CLEVELAND, Ohio—The girls basketball postseason begins this weekend with sectional games, followed by district semifinals and finals. This preview breaks down each Division I area district tournament, including a link to the OHSAA bracket for each one:
Westlake's Stephanie Randar (R) and teammate Gina Adams stop the shot attempt of Avon Lake's Lindsay Yurick in the first half on Feb. 4. Avon Lake and Westlake are two of the higher seeds in the EC District. (John Kuntz, cleveland.com)
ELYRIA CATHOLIC
Teams, ordered by seed: 1. Olmsted Falls; 2. Westlake; 3. Avon Lake; 4. Amherst; 5. Avon; 6. North Ridgeville; 7. Strongsville; 8. Midview; 9. Lorain; 10. Elyria; 11. North Olmsted.
The Field
Just when the teams from the Southwestern Conference are completely sick of one another, here they are in the same tournament bracket, minus only Berea-Midpark. That's nothing new, but when you only play four non-conference games, it might be nice to play a team outside of the SWC come tournament time. The conference was especially strong this year, as the top six seeds all are SWC teams, three of which are ranked in the cleveland.com Top 25.
The Favorite
Olmsted Falls: The Bulldogs are the clear favorite, having gone through the season with just three losses and the SWC with only a loss to Avon. Returning four starters from last year's team that fell to Strongsville in the district final, Olmsted Falls lacks size but shoots well and is fundamentally sound on defense.
The Cinderella Candidate
Avon: After opening the season 1-5, the Eagles ended up at 13-9, meaning they went 12-4 after the nightmare start. Included in that were victories over Olmsted Falls and second-seed Westlake. Avon could meet up with Olmsted Falls in a district semifinal.
Five Players to Watch
Gina Adams, Westlake: The junior does most of the ballhandling for the Demons and is very good at driving to the basket.
Reagan Bass, Strongsville: Last year the 6-foot-1 sophomore helped the Mustangs reach the regional tournament. This year she's already gotten several looks from Division I programs. She has a variety of post moves but can also score from the outside.
Elizabeth Flynn, Avon: The senior is very active and plays with a lot of energy. She can score in a variety of ways—driving to the basket, mid-range or from outside the arc.
Clare Kelly, Olmsted Falls: The senior with the silky-smooth shooting stroke is headed to Kent State next year. She is among the best outside shooters in the area and rebounds very well for her size.
Arianna Negron, Avon Lake: The leading scorer on a team that doesn't score a lot of points. A junior guard, she has a strong mid-range game and also drives well to the basket.
District championship pick: Olmsted Falls over Avon Lake. If playing well, the Bulldogs are by far the class of this field.
Trish Kruse and Solon are hoping for a return trip to Columbus. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com)
EUCLID DISTRICT
Teams, ordered by seed: 1. Solon; 2. Cleveland Heights; 3. Nordonia; 4. Bedford; 5. Twinsburg; 6. John Hay; 7. Garfield Heights; 8. John Adams; 9. Maple Heights; 10. Hathaway Brown; 11. Shaker Heights.
The Field
This bracket provides a good cross-section of teams from the Greater Cleveland Conference, Lake Erie League, Suburban League and Senate League. There are two independents as well: Garfield Heights, which will be joining the LEL next year; and Hathaway Brown. Solon is the six-time defending champion of the GCC.
The Favorites
Solon: All five starters graduated from last year's state runner-up team, but that certainly doesn't mean the cupboard was left bare. The Comets don't have a lot of depth, for the most part employing a seven-player rotation, but they are very athletic and can get up and down the floor with the best of them. The last time Solon didn't win a district title was 2011.
Cleveland Heights: Other than a blowout loss to Canton McKinley, the LEL champions were in every game while playing a strong non-conference slate. The Tigers are very athletic and very physical, two attributes that often prevail during the postseason.
Five Players to Watch
Alex Hunter, Bedford: A standout thrower in track and field, she is a post player to be reckoned with. Post play is all about positioning and footwork, and so are the throws.
Sammi Rinicella, Solon: The senior sharpshooter saw action in last year's state finals, and this year she has stepped up be one of four senior leaders.
Hayley Sims, Cleveland Heights: The leading scorer for the Tigers, Sims is a threat to shoot as soon as she crosses the midcourt stripe. She also can use her athleticism to drive to the basket.
