Division 2 Region 8 District Finals Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Division 2 Region 8 is one of the better Regions in D2. They have some historically good northwest programs and Southwest teams that could make it to Dayton this year. With the regions geographically being this different you can expect to see some matchups we have never seen before. The District Finals tip off on Friday, February 28th at 7 pm as Winton Woods takes on Miamisburg at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=600,S,DIXIE,DRIVE,VANDALIA,45377-2550" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Butler HS</a>. Then the other three games take place on Saturday, March 1st at 4 pm with Northmont vs Loveland at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=6370,S.,MASON-MONTGOMERY,RD,MASON,45040-1728" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mason Arena</a>, 6 pm St. John's Jesuit vs Toledo St. Francis at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=2550,Cherry,Street,Toledo,43608-2372" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Toledo Central Catholic</a>, and 6:30 pm Lima Senior goes against Anthony Wayne at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=1001,PARK,AVE,FOSTORIA,44830-1455" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fostoria HS</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Friday 7 pm – 1. Winton Woods vs 4. Miamisburg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2469928,"width":"318px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/Emontae-Weah-crop-4640x3047-1719190227.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/Emontae-Weah-crop-4640x3047-1719190227.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2469928" style="width:318px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Winton Woods </strong>finished the season with an impressive 20-2 record and a 30-point blowout in the district semifinals game. Winton Woods has the top 5 in <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894062230628659541/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the highest point differential</a> because they are top 2 in <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894061091635781743/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the fewest points allowed</a> per game according to Martin RPI. I think Winton Woods is one of the most slept-on teams in Division 2. This team is loaded with talent and are senior lead. Transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1409598' first='Christian' last='Wilkins'] and big Emontea Weah are a great due for Woods. Then players like [player_tooltip player_id='1580475' first='Cash' last='Ingram'], [player_tooltip player_id='2694535' first='Frank' last='Latham'], and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2316118' first='Nate' last='Dawson'] bring even more defensive firepower to this team. They have a nice sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2576072' first='Brian' last='Key Jr'] that brings more length and size to this team. They know how to get in your shorts, turn you over, and capitalize on it. They get it done on both ends and are a reason this is one of the better regions in D2 but also the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Miamisburg </strong>is coming into this game with an 11-13 record and a win over Sidney. This team will not be given much of a chance in this one, but I think they have the team to make any game dangerous. A big reason is their dominant big man, [player_tooltip player_id='2405956' first='Andrew' last='Hoerner']. He is listed at 6'7” and can straight-up take over a game. He is going to be a handful for any team. He has the size and length to be disruptive on both ends of the floor. He is a monster on the glass. He is surrounded by a ton of guards so if they are able to take care of the ball and feed the big fella, watch out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saturday – 4 pm – 2. Northmont vs 3. Loveland</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2278115,"width":"291px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/BJ-Hatcher-LMS.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/BJ-Hatcher-LMS.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2278115" style="width:291px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Northmont </strong>has a 14-9 record, and a team built for playoff basketball. I think if you want to have much of a chance you need to have some guards who can play fast and slow and can count on to score the ball. The Thunderbolts have just that. The senior guard duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1432007' first='Bj' last='Hatcher'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2391548' first='Victor' last='Drummond'] can absolutely light you. Hatcher is a nice athletic player who is tough to contain due to his explosiveness around the rim. Hatcher can explode any night and drop 30. He can also get in your shorts defensively too. Drummond is more of a skillful scorer who does a good job of creating on his own. He has some good length to be disruptive on the other side of the floor. Then with the help of other senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2393322' first='Cameron' last='Tyree'] lighting it up from deep, they are never out of a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2448916,"width":"240px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Chase-martin-PhOh.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Chase-martin-PhOh.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2448916" style="width:240px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Loveland </strong>is on a two-game win streak and a 16-8 record this year. Similar to what I said about Northmont, to be successful in the playoffs is a really good guard play. The junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2445462' first='Chase' last='Martin'] is a high IQ player with a tough mindset and plays hard. He knows how to put the ball in the basketball. This has been a massive improvement for him this year. He is an efficient player that can get it done from all areas of the floor. He does a good job of controlling the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Friday 6 pm – 3. St. John's Jesuit vs 4. Toledo St. Francis DeSales</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the third time these rivals will meet this year. Splitting the season series and the home team winning each match-up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2695153,"width":"178px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/Jayden-Jones-G4.