Top 10 games to watch in the sectionals of the Ohio high school girls basketball playoffs

By Sam Houseworth | Photo by Mike Cook

The girls basketball sectionals are underway. Some districts have already finished, while some will get underway later this week.

With the usual predictability of the early rounds, we have found 10 games that are both competitive and could have lasting impacts on the later rounds.

So without further ado, here are the top 10 games to watch in the OHSAA girls basketball tournaments this week!

10. London at Columbus School for Girls, D-II Columbus Sectional Final, 7 p.m. Friday

London’s Alana Kramer has been one of the best-kept secrets in the Central Buckeye Conference. Her Red Raiders don’t get much attention outside of greater Columbus, but that could change with an upset win in the sectional final on Friday. The Columbus School for Girls enters the sectional final with an 8-5 record in its last 13 games.

9. Martins Ferry at Bellaire, D-III East Sectional Final, 7 p.m. Thursday

This will be the third meeting of the season between these Buckeye 8 rivals, but the first since the end of December. Bellaire earned the season sweep, but not without two back-and-forth contests. In their November meeting, Martins Ferry fell by a single point, 57-56. In December, Bellaire widened the gap with a 54-44 win. However, this is an improved Martins Ferry squad, which has won five of six heading into the D-III tournament.

8. Parkway or Ada vs. New Bremen at Lima Shawnee, D-IV Wapakoneta Sectional, 3 p.m. Saturday

New Bremen is a real threat to make a deep run in the postseason, despite a path filled with some of the best teams in D-IV. However, MAC rival Parkway has all the pieces to derail that opportunity. It would also be an opportunity for Parkway to avenge its 47-34 home loss last month. New Bremen will need to keep double-double machine Allison Hughes out of the paint to get a second win over Parkway. However, this all goes out the window if Ada can pull the upset of the season on Wednesday.

7. Milford vs. Lakota East at Harrison, D-I Cincinnati Sectional Final, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday

Both teams opened tournament play with wins this past week. Now, it’s onto the sectional finals for a spot in the Cincinnati District. This game features two different styles with Milford’s fast-paced transitional play vs. Lakota East’s methodical offense. Despite lower seeds, both teams have big wins, Milford over Turpin and Lakota East over Mason, displaying the talent needed for a deep run in the postseason.

6. Allen East vs. Spencerville at Lincolnview, D-III Elida Sectional Semifinal, 7 p.m. Wednesday

It’s an all NWC sectional final between Allen East and Spencerville. The two teams met just last Monday where Spencerville came away with a 47-39 win. Despite the early pairing, both teams finished with double-digit wins while competing in one of the toughest small-school regions in the state. To make things rougher, the winner gets a 21-1 Delphos Jefferson squad on Saturday.

5. Beavercreek vs. Sidney at Troy, D-I Cincinnati Sectional Final, 6 p.m. Wednesday

Both teams had no issues advancing to the sectional finals this past Saturday, with Beavercreek blowing out Stebbins and Sidney posting a double-digit win over Tecumseh. This pairing is one that most fans would expect in early March in the OHSAA tournament, not in mid-February. Sidney is coming off its third straight MVL Valley Division title. Beavercreek’s Maci Rhoades does it all, leading the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals.

4. Bradford vs. Springfield Catholic Central at Trotwood-Madison, D-IV Troy Sectional Final, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday

There’s no question that the best small-school girls basketball is in the western half of the state. Having these two schools meet in the sectional final is just further proof of that. Springfield Catholic Central comes into the contest as back-to-back OHC South champs. Bradford hit a wicked slump in January but has won four straight since its slide. Senior Austy Miller will be the key player after her 25-point performance in the semifinal against Southeastern.

3. Nelsonville-York at Fairland, D-III Southeast Sectional Final, 7 p.m. Wednesday

The Fairland Dragons put together an impressive season, going 21-2 overall and a perfect 14-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference. One of those 21 wins came against Nelsonville-York back in early January, 51-42. The Buckeyes will have an uphill battle to pull the upset, but a win on Wednesday would give them a clear path to the district final.

2. Rogers vs. St. Marys (5:30 p.m. Thursday), Defiance vs. Bryan (7:30 p.m. Thursday), D-II Paulding Sectional

The deepest and more brutal sectional deserves its own breakdown. Rogers comes into the sectional with a second-place finish in the Toledo City League. Bryan finished 7-1 in the NWOAL, good enough for an outright title. One of their few losses? To St. Marys, which finished 16-6 while playing one of the more challenging schedules in northwest Ohio. This sectional will be one of the most exciting in the state, with the winner of these two games facing off at 8 p.m. Saturday at Hamler.

1. Massillon Perry at Solon, D-I Perry Sectional Final, 7 p.m. Thursday

Perry had no problems with crosstown rival Massillon Washington this past Saturday. Its next test is the Greater Cleveland Conference champion, the Solon Comets. Perry comes in ice cold, but still holds wins over St. Vincent-St. Mary, a season sweep of Canton McKinley and a split with Hoover. Perry’s hot streaks give this team the ability to pull an upset and end Solon’s season early. If not, Solon has a path for a deep run in the postseason.