ASHLAND — The depth isn’t what it was a few years ago, but the Division II Ashland district tournament should be as entertaining as ever.
Shelby (13-2) earned the No. 1 seed when the draw was held Sunday. The Whippets took a first-round bye and will open tourney play against either Lexington or Vermilion in the sectional finals at 7 p.m. Feb. 26.
The ninth-seeded Minutemen (4-7) will visit No. 8 Vermilion (6-10) at 7 p.m. Feb. 23.
Seventh-seeded Clear Fork (6-11) will visit No. 6 Huron (7-5) for a sectional final at 7 p.m. Feb. 26.
The bottom half of the Ashland district bracket is loaded. Four of the six teams have winning records.
No. 2 seed Ontario (11-5) opens tournament play at home against No. 10 Bellevue (3-11) at 7 p.m. Feb. 23. The winner will play No. 5 Mansfield Senior (7-5) for a sectional title at 7 p.m. Feb. 26 with the higher seed hosting.
No. 3 seed Norwalk (11-7) hosts No. 11 Galion (0-15) at 7 p.m. Feb. 23. The winner plays No. 4 Upper Sandusky (12-7) at 7 p.m. Feb. 26.
Division I
Both of the area’s Division I programs have tough opening-round games.
Ashland (14-3) earned the No. 6 seed in the Millbury district and will host No. 8 Toledo Start (11-2) for a sectional title at 7 p.m. Feb. 26. No. 18 seed Madison (1-12) will visit top-seeded Lima Senior (13-2) at 7 p.m. Feb. 26.
Division III
Undefeated Colonel Crawford (18-0) picked up the No. 1 seed in the Division III Shelby district and took a first-round bye. The Eagles will host either No. 10 Wynford (3-13) or No. 12 Van Buren (1-17) for a sectional title at 7 p.m. Feb. 26. Wynford hosts Van Buren at 7 p.m. Feb. 21.
In the bottom half of the bracket, No. 5 Crestview (12-6) hosts No. 6 Woodmore (11-7) at 7 p.m. Feb. 24. No. 9 Bucyrus (3-14) hosts No. 11 Kansas Lakota (2-11) at 7 p.m. Feb. 24.
Loudonville (9-10) got the No. 13 seed in the Northeast district tournament and will host No. 17 Wellington at 7 p.m. Feb. 23.
Division IV
Fresh off its third straight Mid-Buckeye Conference title, Lucas (12-6) earned the No. 5 seed in the Division IV Willard district draw. The Cubs will host No. 12 Lakeside Danbury (2-15) in the sectional semifinals at 7 p.m. Feb. 23.
No. 8 Mansfield Christian (7-13) hosts No. 9 Buckeye Central (6-12) at 7 p.m. Feb. 23, while No. 13 St. Peter’s (1-15) will visit No. 4 Sandusky St. Mary (10-4) at 7 p.m. Feb. 23.
In the bottom half of the bracket, No. 7 Crestline (9-9) will host No. 10 New London (3-10) at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 while No. 11 Plymouth (3-15) is at No. 6 Monroeville (11-7) at 7 p.m. Feb. 24.
In the Northeast District, No. 12 Mapleton (4-13) will visit No. 3 Rittman at 7 p.m. Feb. 23. No. 13 Hillsdale is at No. 11 Kidron Central Christian at 7 p.m. Feb. 23.
