Tony’s Takes: OHSAA Tournament Edition
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It’s finally here. The OHSAA State Tournament kicks off Friday and I will be in attendance throughout the weekend. To get us started in coverage, I preview and take my picks to win the Semifinal games Friday and Saturday as…
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Continue ReadingIt’s finally here. The OHSAA State Tournament kicks off Friday and I will be in attendance throughout the weekend. To get us started in coverage, I preview and take my picks to win the Semifinal games Friday and Saturday as there is not a bad game at all on the docket.
Division I
Centerville vs. St. Ignatius- The undefeated Elks put their 28-0 record on the line against a St. Ignatius team very familiar with the State tournament after making it to the State Semifinals just last season. For Centerville, they have a disciplined defense and many offensive weapons in Gabe Cupps Gabe Cupps 6'1" | PG Centerville | 2023 State #80 Nation OH (2023), Rich Rolf Rich Rolf 6'6" | PF Centerville | 2022 State OH (2022), and Tom House Tom House 6'5" | SF Centerville | 2022 State OH (2022). St. Ignatius brings a younger core with a mixture of some upperclassmen primarily led by Calvin Little Calvin Little 6'2" | PG Garfield Heights | 2024 State OH (2024) and Carter Jackson Carter Jackson 6'2" | SG Garfield Heights | 2024 State OH (2024). Iggy has the familiarity but Centerville is just too overwhelming talented for me to see them losing a game before the State Finals. TONY’S TAKE: Centerville
Pickerington Central vs. St. Edward- Pickerington Central picked up one of the biggest wins of the tournament when they knocked out Gahanna Lincoln in the Regional Finals and now have a chance to setup the showdown with Centerville for Division I. The Tigers have a ton of talent headlined by Sonny Styles Sonny Styles 6'4" | SF Pickerington Central | 2023 OH (2023) and Devin Royal Devin Royal 6'6" | PF Pickerington Central | 2023 State #49 Nation OH (2023) and have great guard play and size to go along with them. St. Ed’s arguably had the easier path to the State Semi’s but in no way are they not deserving of this opportunity. Led by senior Michael Bova Michael Bova 6'2" | CG St. Edward | 2022 State OH (2022), the Eagles have the winning pedigree and coaching to give anyone a battle. The question is, who do the Eagles have that can matchup with Royal and Styles? TONY’S TAKE: Pickerington Central
Division II
Alter vs St. Vincent-St. Mary- These two have been on a crash course to make it to UD Arena but some likely saw this being a State Final game vs Semifinal. Alter has been one of the most consistent teams in the state and not lost since December. They have a plethora of juniors in Anthony Ruffolo Anthony Ruffolo 5'10" | PG Archbishop Alter | 2023 State OH , Aj Leen Aj Leen 6'2" | SF Kettering Alter | 2023 State OH , and Gavin Geisel Gavin Geisel 6'0" | SG Alter | 2023 State OH as well as seniors Ryan Chew Ryan Chew 5'11" | PG Bellbrook | 2022 State OH and Jacob Conner Jacob Conner 6'7" | PF Alter | 2022 State OH to make up one of the best starting five’s in the state. The Knights play tough defense and can be very hard to score on. SVSM returns as the defending state champions and have one of the best players in the state in Sencire Harris Sencire Harris 6'4" | PG St. Vincent-St. Mary | 2022 State #79 Nation OH (2022) to lead their group. The Irish have been on a tear winning their tournament games by an average of 20+ points per game. They too have pieces in Ramar Pryor Ramar Pryor 6'2" | SG St. Vincent-St. Mary | 2022 State OH (2022), LA Hayes (2023), and Kevin Hamilton Kevin Hamilton 5'8" | PG St Vincent St Mary Hs | 2023 State OH (2023) that make them another talented team in the division. This game truly could be a state final, but it’s hard to pick against Dru Joyce and his SVSM teams in March. TONY’S TAKE: SVSM
