(1-20-26) There are only ten undefeated teams remaining across the state as we head into the final stretch of the girls basketball season. State tournament brackets will be released in just a couple of weeks, with sectional play beginning in less than a month. The question now is how many of these teams can survive the final weeks of the regular season without a blemish.

DIVISION I – Kettering Fairmont

The only remaining undefeated team in Division I truly earned its accolades this past weekend. Kettering Fairmont traveled to West Clermont and controlled the game from tip-off to the final horn, handing the Wolves just their second loss of the season with a convincing 56–37 victory.

Akron commit Kaylah Thornton led the Firebirds with 20 points and six steals. There is no rest ahead for Fairmont, which will host No. 7 Springboro on Wednesday.

DIVISION II – Mount Notre Dame

The Mount Notre Dame Cougars have faced adversity head-on throughout the season and emerged on top every time. They survived a scare at Seton in their first road game of the year in early December, and since then, Bellbrook, Seton again, and Brush have all pushed the Cougars to the brink.

An eventual and seemingly unavoidable postseason clash with Winton Woods would be must-see basketball, potentially arriving in just over a month.

DIVISION III – None

There are no undefeated teams remaining in Division III, but there is no shortage of state title contenders. One-loss squads such as Steubenville, Tippecanoe, Ashland, and Centennial remain firmly in the mix.

Steubenville, in particular, continues to quietly climb. The Big Red are riding a six-game winning streak, with their lone loss coming on the road at Wheeling Central Catholic (W.Va.). Clarion University commit Nylan McShan has posted seven double-doubles this season, averaging 19.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.

DIVISION IV – Bellevue, Buckeye Valley

Bellevue has received plenty of attention this season, and deservedly so, as the clear team to beat in Division IV. But Buckeye Valley has also been taking care of business night after night, opening the season with a perfect 16–0 record.

Junior point guard Avelina Wagner creates matchup problems that opponents have yet to solve. Averaging 4.9 assists per game, her court vision is elite, and at 13.6 points per game, she is equally capable of taking over offensively. Wagner is the Barons’ X-factor.

DIVISION V – Ottawa-Glandorf, Madison-Plains, Edison

While much of the focus has centered on Ottawa-Glandorf and Madison-Plains, Edison, located less than an hour west of Pittsburgh, has flown under the radar. The Wildcats sit at 14–0 as they begin to face the most challenging stretch of their schedule.

Edison already owns wins over Steubenville Catholic Central, Bellaire, and Sandy Valley. A Saturday matinee at Oak Glen (W.Va.) will serve as a valuable measuring stick.

DIVISION VI – Harvest Prep, St. Henry, Salineville Southern

Harvest Prep needs little introduction as the state favorite, while St. Henry sits atop a loaded MAC. Meanwhile, Salineville Southern continues to quietly surge and appears ready to break into the top 15.

Along with Columbiana, the Indians have dominated the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference, sitting at 11–0 in league play. Their Monday night matchup with Columbiana could complete a season sweep and clinch the EOAC outright.

DIVISION VII – None

There are no undefeated teams remaining in Division VII, nor are there any one-loss teams. The group of two-loss squads includes the new No. 1 Miller City, along with Mississinawa Valley and North Baltimore.

In recent seasons, Division VII has often lacked parity, with state finalists emerging well before tournament play. That has not been the case this year. Strasburg-Franklin, Russia, Ottoville, Warren JFK, and several others all appear capable of making a run to UD Arena in March.