Division 3 | Region 10 | District Finals Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Region 10 has a lot of depth in quality teams here. You could argue a couple of teams come out of this region and expect some of the better games of the tournament coming out of this region. Games start on Friday, February 28th at 6 pm as Lexington vs Sandusky plays at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=1,Perry,Street,WILLARD,44890-1359" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Willard HS</a>, and at the same time, Toledo Central Catholic plays Sylvania Southview at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=28080,LEMOYNE,RD,MILLBURY,43447-9747" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lake HS</a>. The next two games are on Saturday, March 1st starting at 4 pm as Nordonia plays Lutheran West at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/14713+Ridge+Rd,+North+Royalton,+OH+44133/@41.3091691,-81.7356859,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8830e82b626e99a5:0xe44854a597b13b50!8m2!3d41.3091691!4d-81.733111!16s%2Fg%2F11b8zc95yl?entry=ttu&amp;g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDIyNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">North Royalton HS</a> and Lima Shawnee tip off against Defiance at the same time at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=9190,COUNTY,ROAD,9,FINDLAY,45840-8811" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Liberty-Benton HS</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Friday 6 pm – 1. Lexington vs 3. Sandusky</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2431058,"width":"248px","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/Seven-Allen-RnS.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Seven-Allen-RnS.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2431058" style="width:248px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lexington </strong>finished the regular season with an impressive 18-3 record. This team has some really good junior talent and you can expect this team to be even better next year. Guards [player_tooltip player_id='1705955' first='Brayden' last='Fogle'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2353222' first='Seven' last='Allen']. Allen is the distributing pass-first point guard who plays with a high IQ but can break you down and get a bucket himself. Fogle is a player that overpowers you. He is a really good athlete who gets to the basket any time he wants and finishes at a high level. Then they have a senior duo with experience [player_tooltip player_id='1832082' first='Isaiah' last='Stephens'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2442382' first='Gavin' last='Husty'] provided good role players for the Minutemen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sandusky </strong>finished the regular season with a 14-7 record and a blow-out win over Lexington at home earlier this year. Even with double their loss total with wins Sandusky kind of disappointed some this regular season but they are battle-tested and coming off a revenge game against Mansfield Senior in the district semifinals. This team is known for their toughness and defensive pressure, this identity still remains but they are the top 5 <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894059471854297215/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">best scoring team</a> in D2 according to Martin RPI. They are a senior-led team with [player_tooltip player_id='1672052' first='Jason' last='Henlon'], [player_tooltip player_id='1672053' first='Kobe' last='Brown'], and Aa'Zoriyan Bonner who have a lot of experience. Henlon is the leader of this squad and set the tone with his effort and defensive play but do not underestimate his scoring because he can do it on all three levels of the floor. He is just a good basketball player. Then junior Anthony Redding added good length to the floor for them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Friday 6 pm – 1. Toledo Central Catholic vs 2. Sylvania Southview</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2702029,"width":"214px","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/Kaeden-Carruthers-G6.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/Kaeden-Carruthers-G6.jpeg?w=860" alt="" class="wp-image-2702029" style="width:214px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Toledo Central Catholic </strong>is one of the teams that could be seen coming out of the region. The Irish have the squad to go on a run down to Dayton and win the whole thing. They are very talented and athletic and do not let their 11-10 regular season record fool you as they had one of the <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894056183666790492/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">toughest schedules</a> in D2 in the state according to Martin RPI. This team is highlighted by the best sophomore in the state [player_tooltip player_id='2140535' first='Isaiah' last='Mack-Russell'] according to <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio/rankings/2027-rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mike Roth</a>. But the others are what makes this team go. