Division II Girls Basketball Preview

By Mike Parris

February 18, 2008, 5:00PM

The Division II tournament has gotten off to a wild start thus far as early action has resulted in three of the top five teams in the final AP poll losing in sectional and early district play. The top ranked team in the state, Sandusky Perkins, is hoping the upset bug doesn't bite again. Can they continue to march on?

With district championships on the line this weekend, we look at some of the anticipated matchups across the state.

Austintown Fitch

Many believed this district would come down to a ballyhooed battle between two of the top ranked teams in the state in second-ranked Ravenna Southeast and sixth-ranked Canfield.

However, Struthers had other plans as they pulled off a monumental upset and handed Southeast its first and only loss of the year in the sectional final. Struthers now takes on Salem in a district semifinal, who dismantled Hubbard 51-18 last week.

While Ravenna Southeast faltered, Canfield continued their trek to the district title. They had no problem in their sectional final win, rolling to a 87-31 victory over Streetsboro. Canfield now tangles with Kenston in a district semifinal affair.

The player to watch is Canfield's Kate Popovec, who earlier this season eclipsed the 1,000 point, 1,000 rebound plateau for her career. Popovec, who will attend the University of Pittsburgh, averaged 25 points and eight rebounds as a junior last season and has posted similar numbers as a senior.

Whitehouse

While three of the top five teams in the final AP poll have seen their seasons end prematurely, Sandusky Perkins remains alive in the Whitehouse district. Perkins' only postseason game resulted in a solid 64-38 victory over Norwalk last week. They now face Bryan, 51-37 winners over Maumee in the sectional finals.

Keep an eye on Perkins' senior standout Cierra Bravard. The Florida State recruit is among the top players in the state and will represent Ohio in the WBCA National All-Star Game in April. The 6-foot-4 center was Co-Player of the Year in Division II last season and led Perkins to the state semifinals.

On the other side of the bracket, Oak Harbor will battle with Wauseon in a district semifinal matchup Thursday evening.

Uniontown Lake

Easily the most competitive district in Division II, the battles in district semifinal and final play should be fierce at Uniontown Lake High School this weekend. Three of the four remaining teams are ranked among the top 16 teams in the state in the final AP poll.

The first semifinal matchup features ninth-ranked Walsh Jesuit taking on Mogadore Field. Walsh Jesuit (18-4) has rolled in two playoff contests to date, using a stifling defense to limit their two previous opponents to 25 and 20 points, respectively. Each of the two victories were by 30 points or more.

On the other side, two ranked teams will battle in Akron Hoban and Richland Revere. Hoban (18-3), is ranked eighth in the state and won their first playoff game going away over Ravenna. Richland Revere has also cruised, easily defeating Woodridge and Akron East by double-digits.

Pickerington 2

This district may not be as competitive as some of the others, but it features one of the most talented players in the state in Columbus Eastmoor's Ayana Dunning.

Already committed to LSU, Dunning is a two-time All-State performer. The 6-foot-3 post has been one of the most highly recruited players in the state following a junior year in which she averaged a stunning 19.8 points, 14.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.8 steals and 3.2 blocks. Like fellow Division II star Cierra Bravard, Dunning will participate in the April WBCA National All-Star Game.

But first, Dunning will have to lead her 13th-ranked Eastmoor Academy squad to a district semifinal victory over Columbus East. On the other side of the bracket, New Albany and Hamilton Twp. will battle for the right to advance to the district final.