Northeast Ohio girls basketball teams gear up for OHSAA playoffs
As the regular season concludes, girls basketball teams in Northeast Ohio prepare for the expanded seven-division OHSAA playoffs, with several strong contenders vying for a trip to Dayton.
CLEVELAND, Ohio ā Teams are wrapping up their last few regular season games and Turing their attention to the OHSAA girls basketball playoffs, which start this weekend for girls basketball teams in Northeast Ohio.
With the OHSAAās expansion from four to seven basketball divisions, this girls basketball post season will have more games in store than it ever has.
Hereās everything you need to know heading into the girls high school basketball playoffs.
FavoritesStrongsvilleās Sidney Butera drives against Olmsted Falls in the first half of play. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
Strongsville: Another senior-laden group, the Mustangs are one of the only teams in the area that have the size and scoring prowess to keep up with Magnificat in Division I. Kennedi Neale leads the Mustangs at 21.5 points per game, while Sidney Butera and Sydney Bass also average double figures. Butera is one of the areaās assist leaders at 5.1 per game, Ester Dioszegi is one of the area rebounding leaders at 13.1 per game and Sydney Bass is the point-of-attack defender that does her best to blanket the opposing teams best player.
Green's Jenna SlatesRyan Isley, special to cleveland.com
Green: With Bulldogs All-Time leading scorer Jenna Slates on the floor Green is one of the most dangerous Division II teams in the state. Slates is averaging 22.1 points, 12.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game this season and lifted the Bulldogs to the No. 1 seed in the deepest division Northeast Ohio has. With Sydney Shocklee and Meredith Viar also along for their last postseason in Orange and Black, the Bulldogsā season is far from over.
Brushās Chaniyra McDowell-Isaacs (5) drives to the hoop between Avon Lakeās Izzie Polinko (5) and Avon Lakeās Molly Milligan (50) during action in the girlsā high school basketball game between Avon Lake at Brush High School on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. Brush won 70-52.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com
Brush: Tatiana Mason and Chaniyra McDowell-Isaacs led the Arcs to the Division I Regional Semifinal as freshmen last year. With another full year of varsity experience under their belts, some reinforcements on the wing in freshman Nyla Mason and Jakalyn Brown in the middle protecting the rim the Arcs can matchup with just about anybody in Division III. Brush can win in several different ways too. Whether they want to run some offense and slow the game down or force turnovers and turn it into a track meet the Arcs can do whatever it takes to win games.
SVSMās Sydney Ferguson (22) hits a three-point shot over Avon Lakeās Bre Jones (33)Ā during action in the girls' high school basketball game between Avon Lake at St. Vincent-St. Mary on Saturday, January 4, 2025. SVSM won 37-34.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com
St. Vincent-St. Mary: Melania Cornute has taken her game up a notch for the Fighting Irish, playing in Division III this season. With 6-foot-3 freshman Sydney Ferguson making plays on both sides of the ball and girls like Kendal Batchik, Denny Lawrence and Tatum Smith bringing a wealth of big-game experience and shooting ability, the Fighting Irish play with the confidence of knowing they can win any game. It also helps they have one of the deepest benches in the area with Laila Fleetwood and Taylor Rodgers-Williams consistently contributing important minutes and playing phenomenally in their roles.
Hobanās Mackenzie Grant (4) passes the ball to Niera Stevens (22) during second half action in the girlās high school basketball game between Archbishop Hoban at Laurel School on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. Laurel hung on to win 42-40. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.comDavid Petkiewicz, cleveland.com
Hoban: When the Knights get rolling they can score in bunches and are one of the toughest teams in the area to deal with. Junior Niera āZigā Stevens has one of the best motorās and may be the best on-ball defender in Northeast Ohio. Taylyn Banta and Amariya Davis have been a huge addition to the Knightsā backcourt with their offensive skillsets and ball-handling ability, while senior Finley Kennedy just has a feel for being in the right place at the right time for some easy offense. With Makenzie Grant back in the lineup after an injury earlier in the season Hoban can matchup with anybody.
Streetsboro: The Rockets are one of the states most dangerous teams in Division IV, and Naomi Benson is a major reason why. The 6-foot-3 Illinois commit is averaging 20 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 3.1 steals and 2.8 blocks per game, while shooting 56.5% from the floor. Sheās the Rocketsā All-Time leading scorer and rebounder and carried Streetsboro to the Division II regional final last season. With fellow senior Sydney Abbuhl setting the table and junior Arlene Bedford helping out on the glass the Rockets could very well be in for a trip to Dayton.
Warrensville Heights: One year removed from a Division III Regional Final trip, the Tigers have a real opportunity to make their way down to Dayton. Demarionna Branch has taken a leap up to 18.9 points per game and paces the Tigers with 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game. Taniyah Lewis has also take a big step forward in her sophomore season, while freshman Skyler Ballard has been a major addition. With others like Brieāanah Hill, Katherine McCormick, Tamarra Thomas and Mariah Paris, important pieces of last yearās playoff run, also contributing, the Tigers are going to be a force in Division IV.
Rootstown: The luck of the draw was not on the Roversā side last season in Division III as they matched up with state semifinalist Keystone in the district semifinals. This season other teams will hope they have the luck of the draw and can avoid the Rovers. Rootstown has four players ā Nadiah Lough, Addy Germann, Colbie Curall and Kelsey Bittecuffer ā averaging double figures. Lough and Curall also lead the Rovers in rebounds and assists. The Rovers donāt make many mistakes, but they take advantage when other teams do, and that can take them a long way in the postseason.
