Top teams, players, games: Previewing OHSAA boys basketball tournament for Greater Canton
The margin for error is zero.
Losers don't just go home, they fade into the offseason.
It's time for Ohio's high school boys basketball tournament with all its single-elimination drama and opportunity for glory. This is the final season for four divisions before the OHSAA tournament balloons to seven divisions next year.
Let's take a look at some of the top teams, players and matchups for the Stark County area, starting with Division I, then looking at Divisions II, III and IV combined.
Stark County-area boys basketball tournament preview: Looking at Division I
The strongest Stark County-area team: Louisville
Defending Louisville is a pick-your-poison problem. Do you want to focus on senior wing Hayden Nigro, who is averaging 20.9 points and closing in on the school's career scoring record? Do you want to try to slow down junior forward Brayden Gross, who is a double-double machine and a matchup nightmare? Don't forget about the brains of the operation, junior point guard Beau Siegfried, who entered last week averaging 6.2 assists while shooting 50% from the 3-point line. Beyond that big three, Louisville boasts a variety of players who know their role and play it well, such as juniors Ashton Marshall and Tate Aljancic. The No. 4 seed Leopards (20-2) are a serious threat for a deep tournament run, which goes through Alliance High School at the district level.
HS basketball statistical leaders: Stark County-area boys and girls high school basketball stats | Week of Feb. 22, 2024
The hottest Stark County-area team: Jackson
Maybe no area team is playing better basketball right now than No. 13 seed Jackson (18-4). After a 3-3 start, the Polar Bears won 15 of their final 16 regular-season games (including the last 10 straight), earning a share of their second straight Federal League title in the process. Jackson is averaging 81.5 points its last eight games. Junior Kyle Monterrubio, who posted what is believed to be the first triple-double (18 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) in Jackson boys basketball history last week at Medina, is one of the best all-around players in the area. A mix of shooting and skill surrounds the 6-foot-3 Monterrubio, led by juniors Cameron Weekley, Mitch Finefrock and Cole Baker, as well as Jackson's lone senior, point guard Anthony Fuline. A potential matchup with No. 7 seed Dover (19-3) could make for an interesting district semifinal at Euclid High School. The Polar Bears have advanced to a district championship game in nine of the last 10 seasons.
5 Stark County-area players to watch
Chance Casenhiser, Lake: Missing the first nine games of the season to a foot injury did little in the way of putting rust on Casenhiser. The senior guard has played at a high level, averaging 24.3 points — including 44 points on 17 field goals against Mentor on Saturday — and making No. 68 seed Lake (5-17) a little bit scary of a first-round opponent for No. 25 Brush.
Chris Knight, Massillon: The junior forward has put together one of the more complete seasons in the area. He entered last week averaging 19.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2.2 assists while shooting 44.7% from the 3-point line.
Ja'Corey Lipkins, GlenOak: Lipkins is playing his best basketball at the right time, averaging 26.5 points the last six games. That stretch included him surpassing 1,000 career points. The senior guard is a tough-shot maker for an experienced GlenOak team that played in a district semifinal last year.
Brady Rollyson, Green: The Ohio State baseball recruit has hit a different gear in the second half of the season, which included a school-record 40 points against Firestone and helping Green grab a share of its third straight Federal League title. Rollyson and fellow veteran Jarrett Taylor were starters on a district championship team two years ago and will to try to lead these injury-plagued Bulldogs — at 17-5 and seeded sixth — on another tournament run.
Reed Sims Jr., Canton McKinley: Containing the 6-5 junior, averaging 20.9 points, is a difficult proposition. He is a three-level scorer who can produce in bunches, such as when he posted a 22-point third quarter as part of a 33-point performance against Massillon. He's also done a nice job altering shots and rebounding in the lane for the tenacious but not-so-big Bulldogs.
Best first-round matchup: Copley at GlenOak
On the surface, a No. 51 seed vs. a No. 9 seed doesn't exactly tingle the senses. But Copley (9-13) vs. GlenOak (16-6) is a rematch of a Jan. 14 game won 66-60 by the Golden Eagles at the Hoover Hoops MLK Classic in North Canton. GlenOak led comfortably in the third quarter before Copley stormed back to make it interesting. Trent Wininger hit seven 3-pointers and scored 35 points for Copley. Reese Zerger scored 21 for GlenOak.
Best potential second-round matchup: Cleveland Heights at Canton McKinley
Staying in the same bracket as Copley-GlenOak, a Cleveland Heights-McKinley sectional final at Memorial Field House could be fun. The No. 29 seed Tigers (13-9) would have to beat No. 69 Mayfield to get to the No. 17 seed Pups (14-8). It would be a matchup dripping with nostalgia as the Tigers and Bulldogs were regular opponents during McKinley's independent days. Heights is a Greater Cleveland Conference team and battled-tested, fresh off beating 17-win Strongsville in the regular-season finale behind 31 points from junior Trevor McPherson. McKinley hasn't played since Feb. 16 when it lost at Jackson — the second of two cracks it had at clinching a piece of the Federal League title. Can the Pups rediscover their mojo after going 3-4 in February?
