Postseason high school basketball gets under way this week.
Sectional and district tournament brackets were recently finalized for both girls and boys.
The girls tournaments begin Wednesday, with most starting on Saturday. A few boys teams will start their tournaments on Feb. 21, with most beginning the following week.
Here is a little bracketology on what matchups could take place at the district level:
Girls
Division I
Twinsburg is the defending Division I state champion and the top seed at Ellet with senior Malina Howard starting at center. Possible district semifinal games on March 1 could pit top-seeded Twinsburg against Walsh Jesuit and Hudson against Stow. The final is March 3.
Wadsworth is the No. 1 seed and could be pitted against Suburban League Highland in a Medina district semifinal on Feb. 29. Firestone, Cuyahoga Falls, Kenmore and Brunswick are also in this district. The final is set for March 3.
The likely winner of the North Canton district will hail from the Federal League with Lake, North Canton Hoover and Canton McKinley seeded 1 through 3 at Walsh University. Lake has been balanced all season with seniors Audrey Myers and Tana Bornstein combining with junior McKenna Stephens. Senior Ameryst Alston leads the Bulldogs. Wooster is also in the mix. The district semifinals are March 1 and the final is March 3.
Medina will have its hands full in the Parma district at Valley Forge with Middleburg Heights Midpark on the bracket. The district semifinals are March 1 and the final is March 3.
Division II
Manchester is No. 1 in the state in Division II and will probably face Marlington in a district semifinal on Feb. 29 at Lake. Seniors Michelle Noble and Angie Durgala lead the Panthers. Archbishop Hoban, Triway and Norton are also viable candidates to reach the final on March 3.
Hathaway Brown is the No. 1 seed at Nordonia. Area teams St. Vincent-St. Mary, Woodridge and Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy are also in the mix. Senior She’Kiera Brooks and junior Lizzie Wilkinson are a talented combination for the Bulldogs. The district semifinals are March 1 and the final is March 3.
Ravenna holds the No. 1 seed and is expected to meet Canfield in a district semifinal at Austintown Fitch on March 1. Seniors DiAndra Gibson and Malorie Gibson lead the Ravens. West Branch and Struthers could also present a challenge. The final is March 3.
Division III
Unbeaten Smithville, Dalton and Orrville will travel to Triway with hopes of playing in the district semifinals on March 1 and the final on March 3.
Elyria Catholic and Burton Berkshire are quality teams, along with Waterloo and Rootstown in the Barberton district. The semifinals are March 1 and the final is March 3.
Division IV
Our Lady of the Elms is the only local school in the Creston district at Norwayne. The semifinals are on March 1 and the final is March 3.
Boys
Division I
Stow and Brunswick hold the top two seeds at Copley. If the higher seeds win out, Stow would face Firestone in a district semifinal on March 7 and Brunswick would meet Nordonia in a district semifinal on March 8. Seniors David Walker and Kyle Scelza return for Stow, which won the district last year. The final is set for March 10.
Hudson, Twinsburg and Walsh Jesuit are lurking as teams capable of advancing.
Warren Harding is the favorite and could play Youngstown East in an Alliance district semifinal on March 7. Seeded teams Lake and North Canton Hoover could meet in another district semifinal on March 8. The final is on March 10. Green is another local team that could be a factor.
Canton Timken and Canton McKinley are the top two seeds and might square off at the Memorial Civic Center on March 10 in the district final. If the higher seeds win out, Canton Timken would face Barberton on March 7 in a district semifinal and Canton McKinley would play rival Massillon in a district semifinal on March 8. Kenmore, Copley, Jackson and Perry could ruin the higher-seeded teams’ plans.
Division II
East is the clear favorite to play in one of the district semifinals at Stow on March 7 and the district final on March 10 with high-scoring senior guards Davonte Brunson and Mycle Shadie leading the Dragons. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, Streetsboro, Pepper Pike Orange and Buchtel could provide some resistance.
Rivals Archbishop Hoban and St. Vincent-St. Mary are among the favorites at the Canton district at the Memorial Fieldhouse, along with Alliance and Norton. That quartet is expected to play in the district semifinals on March 7. The final is March 10.
Division III
Norwayne and Hillsdale are in the mix for a regional spot out of the Wooster district. The semifinals are March 5 and March 6, and the final is March 9.
Division IV
Mogadore and Youngstown Christian are the top-seeded teams at Struthers with district semifinals on March 6 and the final on March 9.
Windham and Vienna Mathews are solid picks to battle in the Warren district final on March 9.
Dalton, Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph and Richmond Heights are in the mix at the Garfield Heights district. The semifinals are March 7 and the final is on March 9.
More offers for Gladney
Firestone football coach Tim Flossie said junior wide receiver Kevin Gladney now has scholarship offers from Michigan, Nebraska and Michigan State.
Good friends
After defeating Archbishop Hoban in overtime last week, Firestone girls basketball coach Audley McGill offered his admiration and respect toward Knights coach Scott Callaghan.
“I don’t have a lot of friends in the coaching profession, but I really appreciate what Scott has done for me,” McGill said. “He came to me as a young coach and really gave me good advice and helped me out.”
Callaghan had nothing but praise for McGill’s work.
“Audley has done some really good things at Firestone and really cares about the girls,” Callaghan said. “He has done a lot for that program.”
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the high school blog at www.ohiomm.com/blogs/varsity_letters/. Also follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MBeavenABJ. Follow ABJ sports on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sports.abj.
