Marion Local’s Austin Niekamp leads the undefeated Flyers against Delphos St. John Friday, at Delphos. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
Just three weeks now from the OHSAA tournament drawings for basketball, what you remember about sectional, district and regional tournaments may have changed. In fact, we guarantee it’s changed. You might want to check things out.
A reader sent an email yesterday highlighting what many have held since the announcement of seven divisions of OHSAA basketball for the 2024-’25 season. Seven divisions means more dates, more venues, and some non-traditional scheduling for the state tournament process. And a lot of confusion.
“What do you know about schedules and tournament sites?” he asked.
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Answer: We’re actually not sure, just that there will be changes in the tradition of sites for the sectional, district, and regional rounds…and if all works out the finals will be played in Dayton’s University of Dayton Arena, as per normal. And it’s all coming like a freight train.
The tournament draw for girls is the weekend of February 2.
The boys draw is a week later, February 9.
I’m assuming, too, that given the numerous changes that comprehensive information and brackets are going to be posted on the OHSAA.org website, so you might want to start there for authentic information about sites, dates, and times.
Or, you could check the MaxPreps site, but for the sake of accuracy…if you do go to MaxPreps do like Ronald Reagan used to say: “Trust, but verify.”
That said, this weekend portends a couple of very interesting Friday games in west-central Ohio…none greater than Marion Local appearing tonight at Delphos St. John.
Marion and St. John are both undefeated, representing Division VI and VII, respectively, and both feature the kind of individual talent that’s rare in today’s high school basketball circles.
St. John guard Cameron Elwer is one of the state’s best pure scorers in Division VII, a sniper from behind the three-point line.
And Marion post player Austin Niekamp is one of Division VI’s most influential big men (6’8″) through the first two months of the season.
In addition, Press Pros will feature a key Shelby County League game with Russia (Div. VII, 13-0) hosting Anna (Div. VI, 5-7, 3-3 in league).
And of course, Press Pros will have a full complement of coverage with the Buckeyes come Monday and the NCAA football title game in Atlanta.
So, it wouldn’t be the worst place to read this weekend…and beyond.
Believe it or not, the college baseball season in just 28 days.
And believe it…the OHSAA state tournaments at UD Arena will be here before you know it.
And you wondered if there would be anything to do?
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