(2-13-25) With the OHSAA Girls Basketball Tournament underway, let’s look at what path teams can expect en route to the state championships in UD Arena. 

An important note is that the pairings for the state semifinals will be set on a later date. I did my best to guesstimate what pairings the state would take, but your guess is as good as mine. So let’s jump to the brackets so fans can question my knowledge and mental stability!

D I

https://drive.google.com/file/d/16H5lJ2WfYaUypvQX5QyZJRm1P9dsn8io/view?usp=drive_link

In some divisions, there are deep paths in the postseason that will be a cake walk. No such thing can be found in D I. Every team will face greater and greater challenges if they want to make it to UD Arena. But the Fairfield regional is especially challenging with 4 of the top ten D I teams residing there.

D II

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19t12O6MMMdMK0wB53h-OYHVo2IaVf4Ad/view?usp=drive_link

This is a bracket where I am 50-50 on what the state will do with the semifinal pairings. I hope the OHSAA saves Anthony Wayne and Winton Woods for the state championship. They are the two best teams in D II and it’s not even close. However, they could do an east-west split, which would have Big Walnut face Massillon. In that case, I like Massillon to win but then get blown out in the state championship.

DIII

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17f7YFWrNmO0q0t9p4UuH4X63bMy0fhOQ/view?usp=drive_link

Notre Dame Academy has one of the easiest paths to the state semifinals one will see at any division. The Eagles are a deserving team. The problem is that outside of Norwalk, there are almost zero great teams in the northwest and central districts. In fact, Marietta’s path to the regionals will be tougher.

D IV

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dI-AxeCB2H2FhSnxYCLENj4dzSQIBIy-/view?usp=drive_link

My computer really likes the 9-13 Laurel Gators to get to the state semifinals. Part of that is their tough schedule. Another part is avoiding Warrensville Heights and Lutheran East, the two best D IV teams in the northeast. But with that said, if Eastern Buckeye champion West Branch can defeat Laurel in the regional semifinals, it will expose a flaw in my algorithm. (I won’t say the same about Streetsboro as the Rockets would only be a slight underdog in the regional final.)

D V

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hziKU4INvH5OX-UdRH9rRSmrIe4g9iyR/view?usp=drive_link

D V is a three-team race. Thankfully, none of those three teams will meet until the state semifinals. Waynesville got the short straw, paired up with Fairland in the regional semifinals. Nonetheless, Columbiana Crestview and Chippewa should be a fun, competitive regional championship in Elyria.

D VI

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EnJNtxXCX1cC42uz6Y-VgSH31Em54AkM/view?usp=drive_link

I do not think people realize how good this Columbus Grove team is. Aside from losses to D V favorite Ottawa-Glandorf and D VII co-favorite Ottoville, the Bulldogs have mowed through their competition. However, like Oregon Ducks football, they also were drawn into the toughest path in the state, having to go through Convoy Crestview, Margaretta, and Patrick Henry to get to the state semifinals. 

D VII

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Tljr6r_gLHxGllX7Iu9LXVVPQwdTPTqH/view?usp=drive_link

You know that Vandalia regional will be a gauntlet when even Russia, Southeastern Local, and 20-2 Covington are projected to miss out. Fort Loramie will have their work cut out for them. Not only that, they will likely face Ottoville in the state semifinals, a game that will be worth the price of admission even if you don’t have a dog in the fight. 

All here is a link to all 7 PNG files with my projected brackets:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12H5LMVgOGn9M7t37q1kLuqJE9Tf7P1iq?usp=drive_link

Good luck to all teams in the state tournament!