The draw is over and the bracket is set! Grandview Heights did end up with the 1 seed despite losing to Wellington, so I guess the coaches didn't factor their first matchup into the equation much. Here's the complete list:
1) Grandview Heights
2) Wellington
3) Berne Union
4) East Knox
5) Newark Catholic
6) Fisher Catholic
7) Shekinah Christian
8) Patriot Prep
9) Delaware Christian
10) Cardington-Lincoln
11) Millersport
12) Ridgedale
13) Granville Christian
14) Tree of Life
15) Grove City Christian
16) KIPP Columbus
17) Fairfield Christian
18) Northside Christian
19) Danville
20) Madison Christian
Other than the top two seeds, I think this was as much of a toss up as any year I can remember. I also think 3-16 could all beat each other on any given night, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a number of "upsets." One obvious one that I think is a little off is Tree of Life being above Grove City Christian and KIPP, especially since Tree lost to KIPP by 8 and lost to GCC by 35.
Other observations based on seeds and when a team would have placed themselves in the bracket:
- Grandview Heights chose the Athens route. I don't know the regional aspect very well. Is Hiland in that region this year? Otherwise, would they play New Boston or Peebles perhaps? I really don't know much about the southeast other than I've heard New Boston had a soft schedule and is overrated, but that's just what I've read on message boards so who knows?
- I always find it interesting with two brackets to see where the #3-5 teams pick. #3 Berne went to Wellington's District but did not choose a play-in game, which seems pretty customary. Must go along with that thought that #3-#16 could all beat each other, so why risk it (although that does give a long layoff)?
- The SHOCKER to me is what happened with #4, #5, #6, and #8:
~ #4 East Knox follows Berne Union and picks opposite of a heavy hitter to potentially meet Grandview in the District finals. They also elected not to do the play-in game (they've really improved since being a bottom seed just a few years ago).
~ #5 Newark Catholic DECIDES TO LINE UP WITH #4 EAST KNOX in the Sectional finals! What?! NC picked the play-in game with the chance to face #4 East Knox on the road in Grandview's District instead of taking a bye elsewhere. Furthermore, they could have picked a different line, taken the bye, and assuming they won their first round game would have played East Knox in the District Semi's on a neutral site. So NC is taking a risk with a play-in game only to face the #4 seed on the road after the #4 seed can scout them an extra time and has more preparation. Very bold! Additionally, their play-in game turned out to be KIPP Columbus, who definitely isn't a cupcake that they can just cruise through.
~ #6 Fisher Catholic then picks THE SAME DISTRICT SEMI-FINAL AS #4/#5. I can't get over this! Newark Catholic beat Fisher Catholic by 12 at FC's home court less than a month ago. What's the logic here? Was FC missing people? It was close in the first half but NC went on a big 3rd quarter run. Did FC really want to duck Berne Union that much to avoid a potential District Semi-Final on Wellington's half of the bracket?
~ #8 Patriot Prep, who could have taken a bye and hosted a Sectional Finals game against a lesser opponent, line up with #6 Fisher Catholic! I know that they beat them earlier in the year and played them well in the tournament last year, but they could have hosted for a Sectional Title against an inferior opponent! I guess they felt this would give them the best shot of advancing to the District Finals, but that's quite the risk. Go big or go home I suppose!
- #7 seed Shekinah Christian could have lined themselves up to host a Sectional Finals and then had a rematch of last year's District Semis with Berne Union. However, they instead chose to line up with Grandview Heights in the District Semis. I'm not entirely sure of the logic, but maybe they assumed that would not be a desirable spot for other teams of similar talent and didn't want to risk losing that early? It worked, because they got paired up with Tree of Life, who they've already beaten twice by double digits. But that puts an early ceiling on their run.
Who isn't happy?
- I'd think East Knox is pretty frustrated with how things worked out. They get the #4 seed, do the same thing as Berne Union at the #3 seed, and somehow get stuck in a sectional with #5 Newark Catholic (or even KIPP) only to need to face #6 Fisher Catholic or #8 Patriot Prep in the District semis.
- Fisher Catholic probably thought they would be safe in their Sectional Finals round give the difficulty of that District Semi bracket. I'm sure they thought they might get a matchup with a #12-#15 seed, but instead got #8 Patriot Prep, who has given them trouble in the past. I still think Fisher will be the favorite, but they'll need to play well in their opener.
- Berne Union might be a little nervous in their first game than they expected. They had just beaten Fisher Catholic pretty handily but squeaked by Millersport. Now they'll probably face Millersport in their Sectional Finals. Still the heavy favorite, but enough to make them a little nervous heading into that matchup. That is assuming Millersport wins of course. Millersport split with Granville Christian during the season so that is no gimmie.
- Is Wellington allowed to be a little unhappy? They beat Grandview during the season and got placed below them in the tournament, forcing them to go to the tougher Regional site.
- I don't think Grandview Heights is unhappy per se, but if you look at Wellington's path to the District Semis, the toughest opponent they might play would be #12 Ridgedale or #15 Grove City Christian. Grandview will roll everyone, but likely facing #7 Shekinah will at least make them try a little before District Finals. They'll still put a running clock on them, but it won't be a total sleepwalk.
Who is happy?
- Delaware Christian has to be ecstatic with how things broke out in terms of their chance to make their first ever District Finals appearance. They won't be a heavy favorite in any game, but their strong defense and tough schedule should have them well prepared and able to keep things close. Yes, Cardington did beat them way back on a Monday in December, but to avoid the heavy hitters until the District Finals and still be able to host a tournament game has to have them feeling good.
- Cardington has to like their chances as well. They did beat Delaware Christian after all.
- Ridgedale gets to host a game as the #12 seed and their opponent (Grove City Christian) needs to drive about 90 minutes to get there on a Tuesday night. Should be a bit of a home court advantage.
- Grove City Christian has a realistic chance to win their opening game and get a Sectional Title despite a 3-16 record. I know they play in a tough conference, but they are still 3-16. I'm sure they were upset that Tree of Life got ranked ahead of them, especially since Tree chose to play Shekinah Christian (at Jonathan Alder). GCC beat Shekinah on that neutral site a couple years ago in the tournament, so I think they would have picked that game if they had the chance. Still, that's not a bad matchup in terms of style for GCC either. I might have them winning that one when if I make predictions.
- Tree of Life couldn't have expected to be ranked as high as #14. They lost to lower seeded KIPP and Grove City Christian (by 35). Instead of facing an opponent like Ridgedale (who they just lost to by 21) on the road, they get to play conference opponent Shekinah Christian. Yes, they've lost to Shekinah twice by 15 points, but those rivalry games and playing a team 3 times in one season can change some things. Plus, they get to play on a neutral site since Shekinah can't host (their gym floor is something like 3 feet too short to meet regulations for tournament games). Tree could have easily been seeded below Fairfield Christian as well and been stuck with Grandview Heights or Wellington for their first game.
I won't make any predictions just yet, but I at least wanted to share my observations after looking things over. I still can't believe Newark Catholic's decision. Should make things very interesting until the District Finals!