Versailles D-III girls basketball state poll champion

Versailles was crowned the Division III girls high school basketball state poll champion on Monday by the Associated Press. It was the fifth time the Midwest Athletic Conference power won a poll title.

The Tigers (21-1), coached by Jacki Stonebraker, also won D-III state polls in 2008, ’01, 1994 and ’90. Versailles has been to six D-III state final fours since 2007 and won state titles in ’15 and ’08.

Joining Versailles as poll champs were Pickerington Central (D-I), Beloit West Branch (D-II) and Waterford (D-IV).

Three area teams were bunched in the final D-II poll: No. 4 Tippecanoe (20-2), No. 5 Trotwood-Madison (19-2) and No. 7 Valley View (19-2). Waynesville (21-1) was No. 8 and the only other area D-III to make the top 10. Two more MAC teams made the final D-IV cut, No. 4 Minster (17-3) and No. 8 Fort Recovery (15-4).

The teams are voted on by media throughout the state and compiled by AP.

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• Wayne’s 54-47 loss at Springfield last weekend didn’t prevent the Warriors from earning the No. 1 seed in the upcoming D-I boys basketball sectional. But it did likely end Wayne’s shot at winning an AP state poll title.

Wayne (19-1) was seeded No. 1 and Springfield (16-3) No. 2 during Sunday’s coaches’ seed meeting. Wayne positioned itself in the Dayton 3 sectional at Butler and barring upsets, should meet GWOC National East rival Centerville in a sectional final.

However, Wayne fell from No. 1 to No. 3 in Monday’s boys state poll behind leader Solon and No. 2 Cincinnati Moeller. Wayne had been No. 1 since the second week of the poll and just one week remains.

Springfield is in the Dayton 2 sectional at Centerville and will likely meet Sidney (14-6) or Franklin (16-5) in that sectional final.

Butler (18-2) is the No. 3 seed in a loaded Dayton 1 sectional also at Centerville. All six of those teams have winning records with the exception of Xenia (10-10). That sectional also has the best first-round game in Lebanon (14-6) vs. Belmont (12-6).

Trotwood-Madison (17-3) was top seeded and should have no problem advancing through the D-II sectional at Springfield High School. Kenton Ridge (14-5), winless in the 2016-17 regular season, extended its rebound by landing the No. 2 seed.

Versailles (16-3) and Bethel (16-3) were seeded 1-2 in the D-III sectional at Northmont. Despite a great record, Troy Christian (18-2) could do no better than a No. 5 seed. Anna (17-4) is the No. 3 seed at Butler. Anna swept D-IV top seed Fort Loramie and lost to Versailles by two points.

Loramie (19-2) and Russia (12-6) are seeded 1-2 in the D-IV Piqua sectional. Springfield Catholic Central (16-3) and Legacy Christian (14-6) are seeded 1-2 in the D-IV sectional at Troy, but both are lumped in the Troy 2 bracket. That means they should be a rare sectional final matchup of the top two seeds.

Boys sectional play begins next week.

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• Beavercreek (Butler) and Springboro (Troy) are seeded 1-2 in those D-I girls sectionals. Lebanon (Troy) is the No. 3 seed.

Tippecanoe (Tecumseh) and Trotwood-Madison are seeded 1-2 in the D-II sectional at Tecumseh. However, Tipp likely lost second-leading scorer and senior Allison Mader to a severe concussion after falling at Vandalia on Saturday. Mader (14.4 points) is a four-year starter and has signed with Cedarville University.

Valley View (1) and Bellbrook (2) are the top D-II seeds at Lebanon and also should meet in a sectional final.

In D-III, 2017 state runner-up Versailles is top seeded at Covington and Waynesville a No. 2 seed at Trotwood. Tri-Village (Brookville), Legacy Christian (Monroe) and Fort Loramie (Sidney) all are seeded No. 1 in D-IV sectionals.

The girls basketball sectional begins with D-III on Wednesday. Most girls teams play openers on Saturday.

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• Carroll trailed by 16 points in the fourth quarter but recovered to force overtime before falling at Chaminade Julienne in a boys game on Sunday, 49-48. Junior guard Milton Gage led CJ (8-12) with 18 points. Eli Ramsey paced Carroll (11-7) with 16 points. The Greater Catholic League North rivals play again at Carroll on Friday.

• Trotwood-Madison will end the boys regular season in a grand way, hosting Springfield on Friday. Both teams must first take care of business on Tuesday when Trotwood is at Stebbins and Springfield hosts Fairmont.

Trotwood defeated Springfield 88-73 last season.

• Butler (18-2, 11-2) will host Sidney (14-6, 10-3) on Tuesday in what will decide the GWOC American North boys basketball title. Butler will clinch an outright title with a win. Both teams also will play final North Division games on Friday, Butler at Tippecanoe and Sidney against visiting Greenville.

• Springfield Northeastern standout Hayley Suchland scored 41 points in a 67-61 defeat of visiting Triad last Saturday in an Ohio Heritage Conference girls game.

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