|
A disaster is the only way to describe the Swami’s
numbers for our first 2005 edition. The Swami’s 98-51 (66%) win/loss
record marks the first time in the twelve-year history of Trail Trash
that the Swami failed to predict at least 100 winners for our
sectional/district edition. The Swami correctly picked only six of the
thirteen Northwest Ohio district champions. Compare this year’s numbers
to last year’s 112 winners and you realize how poorly the Swami
performed. Let’s hope the Swami’s numbers improve in this edition or we
may see some changes at Trail Trash next year. The Swami has been busy
the past two weeks having watched seventeen games at eight different
locations.
Unlike a season ago, all four teams ranked at the
top of the Associated Press’ final poll have qualified for regional
play. Just like any other season, there have been a number of upsets in
the sectionals and districts. The 2005 state tournament could return to
the circus atmosphere of the LeBron years with the likes of Cincinnati
North College Hill. There is also a good chance for some controversy in
Columbus as long as teams like NCH, Columbus Africentric, and Upper
Sandusky make the trip to the state tournament.
The Swami almost decided to go the Bizarro Swami
route (for any Seinfeld or Superman followers reading Trail Trash) in
making the predictions for this edition. That wouldn’t be fair to our
loyal readers so let’s get on with the picks. It’s Swami time.
Top of Page
DIVISION II
Seven of the seventeen teams ranked by the
Associated Press in their final poll have advanced to the regional.
Five teams (Greenfield McClain, Cincinnati Taft, Dayton Dunbar, 2004
state qualifier Dayton Chaminade-Julienne, and Akron St. Vincent-St.
Mary) were regional qualifiers in 2004. Upper Sandusky is the only
undefeated team remaining in D2.
REGIONAL
Canton Civic Center: #12 Painesville Harvey and #14
Wooster Triway are ranked teams at Canton. Tallmadge eliminated #4
Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit in a district final and Triway edged #12
Orrville in a district final. Harvey’s only loss was to Ashtabula
Edgewood. Poland gave up only nineteen points in their district
semi-final. Morgan Lewis is the big gun for Harvey. Juniors Linc
Rottman and Jaime Breneman lead Triway while Chad Fender is the top
player for Poland Seminary. Take Tallmadge over Harvey in an upset and
Triway over Poland in the semi-finals. Take Wooster Triway over
Tallmadge in the finals.
Ohio University: There are no ranked teams at the
Convo. Uhrichsville Claymont edged #7 Cambridge in a district final
while Zanesville defeated #8 East Liverpool in a district final.
Columbus Linden McKinley is the only team remaining in the tournament
with a losing record. David White is Claymont’s top player while
freshman Logan Aronholt leads Zanesville. Greenfield McClain has one of
the top sophomores in the state in Dante Jackson while Shaun Gunnell and
Sam Payne have put up big numbers for Linden McKinley. Look for
Zanesville to edge Claymont in one semi-final. Take McClain over Linden
McKinley in the other semi-final. Greenfield McClain advances to
Columbus with a win over Zanesville in the regional final.
University of Dayton: #5 Cincinnati Taft and #9
Dayton Dunbar are ranked teams at Dayton. Whitehall Yearling has an
outstanding player in Lamar Abbington while DeAndre Byrd leads Taft.
Daequan Cook of Dunbar is considered the best junior in the state while
6’9” Aaron Pogue is a promising sophomore. Derrick Brown, one of three
returning starters from the 20004 state qualifier, is the top player for
Chaminade-Julienne. Take Cincinnati Taft over Whitehall in one
semi-final and Dayton Dunbar over Dayton Chaminade-Julienne in the other
semi-final. Dayton Dunbar captures the regional title with a close win
over Cincinnati Taft in the finals.
University of Toledo: #1 Upper Sandusky, #2 Akron
St. Vincent-St. Mary, and #10 St. Marys Memorial are ranked teams at
Toledo. St. Vincent-St. Mary defeated #3 Akron Buchtel in a district
final while St. Marys edged #16 Van Wert in their district final. The
semi-final between SVSM and Parma Padua will be played at the Canton
Fieldhouse for travel reasons. The win over Buchtel marked SVSM’s
seventh consecutive district title. Marcus Johnson and OSU football
recruit Lawrence Wilson lead SVSM. Coach Mitch Gerycz of Padua was once
the head coach at SVSM. Matt Huml and Matt Jankowski lead Padua. Coach
Keith Diebler is in his first year at undefeated Upper after coming from
Fostoria. Upper’s top players are senior Jake Diebler and sophomore Jon
Diebler. Greg Micheli is another solid player for the Rams. St. Marys
was the Division III runner-up in football. Wes Clark is the top player
for the Riders. Take SVSM over Padua in the semi-final at Canton and
Upper Sandusky over St. Marys Memorial in the semi-final at Toledo.
