Northeast Ohio Girls Basketball District Previews: Division I

The OHSAA State Tournament begins for girls basketball teams throughout Ohio on Saturday, Feb. 18.

For the next two days, we’ll be previewing the districts involving Northeast Ohio schools.

Let’s get started with Division I.

Region I Canton

Perry District

Perry District Bracket (seeds listed after team name) pic.twitter.com/MCt5tdqSLo

— Chardon Girls Hoops (@LadyTopperBball) February 5, 2017

This district should include some evenly matched games all throughout play, as Mentor and Brush are the top two seeds.

No. 3 seed Euclid already played Mentor twice in the regular season, both of which were close contests.

Mentor defeated Euclid 56-55 on Dec. 17. Euclid won the second match 41-40 on Feb. 1.

If those two teams meet, Euclid would likely have to get past No. 2 seeded Brush, but we could be in store for a third head-to-head meeting between Mentor and Euclid, which could go either way based on the first two matches.

Euclid District

Division I Euclid bracket pic.twitter.com/aejc6O04jp

— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) February 6, 2017

Anything less than a district title would be a disappointment to Solon, who’s ranked No. 7 in the state in Division I.

However, teams like Twinsburg, Shaker Heights, and Maple Heights may have something to say about that in the tournament. Solon is the team to beat in the district, if not the entire region.

Region 2 Broadview-Heights/Norwalk

Parma District

Division I Region 2 Parma pic.twitter.com/9z0C7otshq

— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) February 6, 2017

Saint Joseph Academy (18-4) has put together one of the most impressive 2016-17 seasons of any team in Northeast Ohio and the Jaguars are the No. 1 seed in the Parma district.

No. 2 seed Magnificat appears to be the biggest threat to SJA in the district and the two teams already met twice in regular season.

SJA won both games, but the first meeting on Dec. 17 was only a four-point game. The Jaguars won the next match against Magnificat by 16.

Medina District

Division I Region 2 Medina pic.twitter.com/yQndp27CRi

— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) February 6, 2017

Between Berea-Midpark and Wadsworth, it appears to be a two-way battle to win the Medina district.

The Titans (20-2) have been one of the best teams in Northeast Ohio, if not the entire state this year.

It’s been an up-and-down season for Wadsworth (11-10), but the defending state champions will not be an easy out for anybody.

Elyria District

D1 District – Elyria Catholic site pic.twitter.com/iSz7X4akcO

— Comets Girls BBALL (@AmherstGBB) February 5, 2017

Amherst Steele (18-4) is the team to beat in the Elyria District, but many of these teams have faced each other multiple times in the regular season, which could make for some fun games.

North Ridgeville, Olmsted Falls, Westlake, Avon, Avon Lake, and North Olmsted all join Amherst as Southwestern Conference members in the tournament.

North Ridgeville already took Amherst to double overtime this season. Westlake beat Amherst twice.

Olmsted Falls came within ten points in both of their losses to Amherst.

While the Comets are the favorite, this bracket will be interesting to follow in the coming weeks.

Tomorrow, we’ll preview the Northeast Ohio districts in Divisions II, III and IV.