Intro to Bracketology 102: Division II
Throw all the regular season records out the window, the playoffs are finally here in Ohio! And Prep Hoops has you covered as we preview all of the upcoming action. So how will the Cincinnati area brackets shape up? Who…
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Continue ReadingThrow all the regular season records out the window, the playoffs are finally here in Ohio! And Prep Hoops has you covered as we preview all of the upcoming action. So how will the Cincinnati area brackets shape up? Who is on upset alert and who has the easiest path to the Regionals? We answer those questions and more as we go over each bracket thoroughly in Intro to Bracketology 101: Division II.
Dayton 1 (Mason H.S.)
Last year the D-II draw seemed to be the most exciting in Southwest Ohio, providing everything from upsets to last second finishes. But while there may not be as many upsets this year, the excitement and quality of play should remain at the same high level. The top half of the bracket has the Wyoming Cowboys, the #3 seed and top seeded team in this half of the bracket, facing an easy road to the sectional finals. They face 10th seeded Summit Country Day in the 1st round then the winner of Roger Bacon/Shroder, which is the 8/9 matchup.
Most likely in the sectional finals the Cowboys will play the winner of Aiken (4th seed) and McNicholas (5th seed), who should meet in the 2nd round. Just 11 days ago McNick popped Aiken at home 59-51 in a game were only 3 Falcons scored. Revenge may have been on the mind of the Rockets during that contest as it was the Falcons who knocked McNick out of the tourney last season in upset fashion. But an important thing to remember is the fact that Coach Cass and Aiken have had two rematches with programs they lost to earlier in the season. The Falcons are 2-0 in such games.
And while the Cowboys are the higher seed, Aiken is the team I am rolling with to come out of this bracket. Neither team has outstanding depth, but I think Coach Cass bench will provide just enough to give Aiken the edge.
Sectional Prediction: Aiken over Wyoming
Dayton 3 (Mason H.S.)
All roads to #1 vs. #2 meeting in the Sectional Finals of this bracket, which would mean a third contest between Hughes (1) and Taft (2). Both teams split the season series 1-1 with Hughes winning the 2nd meeting in OT 85-84. But in saying all of this Big Red cannot overlook a potential 2nd round game with Indian Hill, who always plays Hughes tough. So tough in fact that two of the last three meetings were decided by 2 points or less.
It will be the experience of Taft against the youth of Hughes in the sectional finals. Expect lots of talking and scoring in the third and final meeting of the season.
Sectional Prediction: Taft over Hughes