CLEVELAND, Ohio – The countdown to the girls basketball postseason is drawing closer.
On Sunday, coaches from around the state gathered to settle their sectional and district schedules before the playoffs begin in two weeks.
So if the playoffs started today, how would Northeast Ohio teams fare? Below is a look at each of the 16 brackets and which teams are paired together.
Last year, Northeast Ohio sent five teams to the state tournament. Under each district name is an image to the sectional and district bracket. As a reference, last year’s results are included when readers click the district name to see last year’s results.
DIVISION I
AKRON DISTRICT
1. Kent Roosevelt, 2. Stow, 3. North, 4. Austintown-Fitch, 5. Warren G. Harding, 6. Boardman, 7. Canfield, 8. Walsh Jesuit, 9. East, 10. Youngstown East, 11. Canton McKinley
If the playoffs started today Stow is making a strong case to defend its district title. The Bulldogs defeated top seeded Canfield, 56-40, in the finals last year. The Suburban League National Division leader has not lost a game since late December. Keep an eye out for newcomer Canton McKinley who won the Canton District last year. (Last year’s bracket)
Akron District (OHSAA)
CANTON DISTRICT
1. Canton GlenOak, 2. North Canton Hoover, 3. Massillon Jackson, 4. Massillon Perry, 5. Massillon Washington, 6. Louisville, 7. Green, 8. Barberton, 9. Ellet, 10. Lake, 11. Garfield.
If the playoffs started today I’m siding with GlenOak and Hoover to meet in the district finals. GlenOak edged Hoover 59-55 in early December. Ellet joins the group after competing in the Akron district last season. (Last year’s bracket)
Canton District (OHSAA)
ELYRIA DISTRICT
1. Amherst, 2. Westlake, 3. Avon Lake, 4. North Ridgeville, 5. Olmsted Falls, 6. Avon, 7. North Olmsted, 8. Lorain, 9. Elyria, 10. Midview, 11. Valley Forge.
If the playoffs started today Amherst would have the edge to reach the finals as one of the leaders in the Southwestern Conference that includes a handful of of the district contenders. The only other team in the pairings to beat the Comets was last year’s district champion Westlake. The Demons won the district defeating Avon, 39-21. Amherst fell in the semifinals to Avon 53-51. (Last year’s bracket)
Elyria District (OHSAA)
EUCLID DISTRICT
1. Solon, 2. Twinsburg, 3. Maple Heights, 4. Shaker Heights, 5. Bedford, 6. Aurora, 7. Nordonia, 8. John Hay, 9. Hudson, 10. John Adams, 11. John F. Kennedy
If the playoffs started today Solon would be the strongest projection to win the district. The Comets have been to the state final four in each of the past years. Twinsburg and Shaker Heights both lost to the Comets during the regular season. (Last year’s bracket)
Euclid District (OHSAA)
MEDINA DISTRICT
1. Berea-Midpark, 2. Wadsworth, 3. Wooster, 4. Strongsville, 5. Medina Highland, 6. North Royalton, 7. Cuyahoga Falls, 8. Brunswick, 9. Firestone, 10. Copley.
If the playoffs started today Berea-Midpark could find themselves in the district finals once again against facing Wadsworth. The Titans have been playing exceptionally well so it’s not a far off projection to state they could advance to regionals. But first, the Titans need to play its way through the Euclid district, which includes Highland, North Royalton, Strongsville and Copley. Last year, Wadsworth won its second state championship. (Last year’s bracket)
Medina District (OHSAA)
PARMA DISTRICT
1. St. Joseph Academy, 2. Magnificat, 3. Lakewood, 4. Parma, 5. Medina, 6. Normandy, 7. Rocky River, 8. John Marshall, 9. Garfield Heights, 10. Lincoln West
If the playoffs started today St. Joseph Academy should pose a threat to the defending district champion Magnificat after winning both meetings this season. Last year, the two met in the district finals with the Blue Streaks eliminating the Jaguars, 49-26. Brecksville joins the district after moving from Medina and Garfield Heights comes from Euclid. (Last year’s bracket)
Parma District (OHSAA)
PERRY DISTRICT
1. Mentor, 2. Brush, 3. Euclid, 4. Eastlake North, 5. Chardon, 6. Cleveland Heights, 7. Kenston, 8. Mayfield, 9. Shaw, 10. Madison, 11. Riverside, 12. Willoughby South
If the playoffs started today this may be the most challenging district to pick a winner. Brush, Chardon and Eastlake North are strong contenders to win the district, but so are Greater Cleveland Conference members Mentor and Euclid. Last year, Euclid won the district final upsetting top-ranked Mentor. (Last year’s bracket)
Perry District (OHSAA)
DIVISION II
ASHTABULA DISTRICT
1. Perry, 2. Geneva, 3. Painesville Harvey, 4. Lake Catholic, 5. Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, 6. Glenville, 7. Villa Angela-St. Joseph, 8. Jefferson Area, 9. West Geauga, 10. Edgewood
If the playoffs started today Perry has a good chance of reaching the district semifinals again and even win the title. Last year’s district champion Villa Angela St. Joseph eliminated the Pirates. (Last year’s bracket)
Ashtabula District (OHSAA)
AUSTINTOWN DISTRICT
1. West Branch, 2. Warren Howland, 3. Poland Seminary, 4. Struthers, 5. Southeast, 6. Lakeview, 7. Niles McKinley, 8. Salem, 9. Crestwood, 10. Ravenna, 11. Girard, 12. Hubbard, 13. Lakeside
If the playoffs started today Southeast has a chance to dethrone last year’s champion Lakeview. The Pirates lost to Lakeview by four points back in early December. Since then the Pirates have put together at over a dozen wins. (Last year’s bracket)
Austintown District (OHSAA)
ELYRIA DISTRICT
1. Elyria Catholic, 2. Padua, 3. Bay, 4. Keystone, 5. Cloverleaf, 6. Holy Name, 7. Buckeye, 8. Brooklyn, 9. Firelands, 10. Brookside, 11. Fairview, 12. Clearview.