Laurene Tere, John Hay: Scored the 1,000th point of her career in January of her junior year. The senior led the Hornets to their third consecutive Senate League title.
Hailey Weaver, Solon: Only a sophomore, Weaver has the potential to be the next great player to come through one of the top programs in the area. Can score in a variety of ways, but she is at her best when she and the Comets get out and run.
District championship pick: Solon over Cleveland Heights. This is new territory for the Tigers, so look for experience to win out in a hard-fought, physical battle.
Jackie Roberts and Hoban are the No. 2 seed in the Medina District. (John Kuntz, cleveland.com)
MEDINA DISTRICT
Teams, ordered by seed: 1. Canton McKinley; 2. Hoban; 3. Wadsworth; 4. Wooster; 5. Brunswick; 6. Highland; 7. Barberton; 8. Copley; 9. Firestone; 10. Akron North; 11. Valley Forge.
The Field
This bracket is so strong that it isn't fair. Hoban, undefeated and ranked No. 10 in the state and No. 1 in the cleveland.com Top 25, is seeded second behind Canton McKinley, which is ranked second in the state. So, one of the 10 best teams in the state must defeat one of the two best teams in the state just to make it to the regional.
Each year there are grumblings among coaches that the district tournaments shouldn't be so married to geography and this is a clear example of why. Granted, McKinley is only in this bracket because a team can't play in a district tournament on its home court, but the fact remains that the second seed here would be the first seed in just about any other district. Is that right?
The Favorites
Canton McKinley: With Kierstan Bell, universally considered the best player in the state, the Bulldogs are prohibitive favorites to take this title. The fact that they were upset by Wadsworth last year only makes them hungrier. With only an overtime loss to Canton GlenOak to soil its record, McKinley has its sights set on a trip to Columbus.
Hoban: Let's be frank. It would take a monumental upset for Hoban to take down McKinley. But it was done last year, so why not this year as well? The Knights have good size, they play outstanding defense and can beat teams by either slowing things down or speeding it up. They don't care as long as they win, which is all they have done so far.
At some point Coach Scott Callaghan is going to have a quiet moment to himself when he can't help but say, what if? Hoban has two players who have signed with Akron on its roster, but only one plays because Emma Tecca has missed the season due to injury. Perhaps she would have been enough to give the Knights the edge over McKinley, but we will never know.
Players to Watch
Kylee Batey, Wadsworth: The senior guard really stepped up this year, as the Grizzlies lost four starters from their Final Four team. She has committed to play at NAIA school Lawrence Tech in Michigan.
Kierstan Bell, Canton McKinley: The reigning Ohio Ms. Basketball is likely to win the honor again, having averaged 28.8 points per game while her team has lost just one game. The 6-footer will be playing at Ohio State next year. She currently sits sixth on Ohio's all-time scoring list and is very near passing legend Katie Smith to move into fifth.
Lonasia Brewer, Hoban: At 5-foot-11 she has a game that works both inside and outside. The Akron signee is versatile enough to sometimes play at the top of Hoban's zone defense. She also is a very good passer for a player her size.
Angela Fink, Brunswick: She missed part of the season with an injury, but the senior came back to lead the Blue Devils to a 13-9 mark and the fifth seed. She also hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer as Brunswick ended rival Medina's undefeated season.
District championship pick: Canton McKinley over Hoban. It's hard to pick against the best player in the state. Everything has to go right for the Knights, which means they have a chance, but not a very good one.
PERRY DISTRICT
Team, ordered by seed: 1. Eastlake North; 2. Euclid; 3. Mayfield; 4. Chardon; 5. Brush; 6. Mentor; 7. Madison; 8. Willoughby South; 9. Shaw; 10. Riverside; 11. Lakeside.
The Field
This is another bracket that is dominated by a conference, this time the Western Reserve Conference. Only Kenston is missing from the WRC, as the Bombers were moved to the new district site at Ravenna High School. Ironically, Kenston is the defending champion of this tournament but won't get the chance to defend its title.
The Favorites
Eastlake North: The Rangers have lost just once this season, at the hands of third-seeded Mayfield. They have a standout player in Destiny Leo, and they defeated at least once every team in this bracket that they faced during the regular season. North was also top-seeded last year and graduated eight seniors, so this level of success is a bit of a surprise.
