Joining Versailles as poll champs were Pickerington Central (D-I), Beloit West Branch (D-II) and Waterford (D-IV).
Three area teams were bunched in the final D-II poll: No. 4 Tippecanoe (20-2), No. 5 Trotwood-Madison (19-2) and No. 7 Valley View (19-2). Waynesville (21-1) was No. 8 and the only other area D-III to make the top 10. Two more MAC teams made the final D-IV cut, No. 4 Minster (17-3) and No. 8 Fort Recovery (15-4).
The teams are voted on by media throughout the state and compiled by AP.
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• Wayne’s 54-47 loss at Springfield last weekend didn’t prevent the Warriors from earning the No. 1 seed in the upcoming D-I boys basketball sectional. But it did likely end Wayne’s shot at winning an AP state poll title.
Wayne (19-1) was seeded No. 1 and Springfield (16-3) No. 2 during Sunday’s coaches’ seed meeting. Wayne positioned itself in the Dayton 3 sectional at Butler and barring upsets, should meet GWOC National East rival Centerville in a sectional final.
However, Wayne fell from No. 1 to No. 3 in Monday’s boys state poll behind leader Solon and No. 2 Cincinnati Moeller. Wayne had been No. 1 since the second week of the poll and just one week remains.
Springfield is in the Dayton 2 sectional at Centerville and will likely meet Sidney (14-6) or Franklin (16-5) in that sectional final.
Butler (18-2) is the No. 3 seed in a loaded Dayton 1 sectional also at Centerville. All six of those teams have winning records with the exception of Xenia (10-10). That sectional also has the best first-round game in Lebanon (14-6) vs. Belmont (12-6).
Trotwood-Madison (17-3) was top seeded and should have no problem advancing through the D-II sectional at Springfield High School. Kenton Ridge (14-5), winless in the 2016-17 regular season, extended its rebound by landing the No. 2 seed.
Versailles (16-3) and Bethel (16-3) were seeded 1-2 in the D-III sectional at Northmont. Despite a great record, Troy Christian (18-2) could do no better than a No. 5 seed. Anna (17-4) is the No. 3 seed at Butler. Anna swept D-IV top seed Fort Loramie and lost to Versailles by two points.
Loramie (19-2) and Russia (12-6) are seeded 1-2 in the D-IV Piqua sectional. Springfield Catholic Central (16-3) and Legacy Christian (14-6) are seeded 1-2 in the D-IV sectional at Troy, but both are lumped in the Troy 2 bracket. That means they should be a rare sectional final matchup of the top two seeds.
Boys sectional play begins next week.
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• Beavercreek (Butler) and Springboro (Troy) are seeded 1-2 in those D-I girls sectionals. Lebanon (Troy) is the No. 3 seed.
Tippecanoe (Tecumseh) and Trotwood-Madison are seeded 1-2 in the D-II sectional at Tecumseh. However, Tipp likely lost second-leading scorer and senior Allison Mader to a severe concussion after falling at Vandalia on Saturday. Mader (14.4 points) is a four-year starter and has signed with Cedarville University.
Valley View (1) and Bellbrook (2) are the top D-II seeds at Lebanon and also should meet in a sectional final.
In D-III, 2017 state runner-up Versailles is top seeded at Covington and Waynesville a No. 2 seed at Trotwood. Tri-Village (Brookville), Legacy Christian (Monroe) and Fort Loramie (Sidney) all are seeded No. 1 in D-IV sectionals.
The girls basketball sectional begins with D-III on Wednesday. Most girls teams play openers on Saturday.
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• Carroll trailed by 16 points in the fourth quarter but recovered to force overtime before falling at Chaminade Julienne in a boys game on Sunday, 49-48. Junior guard Milton Gage led CJ (8-12) with 18 points. Eli Ramsey paced Carroll (11-7) with 16 points. The Greater Catholic League North rivals play again at Carroll on Friday.
• Trotwood-Madison will end the boys regular season in a grand way, hosting Springfield on Friday. Both teams must first take care of business on Tuesday when Trotwood is at Stebbins and Springfield hosts Fairmont.
Trotwood defeated Springfield 88-73 last season.
• Butler (18-2, 11-2) will host Sidney (14-6, 10-3) on Tuesday in what will decide the GWOC American North boys basketball title. Butler will clinch an outright title with a win. Both teams also will play final North Division games on Friday, Butler at Tippecanoe and Sidney against visiting Greenville.
• Springfield Northeastern standout Hayley Suchland scored 41 points in a 67-61 defeat of visiting Triad last Saturday in an Ohio Heritage Conference girls game.
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