MANSFIELD — It may not be as deep as in year’s past, but the Division II Ashland district tournament field is as wide open as ever.
Shelby (15-3) picked up the No. 2 seed, while Lexington (12-6) earned the No. 3 seed during Sunday’s tournament draw.
The Whippets, who moved into sole possession of first place in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference with Saturday’s win over River Valley, opted for an opening-round bye and will play either No. 8 Mansfield Senior or No. 9 Galion for a sectional championship at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at Bucyrus.
The Tygers (4-13) and Tigers (3-13) meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at Bucyrus.
Lexington (12-6) will play No. 11 Clear Fork (0-18) for a sectional title at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at Bucyrus.
Ontario (7-11) is the only area team in the bottom half of the bracket and will begin tournament play at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at Willard. The seventh-seeded Warriors will play either No. 1 Huron (14-2) or No. 10 Vermilion (2-16). The Tigers and Sailors meet at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at Willard.
Division I
The area’s only Division I programs, Madison and Ashland, could meet in the sectional championship. The Rams (11-6) will play Bowling Green (8-9) in a sectional semifinal at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at Rossford. The winner will play Ashland (11-6) for a sectional title at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at Rossford.
Division III
Undefeated Colonel Crawford earned the No. 1 seed at the 13-team Norwalk district draw and took an opening-round bye. The Eagles, who were ranked No. 1 in Division III in the most recent Associated Press state poll, will play either No. 12 Edison or No. 13 Lakota for a sectional title at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at Monroeville.
Sixth-seeded Crestview (9-8) will play No. 4 Elmwood (10-7) at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at Monroeville. No. 9 Wynford (4-11) meets No. 5 Oak Harbor (9-9) in the late game Feb. 23 at Monroeville.
Bucyrus (3-13) is the No. 11 seed and will play No. 8 Seneca East (6-12) at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at Hopewell-Loudon.
In the Northeast district, Loudonville (3-14) is the No. 23 seed at the Wooster district. The Redbirds will play either No. 1 Norwayne or No. 24 Cleveland Garrett Morgan for a sectional title at 7 p.m. Feb. 25. The game will be played on the higher seed’s home floor.
Division IV
Lucas (14-4) earned the No. 2 seed in the Division IV Willard district and will play either No. 7 Sandusky St. Mary (6-13) or No. 10 Plymouth (5-12) for a sectional title at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at Shelby. The Panthers and Big Red will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 22 at Shelby.
No. 13 St. Peter’s (2-14) will play No. 3 South Central (12-5) at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at Shelby. No. 8 Mansfield Christian (7-11) will play No. 6 Danbury (7-11) in the late game Feb. 23 at Shelby.
In the bottom half of the Willard district bracket, No. 5 Crestline (11-7) will play No. 9 Norwalk St. Paul at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at Crestview. No. 11 Buckeye Central (4-13) will meet No. 12 New London (1-16) at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at Crestview.
In the Northeast district, Mapleton earned the No. 8 seed at the Norton district tournament and will play at No. 6 Independence at 7 p.m. Feb. 22. No. 11 Hillsdale (4-12) will play at No. 7 Willoughby Andrews Osborne at 7 p.m. Feb. 22.
