Division 1 | Region 2 | District Finals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The district finals for D1 in Central bring it every single year. They start at 10 am and end around 8 pm and it will have you entertained the entire day. This year all the games will be played at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=717,E,17th,Avenue,Columbus,43211" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taft Coliseum </a>starting at 10 am with Upper Arlington vs Newark followed by Olentangy Liberty vs Pickerington Central at 12:30 pm, Dublin Coffman vs Pickerington Central at 3:30 pm, Reynoldsburg vs Hilliard Bradley at 6 pm. These games will take place on Saturday, March 1st.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10 am – 8. Upper Arlington vs 5. Newark</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2686881,"width":"271px","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/Alex-SMith-G2-crop-4325x2840-1733767915.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/Alex-SMith-G2-crop-4325x2840-1733767915.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2686881" style="width:271px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Upper Arlington's </strong>first game of the playoffs this year will be this one. This is an interesting new wrinkle with the 7 divisions this year. The Golde Bears are 13-9 but have the 4th <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894056183666790492/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">toughest schedule</a> this year D1 according to Martin RPI. The Upper Arlington squad we see on Saturday will be interesting as they come into this one on a two-game losing streak. But with players like [player_tooltip player_id='1469692' first='Weston' last='Gregg'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2125753' first='Luke' last='Mitchell'], you can expect a tough-nosed team. They will play the hardest they have all year. [player_tooltip player_id='1708701' first='Alex' last='Smith'] will need to be scoring the ball at a high level in this one but luckily for them, he is a walking mismatch. His size and length allow him to score from anywhere on the court and tough for any team to check. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2732670,"width":"165px","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/2/2025/01/1-Newark-G19.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/1-Newark-G19.jpeg?w=974" alt="" class="wp-image-2732670" style="width:165px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Newark </strong>is a team that you know what to expect every time you watch them play. They are 19-4 and a team no one wants to face every year in the playoffs. They have a great culture and it is seen in every game. They play fundamental, together, the right way, and with their hair on fire. You can expect a rowdy section from Newark, even at 10 in the morning. The go-to guy is Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1832081' first='Braylon' last='Morris']. He can do it all offensively for the Wildcats but does most of his damage with impressive finishes around the rim. Austin Rose brings experience, toughness, and an edge of physicality to this team that is needed in the playoffs. Then sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2796622' first='Tybron' last='Brooks'] is a player I like on this team. He has a good build and is just a nice impactful varsity player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>12:30 pm – 3. Olentangy Liberty vs 10. Pickerington Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2327833,"width":"256px","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/2/2024/01/Tyler-Kropp-PBP.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Tyler-Kropp-PBP.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2327833" style="width:256px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Olentangy Liberty </strong>is coming into this one with one of the best teams they have had in years. They have a 19-4 record and experience against some of the better teams in the state. The game I saw them play this year was a tough win against Toledo St. Francis. In this game, I saw the toughness they would need to make a run this year. Led by Northwestern commit [player_tooltip player_id='1480851' first='Tyler' last='Kropp'] he is a unique talent. He has the size of a dominant big but is light like a wing. He is tough to stop and then he is surrounded by snipers Parker Van Engelenhoven and [player_tooltip player_id='2042519' first='Nick' last='Butterfield']. I expect them to be a team not many want to face and could go further than some expect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2710330,"width":"163px","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/Landon-Evans-G11.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/Landon-Evans-G11.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2710330" style="width:163px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pickerington Central</strong> is coming into this one 12-11 and considered underdogs. This is sort of rare territory for the Tigers in recent years, but they are in a transition period right now. The Synder brothers run the show at the guard position along with a sophomore that I really like Albee Moore. He has great length and gets to the rim and finished well for a young player. