regional boys basketball preview

DIVISION II

Cardinal Mooney vs. Warrensville Heights

When: 8 p.m. Thursday

Where: Canton Civic Center

Records: Cardinal Mooney 12-11; Warrensville Heights 16-10.

Next: The winner faces Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy or Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in the regional title game Saturday at 3 p.m.

Coaches: Brian Danilov for Mooney; Brian Swift for Warrensville Heights.

Players to watch: Mooney — Doug Caputo (6-7, senior, 16.0 ppg, second team all-district), Joey Cunningham (5-9, junior, special mention all-district), Mark Handel (6-0, junior), Joey Kleeh (5-9, junior), George Brandenstein (6-3, senior), Andrew Armstrong (6-1, freshman); Warrensville Heights — Montell Goodwin (6-2, senior, 19.1 ppg), Yavari Hall (6-3, freshman, 12.9 ppg), Charles Franklin (6-3, junior, 12.7 ppg).

The skinny: Mooney’s four-game winning streak is its longest of the season, beating the three-game streak to start the season. Between those two streaks the Cardinals compiled a record of 5-11. ... Heights was seeded sixth in the district tournament at Ashtabula Lakeside. The Tigers bested top-seeded Lake Catholic, 66-65, in the district semifinal round and beat third-seeded University School, 64-55, in the title game. ... This is Mooney’s first trip to the regional tournament since 1998. The Cardinals knocked off top-seeded Poland, 51-33, and second-seeded Salem, 61-46, to win the Boardman district.

DIVISION III

LaBrae vs. Oberlin

When: 8 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Canton Fieldhouse

Records: LaBrae 22-3; Oberlin 17-7.

Next: The winner faces Beachwood or St. Thomas Aquinas in the regional title game Saturday at 7 p.m.

Coaches: Chad Kiser for LaBrae; Kurt Russell for Oberlin.

Players to watch: LaBrae — Peyton Aldridge (6-7, junior, 19.8 ppg, 11.6 rebounds per game, 4.4 assists per game, district player of the year for the second straight season), Carl Brown (5-10, senior, 3 assists per game, special mention all-district), John Richards (6-0, senior, special mention all-district); Oberlin — Jason Moore (6-3, senior, 16.0 ppg, second team all-district).

The skinny: LaBrae, the No.1 seed in the district at Howland, survived a 68-61 double-overtime victory over third-seeded Ursuline on Saturday in the championship game. ... Oberlin, seeded second in the district at Wooster, beat fourth-seeded Elyria Catholic, 58-46, in the semifinal round and Waynedale, 45-37, in the title game. ... LaBrae’s last regional appearance was in 2009 when the Vikings lost, 51-39, to Cleveland Central Catholic. ... Oberlin’s last regional trip came in 2001.

DIVISION IV

Youngstown Christian vs. Hannibal River

When: 6:15 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Canton Fieldhouse

Records: Youngstown Christian 15-8; River 19-7.

Next: The winner faces Villa Angela-St. Jospeh or Windham in the regional title game Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Coaches: Dolph Carroll for Mooney; Mark Romick for River.

Players to watch: YCS — Daylen Williams (6-1, senior, 17.4 ppg, first team all-district), Jayquan Yanno (6-2, senior, special mention all-district), Nick Gonda (6-3, senior, special mention all-district), Darrien Townsend (5-9, junior), Tymere Dubose (6-5, junior); River — Brett Price (6-0, senior, 14.5 ppg, second team all-district), Jordan Indermuhle (6-5, senior, 14.0 ppg, third team all-district), Cody Caldwell (6-2, senior, special mention all-district), Matt Marconi (5-9, senior, special mention all-district).

The skinny: Youngstown Christian defeated second-seeded Mogadore, 52-51, and top-seeded Wellsville, 75-73, to win the Struthers district. ... The Pilots knocked off two-time defending state champion Berlin Hiland, 56-49 in overtime, in the district final on Saturday at Belmont Union High. It is River’s first regional appearance since back-to-back trips in 1988-89. ... YCS reached the regional final in 2009, beating Warren JFK, 49-46, in the semifinal round before bowing to Lutheran East, 57-47.

Staff report