Division I Regular Season Report

Analyzing the teams in the Central District heading into tournament time

Tournament time is all about who’s hot, who’s not, who’s been through the fire and who has yet to have their iron sharpened. Here’s a look at all 49 programs in the Division I. We have a bit of extended info for the top 20 seeds especially.

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Devin Brown looks to lead Olentangy Orange to a second-straight district title and regional championship appearance

1. Olentangy Orange (21-1)

Last five games

• 59-56 loss vs. Pickerington Central on 2/3

• 69-44 win vs. Olentangy on 2/6

• 51-47 win at Hilliard Bradley on 2/9

• 73-70 win vs. Olentangy Liberty on 2/16

• 56-43 win vs. DeSales on 2/20

Record in close (5 points or less) games: 6-1
Record vs. the top 15: 5-1
Highest scoring output: 74 points vs. Hilliard Darby on 12/12
Lowest scoring output: 45 points vs. Olentangy Liberty on 1/19 and vs. Grove City on 1/13
Best win: 51-47 win at Hilliard Bradley on 2/9
Loss: 59-56 loss vs. Pickerington Central on 2/3
Current streak: 4 wins

Landon Vanderwarker is having a breakout junior season for red-hot Delaware Hayes

2. Delaware Hayes (21-1)

Last five games

• 57-45 win at Dublin Scioto on 2/6

• 63-23 win at Canal Winchester on 2/9

• 59-57 win at Gahanna Lincoln on 2/10

• 71-50 win vs. Marion Harding on 2/13

• 75-21 win vs. Franklin Heights on 2/16

Record in close games: 2-0
Record vs. the top 15: 5-0
Highest scoring output: 86 points vs. Dublin Scioto on 1/5
Lowest scoring output: 50 points at Big Walnut on 1/19
Best win: 59-58 win at Westerville North on 12/15
Loss: 73-65 loss at Westerville South on 12/22
Current streak: 15 wins

Braylen Nash has been one of the top guards in Division I this season in a breakout year for New Albany

3. New Albany (18-4)

Last five games

• 68-50 win at Groveport Madison on 1/30

• 70-39 win vs. Westland on 2/2

• 56-41 win vs. Pickerington North on 2/9

• 47-39 win at Hilliard Darby on 2/13

• 44-41 win at Westerville Central on 2/16

Record in close games: 3-1
Record vs. the top 15: 6-3
Highest scoring output: 87 points vs. Independence on 1/20
Lowest scoring output: 30 points vs. Gahanna Lincoln on 12/22
Best win: 39-38 win at Gahanna Lincoln on 1/26
Worst loss: 53-45 loss at Grove City on 12/8
Current streak: 15 wins

Steele Meister was named OCC-Buckeye Player of the Year after leading Newark to a league title and top four seed

4. Newark (18-4)

Last five games

• 54-30 win at Central Crossing on 2/2

• 62-45 win at Zanesville on 2/3

• 45-34 win vs. Groveport Madison on 2/9

• 64-33 win at Lancaster on 2/16

• 51-48 loss vs. Westerville Central on 2/23

Record in close games: 3-1
Record vs. the top 15: 4-3
Highest scoring output: 69 points vs. Pickerington Central on 1/23
Lowest scoring output: 31 points vs. Hilliard Bradley on 1/27
Best win: 45-41 win vs. Reynoldsburg on 12/22
Worst loss: 58-49 loss vs. Olentangy Liberty on 12/19
Current streak: 1 loss

Cade Norris became Hilliard Bradley’s all-time leading scorer in a regular season finale win over Hilliard Darby

5. Hilliard Bradley (17-5)

Last five games

• 67-46 win vs. Perrysburg on 2/3

• 51-47 loss vs. Olentangy Orange on 2/9

• 46-28 win vs. Dayton Dunbar on 2/13

• 62-50 win at Dublin Coffman on 2/16

• 78-53 win at Hilliard Darby on 2/23

Record in close games: 2-4
Record vs. the top 15: 2-3
Highest scoring output: 78 points at Hilliard Darby on 2/23
Lowest scoring output: 45 points vs. Westerville Central on 12/13
Best win: 51-31 win at Newark on 1/27
Worst loss: 54-45 loss vs. Westerville Central on 12/13
Current streak: 3 wins