Girls state tournament begins three-day run

Twelve games are scheduled at Ohio State’s Value City Arena.

COLUMBUS (AP) — For some, it’s the achievement of a lifetime. For others, it’s almost printed on the schedule.

The 33rd girls state basketball tournament tips off today at Value City Arena. As usual, there’s a mix of the new (West Chester Lakota West, making its first appearance) and the old (five-time champion South Euclid Regina), along with superstars (three Associated Press players of the year) and a few unlikely heroes.

It’s a special three days for all 16 teams.

“Going to the state tournament is just a fantastic experience for myself and all of the girls here,” said Columbus Africentric coach Will McKinney, whose team is chasing its second consecutive Division IV title.

Things get started today with Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown (21-4) making its second appearance in the Division II semifinals against Lima Bath (24-1), followed by Kettering Alter (23-3) against Columbus Mifflin (20-4).

In the Division IV games at night, Berlin Hiland (25-1) meets New Riegel (22-3) and Africentric (24-1) takes on Convoy Crestview (23-2).

Friday’s semifinals feature Versailles (26-0) against Regina (24-2) and Sugarcreek Garaway (24-2) meeting Mount Blanchard Riverdale (23-2) in Division III, followed by Division I showdowns between Boardman (19-7) and Lakota West (25-1), and Toledo Central Catholic (23-3) and two-time defending champion Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame (24-2).

The championship-game schedule for Saturday is Division II at 10:45 a.m., Division IV at 2 p.m., Division III at 5:15 and Division I at 8:30.

Pat Diulus has won five Division III state titles at Regina (2000-03, 2005), and another three at Garfield Heights Trinity (1990, ’94, ’96). He said it never gets old hat coming to the final four.

“Not really. We certainly have missed being there the last couple of years,” he said. “We only have two kids from the previous time [2005] we were down to Columbus, so I’m really excited for the other 10 kids and also for Shay [Selby] and Emily [Hoscilowicz] to have the opportunity to get back there again.”

Two AP No. 1s will be on hand to try to back up their regular-season crowns: Versailles in III and Africentric in IV. Three No. 2s also made it to the semifinals: Mount Notre Dame in I, Regina in III and Hiland in IV.

The tournament could provide several other notable highlights :

• Should Regina win a sixth state title, it would tie Pickerington Central for the most by one school.

• Mount Notre Dame, on a five-year roll, moves into a tie with Danville (1992-96) for the most consecutive trips to the final four.

— With a third straight title, Mount Notre Dame can tie Millersburg West Holmes (1984-86) for second behind Regina’s four in a row (2000-03).

• There will be the usual talk about who the best team in the state is, regardless of division. After all, Lakota’s only loss was to Regina, and Mount Notre Dame’s only setback was to Lakota.

“We’ve played the top teams in Ohio, as well as outside of Ohio,” Lakota West coach Andy Fishman said. “Our girls should be ready for games like this. ... We’ve never been able to get this far, but we’ve always wanted to be ready when we did.”