CLEVELAND, Ohio — The boys basketball postseason begins this week with sectional games, followed by district semifinals and finals. This preview breaks down each area district tournament.
Links to brackets for each district are included.
Teams, ordered by seed: 1. Lutheran East, 2. Warrensville Heights, 3. Elyria Catholic, 4. Kirtland, 5. Beachwood, 6. Crestwood, 7. Wickliffe, 8. Cardinal, 9. Berkshire, 10. Trinity, 11. Brooklyn
Favorite
- Lutheran East: The Falcons moved up last year to Division III, won this district and reached the state semifinals before losing to eventual champion Cincinnati Deer Park. The program won a D-IV state crown in 2017, but this group is different. Standouts Jordan Burge and David Gulley have graduated from that team, but E.J. Farmer is back — still just a sophomore — and he has some friends. The addition of 6-foot-7 center Jay Billingsley presents a matchup problem most teams will not be able to answer. Depth at guard includes fellow sophomores Sirr Hughes and Collin Albert.
Bracket buster
- Beachwood: The Bison nearly upset Lutheran East in last year's district final with Hughes and Albert in their lineup. Since then, much has changed, including Matt Miller's return to the bench at Beachwood. His team has developed a bit of a giant-killer mentality, taking down Division I Garfield Heights before nearly upsetting St. Ignatius. They are the fifth seed and open at Kirtland on Lutheran East's side of the district bracket.
Best sectional matchup
- Beachwood at Kirtland, March 1: What else but that Beachwood-Kirtland matchup? While Miller has returned as Beachwood's coach after a two-year break, Shawn McGregor took over this year at Kirtland. This all-Chagrin Valley Conference matchup pits two of the better teams from opposing divisions.
All-tournament team
Five players to watch in this tournament.
- E.J. Farmer, Lutheran East: An All-Ohio caliber sophomore, Farmer is putting up 22.5 points per game with 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals. His biggest performance of the season came in the form a 37-point night vs. SPIRE. He also had 26 points against Lorain and 24 vs. St. Ignatius. He also had that buzzer-beater vs. Lakewood at the Scholastic Play By Play Classic. What can he do in the Division III tournament?
- Brandon Rush, Warrensville Heights: The most potent backcourt in this tournament comes from Warrensville with Rush and sophomore point guard Ramelle Arnold. A 6-3 senior guard headed to Fairleigh Dickinson, Rush leads the Tigers with 20.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Don't sleep on junior sharpshooter Omahn Dobbins and versatile Aundray Farmer, either. Their efforts helped the Tigers to the second seed.
- Jarred Logan, Elyria Catholic: Want a big-game performer? Logan put up 20 points and 20 rebounds against Division I powerhouse Lorain. Logan's versatility is uncanny as a 6-5 point forward averaging 15.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists. Along with junior guard Edward Wright III and center Branson Taylor, the Panthers bring hardware as the Great Lakes Conference champions.
- Jayson Woodrich, Beachwood: Stay on top of Woodrich because he can score anywhere on the floor. Stopping him from getting off his shot is a whole other challenge. The crafty 6-5 forward is this tournament's leading scorer at 26.7 points. He also averages 9.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals.
- Jay Billingsley, Lutheran East: If the tempo slows down, Billingsley will be even a bigger factor. However, he also does not mind a quick pace. A transfer last year from Western Reserve Academy, Billingsley sat out the first 11 games. He played in nine, but gave the Falcons 20.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game.
District championship pick
Lutheran East over Elyria Catholic
Winner advances to the Canton Regional vs. the Wooster District champion.
Teams, ordered by seed: 1. Waterloo, 2. Canfield South Range, 3. Canton Central Catholic, 4. Mogadore, 5. Rootstown, 6. Youngstown Valley Christian, 8. United, 9. Fairless, 10. East Palestine, 11. Berlin Center Western Reserve, 12. Columbiana Crestview
Favorite
- Waterloo: The top-seeded Vikings are the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference champions. It is their first league title since winning the Portage Trail Conference County Division, which sends multiple teams to this district.
Bracket buster
- Mogadore: Coach Russ Swartz's Wildcats did not repeat as PTC County Division champs, but they have junior sharpshooter and secured a late-season win against rival Crestwood to split that season matchup.
District championship pick
Waterloo over Canton Central Catholic
Winner advances to the Canton Regional vs. the Warren District champion.
Teams, ordered by seed: 1. Norwayne, 2. Northwestern, 3. Waynedale, 4. Orrville, 5. Triway, 6. Massillon Tuslaw, 7. Wellington, 8. Doylestown Chippewa, 9. Loudonville, 10. Smithville, 11. Black River, 12. Hillsdale
Favorite
- Norwayne: Senior guard Quinn Hiles leads the top-seeded Bobcats, who are not invincible. They lost by 11 points at home Feb. 1 to eighth-seeded Doylestown Chippewa, which could make a return in the sectional finals.
Bracket buster
- Wellington: Beyond Chippewa, Dan Gundert's Dukes sit on second-seeded Northwestern's side of the bracket. Senior forward Ryan Whitaker (14.7 points, 7.0 rebounds) and junior guard Noah Diermyer (13.8 points) lead this group, which has been tested in nonconference play by strong Division IV teams from the Columbus area.
District championship pick
Norwayne over Waynedale
Winner advances to the Canton Regional vs. the Garfield Heights District champion.
Lutheran East, Ottawa-Glandorf, Canal Winchester Harvest Prep, Cincinnati Purcell Marian
Purcell Marian over Lutheran East
Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email ([email protected]). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.
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