Scouting 2025-26 area high school boys basketball districts
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A look at upcoming high school boys basketball sectional/district tournaments involving News-Herald coverage area teams:
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Division I
Northeast 1 – Lakewood
Top seed: 2 St. Edward
Other area teams: 7 Mentor
Up next: District champ advances to Akron Regional
Outlook: Mentor comes in off an up-and-down end to the regular season. The Cardinals have been strong on offense, averaging 79 points. Jack Kennedy (18.7 points) and Tony Katava (17.5 points) have led the way with contributions from Logan Lynch, Tommy Pavicic and Connor Witte. Katava has controlled the glass (9.9 rebounds) while Kennedy has been strong with the ball in his hands (8.4 assists and 3.7 steals). Defensively, the Mentor press has always challenged teams and will be up to St. Edward to try and figure out.
Division II
Northeast 2 – Valley Forge
Top seed: 7 Hoover
Other area teams: 11 Riverside, 32 North
Up next: District champ advances to Kent State Regional
Outlook: Riverside has won four in a row and look for its first district final since 2007. The Beavers bring a strong inside game of Drew Brown (18 points, 9.8 rebounds) and David Seibert (13.5 points). Add in strong shooting from Palmer Hanlin (43 3s) and Kyele Harden running the offense, the Beavers will contend to hoist a district title.
Northeast 4 – Twinsburg
Top seeds: 5 Austintown-Fitch, 6 Hudson
Other area teams: 17 Mayfield
Up next: District champ advances to Kent State Regional
Outlook: Mayfield brings a balanced blend to the court of ability on the cuts. Izzy Austin (19 points) leads the team in several statistical categories but is’t the only threat for the Wildcats. Aarav Ganore (14.8), Traiton Brown (12.3) and Kingston Murchison are threats up and down the court.
Northeast 7 – Twinsburg
Top seed: 3 Euclid
Up next: District champ advances to Wooster Regional
Outlook: The Panthers come in with an offense that can run through several players. Mekhi Asberry leads the way (17.2 points, 69 3s) with Kye Owens averaging a double-double of 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds. Dashaun Williams (six rebounds), DJ Jenkins (5.5), and Dontez Jones (5.5) help Euclid control the glass for second-chance looks.
Division III
Northeast 1 – Cloverleaf
Top seeds: 10 Garfield Heights, 18 Harvey
Other area teams: 22 Brush, 25 Geneva
Up next: District champ advances to Medina Regional
Outlook: The bottom half of this bracket will be a clash of styles if Harvey and Brush reach the district semifinals. The Red Raiders are offensive-minded, averaging 65.4 points. Four players average over 10 points, led by four-year starter Armani Hall at 13.9. The Red Raiders can play inside and out, making them difficult to defend. But Brush’s defense has held several teams well below their averages, holding teams to 49.5. The Arcs are led by Prince-Ryleigh Johnson with 14.3 points and a strong mix on the drive.
Top seeds: 3 Ursuline, 6 Hawken
Other area teams: 19 University, 42 Madison
Up next: District champ advances to Medina Regional
Outlook: A year ago, Hawken’s run to the state semifinals began with a win over Ursuline. This year, they would meet in the district final. The Hawks are led by guards Daron Hill (17.6 points), Ice Taylor (16.1) and Greg Price (15.9). They also feature Charlie Mallett, who can run the offense and control the glass. But keep an eye on University, as the Preppers have several 3-point shooters that can get hot in an instant.
Northeast 3 – Cloverleaf
Top seeds: 4 Hoban, 5 Kenston
Other area teams: 24 Chardon
Up next: District champ advances to Medina Regional
Outlook: Kenston’s youth movement is in full effect. The top six scorers are underclassmen. Eli Ellis leads the way at 13.5 points per game. But even when he missed several games with a collarbone injury, the Bombers continued to score. Kahlil Hinton (11.8) and Luke Stupica (11.1) control the paint and get up for dunks in transition. Add in Ethan Burge’s improved ability at running the offense (3.2 assists) and the Bombers are going to be a tough out.
Northeast 4 – Warren Harding
Top seeds: 2 Chaney, 8 Gilmour
Up next: District champ advances to Medina Regional
Outlook: Gilmour has been up and down since losing Mikey Holt and Brody Durham. But winning two of the last three and leading a majority of the time against Brecksville could be the spark that the Lancers need for the postseason. Brayden Titas has made a leap with 12.8 points and 52 3-pointers. Caleb Henderson (9.0) and Aiden Anders (8.3) have become voices in the paint and the Lancers will need that if the seeds play out and they meet Chaney in the district final.
Northeast 5 – Strongsville
Top seeds: 7 CVCA, 9 Akron SVSM
Other area teams: 30 VASJ
Up next: District champ advances to Toledo Regional
Outlook: Don’t look now but VASJ is peaking coming into the postseason. The Vikings have won five of their last six and eclipsed 100 points against Mayfield. The junior trio of Jaevon Hairston (16.6), OJ Spikes (14.1) and Julian Council (10.9). Add in a strong defense led by senior Franie Oriani and the Vikings could be primed for another deep postseason run.
