CLEVELAND, Ohio — The girls Division IV basketball postseason begins this week with sectional games, followed by district semifinals and finals. This preview breaks down each area district tournament.
A link to the bracket for each district is included.
GRAND VALLEY DISTRICT
Teams, ordered by seed: 1. Cornerstone Christian; 2. Andrews Osborne Academy; 3. Bristol; 4. Cortland Maplewood; 5. Kinsman Badger; 6. Warren JFK; 7. Vienna Mathews; 8. Newbury; 9. Ashtabula St. John; 10. Windham; 11. Richmond Heights; 12. Fairport; 13. Southington Chalker.
Click here for the bracket.
The Favorites
Cornerstone: The Patriots had a great season and played a killer schedule, especially for a Division IV school. They were cruising along at 18-2 despite a lack of depth, but in the final week of the season some dark clouds appeared. Junior Michaela Cloonan suffered a leg injury and Cornerstone dropped its last two games. Cloonan definitely will not be ready to play this week, but there is hope she may be back in time for the district final, a game the Patriots should reach even without her in the lineup. They are big, they are balanced, and they've beaten several high-quality opponents. But how far they go very much depends on Cloonan's health.
Andrews Osborne: In their first official year as members of the OHSAA, the Phoenix would love to leave their mark by winning a district title right off the bat. The team has a definite international flair, with two Ukrainians, a German and a Spaniard in the starting lineup. They dominated the Lake Effect Conference and lost only three games all season — to Eastlake North, Cornerstone and Loudonville. The Phoenix have good size and balance.
Players to Watch
Madison Cloonan, Cornerstone: With a strong all-around game, the junior averaged 12.7 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting 58 percent from the floor.
Nika Humeniuk, Andrews Osborne: The 6-1 senior from Ukraine averaged 16.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.5 steals. She will continue her career at Division II Ursuline.
Tai Roberts, Andrews Osborne: The freshman is the only non-senior in the starting lineup and is the team's best defender. She averaged 8.2 points, 2.7 steals and 1.9 assists.
Riley Stopp, Cornerstone: The daughter of coach Lisa Stopp, the sophomore can score from anywhere on the floor. She averaged 13.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
District championship pick: Cornerstone over Andrews Osborne. The Patriots defeated AOA a few weeks ago, 57-48, and the feeling is that they would win again if at full strength. If still shorthanded, Cornerstone still has the talent to win the title, but it certainly won't be easy.
CRESTON NORWAYNE DISTRICT
Teams, ordered by seed: 1. Dalton; 2. Cuyahoga Heights; 3. East Canton; 4. Lake Center Christian; 5. Lake Ridge; 6. Rittman; 7. Open Door; 8. Ashland Mapleton; 9. Mogadore; 10. Kidron Central Christian; 11. Jeromesville Hillsdale; 12. Our Lady of the Elms.
Click here for the bracket.
The Favorite
Dalton: Competing in the Wayne County Athletic League, the Bulldogs didn't win their league title yet earned the first seed. That's because Doylestown Chippewa, one of the top DIII schools in the state, is in the same conference. Dalton finished 17-5, losing twice to Chippewa and also to Laurel, Norwayne and Loudonville. The Bulldogs don't score a lot of points, but they win a lot of games.
Players to Watch
Makenna Geiser, Dalton: Reportedly, the junior guard already has committed to Division II power Ashland. She can score in a variety of ways, both inside and outside.
Brooke Wilson, Cuyahoga Heights: The latest in a run of standout players from one of the top small-school programs in the area. She averaged 10.6 points and 6.8 rebounds.
District championship pick: Dalton over Cuyahoga Heights.
MINERAL RIDGE DISTRICT
Teams, ordered by seed: 1. McDonald; 2. Berlin Center Western Reserve; 3. Brookfield; 4. Lisbon David Anderson; 5. North Jackson Jackson-Milton; 6. Lordstown; 7. Leetonia; 8. Youngstown Valley Christian; 9. Sebring McKinley; 10. Salineville Southern; 12. Lowellville; 13. Wellsville.
Click here for the bracket.
The Favorites
McDonald and Western Reserve: These teams both play in the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference and finished 1-2. McDonald won both meetings during the regular season, 43-27, and 56-55. McDonald is a team that wins with defense first, while Western Reserve has shown the ability to put up lots of points. An interesting side note: Both teams are nicknamed the Blue Devils.
District championship pick: Berlin Center Western Reserve over McDonald. These rivals are very familiar with one another so let's go with the theory that it's difficult to beat a team three times in a season.
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