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/Jayden-Jones-G4.jpeg?w=929" alt="" class="wp-image-2695153" style="width:178px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. John's Jesuit </strong>come into this one with a 15-7 record and after a slow start to the season have been really good. They are 10-2 in their last 12 games and ended the regular season with a home win over St. Ed's. This team has a great balance of guard play and length. The guard play of sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2370700' first='Ethan' last='James'] and Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2225037' first='Jayden' last='Jones'] has been a catalyst for this squad on both ends of the floor. They can each get a bucket for themselves on offense and are tough to score on the defensive end. Jones' size and physicality give him the ability to guard all positions on the floor. Then [player_tooltip player_id='2288540' first='Coy' last='Hamic'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2433540' first='Jack' last='Goodnough'] have a lot of size and length around the rim. This is a nice four and then add their best player, [player_tooltip player_id='1827695' first='Race' last='Kowalczyk'] it makes them dangerous. Race can score from all areas of the floor. He is a high-volume shooter and scorer with length. He can win you games with his shooting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2782198,"width":"308px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/Alan-Horton-G28-crop-4434x2912-1740068155.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/Alan-Horton-G28-crop-4434x2912-1740068155.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2782198" style="width:308px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Francis DeSales </strong>is similar to St. John's because they have great size and good guard play. They come into this game with a 13-9 record and a tough-fought win against Sylvania Northview on Tuesday night. This team has played a lot of tough games and is tested. They play with a hard hat mentality, and it starts with their Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1605229' first='Jameson' last='Heck']. He is the leader of this team because he plays hard, the right way, makes others better, and scores it. The other guards of [player_tooltip player_id='2768428' first='Raheem' last='Brown'] and Chris Poellnitz are good scorers and defenders. Both are slashing athletes who can apply a ton of pressure. Then the bigs this team has of [player_tooltip player_id='1705954' first='Alan' last='Horton'] and Tre'Sean<strong> </strong>Chenault are monsters in different ways. Chenault is a real athletic big with great length who plays above the rim on both ends. Horton is a monster because of his size, strength, and skill set. He posts you extremely hard in every position and then has incredible footwork and patience around the rim. He finished well with both hands. In the first matchups of these two teams, he took the game over late. They will need him to play well if they want to win the trilogy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Friday 6:30 pm – 1. Lima Senior vs 2. Anthony Wayne</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2710393,"width":"299px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/Willie-Foster-G14.2.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/Willie-Foster-G14.2.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2710393" style="width:299px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lima Senior </strong>is one of the teams this year you sort of a pencil in as a region finalist. This is one of the most talented squads in the state. They come into this game with a 20-2 record and have smacked teams. They have the <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894062230628659541/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">highest point differential</a> and <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894059471854297215/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">highest points scored</a> in D2 according to Martin RPI. Then you watch them, and you are amazed at the athleticism. [player_tooltip player_id='2376402' first='Willie' last='Foster'] is one of the best defenders and most athletic players in the state. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2140877' first='Shawn' last='Foster'] is one of the best scorers in the 2027 class. Senior point guard Isaiah "Boog" Wilson is someone you can count on to play big in big games. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1475110' first='Jekel' last='Cotton'] has been really putting together a great season towards the back half here. Then they have dogs coming off the bench. This team speeds you up, turns you over, and then tries to end up on ESPN's top 10 (they did at one point this season). They are fun to watch and are trying to make it back down to the States.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Anthony Wayne </strong>comes into this one 14-7 and is a massive underdog. Thankfully for them, they have a dog on their team. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2610975' first='Blake' last='Robison'] is one of the most underrated players in NWO. He is a scorer that can do it from all over the court. He is partnered with 2 second-team NLLs junior Zan Kudzia and senior Cole Biedenharn who are tough. You can expect the Generals to try and slow this game because that gives them their best shot to win it. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->