Upper Sandusky takes the regional title with a close win over Akron St.
Vincent-St. Mary in the final at Toledo.
STATE
D2 kicks off the eighty-third boys state basketball
tournament with a final four consisting of Wooster Triway, Greenfield
McClain, Dayton Dunbar, and Upper Sandusky. Dayton Dunbar will be
making their fourth trip to the state tournament (the Wolverines were
the last “AAA” state champs in 1987) while Triway will be making their
third trip. This will mark the first trip for Greenfield McClain and
Upper Sandusky. Take Wooster Triway over Greenfield McClain in one
semi-final with Upper Sandusky over Dayton Dunbar in the other
semi-final. Upper Sandusky is the D2 state champion with a win over
Wooster Triway.
Top of Page
DIVISION
IV
Eight of the fifteen teams ranked by the Associated
Press have reached the regional tournament. Eight teams (Zanesville
Bishop Rosecrans, 2004 state qualifier Sebring McKinley, Windham,
defending D4 state champ Holgate, Tiffin Calvert, Columbus Africentric,
Reedsville Eastern, and 2004 state qualifier South Webster) played in
the regional in 2004.
REGIONAL
Canton Fieldhouse: #2 Sebring McKinley and #5
Zanesville Rosecrans are ranked teams at Canton. Sebring eliminated #13
McDonald in a district final. Scott Moyer and Jeremy Ridgley lead
Rosecrans while Joe James and Dan Scarpitti lead Sebring. James and
Scarpitti are joined by two other returning starters from Sebring
McKinley’s 2004 state qualifier. Ian McGuire leads Windham while Sam
Liggins is the top player for Cleveland Heights Lutheran East. Sebring
McKinley gave up fourteen points in their district semi-final win. Take
Sebring McKinley over Zanesville Rosecrans in one semi-final and
Lutheran East over Windham in the other semi-final. Sebring McKinley
defends their regional title with a win over Cleveland Heights Lutheran
East in the final.
University of Dayton: #13 Minster is the only
ranked team at Dayton. DaJuan Harris is the top player for Lockland
while Jason Cunningham leads Cedarville. Quincy Curry is St.
Bernard-Elmwood Place’s top player while Dane Sommer leads Minster. St.
Bernard-Elmwood Place finished the regular season at 8-12. Take
Lockland over Cedarville in one semi-final and Minster over St.
Bernard-Elmwood Place in the other semi-final. In the final, look for
Minster to advance to the state tournament with a tight win over
Lockland.
Bowling Green State University: #10 Holgate and #11
Continental are ranked teams at Bowling Green. Holgate has allowed an
average of twenty-seven points per game during the tournament followed
closely by Ottoville at just under thirty-two per game and Continental
at just over thirty-three a game. Continental and Ottoville are both
members of the Putnam County League. Lee Brubaker is Holgate’s top
player while Aaron Mass leads Tiffin Calvert. Brubaker is one of three
returning starters from Holgate’s state championship squad. Junior Josh
Vorst is the big gun for the Big Green of Ottoville while Kurtis Brown
and Nick Wilson top Continental. Take Holgate over Tiffin Calvert in
one semi-final and Continental over Ottoville in the other semi-final.
Continental takes the regional title with a win over defending state
champion Holgate.
Columbus Fairgrounds: #1 Columbus Africentric, #4
South Webster, and #9 Reedsville Eastern are ranked teams at the Barn.
Columbus Africentric defeated Columbus Brookhaven to win the Columbus
City League. This is the second year in the OHSAA tournament for
Africentric. Eastmoor transfer Donald Suel, Lance Sullivan, and
Brookhaven transfer Laquawn Perry are outstanding players for the
Nubians. Nathan Cozart and Cody Dill are the top players for Reedsville
Eastern. Junior Nick Aldridge (6’7”) is an outstanding talent for South
Webster. Three other starters return from the Jeeps’ 2004 state
tournament team. Columbus Africentric defeats Reedsville Eastern in one
semi-final with South Webster defeating Fremont St. Joseph in the other
semi-final. Columbus Africentric wins the regional crown by defeating
South Webster.
STATE
Sebring McKinley, Minster, Continental, and
Columbus Africentric make up the final four in D4. This is the fourth
trip to the state tournament for Sebring McKinley and the third trip for
both Continental and Minster. Take Minster over Sebring McKinley in one
semi-final and Columbus Africentric over Continental in the other
semi-final. Columbus Africentric is the 2005 D4 state champion with a
win over Minster in the final.
