Last weekend was the girls’, this weekend it is the boys’ basketball tournament draw that was held throughout the Miami Valley, and the local teams now know their path through the sectional tournament and beyond as the OHSAA state tournament post-season begins next week.
The Tecumseh Arrows, playing in the Centerville Sectionals, will open their tournament play on Friday, Feb. 24 against the top-seeded Springfield Wildcats, who come into the tournament 17-2 overall. The game will be held at Trotwood Madison High School as the first of a tripleheader that night. Xenia plays Fairmont at 6:30 and Troy battles Fairborn at 8 p.m.
Bethel earned the #2 seed in the Division Three sectionals, and the Bees chose to take a bye in the opening round of the sectionals at Vandalia Butler High School. National Trail plays Arcanum on Feb. 25 at 5 p.m., and the winner comes back to play Bethel in the second round on Wednesday, March 1, 6 p.m. at Butler High School. A win in their first tournament game would put the Bees into the sectional finals on Saturday March 4. While the Bees got the second seed overall, they won’t have to worry about top-seeded Versailles until the regionals assuming both teams advance.
Northwestern will play in the Division Three sectionals at Northmont High School, and their opening game is Saturday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. as they play Northeastern in the second game of a tripleheader that night. In the first game at 4:30, Brookville plays Northridge and in the 7:30 game it’s Miami East battling Stivers. If Northwestern can get past their opener, they come back on March 1 against the Miami East/Stivers winner at 7:30 at Northmont.
Also at Northmont in the bottom bracket, Greenon drew a first-round bye, and will play on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 against the winner of Milton Union and top-seeded Versailles. That is also the second game of a doubleheader that night, as the first game at 6 p.m. has Dayton Christian against the winner of West Liberty Salem and Greeneview.
Tippecanoe drew the number two seed in the Division Two sectionals to be held at Springfield High School. The Red Devils open their tournament play on Saturday, Feb. 25 in the 7 p.m. game against Ben Logan. Earlier that night at 5:30, Indian Lake battles Kenton Ridge while at 8:30 Graham plays Shawnee. If Tipp wins, they come back Feb. 28 against the winner of the Graham/Shawnee game at 7:30 p.m. also at Springfield.
