Your Hawkblog Guide to the Playoffs

Yes Coach, it’s time to talk about the playoffs. Everything you need to know answered in nine questions.

Let’s get going – Playoffs 101

1. You say the playoffs start tonight, but the Hawks don’t play until Friday. What gives?   Well, Maumee Valley was voted the number one seed in their section. The one and two seeds receive byes.

2. Who will the Hawks’ opponent be?   Maumee Valley will play the winner of the Toledo Christian vs. Northwood first round game played Wednesday.

3. Where and when is the game?   Rossford High School is the scene of this game, start time is 6:15pm Friday March 4, 2011.

4. Where’s Ottawa Hills in all this?   OH is the second seed and plays Friday immediately following Maumee Valley’s game at Rossford HS. They play the winner of the Cardinal Stritch – Bettsville first round tilt.

Next up - Playoffs 102

5. So if MV wins, do we play Ottawa Hills next?  Nope, the Friday winners advance to the next round of the playoffs – the Districts at Gibsonburg. There each winner will meet one of two Sectional champs from the Port Clinton Section. Maumee Valley could face either Sandusky St. Mary’s, Danbury or Fremont St. Joe’s. The winner of that game plays for the District title – likely against Ottawa Hills.

6. How do you know this? Here is a link to the Gibsonburg District bracket, including the Sectionals.

7. What then?   The Gibsonburg District winner goes to the Regional playoffs at Bowling Green. Here is a link to all the Ohio High School District / Regional brackets. Scroll down for Division IV.

Playoffs 201

8. Who are some of the other strong teams in the Bowling Green Regional?

Here is a link to the BG regional Bracket.

The Gibsonburg District winner faces the winner of the Lima District. The Lima District features State No. 4 Columbus Grove and No. 9 Continental. Other teams to watch out of Lima include 16-4 Kalida and two 12-8 teams; Arlington and Lima Temple Christian. Kalida has a tough draw, likely facing Continental in their second round game.

On the other side of the bracket the Findlay District winner faces the Napoleon District winner. Blade D-IV No. 1 and State No. 3 ranked McComb leads this District, which also includes 18-2 Vanlue, 11-8 Van Buren, 14-6 Leipsig and 15-5 New Riegel. Overall, the Findlay district probably features the best overall balance of the four District brackets.

The Napoleon District’s two best teams are Antwerp (15-5) and Edon (14-6) out of the Hicksville Sectional. The number one and two seeds in the Bryan Sectional are Stryker at 9-11 and Pettisville at 10-10.

9. And then?   When the dust settles at BG, 48 teams will have played down to one. Final four, baby, Columbus here we come.