OLIVESBURG, Ohio — Crestview coach Aaron Goon’s biggest concern wasn’t who the Cougars would play in the postseason, but rather how the Cougars would be playing once the tournament tips off later this month.
While Goon can’t be sure of the latter, he found out the former at Sunday’s tournament draw. The Cougars (19-1) earned the No. 1 seed at the Division III super sectional and will play either No. 6 Wynford or No. 12 Western Reserve for a sectional championship at 6:15 p.m. Feb. 28 at Shelby.
Ranked sixth in Division III in the most recent Associated Press poll, Crestview didn’t resemble a state-ranked team during last week’s 79-55 win over three-win Galion. The Cougars trailed 17-16 after the first quarter and held a slim lead midway through the second quarter before pulling away. The sluggish start had Goon concerned.
“It’s not the first time we’ve gotten off to a slow start. Sometimes we seem to have that lack of energy,” Goon said after the game. “I told them when you get to the tournament and have that off night, you’re going home and I don’t want to go home early.”
Wynford and Western Reserve play at Shelby at 6:15 p.m. Feb. 25.
Division I: Mansfield Senior was the No. 11 seed and will play No. 12 Findlay at 8 p.m. Feb. 25 at Tiffin Central Catholic.
Division II: The sectional tournament tips Feb. 24 at Mansfield Senior and Willard. No. 8 seed Madison will play No. 6 Sandusky at 8 p.m. at Senior High. Meanwhile, No. 11 Galion will play No. 12 Lexington at 6:15 p.m. at Willard, followed by No. 5 Shelby against No. 9 Ontario. Clear Fork earned the No. 3 seed and took a first-round bye. The Colts will play either Madison or Sandusky at 8 p.m. Feb. 26 at Mansfield Senior.
Division IV: Crestline has the unenviable task of facing state-ranked South Central at 6:15 p.m. Feb. 24 at Ontario. The remainder of Richland County’s Division IV teams will be in action Feb. 25. Mansfield Christian plays Old Fort at 6:15 p.m. at Ontario, while Lucas will meet Seneca East in the nightcap. St. Peter’s plays Hopewell-Loudon in the early game at Tiffin Columbian, while Plymouth squares off against Tiffin Calvert in the late game.
