(2-2-26) Two weeks in a row, Ohio high school sports have been thrown into a blender thanks to last month’s Category 3 winter storm. I didn’t even know winter storms had categories!

Nonetheless, we have summaries to get to and this upcoming week is especially important. For the five smaller divisions, it’s the final opportunity to improve seeding before tournament draws are released next week.

DIVISION I

The only movement this past week came with Olentangy and Walnut Hills trading places, while everyone else held steady. No. 4 Princeton heads to No. 1 Kettering Fairmont tonight in what shapes up as the game of the week in southwest Ohio.

Then, on Wednesday, Princeton must turn around and travel to No. 5 Lakota West in a matchup that could ultimately decide the Greater Miami Conference.

DIVISION II

Mount Notre Dame is back on top of Division II following a convincing 69–41 win over a strong Bishop Hartley squad over the weekend. The top five teams remain tightly clustered, each with a legitimate case to be considered a state favorite.

Big Walnut has a chance to make a statement Tuesday when it travels to No. 10 Worthington Kilbourne, with an OCC Capital Division title potentially on the line.

DIVISION III

Another week brings another new No. 1, as Brush leapfrogs Bellbrook after closing out January with two major victories. The Arcs earned a 56–48 road win over No. 3 St. Vincent–St. Mary, then followed it up by defeating No. 4 (D-II) Archbishop Hoban, 63–53, on Saturday.

There are no breaks ahead for Brush, which is scheduled to face No. 4 (D-IV) Laurel and No. 10 (D-I) Massillon Jackson this week.

DIVISION IV

Norton has won ten straight games, outscoring its last two opponents by a combined 140–22. The Panthers have skyrocketed up the rankings over the past few weeks and now have their sights set firmly on a Metro Conference title.

Tonight, Norton hosts Streetsboro, which sits just one game back in the conference standings. This matchup will likely decide the conference as the regular season winds down.

DIVISION V

It has become a clear three-team race in Division V. Fairland, Portsmouth, and Ottawa-Glandorf have separated themselves from the rest of the field as we enter the home stretch.

Ottawa-Glandorf controls its own destiny in the Western Buckeye League, with only Van Wert and Celina remaining on the league schedule. Meanwhile, Fairland and Portsmouth won’t meet for nearly two weeks, but their Valentine’s Day showdown will almost certainly be the first of two clashes between these superpowers — the second likely coming in the postseason.

DIVISION VI

Margaretta and Columbus Grove squared off in the game of the weekend, with the Polar Bears pulling away late for a 49–39 win. The contest was tightly contested through three quarters, validating both teams’ spots near the top of the division.

Down the stretch, Margaretta converted at the free-throw line to secure a statement victory. The Polar Bears can clinch the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division title Thursday with a win over second-place Willard.

DIVISION VII

Once again, there was very little movement, with Cornerstone Christian the lone newcomer to the top 15 this week. Miller City held onto the top spot with a 59–24 road win at Wayne Trace, while Strasburg-Franklin picked up a 74–36 victory at Newcomerstown.

Further down the rankings, Russia will look to improve its seeding with road tests against 12–6 Marion Local and No. 7 Fort Loramie. Ottoville faces its own challenges with matchups against 18–1 Paulding on Tuesday and No. 12 (D-IV) Liberty-Benton on Saturday.