Northeast 6 – Strongsville
Top seeds: 1 Alliance
Other area teams: 43 South
Up next: District champ advances to Toledo Regional
Division IV
Northeast 1 – North Ridgeville
Top seeds: 1 Canfield, 6 Orrville
Other area teams: 13 Perry, 14 NDCL, 19 West Geauga
Up next: District champ advances to Canton Regional
Outlook: This bracket has the chance to be chaotic. Perry comes in winning 10 of their last 11. The Pirates have Kaden Brewster that can hit from anywhere on the floor (17 points, 59 3-pointers) coupled with several strong bodies inside to control the glass. NDCL has been challenged this season, playing 13 teams with winning records. Bendan Hernan leads the way with a double-double average (17.1 points, 11.1 rebounds), coupled with Wesley Jacobson (14.9) and Luke Keep (11.9). West Geauga also features a young team that has been developing as well, led by Cooper Paskowski (11.7) and Mason Pesho (11.5).
Northeast 4 – Copley
Top seeds: 5 Warrensville Heights, 9 Woodridge, 10 Benedictine
Up next: District champ advances to Canton Regional
Outlook: Benedictine has brought a very even balance to the court, scoring and holding teams to 59 points. The Bengals are led by Steph Bohanon (15.2) and a balancing act between Xander Smith, Jonathon Spikes and Khaled Thompson. Benedictine is young but features a lot of experience from a challenging schedule and have a wide open top portion of the bracket.
Division V
Northeast 1 – Cleveland Heights
Top seeds: 1 Lutheran East, 12 Triway
Other area teams: 29 Wickliffe, 35 Beachwood
Up next: District champ advances to Canton Regional
Northeast 2 – Firestone
Top seeds: 2 Chagrin Falls, 3 Keystone
Up next: District champ advances to Canton Regional
Outlook: The Tigers have won 15 straight and are doing it with defense. They have held teams to 46.9 points this season while controlling the glass. The offense has been one by committee, as Harrison Horvath (10.8) and Jake Vasko (10.6) are the only two averaging double figures. But it’s the ability for everyone to contribute on both ends of the floor that will help the Tigers make a run this postseason.
Northeast 3 – Cleveland Heights
Top seeds: 5 Poland Seminary, 6 Fairview, 7 Southeast
Other area teams: 25 Lake Catholic
Up next: District champ advances to Canton Regional
Northeast 4 – Firestone
Top seeds: 4 Manchester, 8 LaBrae, 9 Berkshire, 10 Canton Central Catholic
Up next: District champ advances to Canton Regional
Outlook: Berkshire ended the regular season on a three game win streak and are in a very loaded bottom half of the bracket with LaBrae and Canton CC. The Badgers defense has been strong, holding teams to 46.3 points with their length and ability to slow opponents down. Billy Verbic is the teams leading scorer (12.3) but four other players average over five points as well. Cameron Beam has been strong on the boards with a 7.4 average.
Division VI
Northeast 2 – Gilmour
Top seeds: 6 Newton Falls, 7 David Anderson
Other area teams: 9 Richmond Heights
Up next: District champ advances to Canton Regional
Outlook: Richmond Heights is young but able to contend with any team across the lie from them. The Spartans are led by Dereon Barber (14.3 points, 3.3 steals). But it’s their versatility around him that make the Spartans a dark horse. Lucas Perillo brings the size while Hayden Smith can run the offense.
Northeast 3 – Gilmour
Top seeds: 3 Smithville, 4 Brookfield
Other area teams: 18 Andrews Osborne
Up next: District champ advances to Canton Regional
Northeast 4 – Salem
Top seeds: 1 Kirtland, 10 Oberlin
Up next: District champ advances to Canton Regional
Outlook: Kirtland has been efficient on offense. The Hornets are averaging 68.5 points, led by Lucas Renfro (18 points) and Ben DiFranco (14.6) working on the cut. The Hornets use their size and speed to their advantage. They push the pace and tempo against any opponent.
Division VII
Northeast 1 – Mineral Ridge
Top seeds: 1 McDonald, 5 Hillsdale
Other area teams: 17 Cardinal
Up next: District champ advances to Barberton Regional
Northeast 2 – Smithville
Top seeds: 3 Heartland Christian, 4 BC Western Reserve
Other area teams: 14 Cornerstone
Up next: District champ advances to Barberton Regional
Northeast 3 – Smithville
Top seeds: 2 Fairport, 6 Medina Christian
Up next: District champ advances to Barberton Regional
Outlook: Fairport has the coverage area’s best offense, averaging 79.1 points this season, led by Yomar Castellano with 19.8 points per game. But the Skippers’ starting five features four players averaging double figures with Jan Castellano (12.1), Kam Leftwich (12), and Ben Allen (11). Shane Greenwood is a strong shooter, and the Skippers’ variety of defenses have been a challenge to crack all season.