Columbus Dispatch Seeding Projection

This Report was posted in the Columbus Dispatch by Steve Blackredge. We will see how close the Dispatch is after the OHSAA district meeting.

DIVISION I

1. Northland (16-1). There can't be any argument here. The Vikings' non-league schedule has been brutal, including Cincinnati Aiken, Canton Timken, Dayton Dunbar and San Diego and the City League North is no picnic with Beechcroft, Brookhaven and Whetstone twice each.

2. Dublin Scioto (16-1). The Irish are allowing only 42.7 points per game and just one opponent has topped 60. Tony Bisutti always gets the most out of his players.

3. Grove City (15-2). The high-scoring and versatile Greyhounds have been tripped up just twice, both to Ohio Division opponents.

4. Newark (14-3). Each of the Wildcats' three defeats came by just three points.

5. Beechcroft (15-2). The Cougars are deep and balanced and are playing with a lot of confidence.

6. Dublin Coffman (15-2). The Shamrocks are solid, but tend to play down to the level of their competition, as evidenced in both of their defeats and a handful of close wins over inferior opponents.

7. Gahanna (12-4). They're not very big, but the Lions' one-on-one ability make them a threat any night. Wins over Grove City and Newark top their resume.

8. Upper Arlington (15-3). People keep saying that Upper Arlington is overrated, citing an underwhelming nonleague schedule. Its three losses were by 3, 3 and 5 points. This is a well coached, fundamentally sound team.

9. Mount Vernon (12-4). The Yellow Jackets have been lost in the shuffle much of the year. They've played a strong nonleague schedule, losing to Dublin Scioto and Newark, and have defeated everyone in its league but Olentangy Orange.

10. Westerville South (13-4). This is the kind of well coached, defensive oriented team that might make noise in the tournament.

11. Westerville Central (11-5). Central is largely a two-man team with Jerrell Fernandez and Max VanMeter, but that duo is outstanding.

12. Franklin Heights (11-5). Ten of Heights' games have been decided by six or fewer points.

13. Reynoldsburg (11-6). The Raiders, who have won 10 of their past 13 games, have held their own against a solid schedule.

DIVISION II

1. DeSales (13-3). The Stallions have played a stout schedule and all of their defeats came by six or fewer points. This is easily the most talented team in the district, but consistency isn't always there.

2. Canal Winchester (13-3). With no superstars to lean on, the Indians are relying on cohesiveness and balance.

3. Lakewood (14-2). The Lancers are a great story, but will their lack of a recent tradition hurt them in the tournament?

4. Eastmoor Academy (11-5). This isn't one of Eastmoor's better teams in recent years, but the Warriors seem to get by with grit and strong guard play each game.

5. Olentangy Orange (12-5). Point guard Zack Joseph has the tournament experience to lead Orange to the Fairgrounds in its first season.

6. Big Walnut (11-6). The Eagles have won six of their past seven games and seem to be jelling at the right time.

7. Watterson (8-8). That CCL schedule prepares the Eagles well.

8. Granville (9-6). The Blue Aces have been streaky all season.

9. Bexley (7-6). After a 5-1 start, the Lions have struggled a bit without Seth White, who enrolled early at Ball State University.

10. New Albany (7-8). The Eagles have played in a lot of close games and beaten some quality teams.

DIVISION III

1. Hartley (12-4). Give Hartley the nod because of the way it is playing (eight straight wins) and who it has beaten (DeSales, Ready, Worthington Christian, Columbus Academy).

2. Grandview (13-3). Yes, I realize that Grandview beat Hartley, but the Hawks play in the CCL and the Bobcats are in the MSL Cardinal. That's a big difference.

3. Madison Plains (12-3). The Golden Eagles have split with all three teams they lost to. It's difficult for those of us in the Columbus area to gauge the South Central Ohio League.

4. Pleasant (11-3). Pleasant has won five straight, including a win over Highland.

5. Highland (9-3). Despite dropping three of its past four games, the Scots boast a quality win over Centerburg. ...

6. Centerburg (12-5). ... Which is why the Trojans, who have lost three straight slide down a spot.

7. North Union (12-3). After starting 9-0, the youthful Wildcats have returned to Earth.

8. Heath (10-5). The Bulldogs have fared well in a decent MSL Ohio Division.

9. Elgin (8-6). Winner in five of its past six games.

10. Ready (8-8). This is a much better team than its record indicates.

11. Bloom-Carroll (9-6). Tom Petty has won too many district titles to discount.

12. Columbus Academy (7-8). Since mid-January, the Vikings have recorded wins over Granville, Newark Catholic, Heath and Lakewood, and lost to Hartley by five points.

DIVISION IV

1. Worthington Christian (12-4). This isn't a great Worthington Christian team, but the CCL and an ambitious nonleague schedule will have the Warriors ready for the tournament.

2. Newark Catholic (12-3). The Green Wave, who have dropped three of their past five games, have any average winning margin of just six points.

3. Fisher Catholic (11-3). All of its defeats (Hartley, Harvest Prep, Grandview) came in a two-week span over the holiday. Luke Roesch is a dominant big man.

4. Harvest Prep (11-4). Michael Thornton's team has spent much of the season finding itself and with six wins in seven games, seems to be peaking at the right time.

5. Tree of Life (16-1). Tree of Life's success in the Mid-Ohio Christian Athletic League speaks for itself, but I'd like to see the Trojans play some better nonleague competition. Beating South in overtime doesn't really count for much.

6. Africentric (8-9). Don't forget that the Nubians have played all Division I and II opponents. They've also won six of its past seven games.

7. Wellington (8-7). The Jaguars have come on strong since a 1-5 start.

8. Fairfield Christian (10-3). It's hard to gauge Fairfield Christian because both its games against Tree of Life were postponed. The young program made big strides reaching the district semifinals last season.