Top of Page
DIVISION
III
Five of the thirteen teams ranked by the Associated
Press have advanced to regional play. Eight teams (2004 state qualifier
Loudonville, Leavittsburg LaBrae, Reading, 2004 state qualifier
Bellaire, Bloom-Carroll, Ironton, Chesapeake, and Cuyahoga Valley
Christian Academy) are making return trips to the regional after
qualifying in 2004. Ironton is the lone undefeated team in D3.
REGIONAL
Canton Fieldhouse: #5 Cleveland Villa-Angela/St.
Joe’s and #11 Loudonville are ranked teams at Canton. Trevor Scott and
6’8” Kyle Gillette are the top players for Loudonville. Jason Frederick
and Todd Rowan lead Leavittsburg LaBrae. Junior Cory Buso is the top
player for Rootstown. Cleveland VASJ’s David Lighty is one of the top
juniors in the state. Ron Hollis and Darryl Rushton are other major
contributors for VASJ. Loudonville edges Leavittsburg LaBrae in one
semi-final with Cleveland VASJ eliminating Rootstown in the other
semi-final. Cleveland VASJ advances to Columbus with a win over
Loudonville in the finals.
Wright State University: #1 Cincinnati North
College Hill is the only ranked team at the Nutter Center. 2003 D3
state champion Reading eliminated #12 Jamestown Greeneview in a district
final. North College Hill’s only loss was to Cincinnati St. Xavier
early in the season. Middletown Fenwick has played a double overtime
game and a triple overtime game in the tournament. NCH’s O.J. Mayo and
Bill Walker are two of the top sophomores in the nation. Mayo and
Walker arrived at North College Hill as freshman from Kentucky and West
Virginia respectively. Their AAU teammate, 6’10’ sophomore Keenen
Ellis, joined them this past January after transferring from
Indianapolis. NCH scored 119 points in their sectional final. David
Klink is the top player for New Albany. Marty Bidwell leads Fenwick
while Justin Brinkman is the top player for Reading. North College Hill
big over New Albany in one semi-final and Reading over Middletown
Fenwick in the other semi-final. North College Hill advances to the
state tournament with a win over Reading in the finals.
Ohio University: #2 Ironton and #6 Chesapeake are
ranked teams at Athens. Bellaire defeated #9 Sugarcreek Garaway in a
district semi-final. Nate Davis and Mike Fisher are the big guns for
Bellaire and 6’7” Kale Richardson is the top player for Bloom-Carroll.
Juniors Brigham Waginger and Dennis Gagai lead undefeated Ironton while
P.J. Rase and Brennan Hall are top players for Chesapeake. Bellaire
nips Bloom-Carroll in one semi-final and Ironton eliminates Chesapeake
in the other semi-final. In the finals, Ironton gains a regional title
with a win over Bellaire.
Bowling Green State University: #7 Archbold is the
only ranked team at Anderson Arena. Archbold eliminated #8 Delphos St.
John’s and #3 St. Henry, the defending D3 state champ, at the district.
Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy defeated #4 and
previously unbeaten Rocky River Lutheran West in their district final.
Injuries have been a factor for all four teams. Dan Borcherdt is the
big gun for Archbold who lost starter Josh Johnson to a knee injury.
Tyler Rosenberger is Woodmore’s top player. The Wildcats lost one of
their top scorers, Joe Nowak, to injury late in the regular season. His
return for the regional is doubtful. Tim Carroll is the top player for
CVCA who have big man Ted Lawver (6’8”) back from a football injury.
Elmwood is making their tournament run with leading scorer Chad Reynolds
out with an ankle injury. Archbold just gets by Woodmore in one
semi-final. Elmwood and CVCA played in a 2000 regional semi-final with
CVCA winning. Same result this time in the other semi-final. Archbold
advances with a win over Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in the
regional final.
STATE
Cleveland VASJ, Cincinnati North College Hill,
Ironton, and Archbold make up the final four. This will be the ninth
trip to the state for VASJ. The Vikings have three state championships
in D2 and one state championship in D1. This will be Archbold’s sixth
trip to the state tournament while Ironton and North College Hill will
both be making their second trip. North College Hill will eliminate
Cleveland VASJ in one semi-final as long as NCH doesn’t get caught up in
the hype. Archbold will defeat previously unbeaten Ironton in the other
semi-final. Cincinnati North College Hills wins the D3 state
championship with a win over Archbold in the final.
