Central District Championship Preview
A LOOK AHEAD TO THIS WEEKENDS ACTION
COLUMBUS, Ohio - - This Saturday at Central Crossing High School two teams will become district champions, adding a trophy to their school’s collection and moving one step closer to a state championship. These matchups include three of the four teams that competed in this district championship games last season as Jonathan Alder and River Valley look to change their fortunes and Bishop Watterson wants to add another one. The winner of central 1 will go to Kettering Alter, a region that no Central Ohio team has made it out of in 10 years, whereas the winner of central 2 will head to Athens and Ohio University for a chance at a trip to the state final four.
Check out a breakdown and the key question for every team headed into the weekend.
Central 1 District Finals - #5 Bishop Watterson (14-10) vs. #6 Jonathon Alder (14-9) - 1:00 p.m. at Central Crossing
District Championships (since 2000)
Bishop Watterson: 9
Jonathan Alder: 0
Key Players: Bishop Watterson (Dominic Theado, second team all district; Blaise Ohlin, honorable mention all district), Jonathan Alder (Peyton Heiss, district player of the year, first team all district)
Common Opponents: River Valley (Jonathon Alder won, Bishop Watterson lost); Bishop Hartley (Jonathon Alder won, Bishop Watterson 1-1)
Game Synopsis:
Both teams defeated higher seeds by 20 more points, with Watterson beating #4 Bloom Carroll and Alder taking down #3 Bishop Ready. Watterson is looking for back-to-back and also their third district championship in four seasons. The Eagles usually win district titles in bunches, having won 3 in 5 seasons between 2000-2004, winning 4 in 6 seasons between 2009-2014 and now aiming for their third in four seasons. On the other side, Jonathan Alder has mainly been the bridesmaid and never the bride in these games, not winning a district title since 1965 in Class A despite competing in plenty of them throughout the years. This year's team aims to be different and bring home a district championship. These two teams played a little less than a month ago, with Watterson coming out on top 58-51 on February 13th.
Key Question:
Watterson: Can the experience of the Eagles carry them to another district title and give them 10 total?
Jonathan Alder: Will they overcome countless times of being runner-up in the district and get their first in the modern era?
Central 2 District Finals - #1 Bishop Hartley (21-3) vs. #2 River Valley (19-5) - 3:30 p.m. at Central Crossing
District Championships (since 2000):
Bishop Hartley: 5 - 4 in division 3; 1 in division 2
River Valley: 1 - In division 3
Key Players: Bishop Hartley (Jaden Calloway, first team all district; Pharez Nicholas, second team all-district; Jahki Calloway, third team all district), River Valley (Carson Smith, first team all district; Chase Ebert, third team all district; Ayden Kenney, all district honorable mention)
Common Opponents: Jonathon Alder (both teams lost); Olentangy Berlin (both teams won); Watterson (River Valley lost, Hartley went 1-1); DeSales (River Valley lost, Hartley went 2-0).
Game Synopsis:
This will be the central district final with the most talent on the floor, with six all district players between the two teams. The Hawks have enjoyed tremendous success under second year head coach and Central District coach of the year Andreas James, finishing with their best record since finishing the 2017-2018 season 20-6. James looks to get Hartley their first district championship since 2019 when Morgan Safford led the charge for the Hawks. River Valley was in this exact spot last season, facing a team whose name begins with Bishop, last year it was Watterson, the Vikings held a lead against the Eagles but fell short in the end 62-54. The Vikings will enter this game with back-to-back 19 win seasons and finished tied for second place in the Mid-Ohio Red conference. They have downed two City League North teams to get here, defeating Beechcroft then beating Linden-McKinley behind 31-points from senior Carson Smith.
Key Question:
Bishop Hartley: The Hawks have not been in this spot in a long time, they are one of the most talented teams in the area, but will experience play a factor in this game?
River Valley: Can they right the wrong of last year’s blown lead?