SW Dist.- Sectionals D1/D2 happenings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the next couple of days, I will look at some of the Sectional tournament tidbits and breakdown some of the things we may see happen during the next three weeks, leading up to the district tournament which begins March 1-2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, I will look at the Southwest District Division 1 and 2 brackets with players and teams to watch in the upcoming Sectional tournaments.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 5 First-Round Matchups</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Western Brown vs Harrison (D1 South 1)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Broncos are 15-6 on the season and have put together a solid season in the SBAAC this year finishing second in the league only behind Goshen. Keep an eye on Olivia Fisher, a prolific scorer as the 5-9 2024 averages 16.9 points per game, and is deadly from the free throw line and the three. Harrison brings in high-flying [player_tooltip player_id='636695' first='Alli' last='Robertson'] who is very close to breaking the all-time school scoring record. This pits #12 Western Brown against #9 Harrison. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Stebbins vs West Carrollton (D1 North 1)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two teams are no strangers as they are in the same conference and played each other twice already, splitting the two games. This should be a very good first round matchup. West Carrollton brings in [player_tooltip player_id='218276' first='Selena' last='Frost'] (more on her later in this article) while Stebbins will have a talented 2026 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='538121' first='Aubrey' last='Fritz']. Stebbins is #7 seen and West Carrollton is #10. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Tecumseh vs Ben Logan (D2 North 1)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tecumseh lost so much from last year, but have been competitive and improving as the season progressed. They are led by 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='538246' first='Sammy' last='Russell'], an electric guard with great handles and a scoring prowess from anywhere. Ben Logan has no big scorers, but they are very balanced with five kids averaging over 4 per game. Mia Stahler is their biggest threat as the 5-6 2025 will get some help from 2024 Georgia Bates. This is a matchup of #8 vs #11.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Graham vs Valley View (D2 North 3)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keep an eye on Graham 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='809014' first='Zoey' last='Conn'] <em>(featured photo above)</em> and 2025 Emma Yukon who looks to lead Graham past the Spartans. Valley View is growing each day with a young team, but they will compete and push the Falcons for a spot into the second round. They are 8-12 and a player to keep an eye on is 5-6 2026 Rivers Lempke. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sleeper Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='319356' first='Braylyn' last='Mattox'], 5-7 2025, Lebanon (having a great junior season, solid all-around player)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='218276' first='Selena' last='Frost'], 5-4 2024, West Carrollton (new all-time leading scorer at WC, fast and active)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='319059' first='Imani' last='Frazier'], 5-11 2025, Huber Heights Wayne (continuing to grow her game, a force in the paint)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='215222' first='Kensie' last='Black'], 5-8 2024, Franklin (she's back after a year off, one of the best in the SWBL)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='533111' first='Ashley' last='Bowden'], 5-8 2025, Dayton Oakwood (can light it up from the perimeter, strong leader)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sleeper Teams to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are just teams who <strong>could</strong> get hot and make some noise with solid talent. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lebanon - D1 South 3 @ Lakota East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lakota East- D1 South 5 @ Middletown</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chamiande Julienne- D1 North 3 @ Butler</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northridge- D2 North 2 @ Tecumseh</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bellefontaine- D2 North 1 @ Tecumseh</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Potential Championship Matchups</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The key word is POTENTIAL. I am going to play pretend for a second and look at some fun potential Sectional Finals matchups with a trip to district finals on the line. (I know there is no longer a "sectional final"... just indulge me!)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>D2 @ Tecumseh- Tippecanoe vs Urbana</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This could be a real fun matchup if it happens. Urbana brings in the top guard in the Dayton area in 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='319068' first='Peyton' last='Mounce'] along with a very talented 2026 in [player_tooltip player_id='538750' first='Alex' last='Dixon']. Tipp is as balanced as they have been in years without a bigtime scorer, but this program is as experienced as any from the area of knowing how to get into districts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>D1 @ Butler- Beavercreek vs Fairmont</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two teams are very familiar with each other, already with two conference matchups in the books. Beavercreek is solid and their starting five is as good as anyone. Senior-heavy lineup with 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='366788' first='Mia' last='Patterson'], [player_tooltip player_id='740695' first='Charlotte' last='Pauling'], [player_tooltip player_id='336529' first='Lilli' last='Leopard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='735170' first='Liv' last='Walther'], a deadly group who plays so well together. Fairmont on the other hand has 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='217356' first='Kenzie' last='Roark'] and a group of very good 2026s in [player_tooltip player_id='537680' first='Nico' last='Cornett'], Lena Buskard and the one who is drawing a ton of attention, [player_tooltip player_id='537681' first='Kaylah' last='Thornton'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>D2 @ Loveland- Batavia vs Taylor</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The upper bracket is going to be very challenging for Taylor even as the #4 seed with McNicholas or Woodward looming as a second-round matchup, but let's pretend the seeds hold up with #3 Batavia and #4 Taylor. Batavia comes into the sectionals with a very balanced attack with five players all between 7-11 points per game. 5-10 2026 Lucy Thompson is their leader at 10.6 points and 6 boards but right behind her at just under 10 ppg. are 2025 Macy McHenry and 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='880410' first='Averie' last='Layman']. Taylor has the electric 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='894620' first='Willow' last='Montag'] who is a 5-6 guard who I have yet to see, but she leads in the league in scoring, steals and is second in assists. Paige Gooding is a 5-9 2025 who also has been a good leader and contributor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->