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1985934' first='Manny' last='Johnson'] brings in a high-level scoring ability that can get hot quickly, Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2532400' first='Cayden' last='Kynard'] has had a break-out year on the offensive end, and Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2612792' first='Dre' last='Wardrop'] who is a flamethrower and believes he can make any shot on the floor because he can, and the ultimate glue guy and the most underrated player on this team Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1708689' first='Kaeden' last='Carruthers']. He is a physical player who is a monster on the boards and does the small things night in and night out. [player_tooltip player_id='2433480' first='Cailan' last='Hornbeak'] coming off the bench gives them a spark and size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2695156,"width":"315px","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/2/2024/12/Jaron-Witcher-G4.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/Jaron-Witcher-G4.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2695156" style="width:315px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sylvania Southview </strong>is coming into this game thought to have not much of a chance, but this team has a trio of talented players. They have a record of 18-4 and the NLL Cardinal Division player of the year [player_tooltip player_id='1943745' first='Jaron' last='Witcher']. He has had a great junior campaign this year and this is because he is so tough to stop. He is a shorter forward with a strong build and a lot of physicality. [player_tooltip player_id='2411710' first='Brandon' last='Ingram Jr'] is one of the more explosive and athletic players in NWO. He plays above the rim a lot and is a tough player to stop in transition. Then the junior transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2569366' first='Damien' last='Clay'] provides a quickness with the ball that is tough to check. He is really good at operating with Witcher in the pick-n-roll.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saturday 4 pm – 1. Lima Shawnee vs 2. Defiance</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2431071,"width":"294px","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/2/2024/05/Becket-Butke-RnS.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Becket-Butke-RnS.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2431071" style="width:294px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lima Shawnee </strong>has an extremely high ceiling and has shown that this year with wins over Lima Senior, Lima Central Catholic, and this Defiance squad. They are 21-2 and on a 12-game win streak. When you think about Shawnee you think about the Bertke brothers. Beckett and [player_tooltip player_id='2434352' first='Trevick' last='Bertke'] are the two players for this team that will carry them as far as Dayton. [player_tooltip player_id='1950584' first='Beckett' last='Bertke'] is a tall and long-scoring guard who has a ton of confidence, needs no space, and plays big in big-time matchups. Trevick is a tough player who plays in the paint and can do a little bit of it all offensively and exploded for big-time scoring games this year. Senior transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1432045' first='Jagger' last='Hutchins'] is a strong big for the Indians who can step out a bang multiple 3s. Hutchins and Trevick provide spacing, but can both get in the paint a do damage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defiance </strong>is coming into this one as a massive underdog, but they are also coming into this game with the experience of playing Lima Shawnee but also sending that game to overtime. They have a 19-5 record and impressive wins over Toledo St. Francis and Ottawa-Glandorf on the road. They have a 1st team WBL player in Kahlil Ligon and two other all-league honor plays in Josiah Schlatter and Logan Hutcheson. This team is going to come into this game with confidence, familiarity, and a nothing to lose mentality. This is a dangerous combination.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saturday 4 pm – 26. Nordonia vs 3. Lutheran West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nordonia </strong>has a 15-9 record coming into this game and coming off two wins over higher-seeded teams to get to this District Finals team. They have an impressive win over Archbishop Hoban towards the end of the regular season. This team is hot right now and clicking coming into this matchup. Playing your best ball in February and March is the goal for every team in the state and Nordonia is doing that currently.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2743617,"width":"474px","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/Ryan-Calo-G22.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/Ryan-Calo-G22.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2743617" style="width:474px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lutheran West </strong>came into this game as the favorite to come out of the region. This program has been one of the best in the state for the last few years and has a 16-6 record this year. They have played against some of the better teams in the NEO area. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2042514' first='Ryan' last='Calo'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2409660' first='Matthew' last=''] Meyer set a tone for this team in different ways. Meyers is a big physical player who sets a ton of toughness while Calo gets into the game by knocking down shots. Calo is very good at finding his spots on the floor and making you pay. Then the guard play of sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2703762' first='Tink' last='Shelton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2125729' first='Aiden' last='Monroe'] is really impressive. Both have a great winning impact on the game and do it in many ways. This team has a high ceiling and floor</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->