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Path to OVAC boys basketball championships set

BELLAIRE — The brackets are set. After a couple of months of basketball, the path to the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference’s boys basketball championship was established Wednesday morning during the OVAC Basketball Committee meeting.

The Wheeling Hospital OVAC Boys Basketball Championships will open on Feb. 11 with the higher seeds in each of the five classes hosting semi-final games. Those winners will then advance to Ohio University Eastern in St. Clairsville to play for the title on Feb. 15.

The championship final schedule will be the same utilized this coming weekend for the girls with 4A kicking things off at 10 a.m. Games will go off every two hours and go 4A, 5A, 1A, 2A and 3A.

The teams not in the top four of their classification were assigned their final two regular season games by the committee.

Here’s a look at each class:

CLASS 5A

Morgantown — on the strength of a 14-2 record — garnered the top seed in the class. The Mohigans have won three conference titles in their still relatively brief history in the OVAC.

Morgantown will welcome fourth-seeded Weir, which is 10-6 and got in after some dominoes fell its way during Tuesday evening’s action. The Red Riders own seven OVAC titles in hoops, but won their last in 2010.

The other half of the bracket pits a pair of familiar opponents. University, which is currently 14-3, garnered the two seed after it edged Wheeling Park on Tuesday. The Hawks, who are the defending champion and feature Bowling Green signee Kaden Matheny at guard, will play the third-seeded Patriots on Tuesday.

Coach Michael Jebbia’s team is 12-4 and is seeking its eighth conference title in school history. Park hasn’t won a title since 2012.

CLASS 4A

Meadowbrook has had a stranglehold on this division, winning the last four titles. Coach Scooter Tolzda’s team is the top seed once again as the Colts take part for the final team with their impending departure from the conference.

Meadowbrook earned the top spot with a 14-3 record.

One of the aforementioned dominoes that fell in Weir’s favor was pushed over by Harrison Central. The Huskies, by virtue of their win over Steubenville on Tuesday, punched their own ticket to the final four with a 10-7 record.

Harrison has one OVAC title to its credit and that came in 2007.

On the other half of the bracket, East Liverpool is the second seed and will host Martins Ferry.

The Potters are 13-4 and enter off a loss to Oak Glen on Tuesday. Martins Ferry, meanwhile, played its way in last Saturday when it knocked off Beaver Local in a Buckeye 8 consolation game. The Purple Riders of Coach Derek Edwards are 11-7.

East Liverpool hasn’t won an OVAC title since 1999, while the Purple Riders last claimed the hardware in 2017, which was Edwards’ first season at the helm.

CLASS 3A

A new champion is promised in this division as defending champion Barnesville hit a slide in the middle portion of the season and finished fifth in the standings.

Union Local, which has been one of the hottest teams in the Ohio Valley, garnered the top seed thanks to winning 13 of its final 14, including a win over Barnesville on Tuesday.

Coach Zach Delman’s Jets are 14-5 and are seeking their third title, but first since 2015.

A stern test awaits Union Local in fourth-seeded Magnolia. Coach Dave Tallman’s Blue Eagles are 12-4. Magnolia owns six conference crowns, including four in the tournament era.

Linsly, which has also played solid basketball all season, pocketed the two seed over Fort Frye by seven one thousandths of a point. That equates to a home game for Coach Dave Wojcik’s squad.

The Cadets are 12-6 and are seeking their seventh OVAC title, but first since 2012.

Fort Frye, meanwhile, finished the pre-OVAC portion of its schedule with a 14-3 record and will come to Wheeling seeking their eighth conference title and first since 2014.

CLASS 2A

While some of the titles have come in difference classes, the string of success put forth by Wheeling Central, which is the top seed in this class, has been impressive.

All told, the Maroon Knights have won an OVAC-best 27 titles in boys hoops. Included are the last seven. The Maroon Knights will begin their quest for an eighth straight against 15-1 Clay-Battelle.

The CeeBees have never won an OVAC title in boys hoops.

Shadyside, which is another one of area’s hottest teams, moved up with a late charge to earn the second seed. The Tigers are 15-5 and are seeking their 14th conference title, but first since 2010.

Up next for Coach Ed Andes’ team is a date with Southern Local, which is in for the first time. The Indians will make the trip down Route 7 with a 15-3 record.

CLASS 1A

A new champion is guaranteed for this division with Morgantown Trinity failing to qualify for the top four.

Frontier, which has been on top of the standings throughout basically, was awarded the top seed thanks to an 11-7 record. The Cougars, who own five OVAC titles, but none since 2004, will take on a solid Cameron outfit.

Coach Tom Hart’s Dragons will go to Beaverton with a 10-7 record, seeking another trip to the title game. Cameron has never won an OVAC title in boys basketball.

Speaking of teams that have never won an OVAC title, Hundred’s Hornets have qualified for the first time and will play host to Madonna. Hundred, which owns nary an OVAC title in any sport, is currently 12-4.

Madonna, meanwhile, has won nine OVAC titles, including its last in 2017. The Blue Dons are 8-8 on the season.

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