Ohio high school boys basketball playoffs: Breaking down all 16 regions as the state championships approach

By Ryan Isley | Photo by Gabe Haferman

Before the Ohio boys basketball playoffs started we went district by district breaking down Division 1, Division 2, Division 3 and Division 4.

Now we're down to the nitty-gritty. Here's a breakdown of the region battles this week to determine which teams punch their ticket to the state championships in Dayton.

—

Division I

Region 1 – Toledo

When: Semifinals on Wednesday at 7 p.m.; Final on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Where: Semifinals at Kent State MAC Center, 1025 Risman Drive, Kent, Ohio 44242 and University of Toledo Savage Arena, 2025 North Douglas Road, Toledo, Ohio 43606; Final at University of Toledo Savage Arena

Semifinal matchups: Cleveland Heights vs. St. Ignatius; Lima Senior vs. Sylvania Northview

Star power: Dushawn Hill, Rayvelle Duncan (Cleveland Heights); Jonathan Effertz, CJ Yarian (St. Ignatius); Khalil Luster (Lima); Sean Craig, Kasey Hunt (Sylvania Northview)

Predicted final matchup: St. Ignatius vs. Sylvania Northview

Predicted winner: Sylvania Northview. Northview looks to continue a season that has seen them climb to No. 4 in the AP poll with just one loss.

Region 2 – Cleveland

When: Semifinals on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and Thursday at 7 p.m.; Final on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Where: Copley High School, 3807 Ridgewood Road, Copley, Ohio 44321

Semifinal matchups: Archbishop Hoban vs. Green; St. Edward vs. Mentor

Star power: Jonas Nichols, Will Scott (Archbishop Hoban), Zach Oddo (Green); Michael Bova, Jair Knight (St. Edward); Ian Ioppolo, Sean Collins (Mentor)

Predicted final matchup: Archbishop Hoban vs. St. Edward

Predicted winner: Archbishop Hoban. A bit of an upset, but Hoban has been playing its best basketball of the season down the stretch.

Region 3 – Columbus

When: Semifinals on Wednesday at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Final on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Where: Ohio Dominican University Alumni Hall, 1216 Sunbury Road, Columbus, Ohio, 43219

Semifinal matchups: Pickerington Central vs. Upper Arlington; Gahanna Lincoln vs. Westerville South

Star power: Devin Royal, Joshua Harlan, Sonny Styles (Pickerington Central); Nick Heath (Upper Arlington); Sean Jones, Javan Simmons (Gahanna Lincoln); Drey Carter (Westerville South)

Predicted final matchup: Pickerington Central vs. Gahanna Lincoln

Predicted winner: Gahanna Lincoln. This would be the rubber match between the two schools, with Pickerington Central winning on Jan. 8 and Gahanna Lincoln getting a win on Feb. 18. The Lions have not lost since that setback in January.

Region 4 – Cincinnati

When: Semifinals on Wednesday at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Final on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Where: Xavier University Cintas Center, 1624 Musketeer Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45207

Semifinal matchups: Fairfield vs. Huber Heights Wayne; Kettering Fairmont vs. Centerville.

Star power: Woods (Fairfield); Lawrent Rice (Huber Heights Wayne); Dasan Doucet (Fairmont); Gabe Cupps, Tom House, Rich Rolf (Centerville)

Predicted final matchup: Fairfield vs. Centerville

Predicted winner: Centerville. The defending state champions are riding a 42-game winning streak heading into the regionals and haven’t shown signs of slowing down.

Division II

Region 5 – Canton

When: Semifinals on Thursday at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Final on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Where: Canton Memorial Civic Center, 1101 Market Ave. North, Canton, Ohio, 44702

Semifinal matchups: Youngstown Chaney vs. St. Vincent-St. Mary; Louisville vs. Glenville

Star power: Josiah Gonzalez (Chaney); Sencire Harris, Ramar Pryor (STVM); Will Aljancic, Hayden Nigro (Louisville); Savonte Quarles (Glenville)

Predicted final matchup: St. Vincent-St. Mary vs. Louisville

Predicted winner: St. Vincent-St. Mary. With the defending Division II state champions now back at full strength with Harris and Pryor back in the lineup, the Fighting Irish have cruised so far in the tournament.

