(2-24-26) The Boys Basketball Tournament Is Here

The boys basketball postseason has officially begun. Nearly 800 teams across seven divisions, from Lake Erie to the Ohio River, are now chasing a trip to UD Arena in March to be crowned state champion.

Everybody knows what’s at stake. Let’s take a look at who we can expect to see in Dayton next month.

DIVISION I

Aside from Archbishop Moeller dropping two of its final three games, there was very little movement at the top this past week. The top six teams in Division I are all legitimate state-title contenders.

Newark and Hilliard Bradley were both placed in Region 2, setting up a likely rematch of their January 31 meeting, a 43–41 Bradley victory. At Xavier University, Princeton and St. Xavier are favored to meet in the regional final in a classic public-versus-private showdown. Lakota West finished the regular season atop Division I, and its path to Dayton reflects that standing.

DIVISION II

In the game of the week, No. 1 Westerville North validated its ranking with a 69–66 win over No. 2 Lima Senior. The Warriors outscored the Spartans 18–12 in the third quarter and hit their free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

There’s little doubt fans would welcome a rematch at UD Arena — the question is who might join them. Toledo St. John’s Jesuit heads to Wooster, where the Titans should be heavy favorites against northeast Ohio opposition. In the Kent State regional, keep an eye on Hoover. Don’t let the seven losses fool you — the Vikings are battle-tested and built for the postseason grind.

DIVISION III

Toledo Central Catholic enters the tournament as the heavy favorite to claim the Division III state title after finishing 18–3 against a brutal schedule featuring top competition from both Ohio and Michigan.

The good news for fans is that the four best teams in the division could realistically collide in the state semifinals. Garfield Heights is favored at the Medina regional. Steubenville, a 20-win team, is the favorite at Ohio University, despite a loaded field that includes Bishop Watterson and Bishop Hartley. And scouts will be scrambling for tickets if Badin has to go through Trotwood-Madison to win the Xavier regional.

DIVISION IV

Only elite programs have managed to take down Wyoming and Maysville this season. Both finished with 20-plus wins while rolling through their respective conferences, and it’s hard not to view them as the division’s standard-bearers.

In Canton, the pseudo-home team Canton Central Catholic holds a slight edge, though Canfield, Glenville, and Warrensville Heights are all capable of emerging. At Bowling Green, Van Wert is a narrow favorite, holding a slim edge over Jonathan Alder and Perkins, while Ottawa-Glandorf could add some extra WBL flavor to the mix.

DIVISION V

Division V is one of two divisions with a clear odds-on favorite — but Lutheran East is not invincible. The Falcons’ two losses this month came against Maysville and St. Edward, providing a blueprint for how they can be challenged.

Margaretta looms as the biggest threat, though the Polar Bears will likely need to navigate past Africentric or Columbus Academy to reach Dayton. Chesapeake and Ironton could meet for a third time at the Zanesville regional semifinal, while the southwest regional remains wide open. Waynesville holds a slight edge, but North College Hill, Versailles, and Summit Country Day are all legitimate contenders.

DIVISION VI

Undefeated Tri-Village spent much of the season atop Division VI before being knocked off by Marion Local, which surged late with four wins in two weeks over teams with 15-plus victories.

What’s unfortunate is that these two won’t be able to save their meeting for UD Arena. If things break as expected, they’ll collide at the Butler regional final. Hiland should cruise through the Ohio University regional, while Richmond Heights is favored at Canton, though not quite as dominant as in recent seasons.

Then there’s Bowling Green — and this is where things get wild. St. Henry, Spencerville, and Lima Central Catholic — all top-seven teams — are packed into the same Wapakoneta district. From there, the district champion likely advances to face Colonel Crawford, Maumee Valley Country Day, or Columbus Grove, all top-13 teams themselves. That’s a true gauntlet.

DIVISION VII

Much like Division V, there’s one clear favorite and a pack chasing. Delphos St. John’s looks capable of winning every postseason game by double digits, with Botkins potentially standing as its biggest challenge at the Butler regional final.

With the Bluejays heading south, a path opens for 19-win Arlington, though Minster and Montpelier stand in the way. Racine Southern has been on the radar for weeks and gets the nod to emerge from the Ohio Dominican regional. Meanwhile, Old Fort is a slight favorite over Fairport Harding, giving the Northwest District a real chance to claim three regional titles.