Things are starting to get serious in OHSAA basketball tournament play as the girls reach the state semi-finals stage and the boys tip off regional action. With the new format of seven divisions, Final Four contests will be staged around the state this week for the girls semis with the winners to meet at UD Arena in Dayton on March 14th and 15th.
Looking to see some outstanding girls action and support area teams? The closest sites will be at Vandalia-Butler’s Student Activity Center (D-II) and St. Marys Memorial High School (D-III). Friday will see D-VI play at Elida High School with Minster’s Lady Wildcats facing Columbus Grove at 6:00 followed at 8:30 by the defending state champion Lady Redskins of Fort Loramie taking on Ottoville in D-VII.
Congratulations to district champions who came up just short in their bids to make the Final Four. Versailles’ Lady Tigers in D-V, the Lady Trojans of Arcanum in D-VI, and the Mississinawa Valley Lady Blackhawks in D-VII all had tremendous seasons, made their communities proud, and will have lifetime memories to share through the years!
Regional play for the boys begins Tuesday as the “Sweet Sixteen” of each division meet for the right to move on down the tournament trail. D-V play finds Preble Shawnee matched with Cincinnati Clark Montesorri at 7:00 at Fairborn High School while a big doubleheader takes place at Butler in D-VI as Marion Local and Cincinnati Miami Valley Christian Academy tip at 6:00 and Tri-Village answers the opening whistle against Anna at 8:00.
Meanwhile, D-VII action on Wednesday, again at Butler, features Russia and Westerville Northside Christian squaring off at 6:00 with the second contest matching Franklin-Monroe and Botkins starting at 8:00. Great high school games all well worth attending in person!!
Speaking of high school basketball, one of my all-time favorite sports movies is “Hoosiers” starring the recently deceased Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman. A portrayal of a small town Indiana school in the early ‘50s, with all of the emotions, turmoil, and personalities displayed in the context of community pride in their basketball team, it touches many aspects of the human experience. If you haven’t seen it you should; if you have, watch it again!!
That brings us to today’s trivia question: What was Hickory High School’s team nickname and who made the winning shot in the state championship game?
Staying on the subject of high school sports, state tournament play concluded this weekend, in D-II boys and girls bowling as well as girls gymnastics and both D-I and D-II swimming.
Congratulations to the Urbana girls for claiming a state title and to Versailles’ Danielle Francis who finished ninth with a 627 and teammate Danica York who rolled a 580 to place eighteenth.
Benjamin Logan won the boys championship with Coldwater finishing third and St. Henry fifth. The Cavaliers of Coldwater had four keglers place in the top twenty; Brady Mathewson finished eighth with a 701, Clay Schulze tenth (697), Caleb Wendel thirteenth (697), and Andrew Myers twentieth (659). St. Henry’s Redskins were paced by Ben Wendel, seventh after recording a 702, and Jack Siefring’s fourteenth place effort of 677. Great bowling all around, D-I competition begins this Friday in Columbus.
For gymnastics and swimming results, go to the OHSAA website; I know that several area swimmers were in the pool up at Canton, but the final placings aren’t in as of this writing, and the same applies to Versailles gymnast Josie Pothast and Bradford’s Piper Burgett. It’s quite an accomplishment making it to the state level!!
Wrestling finals start Friday at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus with many local grapplers represented. Each of the three divisions has 224 entrants; around the area, Northmont has one wrestler advancing, Troy (1) and Butler (2) in D-I. In D-II, Brookville (3), Eaton (1), Tippecanoe (2) and Greenville (Andrew Winner at 285) all will take to the mats. In D III Milton-Union has (1), Versailles (2), Covington (2), Preble Shawnee (2), Miami East (4), and perennial power Graham Local an unbelievable twelve! Best of luck to all!
One note of interest to you NBA fans; the Cleveland Cavaliers came from behind 25-3 the other night in Boston against the defending champion Celtics to win and improve to a league-best 49-10 mark. Seemingly flying under the radar, the Cavs are for real as the regular season enters the home stretch and playoff seedings start to take shape. I don’t usually get too involved with the pros until April (too much traveling, three-point shots, and physical play inside to appeal to this old guy!) but it should be an interesting spring as things get serious and sports fans get to know not only the Cavs but an impressive Oklahoma City squad!
Finally, the Hickory Huskers took down big school South Bend Central in the Indiana State Finals as star player Jimmy Chitwood knocks down a jumper at the buzzer. After Hackman’s coach Norman Dale calls a play for someone else using Chitwood as a decoy, much to the dismay of his teammates (Dale, upon seeing the discomfort of his players, asks, “What’s wrong with you guys?) Jimmy simply answers “I’ll make it” and proceeds to answer the hopes and prayers of every hoops fan, leaving a lump in the throat of many viewers! A great, great movie!!
The calendar says March but spring doesn’t officially start until the the 20th. With today’s high of 30, it just reinforces why I consider March the worst month of all!! Stay active and healthy!