Region 6 – Bowling Green

When: Semifinals on Thursday at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Final on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Where: Bowling Green State University Stroh Center, 1535 E. Wooster Road, Bowling Green, Ohio, 43404

Semifinal matchups: Gilmour Academy vs. Toledo Central Catholic; St. Mary’s Memorial vs. Huron

Star power: Ryan Mueller, Brandon Rose (Gilmour); Chico Johnson (Toledo Central Catholic); Austin Parks (St. Mary’s Memorial); Dylan Hohler (Huron)

Predicted final matchup: Toledo Central Catholic vs. Huron

Predicted winner: Huron. The Tigers have been on a roll since the beginning of 2022, losing just once in 15 games entering the regionals.

Region 7 – Athens

When: Semifinals on Thursday at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Final on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Where: Ohio University Convocation Center, 95 Richland Ave., Athens, Ohio, 45701

Semifinal matchups: Byesville Meadowbrook vs. Heath; Greenfield McClain vs. Waverly.

Star power: Jake Singleton (Meadowbrook); Brandon McLaughlin (Heath); Bryson Badgley (McClain); Trey Robertson (Waverly)

Predicted final matchup: Heath vs. Waverly

Predicted winner: Waverly. The Tigers have lost just once in 2022 and have been one of the top teams in Division II all season.

Region 8 – Vandalia

When: Semifinals on Thursday at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Final on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Where: Butler High School, 600 South Dixie Drive, Vandalia, Ohio, 45377

Semifinal matchups: Columbus Linden McKinley vs. Kettering Archbishop Alter; St. Bernard Roger Bacon vs. Cincinnati Woodward

Star power: LA Walker (Linden McKinley); Jacob Conner, Ryan Chew (Archbishop Alter); Rajere Blanks (Roger Bacon); Paul McMillan (Woodward)

Predicted final matchup: Kettering Archbishop Alter vs. Cincinnati Woodward

Predicted winner: Kettering Archbishop Alter. Two of the top three teams in the final AP poll just happen to be in the same region and will potentially meet before even getting to Dayton.

Division III

Region 9 – Canton

When: Semifinals on Wednesday at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Final on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Where: Canton McKinley High School Canton Memorial Fieldhouse, 1815 Harrison Ave. Northwest, Canton, Ohio, 44708

Semifinal matchups: Youngstown Cardinal Mooney vs. Cardinal Memorial; Lutheran East vs. Norwayne

Star power: Ashton O’Brien (Cardinal Mooney); Kevin Moore, Xavion Leonard (Campbell Memorial); Cody Head, Jesse McCulloch, Jamail Spivey Jr. (Lutheran East); Isaiah Porter, Justin Rupp, Ethan Hann (Norwayne)

Predicted final matchup: Campbell Memorial vs. Lutheran East

Predicted winner: Lutheran East. A battle-tested team that has started to gel at the right time, the Falcons have rolled through their first three games in the tournament.

Region 10 – Bowling Green

When: Semifinals on Wednesday, March 9 at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Final on Saturday, March 12 at 1 p.m.

Where: Bowling Green State University Stroh Center, 1535 E. Wooster Road, Bowling Green, Ohio, 43404

Semifinal matchups: Pemberville Eastwood vs. Ottawa-Glandorf; North Robinson Colonel Crawford vs. Canal Winchester Harvest Prep

Star power: Jacob Meyer (Eastwood); Colin White (Ottawa-Glandorf); Carter Valentine, Mason Struder, Braxton Baker (Colonel Crawford); Nyelle Shaheed (Harvest Prep)

Predicted final matchup: Ottawa-Glandorf vs. Colonel Crawford

Predicted winner: North Robinson Colonel Crawford. The top team in the AP poll, the Eagles remain undefeated behind 37.7 points per game from the duo of Valentine and Struder.