Bonus potential second-round matchup: Massillon at Barberton
This one could be pretty good, too. No. 8 seed Barberton hosts No. 28 Warren Harding in a sectional semifinal, with the winner facing No. 23 Massillon in a Northeast 6 sectional final. The Tigers (14-8) have been up and down, but they certainly ended the regular season on an up when they beat GlenOak 99-93 in a wild game that included a combined 62 points from Chris Knight and Jadyce Thigpen. Meanwhile, all the Magics have done is go from 0-23 in 2022-23 to 19-3 this season, which includes a Suburban League American Conference championship. An influx of transfers and new coach Chad Hazard certainly have helped Barberton.
Don't forget about us: North Canton Hoover and Perry
Hoover: No. 16 seed Hoover is a defensive-minded, 15-win team with quality victories against Jackson, McKinley, Massillon, Hoban and Barberton. The Vikings host No. 36 seed Lorain (11-11) in a sectional semifinal, with a win leading to another home game against No. 35 Avon Lake in a sectional final.
Perry: No. 57 seed Perry (5-17), in the same Northeast 5 bracket as Hoover, hosts No. 63 Boardman (4-18) in a sectional semifinal. Winner gets No. 12 Hoban. The Panthers have battled hard for first-year head coach Matt Voll and likely will be a tough out.
Stark County-area boys basketball tournament preview: Looking at Divisions II, III and IV
Three Stark County-area heavyweights: Malvern, Canton Central Catholic and East Canton
Malvern: What a season it's been in Malvern (22-0). The Hornets are the only undefeated OHSAA team in the state, regardless of division. Now, the job is to get through their Division III East district tournament. They've lost in four straight district title games and seek their first regional bid since 2017. If they break through, look out. It's hard to tell how far IVC North Player of the Year J'Allen Barrino and this crew can go.
Central Catholic: The Crusaders (14-7) are the Stark County area's only reigning district champion, and they are threats once again in their Division III Northeast 1 district. Junior guard Luke Vlacovsky is the only returning starter from last year, and he has taken the leap to leader of this year's team, averaging 19.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.4 steals. No. 8 seed Central also comes in hot, having won six straight and eight of its last nine.
East Canton: It's been a great turnaround for the Hornets, from 7-16 last year to 16-6 this year. And they look to be playing their best basketball at the right time. No. 9 seed East Canton enters the Division IV tournament having won four straight games and seven of its last eight, with the only loss in that span coming at undefeated Malvern in overtime. Caleb Shilling has been a dominant force, averaging 23.3 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.7 blocks. The senior big man is 23 points from breaking the school's single-season scoring record of 534. It's not an easy road for East Canton, with potential opponents including No. 12 Dalton in a sectional final and No. 3 Mogadore in a district semifinal.
Keep tabs on Canton South, Northwest, Sandy Valley and Lake Center
Canton South: The Wildcats (14-8) are seeded 21st and host No. 38 Padua in a Division II Northeast 3 sectional semifinal on Tuesday. South's Julius Kimbrough has been through the playoff grinder having helped St. Thomas Aquinas to a regional final two years ago. And, of course, Poochie Snyder and Tavon Castle were central figures in the South football team's run to the state semifinals in the fall.
Northwest: The Indians (14-8) have a talented bunch led by senior forward Ian Ziegler. Seeded No. 11, Northwest would only have to beat the winner of No. 45 Orange and No. 40 Hubbard to get to a Northeast 5 district semifinal at Louisville. Speaking of Louisville, the 2021-22 Leopards are the only Stark County Division II team to win a district championship in the last 17 years, thanks mainly to St. Vincent-St. Mary's stranglehold in the district.
Sandy Valley: The No. 6 seed Cardinals (16-6) host No. 8 Coshocton (15-7) in a good Division III East sectional semifinal. IVC South Player of the Year Dantae Faiello and versatile talent Nick Petro make Sandy Valley a dangerous team.
Lake Center Christian: The No. 8 seed Tigers (15-7) face the winner of No. 15 Columbia and No. 35 Lordstown in a Division IV Northeast 3 sectional final on Friday. They have a good senior duo in Matt Warder and Tanner Norman to lead their battle-tested group.
Best potential second round match: Carrollton at Minerva
How about a Round 3 for these Carroll County/eastern Stark County rivals in a Division II East 1 sectional final? These EBC combatants split their regular-season matchups, with Minerva winning at home 62-42 on Jan. 12 and Carrollton winning at home 56-45 on Feb. 9. No. 8 Minerva (13-9) would have to beat No. 11 Beaver Local (10-12) to set up the Lions hosting No. 10 Carrollton (9-13) in the sectional final.
Reach Josh at josh.weir@cantonrep.com
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio high school boys basketball tournament preview for Canton area
