competitive district at Struthers, and watch out for Warren JFK despite its record. Struthers appears to be wide open, and really hard to predict a winner.

    Regional Picks:
    *Richmond Heights over Windham & Berlin Hiland over Youngstown Christian
    *Berlin Hiland over Richmond Heights

    BOWLING GREEN REGIONAL

    Kansas District:
    Favorites: Toledo MVCD and Calvert
    Sleepers: New Riegel, Gibsonburg, Toledo Christian, and Ottawa Hills.
    Our Picks: Toledo MVCD

    Liberty-Benton District:
    Favorites: Vanlue and Columbus Grove
    Sleepers: Ada, Leipsic, McComb, and Arlington
    Our Picks: Vanlue

    Willard District:
    Favorites: Colonel Crawford and Buckeye Central
    Sleepers: Plymouth, Crestline, St. Peter’s, and Sandusky St. Mary’s CC
    Our Picks: Colonel Crawford

    Napoleon District:
    Favorites: Kalida and Edgerton
    Sleepers: Pettisville, Miller City, Holgate, and Stryker
    Our Picks: Kalida

    Regional Analysis:
    This is a really tough region to analyze. The Kansas, Liberty-Benton, and Napoleon districts are solid, while Willard isn't as strong but it will be competitive nonetheless. For years Northwest Ohio has been dominating small school basketball in the state, but over the last couple years the tide has started to turn. The NW hasn't won a state championship in DIV since New Knoxville ran away with the gold in 2008. It has been three years since a team from NW Ohio has made the state title game. The power shift doesn't mean there isn't quality teams in this portion of the state as that just wouldn't be true. At Kansas, Toledo MVCD Calvert, New Riegel, Gibsonburg, Toledo Christian, and Ottawa Hills should all be in the running. MVCD has won 15 games in a row and Ottawa Hills and Toledo Christian appear to be getting hot at the right time. Liberty-Benton should be interesting with Vanlue, Grove, Ada, Leipsic, and Arlington all with an even chance of advancing. Crawford seems to be the favorite at Napoleon having beat Buckeye Central twice by double digits. Keep an eye on Sandusky St. Mary's CC, who could be primed for a regional run. At Napoleon, Edgerton and Kalida should battle it out for a trip to the regional. Edgerton has passed all tests to this point, but we truly believe Kalida hasn't played its best basketball yet. Holgate is always dangerous with its style, and Pettisville has been solid as well.

    Regional Picks:
    *Toledo MVCD over Vanlue & Kalida over Colonel Crawford
    *Kalida over Toledo MVCD

    ATHENS REGIONAL

    Athens 1 District:
    Favorites: Racine Southern, Manchester, and South Webster
    Sleepers: Leesburg Fairfield and Waterford
    Our Picks: Manchester

    Athens 2 District:
    Favorites: Portsmouth ND, New Boston Glenwood, and Beaver Eastern
    Sleepers: South Gallia
    Our Picks: Portsmouth ND

    Columbus 2 District:
    Favorites: Columbus Africentric
    Sleepers: Columbus Tree of Life and Millersport
    Our Picks: Columbus Africentric

    Columbus 1 District:
    Favorites: Newark Catholic
    Sleepers: Shekinah Christian, Fairfield Christian, and Wellington
    Our Picks: Newark Catholic

    Regional Analysis:
    We never want to discredit any other teams, but it's really hard to not think this region isn't a two-horse race between Columbus Africentric and Newark Catholic. It would be a major upset if one of these two teams wasn't playing on the last weekend of the season. Columbus does have some other quality teams and players you may not be familiar with. Fairfield Christian and Shekinah Christian have enjoyed outstanding years behind two really good players in sophomore Steven Carpenter and Luke Shetler. Tree of Life, Wellington, and Fisher Catholic should also be in the mix. Plenty of teams in Southeast Ohio are hoping to earn a spot in the regional. Manchester, South Webster, Racine Southern, and Portsmouth Notre Dame would be our favorites.

    Regional Picks:
    *Manchester over Portsmouth ND & Columbus Africentric over Newark Catholic
    *Columbus Africentric over Manchester

    KETTERING REGIONAL

    Elida District:
    Favorites: Fort Recovery and St. Henry
    Sleepers: Minster, New Knoxville, and Delphos St. John’s, Convoy Crestview, Marion Local, and New Bremen
    Our Picks: St. Henry

    Dayton 3 District:
    Favorites: Jackson Center
    Sleepers: Tri-Village, Franklin-Monroe, Springfield CC, and Mechanicsburg
    Our Picks: Jackson Center

    Dayton 1 District:
    Favorites: Dayton Jefferson
    Sleepers: Middletown Christian, Cincinnati Christian, and Cincinnati CD
    Our Picks: Dayton Jefferson

    Dayton 2 District:
    Favorites: Lockland
    Sleepers: Russia, Lehman Catholic, Houston, and Fort Loramie
    Our Picks: Lockland

