(3-18-24) Next year the OHSAA basketball tournaments will feature seven divisions…three more then in the past seasons.

When announcing the move to seven divisions — OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute said –

“It’s the right thing to do for the student-athletes who have been competing at this disadvantage. For too long, the largest schools in our divisions have been so much larger than the smaller schools in the same division, which has resulted in many schools accepting that they realistically have little chance at making a run in the tournament. In some of our sports, there have been more than 200 schools competing for a state title in that division, which is significantly more than what most other states do, and what we do in many of our own sports.

Seven divisions won’t solve this problem – in boys D IV Richmond Heights and in girls D II Purcell Marian. Both programs are the elephants in the room.

What does elephant in the room phrase mean?

If you say there is an elephant in the room, you mean that there is an obvious problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about. Difficult situations and unpleasant experiences.

This weekend Richmond Heights is going for its 3rd consecutive D IV state title–

Final Four Appearances

  • 2019 – Semifinal – Crestview – Richmond Heights –- Score –59-49
  • 2020 – COVID was in Final 8 schools before playoffs cancelled
  • 2021 – Semifinal – Botkins – Richmond Heights – Score — 44-40
  • 2022 – Richmond Heights (25-4) Tri-Village (26-4) Score–50-29
  • 2023 -Richmond Heights (29-0) Crestview (25-4) Score: 70-26
  • 2024 – Richmond Heights (19-9) 62 Berlin Hiland (23-7) 35

Entered the 2024 D IV state title with a 17-9 record…

2024 Tournament Scores

  • State Final – beat Berlin Hiland 62-35
  • State Semifinal – beat Russia 65-52
  • Regional Final – beat Warren JFK – 95-61
  • Regional Semifinal – beat Seneca East 87-37
  • beat – Cornerstone Christian 95-54
  • beat – Western Reserve 62-26
  • beat – Medina Christian 92-32

This year they withdrew from their athletic conference to play a ‘more competitive‘ schedule, including national tournaments around the US. The Spartans left the Chagrin Valley Conference following last season. In 10 games in the CVC last year, Richmond Heights was 10-0 with an average margin of victory of 44.6 and the closest margin was 34 points in a win over Beachwood. Three of the 10 games had a margin of 50 or more.

Spartans coach Quentin Rogers told SBLive about the move –

“Credit to the CVC, they are always forward thinking. Actually, they were the ones who basically said what do you guys think about (leaving the conference) with the team you have. They didn’t want to handcuff us. Respect to the CVC, they have great coaches and great teams.”

In early February (2024) Richmond Heights star T.J. Crumble (6’8), one of the nation’s top 2026 prospects is ineligible for the rest of the season.

According to Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Sherrie Miday the family failed to prove that its move from Moreland Hills to Richmond Heights at the start of the school year compelled him to transfer from Lutheran East High School to Richmond Heights.

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After the 2024 D II Regional Girls Final basketball game where Purcell Marian easily beat rival Badin 75-29…the two schools engaged on social media about the Cavaliers program. Badin’s insinuation is that Purcell Marian recruited and brought in top transfers. No details on players on the Cavaliers roster, where they came from etc…but when two Catholic schools squabble over athletics that is something you don’t see to often.

Purcell Marian (29-1) had no problems this past weekend picking up their third consecutive (fourth straight trip to the Final Four) OHSAA state basketball title beating Laurel (19-11) 79-52. The 79 points were the most scored by any D II team in the championship game. Purcell Marian led by as many as 32 points in the fourth quarter.

In 2021 the Cavaliers lost to Berlin Hiland in the championship game and lost all five starters to graduation…in 2022 they started five freshman and would win the first of the three state titles.

After this year’s state title win Purcell Marian Head Coach Jamar Mosley told the Enquirer –

“Those freshmen, along with Jayda Mosley, just did a phenomenal job these last few years. Again, I’m just honored and blessed to be able to coach such a great group,”

The Cavaliers also feature two-time Miss Ohio Basketball Dee Alexander on the team, with a chance to pick-up the award again next year.

Besides their championship win over Laurel their tournament run included –

  • State Semifinal – beat Copley (25-4) 67-29
  • Regional Final – beat Badin (18-7) 75-29
  • Regional Semifinal – beat Bloom-Carroll (20-6) 77-43
  • District Final – beat Thurood Marshall 74-23
  • District Semifinal – beat Franklin 79-32
  • Sectional – beat Cincinnati Hughes 97-39
  • Sectional – beat New Richmond 84-45

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Seven divisions will not change everything next season.