SHELBY — Shelby’s quest for an illusive district title already is off to a promising start.
The Whippets earned the top seed in the Division II Ashland district tournament draw Sunday and took the only available opening-round bye. Shelby will host either No. 11 Tiffin Columbian or No. 14 Port Clinton in a sectional championship game at 7 p.m. Feb. 20.
The Whippets (10-3) have reached the district tournament four of the past five seasons but have been denied a district title each year. Shelby lost in the district championship game in 2016 and was ousted in the semifinals in 2017, 2019 and again last year.
“I think this is definitely a team that has a chance for a district title,” veteran coach Natalie Lantz said earlier this season. “Whether a team is 8-1 or 1-8, I want them to play hard for 32 minutes. I’m starting to see that more and more. If you can do that against good teams in the tournament, then you have a chance.”
The Whippets have been in quarantine since Jan. 20 and haven’t played in almost two weeks. With the tournament opener less than three weeks away, Shelby has some catching up to do.
It’s Shelby’s second time in quarantine this season. The first came at the beginning of the season as the Whippets opened the year 1-3, including a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference loss at Marion Harding on Dec. 17.
“I always expect my girls to go and compete,” Lantz said, “but when … you’re out for two-and-a-half weeks and have zero practices going into Marion Harding, it’s difficult.”
An intriguing first-round matchup in the Division II field will see No. 6 seed Clear Fork (7-10) host No. 7 Mansfield Senior (6-10) at 7 p.m. Feb. 17. The Colts beat the Tygers 43-38 at Pete Henry Gym on Dec. 28. It was Mansfield Senior’s first game of the season.
“I was impressed with their kids and their coach had them prepared,” Clear Fork assistant Clint Sellers said at the time.
No. 9 seed Ontario (5-9) will visit No. 3 Clyde (6-3) at 7 p.m. Feb. 17.
On the bottom half of the bracket, No. 13 Lexington (3-8) is at No. 12 Oak Harbor (6-12) at 7 p.m. Feb. 17. No. 15 Galion (2-13) is at No. 2 Bellevue (11-3) at 7 p.m. Feb. 17.
Division I
The area’s only two Division I teams, Madison and Ashland, will both open tournament play on the road. The 16th-seeded Rams visit No. 11 Wapakoneta at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 for a sectional final game. No. 14 Ashland is at No. 12 Holland Springfield at 7 p.m. Feb. 15 in the sectional semifinals.
Division III
Crestview earned the No. 5 seed at the Shelby district draw and will host No. 9 Kansas Lakota at 7 p.m. Feb. 18.
On the bottom half of the bracket, No. 6 Colonel Crawford hosts No. 7 Edison at 7 p.m. Feb. 18, while No. 13 Bucyrus visits No. 3 Margaretta at 7 p.m. Feb. 18. The winner will play No. 8 Wynford at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 with the higher seed serving as host.
In the Northeast district, Mapleton is the No. 15 seed and will visit No. 12 Orrville at 7 p.m. Feb. 17.
Division IV
Buckeye Central (15-1) earned the No. 1 seed at the Willard district tournament and took one of the three first-round byes. The Buckettes will host either No. 9 Lakeside Danbury or No. 10 Mohawk in a sectional final at 7 p.m. Feb. 20.
Also in the bottom half of the bracket, No. 4 seed Mansfield Christian will host No. 8 New London at 7 p.m. Feb. 18.
On the top half of the bracket, No. 6 Lucas will host No. 12 Plymouth at 7 p.m. Feb. 18. No. 13 Crestline is at No. 3 Norwalk St. Paul at 7 p.m. Feb. 18.
In the Northeast district, Loudonville earned a No. 1 seed and will host No. 11 Richmond Heights at 7 p.m. Feb. 17. No. 10 Hillsdale is at No. 7 Kidron Central Christian at 7 p.m. Feb. 17.