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2619275' first='Ryan' last='Donovan'] has been in and out of the lineup this year but when he plays, he is a sniper from deep. This team is highlighted by the highly talented sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2288381' first='Landon' last='Evans']. He has had to come into a bigger role this year for the Tigers and his size and scoring ability allows him to do that. I like this team, but they will need to play their best game on Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3:30 pm – 11. Dublin Coffman vs 6. Pickerington North</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dublin Coffman </strong>ended the shockingly good season from Hilliard Darby on Wednesday night and made a statement that you do not want to see them. They have a 13-10 record currently and with the senior duo of [player_tooltip player_id='2202107' first='Stone' last='Clifton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1721059' first='Colin' last='McClure'], you should expect this team to come out swinging. These two have a ton of varsity experience under their belt and know what to expect. You know both these players will show up in big games. Clifton is a tough kid who can knock down shots from deep. McClure is an explosive scorer who can easily put up 30. These two and [player_tooltip player_id='2301451' first='Gabe' last='Schmidt'] combined for 41 points in their first-round win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2775897,"width":"221px","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/2/2025/02/Arness-Lawson-G32.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/Arness-Lawson-G32.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2775897" style="width:221px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pickerington North</strong> is coming into this as one of the hottest teams in the state. They have a 20-3 record and a 13-game win streak. OCC Coach of the Year Jason Bates has this team playing at an extremely high level right now. They are playing tough, together, and fast. Their defense is suffocating and leads to instant offense. This is led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='2047488' first='Favor' last='McFadden'] who has the versatility to guard any player on the court. [player_tooltip player_id='1708690' first='JR' last='Bates'] has been really good recently and has shown much improvement this season as a scorer. But the difference maker for them is [player_tooltip player_id='1432005' first='Arness' last='Lawson']. This kid can go! He is an athletic freak and can play at any speed and is at his best in transition. He has turned himself into a refined scorer who can create for himself and others. They have some bought-in role players as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6 pm – 2. Reynoldsburg vs 15. Hilliard Bradley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2732655,"width":"211px","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/2/2025/01/Tobe-Nwokolo-G19.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/Tobe-Nwokolo-G19.jpeg?w=974" alt="" class="wp-image-2732655" style="width:211px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reynoldsburg</strong> is the most talented team in the state and has the best starting 5 in the state. They are 22-1 and have beaten some of the best in the state. They are top 3 in <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894062230628659541/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">point differential</a> and <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894059471854297215/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">highest points</a> scored according to Martin RPI. The starting 5 of [player_tooltip player_id='1475111' first='Damon' last='Griffin'], [player_tooltip player_id='1705956' first='Xavier' last='McKinney'], [player_tooltip player_id='1432017' first='Jordan' last='Fisher'], [player_tooltip player_id='1432037' first='Toby' last='Nwokolo'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1705958' first='Jorden' last='Bowens'] have no flaws. Pick your poison with this group. Griffin brings a much-needed point guard presence to this squad that keeps them in line. McKinney has been one of the best players for them as he defends the other team's best player and makes no mistakes on offense. Fisher can do it all on offense and was named Player of the Year in OCC-Buckeye. Nwokolo is such an impactful player in winning. Rebounder, defender, and physical athlete. Bowens brings a long athletic scoring wing for them who can play inside and out. It is extremely tough to match up with this team. Length, size, skill, and athletic ability are insane for the high school level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2686915,"width":"245px","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/Ben-Mirgon-G2.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/Ben-Mirgon-G2.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2686915" style="width:245px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hilliard Bradley </strong>is 8-14 and is looking to spoil the party. This team is young but they come into this one with a major chip on their shoulder and nothing to lose. This makes them dangerous. They are young but have some good talent. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2712636' first='Jayden' last='Reed-Davis'] has the foundations to be a really good player and he is already impactful. He is tough and isn't afraid of anyone. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2140168' first='Ben' last='Mirgon'] runs the show and has gotten better as the year has gone on. He is an elite distributor but has been tasked to be more of a scorer this year. He has a creative offensive bag. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2029026' first='Garrett' last='Sever'] will play his tail off in this game. He is the vocal and by example leader for the Jaguars. He plays with a high competitive edge, physical, and does whatever it takes to win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->