If the playoffs started today Elyria Catholic’s road to defending its district title could come as a big challenge. Keystone, who lost 51-50 to the Panthers early in the season, could meet Elyria Catholic in the district semifinals. But there’s still contenders like Cloverleaf and Holy Name that could change that matchup. On the other side of the bracket, Padua and Bay have made a strong case to reach the district finals. (Last year’s bracket)
Elyria District (OHSAA)
MACEDONIA DISTRICT
1. Hathaway Brown, 2. Laurel, 3. Revere, 4. St. Vincent-St. Mary, 5. East Tech, 6. Chagrin Falls, 7. Central Catholic, 8. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, 9. Orange, 10. Woodridge, 11. Beaumont
If the playoffs started today the top five seeded teams have made a strong case for winning the district title. Laurel, East Tech, Revere, St. Vincent-St. Mary and last year’s district champion Hathaway Brown are peaking at the right time to end the regular season. (Last year’s bracket)
Macedonia District (OHSAA)
UNIONTOWN LAKE DISTRICT
1. Tallmadge, 2. Norton, 3. Archbishop Hoban, 4. Alliance Marlington, 5. Buchtel, 6. Streetsboro, 7. Field, 8. Canton South, 9. Kenmore, 10. Coventry, 11. Springfield, 12. Alliance, 13. Canal Fulton Northwest
If the playoffs started today Tallmadge and Norton would have a lot of momentum going into the playoffs after stringing together some key wins. Archbishop Hoban, the defending district champion, is also in good position to return to the finals. (Last year’s bracket)
Uniontown Lake District (OHSAA)
DIVISION III
NORTH RIDGEVILLE DISTRICT
1. Gilmour, 2. Lutheran West, 3. Kirtland, 4. Independence, 5. Wellington, 6. Beachwood, 7. Columbia, 8. Trinity, 9. Horizon Science Academy, 10. Oberlin, 11. Wickliffe, 12. Warrensville Heights
If the playoffs started today it’s hard to believe Gilmour couldn’t repeat as district champions. Gilmour returns its entire squad minus one graduating senior. There will be some interesting position matchups in sectionals to watch out for. Lutheran West and Kirtland have continued to build its consistency winning ball games. They will have a chance to carry that momentum in the playoffs. (Last year’s bracket)
North Ridgeville District (OHSAA)
RAVENNA DISTRICT
1. Garrettsville Garfield, 2. Newton Falls, 3. Warren Champion, 4. Brookfield, 5. Hawken, 6. Orwell Grand Valley, 7. Leavittsburg Labrae, 8. Berkshire, 9. Andover Pymatuning Valley, 10. Conneaut, 11. Middlefield Cardinal, 12. Atwater Waterloo.
If the playoffs started today Newton Falls could see a rematch against Garrettsville Garfield in the district final. Last year, the G-Men fell by two points to Brookfield in the district semifinals. In late January, the G-Men topped Newton Falls, 42-37, on the road. (Last year’s bracket)
Ravenna District (OHSAA)
DIVISION IV
CRESTON DISTRICT
1. Lake Ridge Academy, 2. Kidron Central Christian, 3. Dalton, 4. Rittman, 5. Mogadore, 6. Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas, 7. East Canton, 8. Open Door Christian, 9. Rootstown, 10. Our Lady of the Elms, 11. Lake Center Christian, 12. Jeromesville Hillsdale.
If the playoffs started today Mogadore could give problems for Lake Ridge Academy in the district semifinals. Both teams have done well this season to prepare for the playoffs. Lake Ridge, minus a couple of graduating seniors, is the defending champion from a year ago. (Last year’s bracket)
Creston District (OHSAA)
ORWELL DISTRICT
1. Cuyahoga Heights, 2. Cornerstone Christian, 3. Windham, 4. Lutheran East, 5. Kinsman Badger, 6. Ashtabula St. John, 7. Bristolville Bristol, 8. Southington Chalker, 9. Maplewood, 10. Newbury, 11. Fairport Harding, 12. Richmond Heights.
If the playoffs started today Cornerstone Christian should be in good shape to defend its district title. The Patriots had their struggles to start the season, but has slowly put together some wins to have the second seed. However, don’t overlook Windham and Cuyahoga Heights who have had history reaching the district finals. Cuyahoga Heights recently clinched its eighth Chagrin Valley Conference league title in the last nine years with a 38-33 win over Cardinal. (Last year’s bracket)
Orwell District (OHSAA)
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