Boys teams get started tonight

Staff report

Inter Tri-County League Tier Two champion McDonald starts the Valley’s foray in the sweet 16 tonight, when the Blue Devils (23-0) match unbeaten records with Shadyside (24-0) in a Division IV boys regional semifinal at the Canton Memorial Fieldhouse.

Tip-off is scheduled for 6:15 p.m.

The teams have not faced any common opponents, but have pretty similar numbers.

McDonald averages just over 67 points per game and allows just under 47.

Shadyside averages 66.5 points per game and gives up about 44.5.

That game will be followed by another Valley champion, Maplewood (18-5), going against Bedford Chanel (13-11) and long-time coach Bernie Tarr, a Valley native.

The winners return on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. for the regional title game, with a trip to Columbus for the state semifinals on the line.

Two other area teams, from the All-American Conference, are among the last 16 in the state playing for a title — Poland in Div. II and Newton Falls in Div. III.

Newton Falls (19-5) will play East Canton (23-0) on Wednesday in a Div. III regional semifinal at the Canton Fieldhouse at 8 p.m.

The Tigers will face the team that knocked out their AAC Blue Tier rival, Campbell Memorial, in a district championship game last weekend in Salem.

Poland concludes regional semifinal play on Thursday night at the Canton Memorial Civic Center against Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary.

The Bulldogs are 22-1 after dispatching Cardinal Mooney in the district title game last Saturday, while SVSM is 15-6, but knocked off unbeaten Akron Buchtel in their district final in Canton.

The Div. II regional final is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Saturday, with the Div. III title game at 7:30 p.m. that night.