Another trip to Dayton?Northeast Ohio sent five teams to the state semifinals in Dayton last season. Olmsted Falls took home the Division I state title. Hereās a look at the three teams that can make it back there this season.
Magnificatās Julia Hall (C) braces for contact from Medinaās Olivia Klanac (L) and Abby Dress in the second half at Medina High School. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
Magnificat: The Blue Streaks went wire-to-wire atop the cleveland.com girls basketball poll this season and stamped themselves as the best team in Northeast Ohio with wins against some of the areaās toughest teams. The senior trio of Julia Hall, Reese Roggenburk and Sofia Wilson are all averaging double figures. With others like Gemma Wichmann buying into their roles itāll be an uphill battle for anyone trying to stop the Blue Streaks from making another trip to Dayton in Division I.
Olmsted Fallsā Reese Timura drives against Strongsville in the second half of play. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
Olmsted Falls: The Bulldogs are back for a playoff run in Division II after winning the Division I state title last season. The Bulldogs have plenty of talented players in girls like Maddie Cerovac, Jesse Simon, Emma Schaefer and Grace Largent. They can all get a bucket when they need to, and a different player can get the hot hand on any given night, but the Bulldogsā biggest strength is their defense. Their rotations are timely, they can switch nearly everything with cerovac guarding the other teamās primary ball-handler, and with so many pieces back for a program that has won and lost state championships in the last two season, the Bulldogs know exactly what it will take to get back down to Dayton.
Keystoneās Vivian Cassell works her dribble on the defense of Africentricās Faith Martin in the second half during their DIII semifinal game at the University of Dayton Arena.John Kuntz, cleveland. com
Keystone: After going undefeated until the Division III state semifinal last season Keystone rattled off 17 consecutive wins before its first loss this year. The Wildcats, led by sophomore Madyson Sokolowskiās 18.9 points per game, have three players averaging double figures this season. Brooklyn Barber is still a lights out sharpshooter and will be a big boost for the Wildcats in the playoffs after an injury kept her out of that state semifinal game last year. Vivian Cassell has been holding down the paint with 11.1 rebounds per game to go with her 11.5 points. Seniors Rylee Jedrzejek and Callie Crabeels have stepped into bigger roles this season as well, while freshman Jayda Gaines is a big piece of Keystoneās success now and in the future. While they certainly have their work cut out to get back Keystone has the firepower to play with anyone in Division IV.
Best early round matchupsMentor vs. Stow on Feb. 19: While Mentor had a tough time dealing with Medina and Strongsville during the regular season the Cardinals made it clear they were next in line in the Greater Cleveland Conference this season. Junior Nina Rodriguez led the Cardinals with 15.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.6 steals per game. Mentor is a senior laden group, and that should help significantly against a team like Stow. The Bulldogs have had their fair share of challenges this season, but they can always find a way to give teams a hard time. A lot of that has to do with a chaotic defensive approach that makes life hard for opposing ball handlers. If the Bulldogs can pressure the Mentor guards, force turnovers and turn them into easy points theyāll have a shot.
Mayfield vs. Riverside on Feb. 19: The Mayfield Wildcats are the Northeast Districtās No. 13 seed in Division II, while the Riverside Beavers are No. 14. These two Western Reserve Conference rivals finished second and third in the conference respectively. They split the season series this year, and the combined score of their first two matchups was 81-81. Senior Olivia Williams is averaging 18.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 3.0 assists per game, and can be the difference maker for the Wildcats.
Ellet junior Caitlyn Holmes knocks down a three to give her 26 points and break the Orangemen career scoring record.Jonathan X. Simmons, cleveland.com
Rocky River vs. Ellet on Feb. 19: Rocky River has a first-round bye, while Ellet must first beat Ashtabula Lakeside to make this matchup possible. While Ellet has the lower seeding, as the Northeast Districtās No. 11 ranked team in Division III, the Orangemen will have the best player on the floor in Kent State commit Caitlyn Holmes. Sheās averaging 18 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 4.4 steals per game, and with Jaeda Tavares making major strides as a secondary scoring option and Sanaiiya Gray finally back in the lineup the Orangemen will be a tough team to beat. The No. 7 seeded Pirates, however, have a fearless trio of sophomores in Nora Bruder, Elizabeth Lang and Olivia Dewey. The only teams to beat them at home this season were Magnificat and Medina, being the third team on that list will not be easy.
Norton vs. VASJ on Feb 18: Both Norton and VASJ would need to win their first-round matchups to make this one happen, but as the Northeast Districtās Nos. 16 and 18 seeds in Division IV this one would be entertaining to say the least. VASJās Elizabeth Dunmire is averaging 18.8 points, 11.5 rebounds 3.7 assists, 2.9 blocks and 4.5 steals per game, while Sydney Dunmire chips in 11.1 points per game herself. Dakota Graham and Alivia Goff combine for 23.6 points per game for Norton, but the Panthers are so dangerous because everyone is a threat to score on any given possession. Defenseās have to work much harder to keep up and the Panthers are happy to ride the hot hand to victory, no matter whoās heating up.
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