By Eric Frantz, MaxPreps.com

Despite graduating three starters (including two OPSMA All-Ohio players) and four of their top seven players from last year’s state championship team (beat Massillon Perry 78-46), head coach Shan Trusley (209-107 in 13 years) and the Warriors return to the state tournament riding a 20-game win streak and 49-1 record in their last 50 games. Westerville North, ranked 7th in Ohio (regardless of Division) in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings and No. 1 in Division II, hasn’t lost since before Christmas, when it dropped a 51-49 decision to three-time defending state champion Lutheran East on Dec. 21. The Warriors are looking for their third state title in six trips. Westerville Central’s first state title came in 1994 (beat Cincinnati Withrow 50-48 OT). That was part of a stretch of three straight state tournament appearances (1994-1996). The Warriors resume includes quality wins over Pickerington Central (D-I semifinalist), Lima Senior (D-II semifinalist), Dayton Northridge (D-III regional finalist), Cincinnati Aiken (defending D-II runner-up), Cleveland St. Ignatius and Olentangy Orange (defending D-I champion). The Warriors beat New Albany 58-50 in the regional final thanks in part toa 26-point performance from senior guard Elijah McCree. The Central District Player of the Year, McCree averages 20.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.7 steals while shooting 46% from the field and 41% from 3-point. Junior forward Tony Cornett (16.7 points, 5.5 rebounds), junior guard Tyson Perkins (11 points, 5.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds), junior Damion King (8.7 points, 5.8 rebounds) and senior wing Jacob Medhane (8.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists) round out the starting five. Westerville North averages 76.6 points and allows 52. The Warriors have scored 91 points twice in the tournament.

After earning the program’s first state tournament berth last season, the Bears earned a return ticket with a 40-38 win over Brecksville-Broadview Heights in the regional final. North Royalton limited Brecksville to four fourth quarter points en route to avenging two regular season losses to the Bees. Junior guard Lincoln Lee’s steal of an inbounds pass with five seconds left sealed the victory. All five of North Royalton’s starters – senior guard Sean Bunsey (honorable mention), senior guard Antonio Escano (second team, 16.4 points), Lee (third team, 13.2 points), junior forward Nolan Klingbeil (honorable mention) and senior guard Omar Klingbeil (honorable mention) – earned All-Northeast Inland District honors. Head coach Nick Lapsevich is 136-57 in eight years at the school. North Royalton, which finished runner-up in the Suburban League National Conference, averages 72 points and allows 57. The Bears are ranked 20th in Ohio (regardless of Division) by MaxPreps and No. 6 in Division II.

The Spartans avenged last year’s regional semifinal loss to Winton Woods with a 62-58 victory over the Warriors in a regional final at sold-out Springfield High School to earn their first state tournament berth since 2016. Lima Senior has been to the state tournament six times and finished D-I runner-up in 2016 (lost 57-55 to Westerville South) and 1992 (lost 88-86 in OT to West Chester Lakota). Junior guard Shawn Foster (offers from Ohio State, Cincinnati, Dayton and more) had 25 points in the regional final, while junior guard Noah Simpson (13.6 points) scored 12 and senior guard Amari Addy (10.5 points) added 10. Foster (21.1 points, 5.9 rebounds) teams with his brother – senior forward Willie Foster (Northwest District and Toledo City Athletic League Player of the Year) – to form an impressive tandem. Willie Foster (14.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists) has signed with Northern Kentucky. The Spartans, ranked 10th in Ohio (regardless of Division) by MaxPreps and No. 3 in Division II, average 81 points and allow 49. The resume is legit. Lima Senior owns wins over Cincinnati Aiken (2025 D-II runner-up), Toledo Central Catholic (D-III semifinalist), Mansfield Senior (D-III regional finalist) and Trotwood-Madison (D-III semifinalist). Their losses have come against then-nationally-ranked Lakota West (68-66), fellow D-II semifinalist Westerville North (69-66), D-I semifinalist Princeton (65-61) and Michigan regional finalist East Kentwood (60-56). Head coach Qunicy Simpson is 243-65 in 12 years.

The Tigers, searching for their first basketball state title, are in the state tournament for the seventh time overall and first since 1945. Massillon, led by then-head coach Paul Brown, finished Class A state runner-up in 1937 (lost 37-32 to Hamilton). This is the program’s most single-season wins since the 1930s. Alum and head coach Josh Hose (233-131 overall) has the Tigers, ranked ninth in Ohio (regardless of Division) by MaxPreps and No. 2 in Division II, riding a 22-game win streak. Their last loss – a 74-71 defeat to North Canton Hoover – came the day before Christmas Eve. An offensive onslaught that averages 81 points per game is Massillon’s strength. Junior guard Xavier Williams (16 points, 4.4 rebounds) and junior guard Brandon Gamble (13.8 points, 6.3 assists, 5.8 rebounds) are first team All-Northeast Inland District performers, while junior forward Gio Jackson Jr. (15.9 points) and senior guard Jadyce Thigpen (15.7 points) were selected second team. Senior guard Isaiah Lamp (8.8 points) was named honorable mention. Gamble is a standout safety in football. Massillon is coming off its first district title in 23 years and has produced 44 wins over the last two seasons. The Tigers allow 64 points per game.