The Southwest Ohio draw for the OHSAA boys basketball tournament was held Sunday for this year's competition scheduled to end March 18-20. The top seeds locally are Moeller in Division I, McNicholas in Division II, Taft in Division III and Cincinnati College Prep Academy in Division IV.
This year's state tournament was scheduled to be held at Ohio State's St. John Arena, but regional and state sites are currently to be determined due to the coronavirus pandemic dilemma. Attendance restrictions are still in effect under Ohio Department of Health mandates from last fall, which limit spectators to 300 for indoor events or 15% of an arena's capacity, whichever is less.
For now, sectional sites are known and the seedings and possibilities are as follows:
Division I
Lakota West 1
Top seed Moeller begins Feb. 20 with a first-round game against Little Miami Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. The Crusaders would then have Withrow Feb. 25 before facing either Mount Healthy, Anderson, Sycamore or Middletown Feb. 27 to move on to the Dayton district March 6.
Lakota West 2
Fairfield is the No. 4 seed who could face the No. 11 seed and Greater Miami Conference mates Lakota West on Feb. 23. The winner would get either No. 6 seed Walnut Hills or No. 7 Mason Feb. 26 to move to the Dayton district March 6.
West Clermont 3
No. 5 seed Lakota East will play the Loveland/Milford winner Feb. 23. Should the Thunderhawks prevail, they could get No. 10 La Salle Feb. 26 for the right to move to the Cincinnati district March 6.
West Clermont 4
No. 2 seed St. Xavier begins with a first-round game with Goshen Feb. 20, then would face Colerain Feb. 24. Should the Bombers advance they could meet No. 8 seed Turpin or Northwest Feb. 26 to move to the Dayton district March 6.
Fairfield 5
Elder is the No. 3 seed with an opening game with Harrison Feb. 19 then a date with Winton Woods Feb. 23. The Panthers could face either No. 9 seed Princeton or Hamilton Feb. 26 to move to the Cincinnati district March 6.
Centerville 1
Lebanon is the No. 5 seed who would likely face No. 4 seed Franklin in a second-round game Feb. 24 for the right to play No. 2 seed Huber Heights Wayne Feb. 26 to move to the Cincinnati district March 6.
Division II
Mason 1
McNicholas takes the No. 1 seed with coach Tim Monohan's Rockets starting off with Clinton-Massie Feb. 19. A second-round match-up would be with New Richmond Feb. 23, then the Rockets could possibly play Fenwick, Aiken, Batavia or Blanchester Feb. 27 to move to the Dayton district March 6.
Mason 2
Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference champ Woodward is the No. 3 seed with a date against Norwood Feb. 19. A Bulldogs win would put them against Bethel-Tate Feb. 25, then a sectional final against No. 5 seed Wyoming or No. 8 seed Roger Bacon Feb. 27. The winner would go to the Dayton district March 6.
Princeton 1
Indian Hill is the No. 4 seed who would likely get Cincinnati Hills League mates and No. 6 seed Taylor Feb. 25. Next up would be No. 2 seed Ross or Hughes Feb. 27 with the winner going to the Dayton district March 6.
Division III
Western Brown 1
The top-seeded Taft Senators have a reasonable path as they begin with Deer Park Feb. 20, followed by Seven Hills Feb. 23. To advance Taft would have to get by No. 10 seed East Clinton to move to the Dayton district March 6.
Western Brown 2
Summit Country Day is the No. 2 seed with a likely date against Madeira Feb. 24. The winner would get No. 6 seed Georgetown for a chance to advance to the Dayton district March 5.
Princeton 3
No. 3 seed Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy will have the winner of Reading/North College Hill Feb. 23. A CHCA victory would place them against the winner of Gamble Montessori/Mariemont Feb. 26 with the winner advancing to the Dayton district March 6.
Princeton 4
No. 4 seed Cincinnati Country Day will play the winner of Purcell Marian/Riverview East on Feb. 24. The winner would have to get past No. 5 seed Greeneview Feb. 26 to move to the Dayton district March 5.
Division IV
Taylor 1
Cincinnati Christian is a No. 4 seed with a likely match-up with No. 3 seed Felicity-Franklin on Feb. 27. The winner would to the Piqua district March 6 at Vandalia Butler High School.
Taylor 2
No. 1 seed Cincinnati College Prep Academy has a first-round game with Oyler Feb. 20, then a date with Miami Valley Christian Academy Feb. 25. Should they advance, they would in all likelihood play the No. 2 seed New Miami Feb. 27 for a chance to go to the Troy district March 6 at Vandalia Butler High School.
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