Ohio high school girls basketball playoffs: Previews of the semifinals and state championship game in all four divisions

By Sam Houseworth | Photo by Mike Cook

This is it, everybody. All the defending state champions have been eliminated. 

We are guaranteed to have four new champions in 2022. Not only that, none of the teams at UD Arena has won a state title since Kettering Alter ended its 3-peat in 2017. 

In fact, three of the four state favorites have never won a state championship in girls basketball.

With so many new schools, new fans and new faces, this weekend's state semifinals and finals are as unpredictable and as exciting as they come.

Ohio high school girls basketball brackets, 2022 state playoff matchups

Division 3

Purcell Marian vs. Union Local, noon Thursday

Worthington Christian vs. Waynedale, 2 p.m. Thursday

State Championship: 10:45 a.m. Saturday

Everything played out as expected in D-III, meaning the state championship will feature star-studded lineups across the board. Purcell Marian, a team every fan should get familiar with, is still the favorite heading into this weekend. Led by freshmen Dee Alexander and Ky'Aira Miller, the Cavs will be a state championship threat for years to come. Worthington Christian, which was a regular in the SBLive Top 25, is a slight favorite over undefeated Waynedale in the second semifinal. While there are clear favorites in D-III, each team has the talent to win it all in Dayton.

Division 2

Norton vs. Sheridan, 6 p.m. Thursday

Kettering Alter vs. Bishop Hartley, 8 p.m. Thursday

State Championship: 2 p.m. Saturday

Norton shocked northeast Ohio by upsetting West Branch and Salem en route to its first state appearance since 1986. However, the Cinderella story may come to an end Thursday. The Sheridan Generals have been nearly unstoppable all season long and will be a heavy favorite in the early semifinal. Alter will also be a heavy favorite against the Central Catholic runner-up Bishop Hartley. As for the championship, the razor-thin edge goes to Kettering Alter, whose lone loss this year was by one point to Hoban in late January. But if Sheridan is going to win its first state title in girls basketball, this is the team to do it.

Division 4

New Knoxville vs. Cincinnati Country Day, noon Friday

Waterford vs. Buckeye Central, 2 p.m. Friday

State Championship: 5:15 p.m. Saturday

After bragging up Fort Loramie and Tri-Village all season long, Cincinnati Country Day came into the regionals and eliminated both in the span of 48 hours. The other three regionals went as planned, but don't let that fool anybody — the southwestern regional was the one of the toughest in the state, as mentioned last week. Buckeye Central was unstoppable in the Northern 10 this season and should continue that trend against Waterford. The Rangers of New Knoxville are the slight favorites in the de facto state championship, as whoever wins the noon contest on Friday should steamroll through the state championship game Saturday.

Division 1

Massillon Jackson vs. Mason, 6 p.m. Friday

Reynoldsburg vs. Anthony Wayne, 8 p.m. Friday

State Championship: 8:30 p.m. Saturday

For the first time since 2018, Mount Notre Dame will not be taking part in the state semifinals. Kyla Oldacre's double-double in the regional final ended the Cougars' three-plus-year undefeated streak for real this time. Mason is paired up against another giant killer, as the Jackson Polar Bears emerged from a regional that featured previously undefeated Hoban this past weekend. Mason has the edge in the semis in our books, as does Reynoldsburg, which spent nearly all season at the top of the SBLive Top 25, over Anthony Wayne. Reynoldsburg went all season without losing a game to an in-state opponent. That trend should continue as their perimeter game is head and shoulders above anybody else left in D-I.