Shane’s Division 6 Final Four Previews and Predicitons

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This <a href="https://officials.myohsaa.org/Admin/Bracket/PublicBracket?TournamentId=4168" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">division 6 final four</a> has great match ups, stories, and fanbases. These games will be intense and competitive. The environment should be great and have some fun games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The games start on Friday at 6 pm with Colonel Crawford vs Marion Local and then 7 pm with Kirtland vs Monroe Central. The winners will play at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=1801,Edwin,C,Moses,Blvd,Dayton,45417-4666" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UD Arena</a> at Dayton University on Saturday March 22nd at 2 pm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Friday 6 pm – Colonel Crawford vs Marion Local – <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=1535,E,Wooster,St,Bowling,Green,43404" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bowling Green State University</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game should be a great game with both teams combining for 50 wins and only 3 losses on the season. Both teams know how to win and this should be a great game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Colonel Crawford </strong>has a 25-1 record and coming into this game with some nice wins on this playoff run. They are top 5 on <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894062230628659541/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894062230628659541/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">point differential</a> this season along with top 3 on <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894061091635781743/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fewest points</a> according to Martin RPI.  They have a nice squad and have a lot of returning pieces next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2806188,"width":"294px","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/2/2025/03/Brayden-Holt.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/Brayden-Holt.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2806188" style="width:294px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crawford is led by junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1943739' first='Brayden' last='Holt']. He is a high confidence and a great playmaker. He can score on all three levels of the floor, and does it efficiently. He does not force it and finds his teammates well. Senior Logan Goddard is a knockdown shooter. Then the Degray brothers bring a toughness and edge to the paint. Junior Payne Degray is a big, strong, and physical post who is a nice athlete. He is a monster on the glass and will be a big player in this game. Sophomore John Degray is a nice athlete. He can guard a lot of positions and also brings toughness in the paint and can affect the game in many ways.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marion Local </strong>is coming into this game with a 25-2 record and a championship in this program's recent history. They have the size and toughness to get the job done and go all the way. I think the Flyers are a close team and this is seen by the way they play. This gives them an even extra boost to win in the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The big fella and over 1,000-point scorer [player_tooltip player_id='1432036' first='Austin' last='Niekamp'] is the head of this team He is a 6'8 forward who can play from inside and out. He has a silky-smooth jumper and great footwork to finish at the basket. He is a mismatch and someone tough to stop. Juniors Brayden Mescher and Grant Kremer are both nice scorers for this squad. Both can explode for over 20 points on any given night and can beat you. Stopping this team is a tough task. They have nice size and physicality.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>Colonel Crawford gets the win and is heading down to Dayton. I think the size and physicality of the Degray brothers have the edge in this game and Holt will play well and scores it well. Crawford hitting on all cylinders is going to be too much.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Friday 7 pm – Kirtland vs Monroe Central – <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rike+Center/@40.1297438,-82.9388094,18.1z/data=!3m1!5s0x8838f508c124daa1:0x4db3306a8efe9436!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x8838f50e343a772b:0xfa674755aba0c182!2s1+S+Grove+St,+Westerville,+OH+43081!3b1!8m2!3d40.1253326!4d-82.9364571!16s%2Fg%2F11bw3zj61r!3m5!1s0x8838f508da267671:0x3d45a4cdcdd6b3f!8m2!3d40.1304984!4d-82.9377909!16s%2Fg%2F11cmzyqfvn?entry=ttu&amp;g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Otterbein University</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game features two teams who are scrappy, senior-led, and have all of the characteristics of being a classic. Both teams will bring out a huge crowd in an old-school gym feel. Should be a great atmosphere.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kirtland </strong>is on a March Madness run this year and plans on keeping that going. They are 19-8 and some upset wins. This is a good ball club and playing the best ball of the year at the right time. They have some high confidence right now and will be a tough team to beat at this point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They are headlined by the senior trio of Vince Carriero, Danny Alfieri, and Aiden Hurd. They are all guards who can explode to score the ball. Each can go off and score more than 20 points and beat your Alfieri is a knockdown shooter. Carriero is a tough player to stop because he's a big and strong guard. Physical player that gets to his spot. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2567161' first='Lucas' last='Renfro'] is another player for this squad who can score it and beat you. He is an efficient shooter and when he gets hot he gets HOT.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2743629,"width":"208px","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/Tucker-Howell-G20.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/Tucker-Howell-G20.jpeg?w=944" alt="" class="wp-image-2743629" style="width:208px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Monroe Central </strong>is 24-3 and a gritty team. They play hard, they play together, and are ready to do whatever it takes to win the game.&nbsp; They are rolling right now and are smacking teams on this playoff run. They were top 3 in <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894059471854297215/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">points scored</a> and <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894062230628659541/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">point differential</a> this regular season in D6 along with the top 6 in <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894061091635781743/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fewest points</a> allowed according to Martin RPI.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Howell brothers are a staple for this team and can score the ball at a high level. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2729724' first='Tucker' last='Howell'] does the small things needed to win the game. He has such an impact on winning the game. He is a consistent player and you know what you are going to get. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2818360' first='Cooper' last='Howell'] has a really good offensive bag. He can score it nicely at all three levels of the floor. I really like [player_tooltip player_id='2817821' first='Chance' last='Allen']. He is a nice athlete who can be versatile on both ends of the floor. He has a nice impact on the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>Monroe Central continues to stay hot in this game and they get it done. They have too many weapons to win this game. They are physical and play extremely hard. They will give Kirtland the respect they deserve and show up to the game ready to play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2806197,"width":"269px","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/2/2025/03/John-DeGray-G50.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/John-DeGray-G50.jpeg?w=1002" alt="" class="wp-image-2806197" style="width:269px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shane's Division 6 Championship Game: </strong><em><u>Colonel Crawford vs Monroe Central</u></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be played at UD Arena on Saturday at 2 pm. This will be a classic of a game. Both teams will play with an insane amount of effort. I expect a physical game but one that should be a fun one to be at the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shane's Division 6 State Champion: </strong><em><u>Colonel Crawford Eagles</u></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Colonel Crawford gets the job done and takes care of business. I like the mix of players these teams have. They have a great player in their role. The Degray brothers play with a toughness and effort that is tough not to root for. They have the shooting. Holt is a player that can beat you himself.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->