Region 11 – Athens

When: Semifinals on Wednesday at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Final on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Where: Ohio University Convocation Center, 95 Richland Ave., Athens, Ohio, 45701

Semifinal matchups: Sugarcreek Garaway vs. Wheelersburg; Proctorville Fairland vs. Columbus Africentric

Star power: Alexander Roden, Drew Mullet (Garaway); Aiden Porter, JD Thacker (Fairland), Dailyn Swain (Africentric)

Predicted final matchup: Sugarcreek Garaway vs. Columbus Africentric

Predicted winner: Columbus Africentric. The Nubians are no stranger to playing in big games, as they defeated Division II Beechcroft for their conference championship.

Region 12 – Kettering

When: Semifinals on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Final on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Where: Kettering Fairmont High School James A. Trent Arena, 3301 Shoyer Road, Kettering, Ohio, 45429

Semifinal matchups: Georgetown vs. Dayton Meadowdale; Cincinnati Mariemont vs. Cincinnati Taft

Star power: Lee Benson (Meadowdale); Timmy Stewart (Mariemont); Mekhi Elmore, Rayvon Griffith (Taft)

Predicted final matchup: Meadowdale vs. Taft

Predicted winner: Cincinnati Taft. Ranked No. 9 in the final AP poll, the Senators were the only top team in this region to win their division.

Division IV

Region 13 – Canton

When: Semifinals on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Final on Friday at 7 p.m.

Where: Canton McKinley High School Canton Memorial Fieldhouse, 1815 Harrison Ave. Northwest, Canton, Ohio, 44708

Semifinal matchups: Richmond Heights vs. Castalia Margaretta; Vienna Mathews vs. Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas

Star power: Jaiden Cox-Holloway, Josiah Harris, London Maiden, DeErrick Barber (Richmond Heights); Jake Leibacher, (Margaretta); Vinny Sharp, Vincent Greenwood (Mathews); Julius Kimbrough (St. Thomas Aquinas)

Predicted final matchup: Richmond Heights vs. Vienna Mathews

Predicted winner: Richmond Heights. With Josiah Harris back healthy, the Spartans will be a tough out for anyone in Division IV.

Region 14 – Bowling Green

When: Semifinals on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Final on Friday at 7 p.m.

Where: Bowling Green State University Stroh Center, 1535 E. Wooster Road, Bowling Green, Ohio, 43404

Semifinal matchups: Ottoville vs. Tiffin Calvert; Antwerp vs. Maria Stein Marion Local

Star power: Will Miller (Ottoville); Garrett Spaun, Blake Ronski (Calvert); Jagger Landers, Landon Brewer (Antwerp); Jack Knapke (Marion Local)

Predicted final matchup: Tiffin Calvert vs. Antwerp

Predicted winner: Tiffin Calvert. This would be a battle of two of the top three teams in the AP poll, as Calvert finished second and Antwerp third. Calvert has remained undefeated and has not faced much adversity yet.

Region 15 – Athens

When: Semifinals on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Final on Friday at 7 p.m.

Where: Ohio University Convocation Center, 95 Richland Ave., Athens, Ohio, 45701

Semifinal matchups: Newark Catholic vs. Berlin Hiland; Lucasville Valley vs. Latham Western

Star power: Cole Canter, Brandon Buchanan (Newark Catholic); Sammy Detwiler, Chris Shelter (Hiland); George Arnett, Jace Copley (Lucasville Valley); Kolten Miller, Noah Whitt (Latham Western)

Predicted final matchup: Berlin Hiland vs. Lucasville Valley

Predicted winner: Berlin Hiland. The key to winning the region for the Hawks could be their defense continuing to play as well as it has and keeping the games low-scoring.

Region 16 – Kettering

When: Semifinals on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Final on Friday at 7 p.m.

Where: Kettering Fairmont High School James A. Trent Arena, 3301 Shoyer Road, Kettering, Ohio, 45429

Semifinal matchups: Springfield Central Catholic vs. Botkins; Howard East Knox vs. New Madison Tri-Village

Star power: Jacob Pleiman, Jameson Meyer (Botkins); Shane Knepp (East Knox); Layne Sarver (Tri-Village)

Predicted final matchup: Botkins vs. New Madison Tri-Village

Predicted winner: Botkins. The defending state champions haven’t missed a beat and have been the top team in the AP poll.