OHSAA Division IV Playoff Preview: Regions 13 + 14

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The OHSAA tournament brackets have been released and it's time to break down the regions. We'll start in Division IV and work our way up to Division I. In this article we'll preview regions 13 and 14.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Region 13 (Northeast)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Favorite</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richmond Heights: The Spartans are two-time defending state champions and fully loaded once again. They return their core of 2025 guards DeErick Barber Jr, [player_tooltip player_id='1432015' first='Dorian' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1432020' first='Demarris' last='Winters Jr']. That trio hasn't lost a game to a Division IV school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Contenders</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Colonel Crawford: The top seed in the lone northwest district that comes east for the regional, Colonel Crawford has built a program that continues to compete despite losing star senior talent to graduation year in and year out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mogadore: Playing excellent basketball at the right time, Mogadore has won 14 in a row after starting 1-3. All of those wins are by 7 points or more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Warren JFK: A team that started the year red hot and now struggling to find their footing. After losing five of six, we'll see if they can find the groove they were playing with early in the year that helped them earn the top seed in the RPI metrics.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sleepers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cornerstone Christian: They played a schedule with some tough teams to challenge them for the playoffs. [player_tooltip player_id='1862652' first='Quinn' last='Kwasniak'] is the best shooter in Ohio and capable of going off against any opponent. They'll likely meet Richmond Heights in a district final, the team that sent them home last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Badger: [player_tooltip player_id='1373983' first='Duncan' last='Moy'] is one of the most talented players in the region, he'll have to help his team likely go through second seed Bristol just to make a district title game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East Canton: They've pushed unbeaten Malvern twice in conference play and have center [player_tooltip player_id='2204911' first='Caleb' last='Shilling'], giving them the size edge on anybody they come across. They'll likely see Mogadore in a district semifinal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Region 14 (Northwest)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Favorite</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No team separates themselves from the rest of the pack like in the first region, so I'm just listing the top teams in the 'contenders' category.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Contenders</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Toledo Christian: They got revenge on conference and district rival Maumee Valley Country Day to put themselves in position for a TAAC title. Their depth has allowed them to share the wealth around and make them tough to defend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lima Central Catholic: Their lone losses came in one week, they've regained their groove and look capable of making a trip to Dayton. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Delphos St John's: [player_tooltip player_id='1827696' first='Cameron' last='Elwer'] is one of the top underclassmen scorers in the state and DSJ is rolling at the moment. They play in a tough district with Pandora-Gilboa or Ottoville likely waiting for them in a district final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hopewell Loudon: The top seed has already played second seed Tiffin Calvert twice and split those meetings, a potential third battle would decide who goes to Bowling Green for the regionals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sleepers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Patrick Henry: A district title winner last year, in a district with Antwerp, Maumee Valley Country Day and top seed Toledo Christian, Patrick Henry could be the team that spoils the party. They are 9-9 but a game against Archbold could get them back on track heading into the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Convoy Crestview: It seems strange to list Crestview as a sleeper after they won the region last year, but as a five seed in their own district, I have to list them as such. A one point loss to Lima Central Catholic on Friday shows they can hang with anyone though.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minster: They could see second seed St Henry in a district semifinal, the first meeting needed overtime to decide a winner. [player_tooltip player_id='1429557' first='Cole' last='Albers'] gives them a size advantage on the interior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->