Waverly vs Gilmour Academy- Waverly is back in the state tournament and has been an under-the-radar team in the state out of Southeast Ohio. The Tigers know how to win in close games as they won both their Regional matchups in OT and were under 50 points scored. They have some key seniors in Trey Robertson Trey Robertson 5'10" | PG Waverly | 2022 State OH and Will Futhey that they lean on to carry this group. Gilmour Academy arrives to UD Arena a bit unexpected as the Lancers had to beat Buchtel, Toledo Central Catholic, and St. Mary’s Memorial to get to State. This group has won when they needed to and have a group of upperclassmen they lean on led by Ryan Mueller Ryan Mueller 6'7" | PF Gilmour Academy | 2022 State OH (2022) and Brandon Rose Brandon Rose 6'4" | SF Gilmour | 2023 State OH (2023). This is a hard game to pick and I could see either teams advancing. Ultimately, if the game is held under 50 points, Waverly will have the edge. TONY’S TAKE: Waverly
Division III
Africentric vs Ottawa-Glandorf- Just one of two massive showdowns in Division III! Africentric made it to Dayton after beating one of Southeast Ohio’s top teams (Fairland) and Eastern Ohio’s top teams (Garaway) to earn their right to play at UD Arena. After missing the postseason last year due to COVID, the Nubians are hungry and playing on another level in February/March. Dailyn Swain Dailyn Swain 6'7" | SF Africentric | 2023 State #81 Nation OH (2023) is capable of taking over a game at any time and has some support guys in Dan Wagner Dan Wagner 6'0" | CG Columbus Africentric Early College | 2022 State OH (2022) and Preston Steele Preston Steele 6'5" | PF Africentric | 2023 State OH (2022) to help guide the Nubians. O-G returns to Dayton after being defeated a year ago to eventual state champion Lutheran East. The Titans had one of the biggest wins in the tournament as they defeated previous undefeated Colonel Crawford to get to Dayton. Led by sophomore Colin White Colin White 6'5" | SG Ottawa Glandorf | 2024 State #156 Nation OH , the Titans have a chance to beat anyone with their style of play and coaching. TONY’S TAKE: Africentric
Taft vs Lutheran East- Both of these teams are back after making it to the State Semifinals a year ago. Taft returns arguably a better team than last year to take on the defending state champions. Led by Rayvon Griffith Rayvon Griffith 6'6" | SF AZ Compass Prep | 2023 State #78 Nation AZ (2023), the Senators have a deeper team with good guard play in Mekhi Elmore Mekhi Elmore 6'1" | PG Thurgood Marshallchooligh | 2022 State OH (2022) and Brandon Cromer (2022) and size with Eian Elmer Eian Elmer 6'6" | SF Taft | 2023 State OH (2023) and Kieran Granville-Britten (2025). The Lue returns to state as the defending champions, but with a much different group than last year. Adding Jamail Spivey (2022), Nelson Johnson Nelson Johnson 6'6" | PF Lutheran East | 2023 State OH (2023), and Cody Head Cody Head 6'1" | CG Lutheran East | 2023 State OH (2023) in the offseason helped offset losing 6 scholarship players to graduation from that state champion team. With a quality big in Jesse McCullough (2024), the Lue has depth themselves to challenge the Senators in what should be an exciting game. TONY’S TAKE: Taft
Division IV
Richmond Heights vs Berlin Hiland- Richmond Heights returns to UD Arena after having their hearts broken to eventual champion Botkins last year. The Spartans have incredible talent for a Division IV team led by senior Josiah Harris Josiah Harris 6'7" | PF Richmond Heights | 2022 State #243 Nation OH with a great combination of size and athleticism. A plethora of freshman and upperclassmen around Harris makes this a very dangerous team to matchup with. Hiland silently fought their way to Dayton winning their Regional games by a combined 8 points. The Hawks lack that blockbuster name on their roster, but they have a winning culture and have been taking care of business on the defensive end. TONY’S TAKE: Richmond Heights
Tri-Village vs Antwerp- Tri-Village made it out of the gauntlet that is Region 16 dethroning defending champion Botkins in the Regional Final. The Patriots are another team mainly upperclassmen heavy and led by Layne Sarver Layne Sarver 6'4" | SF Tri-Village | 2022 State OH (2022) and Wilson Suggs (2023) among others. Their high scoring offense plus their size makes Tri-Village a true contender to cut down the nets if they get by the Archers of Antwerp. The Archers bring to the table one of the more defensive minded teams in the tournament holding Marion Local and Tiffin Calvert both under 35 points in their Regional wins. Led by senior Jagger Landers Jagger Landers 6'7" | PF Antwerp | 2022 State OH , Antwerp has enough pieces around Landers to still be a prominent offense and will give Tri-Village a challenge to account for. TONY’S TAKE: Antwerp