Cincinnati Basketball Diaries: Post-Season Edition
It’s been a long time since I have made an entry in the diary. Between working, watching games and refereeing junior high and grade school games (I see why fundamentals are lacking), its been busy for D-Wright. But with this being Sectional Finals weekend, I felt it was only right that I bless the masses with what’s happening and going on in the Cincy area.
The Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference has completely taken over the Mason section of the D-II bracket in Southwest Ohio. Teams from the conference are a combined 8-1 and both finals feature CMAC matchups with Aiken vs. Hughes in the 1st game and Woodward vs. Taft in the finale on Saturday. Not only are these the last four teams left, these teams finished in the top four of the conference as well. I think its time that we start to discuss this conference, from a basketball standpoint, as one of the best in Southwest Ohio.
If you are a fan of big men who still get it done in the paint, who also happen to amongst the top big men in the State, then you will want to be at Hamilton High School Saturday night. That’s where Withrow and Moeller will play a rematch of 2017 post season game, in which Moeller won 54-51. But this game also features a matchup between 6-10 Texas commit Jaxson Hayes (2018 PHO #8, Moeller) and 6-11 Abba Lawal (2019 PHO #11, Withrow). No one expected last years contest to be as close as it was, and with Lawal on the roster this season Coach Shaun O’Connell must like his team chances to pull-off the upset this post-season.
Congratulations to all the players and coaches who received District 16 Honors for the 2017-18 season. I know those had to be some tough picks to make with the level of talent in the Greater Cincinnati area. And with the names that I see who DID NOT make even Honorable Mention, I’m glad I didn’t have to make those picks. Sheesh!!!
Here is a list of the games happening this weekend. If you are in the area or a basketball fan looking a fix, here is a list of the games for the weekend:
Division I:
St. Xavier vs. Oak Hills, Saturday 5:00 PM- Lakota West High School
Sycamore vs. Princeton, Friday 7:00 PM- Lakota West High School
LaSalle vs. Lakota East, Friday 7:30 PM- Hamilton High School
Withrow vs. Moeller, Saturday 7:30 PM- Hamilton High School
Elder vs. Winton Woods, Friday 7:30 PM- Fairfield High School
Division II:
Aiken vs. Hughes, Saturday 6:00 PM- Mason High School
Woodward vs. Taft, Saturday 8:00 PM- Mason
Division III
Fayetteville vs. Deer Park, Friday 6:00 PM- Princeton High School
Seven Hills vs. Purcell Marian, Friday 7:30 PM- Princeton High School
Clark Montessori vs. Madeira, Saturday 1:00 PM- Western Brown High School
Cincinnati Country Day vs. North College Hill 3:00 PM- Western Brown High School
Division IV
Cincinnati College Prep Academy vs. Middletown Christian, Saturday 6:00 PM- Taylor High School
Gamble Montessori vs. Ripley Union-Lewis, Saturday 7:30 PM- Taylor High School
***Photo courtesy of the Cincinnati.com