Sectionals begin tonight.

Over 700 teams and more than 8,000 games of the Ohio high school girls basketball season are now in the books. Conference titles have been claimed, resumes have been built, and now it’s time to begin the road to UD Arena.

Next month, seven state champions will be crowned — but it all starts tonight.

DIVISION I

Kettering Fairmont took control of the top spot in mid-January and has not let go over the past month. Wins over No. 2 West Clermont, No. 3 Pickerington Central, and No. 4 Princeton have firmly established the Firebirds as the Division I favorite.

Beyond an impressive regular season, Fairmont earned a favorable path through the Columbus-based region, avoiding the rest of the top nine teams until the state semifinals. If there is a team capable of challenging the Firebirds, Pickerington Central proved it by handing Fairmont its tightest game of the year — a six-point loss back in late November.

DIVISION II

Much like football and boys basketball, Division II once again leaves us wondering who the true best team in the state is. Mount Notre Dame enters the postseason a perfect 21–0, owning wins over No. 5 Seton, No. 2 (D-III) Brush, and No. 1 (D-III) Bellbrook.

The Cougars’ biggest obstacle lies in the Princeton regional, which may be the toughest across any division. Mount Notre Dame, No. 2 Winton Woods, and Seton are all projected to funnel into a regional that will be a bloodbath — and likely produce the eventual Division II state champion.

DIVISION III

Bellbrook and Brush swapped positions during the final week of the regular season, but unlike the previous divisions, there is no clear favorite in Division III.

Bellbrook will be favored in its regional at Lakota East, but that path also includes Carroll and Chaminade Julienne, making survival far from guaranteed. Brush may have the cleanest route, with its biggest Northeast Ohio threats sent to Elida, while the Arcs remain closer to home in Canton. Notably, St. Vincent–St. Mary and Padua Franciscan, both top-four teams, would meet in a district final — a state-caliber matchup occurring as early as the round of 32.

DIVISION IV

Bellevue enters tournament play as the favorite after a flawless 22–0 regular season. Still, it would be a mistake to overlook battle-tested Laurel, which once again is far better than its record and enrollment might suggest.

The top teams are spread throughout the bracket, though several high-level collisions loom. No. 4 London, No. 6 Lutheran East, and No. 8 Liberty-Benton are all on a collision course with Bellevue in the Bluffton University regional. Purcell Marian is likely to meet No. 5 Archbishop Alter in the Vandalia Butler regional final, while Laurel faces its own challenge sharing a regional with No. 7 Canal Fulton Northwest and No. 9 Norton.

DIVISION V

I said it on a phone call this weekend, and I’ll stand by it here: Division V is a three-team race — even with Norwayne’s strong finish to the regular season.

If there is any justice in the world, Fairland, Portsmouth, Ottawa-Glandorf, and Norwayne will each claim regional titles. That scenario would deliver must-see basketball and one of the most balanced state semifinal pairings Ohio has seen in years.

DIVISION VI

If you’re searching for the most unforgiving small-school regional in the state, look no further than Bluffton University. That site is likely to host three of the top four teams in Division VI, with Margaretta, Patrick Henry, and defending champion Columbus Grove all on a collision course.

My apologies to Gibsonburg — a district title would be a deserved crown for a strong season — but the northwest Ohio gauntlet is real. That contrast only underscores how favorable Harvest Prep’s path to UD Arena is. The Warriors are the state favorite in large part because they avoid the Sisyphus-like climb facing the northwest powers.

DIVISION VII

Balanced bracketing gives Division VII a legitimate chance to crown a true state champion. Miller City, Strasburg-Franklin, Russia, and Ottoville have each shown flashes of dominance, while also revealing vulnerability throughout the season.

Parity at this level is rare, as one or two programs often separate themselves early. That has not been the case this year. If forced to make a pick, I’ll trust the computer and lean toward Miller City — but I wouldn’t be surprised to see any of the top four cutting down the nets at UD Arena.