    Regional Analysis:
    Kettering is a pretty strong region, but we don't look for too many surprises from the three Dayton districts. Jackson Center, Dayton Jefferson, and Lockland are all strong favorites, and at this point, we have no reason to believe this won't be three-fourths of the Kettering Regional. Jefferson has been red hot winning seven of its last eight games including wins over DI Beavercreek and DII Trotwood-Madison. The Broncos have one of the better unknown players in Ohio, Devin Foster. Lockland has played a brutal schedule and has plenty of talent led by junior DJ Wingfield. Jackson Center is undefeated led by its star Andy Hoying. Elida is much more difficult to predict. This is, without question, Northwest Ohio's deepest district. We list Fort Recovery and St. Henry as the favorites, but Minster, New Knoxville, Delphos St. John’s, Convoy Crestview, Marion Local, and New Bremen all are contenders. In other words, this is the Midwest Athletic Conference district plus Convoy Crestview. St. Henry has become the team we thought it would be winning its last seven games including victories over Fort Recovery on the road and DII Van Wert. Fort Recovery is obviously very good, but keep an eye on Delphos St. John's. The Blue Jays have won five-straight.

    Regional Picks:
    *St. Henry over Jackson Center & Dayton Jefferson over Lockland
    *Dayton Jefferson over St. Henry
    _______________________________________________________________________
    [h=2]STATE TOURNAMENT PICKS[/h]*SEMIFINALS: Berlin Hiland over Kalida & Columbus Africentric over Dayton Jefferson
    *FINALS: Berlin Hiland over Columbus Africentric
  • Hesston
    meat grinder city
  • Pariah
    The analysis appears pretty solid. It'll be interesting to see how many of those picks hold form. After all, it is called "March Madness". The big surprises are a big part of the fun.
  • Old Rider
    Here is my analysis...give Berlin Hiland the trophy now. They WILL repeat as champions! Take it to the bank.
  • Pariah
    Old Rider, you are aware that Hiland took it on the chin Sat night at Canton Glen Oak, aren't you? The Hawks' performance set the low bar for how they can play. As long as they avoid that and play closer to their high bar, they will be favored to advance, but they can be beat by a Malvern, Rosecrans, or certainly by a Richmond Hts or VASJ team. Nice that you feel confident about it, but I think Hawks fans will be very nervous!
  • Old Rider
    Pariah;1091429 wrote:Old Rider, you are aware that Hiland took it on the chin Sat night at Canton Glen Oak, aren't you? The Hawks' performance set the low bar for how they can play. As long as they avoid that and play closer to their high bar, they will be favored to advance, but they can be beat by a Malvern, Rosecrans, or certainly by a Richmond Hts or VASJ team. Nice that you feel confident about it, but I think Hawks fans will be very nervous!
    Glen Oak will not be playing in the D4 tourney...
  • Hesston
    I heard earlier about how difficult it is to repeat, its less than 10% maybe less than 5, I cant remember, but Malvern, Rosecrans, VASJ, Richmond Heights, Africentric, through in a St Henry or a Dayton Jefferson who has had our number ......... I love this time of year
  • bingo
    When is hiland's national signing day (got to reload you know) I heard they will have some open rental properties as of middle June. The catholic schools are signing kids up on 4/1/2012. vasj has some big early signees. What's hiland's outlook in this reguard?
  • bingo
    When is hiland's national signing day (got to reload you know) I heard they will have some open rental properties as of middle June. The catholic schools are signing kids up on 4/1/2012. vasj has some big early signees. What's hiland's outlook in this reguard?
  • Old Rider
    Double post was nice. I doubt Berlin is a desirable move to town for anyone. Too many hay rakes and cow poop
  • bingo
    Unless they're offering an Auburn special. Then Berlin looks like a thriving metropolis.
  • wes_mantooth
    Let's squash this discussion now. Stay on topic.
  • ricola
    "reguard"????
  • muva20fan
    as i look back at bingo's posts, he seems to be a real Johnny Sunshine kind of guy. Very positive outlook on life.
  • bingo
    I love Ricooola. He is a true grammarian. Go hocks!!
    I
  • ohiokyle22
    VASJ is the team to beat. Nobody and and I mean nobody even came close to playing their schedule.
  • wes_mantooth
    ohiokyle22;1095330 wrote:VASJ is the team to beat. Nobody and and I mean nobody even came close to playing their schedule.

    Yeah, brutal schedule.....but they lost many of the games. And it isn't like Hiland didn't play a big time schedule. Should be a great game if they should meet.
  • fortfan
    Interesting that you are picking St. Henry. Would probably have to beat Fort Recovery. Again. SH won first matchup by one point after hitting a pair of free throws with 4 seconds left. Should be a great game if FR happens to advance that far.
  • wes_mantooth
    fortfan;1097837 wrote:Interesting that you are picking St. Henry. Would probably have to beat Fort Recovery. Again. SH won first matchup by one point after hitting a pair of free throws with 4 seconds left. Should be a great game if FR happens to advance that far.

    I still remember that smackdown that FR put on Hiland years ago in cbus. They had a big kid that Hiland had no answer for.
  • Pariah
    Got 3 answers this year. But they have to get there.