Euclid: The Panthers went through a stretch in December in which they lost four of six games, including an 81-54 drubbing at the hands of visiting North. Since then Euclid went 8-3, with the losses being by two points to Cornerstone Christian, seven points to Medina in overtime, and two points to Solon. The Panthers lack depth, but their athleticism and the 1-2 punch of Constance Chaplin and Alexus Reese make them a real threat.
The Cinderella Candidate
Mayfield: A relatively weak non-conference schedule kept the Wildcats from being ranked early in the season, but things changed in late January when Mayfield beat Eastlake North, 67-64, ending the Rangers' unbeaten season. The Wildcats backed that up with a 59-48 victory over Kenston, giving them a victory over both of last year's district finalists in the past three weeks.
Five Players to Watch
Constance Chaplin, Euclid: More than a few coaches this year made the statement that Chaplin plays like a boy, which was meant to be a compliment of the highest order. She is always the strongest player on the court and is nearly unstoppable when she decides to take it to the basket. But she's not one-dimensional—she can hit the 3-pointer as well. Her top output this season is 41 points.
Katelyn Kinczel, Mayfield: The 5-foot-11 senior has more than 1,100 points and 530 rebounds for her career. This year she is averaging 17.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. But she's not just a force on the inside, as she has hit 50 3-pointers on the season and is shooting 87 percent at the free throw line.
Destiny Leo, Eastlake North: The junior was named second team All-Ohio last year, but she has stepped up her game this year, averaging 30.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. She can score from anywhere on the floor, whether it be a long 3-pointer or a drive to the basket. She almost single-handedly outscored Kenston recently, scoring 44 points in a 68-48 victory.
Alexus Reese, Euclid: This 6-foot-1 sophomore combines with Chaplin to give the Panthers the top 1-2 punch in the area. What makes them so difficult is that teams have to focus on Chaplin, leaving Reese free to roam the lane, either grabbing offensive rebounds or passes from Chaplin. Since the beginning of the new year, which is when Euclid seemed to figure things out, Reese and Chaplin have combined to average more than 50 points per game.
Kayla White, Brush: A transfer from Twinsburg, the sophomore has electric skills that combine great athleticism and speed. A good on-ball defender, the point guard has averaged 15.2 points, 4.8 assists and 4.1 steals per game.
District championship pick: Euclid over Eastlake North. While the Rangers beat Euclid earlier in the season, that was before Chaplin and Reese developed into a devastating pair.
RAVENNA DISTRICT
Teams, ordered by seed: 1. Aurora; 2. Stow; 3. Austintown Fitch; 4. Kenston; 5. Canfield; 6. Warren Harding; 7. Boardman; 8. Cuyahoga Falls; 9. Hudson; 10. Walsh Jesuit; 11. Kent Roosevelt.
The Field
This is a new district, as the Northeast District Athletic Board chose to go to seven Division I sites after having six last year. This field covers a large geographic area, with teams from near Youngstown and Warren as well as Geauga, Portage and Summit counties. Kenston was the winner of the Perry district last year and Stow was the runner-up in the Euclid district.
The Favorites
Aurora: This is uncharted territory for the Greenmen, who are just a one-point loss from being undefeated. They played in a lot of close games this season but in Shyanne Sellers they had the best player on the court every night, which usually was enough to win. Aurora has road victories over three teams ranked in the top eight in the cleveland.com Top 25, Stow, Wadsworth and Olmsted Falls.
Stow: The Bulldogs have been kind of flying under the radar since an early-season loss to Wadsworth, but right now they are playing as well as anybody, including a victory over the Grizzlies in the rematch. Stow hasn't lost since falling to Aurora, 44-40, on December 19, having won 15 games in a row. Stow shared the Suburban League National Division title with Wadsworth.
Five Players to Watch
Emily Andrassy, Stow: The most consistent player for the Bulldogs, the senior guard led the way by averaging 13.9 points per game while shooting 51 percent from the field. She also averaged 4.9 steals and 4.1 assists per game.
Catara DeJarnette, Kenston: Just a freshman, she has a variety of flashy skills that, once refined, will be something to behold. Her father was a star for the Bombers and is currently the boys coach at Kenston.
Shayla Sellers, Aurora: Speaking of fathers, the Sellers sisters are the daughters of former Warrensville, Ohio State and NBA standout Brad Sellers. While Shayla has not gotten the notice of her younger sister, she has signed with a Division I program, Purdue-Fort Wayne, and averaged 9.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game.