Top of Page
DIVISION
I
Six of the sixteen teams ranked by the Associated
Press in their final poll have advanced to the regional. Six teams
(Mansfield Senior, 2004 state qualifier Canton McKinley, Bedford,
Cincinnati, Moeller, 2004 state qualifier Columbus Brookhaven, and
Columbus Mifflin) were regional qualifiers in 2004. Solon is the only
undefeated team in D1.
REGIONAL
University of Toledo: #4 Solon and #8 Mansfield
Senior are ranked teams at Savage Hall. Toledo Scott eliminated #5
Toledo St. John’s Jesuit in the district final while Mansfield Senior
bounced #9 Lima Senior in their district final. Joe Suboticki is in his
first year coaching at Scott. Suboticki won state championships at
Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary and at Portsmouth. Mansfield Senior lost its
opener to Cincinnati Princeton and has not lost since. James Walker and
Darrion Griffin, a transfer from Toledo Waite, are the top players for
Scott. Dallas Lauderdale, a 6’9” sophomore, and Jordan Krantz lead
Solon. Lakewood St. Edward is big and very young with 6’7” freshman
Delvon Roe the leading scorer. Junior Reid Anderson is another top
player for the Eagles. Jonathon Avery and Rashad Reed lead Mansfield
Senior. Scott, the fourth place team in the Toledo City League, upsets
Solon in one semi-final with Mansfield Senior edging past Lakewood St.
Edward in the other semi-final. Mansfield Senior advances to Columbus
with a hard fought win over Toledo Scott in the regional final.
University of Akron: #1 Canton McKinley is the lone
ranked team at the JAR. McKinley destroyed #3 Warren Harding in their
district final. McKinley’s only loss was to Lancaster back in January.
Juniors Raymar Morgan and Ricky Jackson, a transfer from Louisville
Aquinas, are the top players for McKinley. Two other starters also
return from McKinley’s 2004 state qualifier. Junior Jason Thompson
leads Bedford. Kenny McConnel and Ben Wallace lead Cleveland Glenville
while Brian Guerin is the top player for Hudson. McKinley eliminates
Bedford in one semi-final and Cleveland Glenville defeats Hudson in the
other semi-final. Canton McKinley takes home the regional championship
with a win over Cleveland Glenville in the final.
University of Dayton: #11 Centerville and #13
Cincinnati St. Xavier are ranked teams at Dayton. Trotwood-Madison
eliminated #14 Springboro in a district semi-final and Cincinnati St.
Xavier edged #2 Springfield South in their district final. Lee Boddie
leads Trotwood-Madison while Scot Grote is Centerville’s top player.
Johnny Wolf is an outstanding player for St. X while Michael Hall leads
Troy. Centerville eliminates Trotwood-Madison in one semi-final and
Cincinnati St. Xavier defeats Troy in the other semi-final. St. Xavier
moves on to the state tournament with a win over Centerville in the
regional final.
Columbus Fairgrounds: #6 Cincinnati Moeller is the
only ranked team at Columbus. Galloway Westland defeated #16 Lancaster
in a district semi-final while Columbus Brookhaven defeated #15 Dublin
Coffman in overtime in their district final. Josh Bostic and Justin
Patrick are the top players for Westland while Ryan Childress leads
Moeller. Columbus Mifflin has an outstanding player in Cordaryl Ballard
while Jamelle Cornley again leads Brookhaven. Moeller defeats Galloway
Westland in one semi-final and Columbus Brookhaven edges Mifflin in the
other semi-final. Cincinnati Moeller takes the regional crown as the
Crusaders avenge last year’s regional final loss to Brookhaven.
STATE
D1 again closes out the state tournament with
Mansfield Senior, Canton McKinley, Cincinnati St. Xavier, and Cincinnati
Moeller comprising the final four. McKinley is making their
twenty-seventh trip to the state tournament. The Pups were the “AAA”
state champions in 1984. Moeller won D1 state titles in 1999 and 2003
in their only trips to the state tournament. This will also be the
third trip to the state tournament for St. Xavier, the 2000 D1 state
champs. Mansfield Senior will be making their seventh trip to the state
tournament. Canton McKinley defeats Mansfield Senior in one semi-final
while St. X edges Moeller in a battle of GCL South teams in the other
semi-final. Cincinnati St. Xavier is the 2005 D1 state champion as the
Bombers upset Canton McKinley in the final.
That is Trail Trash for another year. We
appreciate your support and value your comments. The opinions expressed
are those of the Swami. If you have any comments, questions, or
suggestions for Trail Trash, contact
Davey1. The Swami, can be reached at
swamisig@aol.com. See you in Columbus.
Top of Page
Publisher: Davey1.com
Brackets: Davey1.com
Predictions: The Swami
|
