Division IV Girls Basketball Preview

By Mike Parris

February 18, 2008, 5:01PM

The top six seeds from the final AP regular season state-wide poll remain alive in the Division IV girls basketball tournament. Leading the pack in Columbus Africentric High School. Can they make it two state championships in a row?

Let's take a look at who they play in district action as well as some other top games scheduled for this weekend around the state.

Columbus Africentric vs. Marion Catholic

Ok, so maybe this game won't be very close, but it is always entertaining to see what Columbus Africentric does next. The Nubians (20-1) are the reigning champs of Division IV and have lost only twice in their last 49 games.

After a 19-1 regular season record, Africentric entered postseason play on a high note and parlayed their momentum into a 74-11 victory over Millersport in the Sectional Finals.

Marion Catholic will have to play near flawless basketball to pull of what would be a monumental upset. Much of the onus will be on the shoulders of guard Hannah Reiff, who has averaged 21.2 points per game this season.

Lutheran East vs. Cuyahoga Heights

One of Northeast Ohio's finest, Lutheran East, will take the court against Cuyahoga Heights in a Burton district semifinal. Lutheran East finished the regular season as the fourth-ranked team in the state.

The young Falcons, with only one senior starter, hasn't let inexperience affect their play. They looked like seasoned veterans earlier this year when they knocked off Division III power Regina, handing them their only loss of the season.

Latisha Walker, despite being only a sophomore, has been terrific this season and is one of the Falcons' unspoken leaders.

Should Lutheran East advance, they could have a tough matchup in the district finals against Bedford St. Peter Chanel. The Firebirds struggled with youth much of the season, but return pieces from their state semifinal team a year ago.

Berlin Hiland vs. Frontier

The second-ranked team in Division IV, Hiland (21-1) has been dominant this year and has yet to be tested in the playoffs. They hope to return to the state championship after a year hiatus. Hiland won the Division IV state title games in 2005 & 2006.

The Lady Hawks have massacred two postseason opponents by a combined score of 155-32. Frontier now stands in their way in a Gnadahutten district semifinal. Like Hiland, Frontier has won both their postseason contests by double digits.

Expect a veteran Hiland team to keep the foot on the gas. With eight returning lettermen from a 21-5 season a year ago, Hiland has its sights set on a rematch with Africentric. The Nubians knocked the Hawks out of the playoffs a season ago in a regional final game. This year, a possible rematch would take place in the state finals as a 1 vs. 2 affair.

Leading the way for Hiland is Jena Stutzman, a 5-foot-8 senior guard who will play next season at Kent State. She averaged 18 points per game for head coach Dave Schlabach.