Shyanne Sellers, Aurora: A 6-foot-1 sophomore point guard, Shyanne has attracted the attention of college coaches around the country. She averaged 23.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals while showing the ability to score from anywhere on the court.
Lizzy Stefanov, Stow: Headed to Tulane on a volleyball scholarship, the 6-foot senior averaged 12.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. She should reach 1,000 points for her career sometime in the next few games.
District championship pick: Stow over Aurora. This was the most difficult Division I final to handicap. Aurora beat Stow on the road earlier in the season, but the Bulldogs are playing very well right now. This game is a toss-up but expect the team that's been there before to win a close, low-scoring affair.
VALLEY FORGE DISTRICT
Teams, ordered by seed: 1. Medina; 2. Berea-Midpark; 3. St. Joseph Academy; 4. Magnificat; 5. Normandy; 6. Lakewood; 7. Parma; 8. John Marshall; 9. Brecksville-Broadview Heights; 10. North Royalton; 11. Rhodes; 12. Max Hayes.
The Field
No offense to the teams involved, but this district is the polar opposite of the Medina district. While Medina spent most of the season ranked No. 1 in the area, Magnificat, the fourth seed, has a record of just 8-14, although against an admittedly killer schedule. St. Joseph Academy, the third seed, is 13-9, as is second-seeded Berea-Midpark. It's not the fault of the teams involved that they are placed in such a district, but it really does shine a spotlight on the inequities of assigning districts strictly by geography.
The Favorite
Medina: The Bees have stumbled of late, dropping consecutive games to Brunswick and Solon to lose their unbeaten season and conference title. But they still have won 20 games, something not done at Medina for 25 years. They have a great blend of size, depth, inside and outside. They also play great defense. It would take a huge upset for Medina not to come out of this district.
Players to Watch:
Kayla Gudel, Berea-Midpark: A 6-foot-1 post player, the senior is a difficult matchup on the inside. She positions herself well and finishes well.
Lindsay Linard, Medina: Verbally committed to play at Duquesne, the 6-foot-3 junior doesn't have numbers that jump out at you, but she is a stalwart, nonetheless. She uses her size and surprising quickness to be a standout defender and has a variety of moves in the post. Averaged 9.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game.
Sarah McKee, Medina: The leading scorer on a team that makes its living on defense and therefore doesn't score a lot of points. She averaged 10.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-1 sophomore is very active and can score from both inside and out.
Molly Neitzel, St. Joseph Academy: The 6-foot senior missed a chunk of the season due to a knee injury but has returned to the lineup. Signed to join her sister Colleen at Akron next year, she can score from inside and out, averaging 15.4 points per game. She also has a strong all-around game, averaging 6.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.2 steals and 2.0 blocks.
District championship pick: Medina over St. Joseph Academy. The Jaguars have struggled of late, but that's partly because of having to play five games in eight days and six games in 11 days. However, Medina is clearly the top team in this field. Look for the Bees to win going away.
CANTON DISTRICT
Teams, ordered by seed: 1. Canton GlenOak; 2. North Canton Hoover; 3. Massillon Jackson; 4. Green; 5. Louisville; 6. Uniontown Lake; 7. Kenmore-Garfield; 8. Massillon Perry; 9. Massillon Washington; 10. Marietta; 11. Ellet.
The Field
As with other fields, this district consists mostly of teams from once conference, the Federal League. Unlike other leagues, the Federal is one of the most competitive in the entire state, with co-champs Canton McKinley (not in this field) ranked No. 2 in the state and GlenOak ranked No. 7. Throw perennial powers Hoover and Jackson into the mix and it's easy to see why the league is so strong. For example, Green went 3-9 in league play yet was regarded enough to earn the fourth seed in this district.
The Favorite
GlenOak: The Golden Eagles started slowly with a 2-2 mark but have since won 16 in a row to finish the regular season at 18-2. Included in the win streak was a thrilling overtime victory over Canton McKinley that forced a co-championship. Glen Oak is young, with only two seniors on the roster, but they are the prohibitive favorite in this field.
District championship pick: GlenOak over Hoover. While it's difficult to beat a team three times in a season, the Golden Eagles are just too good to falter here.
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