TOURNAMENT INFO LINKS AT BOTTOM
Great to see some passionate interest in the Women's game this season!!
With Top 4 Teams in State it should be the most exciting Region in OH.
Don't know if any Region, Boys or Girls have ever had Top 4 going into State Tourney?
To answer a previous question about Dayton, some info below. (Sorry, no matter what your opinion of Talawanda is).
I think all Cincinnati teams would rather play Dayton Sectional winners than Cincinnati Section winners in Districts.
Highest Martin RPI Dayton teams are Fairmont (23), Beavercreek (26) ,Bellbrook (27) while Talawanda is lowest of Cincinnati 5 at #7.
Highest MaxPreps Dayton teams are Springboro (19), Bellbrook (27) ,Beavercreek (34) while Talawanda is lowest of Cincinnati 5 at #12.
Highest AP Dayton teams is Bellbrook at 11*, while Talawanda is 15.
Springboro has most potential and experience but have under performed so far this season. Bellbrook hosts Springboro Monday Jan 23.
* Bellbrook once again has the rogue AP voter who should lose their right to vote in the Poll and always votes them #1 so they are rated higher than deserved. 3 years in a row now, it's been ridiculous, but we are pretty sure who the BBrook dad voter is (Eric?).
But that needs an entirely different Forum
OHSAA tourney is not like NCAA where a committee places teams, in OHSAA teams place themselves.
Teams will be seeded 1-33 in Cincinnati. 1 puts themselves where they want to go 1st, 2 goes 2nd, 3 goes 3rd, etc...........
Teams will be seeded 1-19 in Dayton and follow same process.
1 seed does NOT necessarily go into Cincinnati 1, they could choose to place themselves in any of the 5 Cincinnati Sectionals in any of the numbered slots on the blank sectional brackets.
Some Coaches like to play at Harrison more than Lakota East and vice versa. Some Coaches like to have a bye early, some coaches like to play later of two games. Seeding your team is a VERY important/underrated part of coaching/prepping for long tournament runs.
If you follow the lengthy paths necessary to advance (Sectional brackets link below), look at which section plays which section in Districts (District brackets link below).
From past experience, assumption is 1 seed will choose Cincinnati 1 or 2 this season, then it's off to the races on who wants to avoid who.
If Big 4 continue to win thru Selection Sunday I think Mason 1, WC 2 and serious uncertainty on 3, 4.
Doubtful any Non ECC Teams vote West Clermont which hasn't won a tournament game since Feb 2019 ahead of a defending State Runner Up with a much better resume' Mason team. Not fair to bring past teams into the equation but..........
I think LE deserves 3, but I also think Princeton will beat East in regular season.
Either way the 3 seed will be the most interesting team to see what they decide on Selection Sunday, they'll control who they'd want to play in Regional Semis.
I could see a scenario where East gets the 3 seed and chooses to play WC in Reg Semis to force Mason Princeton in Reg Semis.
With Quality of teams this season I actually believe the 3 seed is the best seed to have.
Coaches could actually let their time lapse and move back a seed (very very rare, but it has happened).
Past recent history, not this season necessarily.
Princeton struggles with Mason but owns Lakota East (beat them 3 times last year fairly easily).
Lakota East struggles with Princeton but plays Mason well.
WC doesn't have much past history with the GMC Three and I think they'll be 2 seed behind Mason.
IF WC is 2 they could choose to play Mason in Reg Semis or choose to avoid them until Reg Finals if all seeds hold.
I do think Talawanda will be 5 and MND, Kings, Lakota West or whomever are remainder of Top 10 seeds will jump into their Section making it very competitive.
Don't see any of the Big 4 or Talawanda losing before Selection Sunday so we'll all have to check back in after 4PM Sunday January 29.
This Page has all the info needed to estimate/predict where everything will land.
Team Assignments
Sectional Brackets
District Brackets