Shane's Division 7 Final Four Previews and Predictions

The <a href="https://officials.myohsaa.org/Admin/Bracket/PublicBracket?TournamentId=4173" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">division 7 final four</a> includes the all-time leading scorer in OHSAA history, a team in their third straight final four, and combined 6 losses between the other two teams. There are some really good basketball teams in this semifinal and should be some highly competitive games.   The games tip off on Friday night with Cornerstone Christian vs South Webster at 7 pm and then Arlington vs Russia at 8:30 pm. The winners will face off on Saturday, March 22nd at 5:15 pm 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> – Dayton University.   Friday 7 pm – Cornerstone Christian vs South Webster – <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bishop+James+A.+Griffin+Student+Center/@39.9941121,-82.9436471,18.24z/data=!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x883889984fd9279d:0xcde706b336cc57f8!2s1216+Sunbury+Rd,+Columbus,+OH+43219!3b1!8m2!3d39.9936875!4d-82.9410043!16s%2Fg%2F11bw3h4hfg!3m5!1s0x88388998f61e5a11:0x42301911bb9b3e37!8m2!3d39.9937406!4d-82.9424004!16s%2Fg%2F11ddwsykn9?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMxMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ohio Dominican University</a>   This game will be a good one versus two senior led teams. Both teams are going to play hard, fundamental, and it will be interesting to see which team gets the edge of their best player playing better. Both teams are battle tested as they both ranked <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894056183666790492/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">top 3 in the toughest schedules</a> in the regular season according to Martin RPI.   Cornerstone Christian has a 20-8 record and is the greatest-scoring high school playing in the history of the OHSAA. This leads to them averaging the <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894059471854297215/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">most points scored</a> in D7 in the state in the regular season according to Martin RPI. This is an impressive feat as they had one of the toughest schedules during the regular season.   The Patriots are headlined by Quinn Kwasniak and rightfully so. He has scored more points than anyone in OHSAA history and broke the record on this playoff run. He averaged over 37 points a game during the regular season. He can score the ball better than anyone. He is going to be tough to stop because everyone plans for him but it does not matter. Junior Darren Davis is a nice big for this squad who grabs a lot of rebounds and is a nice rim protector for them. I think Davis is a very important piece of this team.   South Webster has a 22-3 record and coming into this game playing some good ball. This team is going to be a tough out due to their grit and toughness. They have a will to win games and they find a way.   They are headlined by 6'8 senior [player_tooltip player_id='1432019' first='Eli' last='Roberts']. He can do it all for the Jeeps. He has the size and length to do whatever he wants on the floor. He can defend any player and is a great rim protector. He is great at finishing around the rim but can step out and knock down shots as well. He is a big mismatch for most. Dylan Shupert is a nice scorer for this squad. He does a great job of providing spacing in the half-court. This is huge for allowing their success.   Prediction: Cornerstone Christian wins this game and is going to Dayton. South Webster will not be able to make this game slowdown enough to win this one. Kwansniak is going to be too much offensively and the Jeep will have no answer to beat him. Davis will play a big-time game as well.   Saturday 8:30 pm – Arlington vs Russia – <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>   This game is going to be a great one. Arlington is going to come in this game ready to fight for everything while Russia is expecting to do what they do. That's going to states. This should be a great game to finish off the doubleheader at BGSU.   Arlington has a 24-3 record coming into this game. They have allowed the 3rd <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894061091635781743/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894061091635781743/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fewest points</a> in the regular season D7 and top 6 in <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894062230628659541/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">point differential</a> according to Martin RPI. They are coming into this game with a huge confidence after beating Delphos St. John's last round. I expect them ready to pull off another upset.   They have a great duo in 6'10 center [player_tooltip player_id='2873990' first='Calvin' last='Willow'] and 6'1 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2436842' first='Jase' last='Vermillion']. These two play well with one another. Willow is a dominant big in the post. He is a big kid who realizes he is a mismatch and takes advantage of it. He is a player who is tough to keep off the boards and plays with great physicality. Finished around the rim at a high level. Vermillion is a quick and shifty guard. He is a good IQ player and knows to score or play make for others.   Russia is coming into this game with championship experience. They have a perfect 27-0 record. They have impressive stats and have been smacking teams in this playoff. They allowed the 2nd <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894061091635781743/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894061091635781743/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fewest points</a> and <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894062230628659541/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">point differential</a> in the regular season D7 this year according to Martin RPI. They just overwhelm teams and suffocate them into a victory. They are an intimidating team.   [player_tooltip player_id='2385573' first='Benjamin' last='York'] is a shooter for this squad who can spread the floor. He is a knockdown shooter but is an impactful player elsewhere. He knows how to impact the game for winning outside of his scoring well. [player_tooltip player_id='2694016' first='Dominic' last='Francis'] is a big physical player. He will be matched up with Willow and is going to play a big role. He is a physical presence in the post and plays incredibly hard. Bralyon Cordonnier is a 6'4 senior who plays the game the right way. He is an impactful player in winning.   Prediction: Russia beats Arlington in a very close game. Arlington has the confidence and belief to beat Russia but Russia will get it done. They will end up finding a way to win this game in the fourth and will be going down to Dayton.   Shane's Division 7 State Championship Game: Cornerstone Christian vs Russia   This game will be played on Saturday at 5:15 pm and what should be a packed arena. This will be an interesting game of the monster of Kwasniak against the team of Russia who is built to win and have done that at a high level recently.   Shane's Division 7 State Champion: Russia Raiders   The Russia Raiders will be too much in this one. They will force Cornerstone to force, and their defense will win them a championship. This senior class will finally get the long allusive state championship in the new 7 division format.

The division 7 final four includes the all-time leading scorer in OHSAA history, a team in their third straight final four, and combined 6 losses between the other two teams. There are some really good basketball teams in this semifinal and should be some highly competitive games.