Tusky Valley eyes favorable tournament path

Three area Division V girls basketball teams with strong seasons learned their postseason routes when OHSAA RPI numbers were used to seed the district fields. Tusky Valley appears to have the most favorable path among the local Division V teams.

Tusky Valley is 17-4 overall and 11-1 in the Inter-Valley Conference South. The Trojans are tied with Hiland in the loss column and have already secured at least a share of the IVC South title.

The Trojans are seeded third among 11 teams in the Division V district. Tusky Valley will open tournament play at 7 p.m. Feb. 19 against No. 10 Ridgewood. The winner advances to face No. 11 Buckeye Local at 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at a site to be determined.

A win there would put Tusky Valley into a 1 p.m. district final at a site to be determined. The Trojans’ most likely opponent would be No. 2 Edison, which will play either No. 6 Sandy Valley or No. 7 Barnesville. Sandy Valley was 13-8 with one regular-season game left entering the draw.

In the Division V East 2 bracket, Claymont drew a difficult opener. The Mustangs, who finished 12-10, are seeded ninth and will open at No. 1 Belmont Union Local at 7 p.m. Feb. 19. The winner advances to a 7 p.m. game Feb. 25 at Martins Ferry if Claymont wins, or at Union Local if the host advances.

That winner will play in a 1 p.m. district final Feb. 28 against either No. 4 West Muskingum or No. 8 Fairless.

Newcomerstown is the lone Tuscarawas County team in Division VI. The Trojans are seeded sixth in a 10-team field and will travel to face Shadyside in a first-round game. The teams will play at 7 p.m. Feb. 8.

The winner advances to face No. 3 Shenandoah in a 1 p.m. sectional final Feb. 21. The winner there moves on to a 7 p.m. district semifinal Feb. 25, potentially at No. 4 Hiland, with the district final set for 1 p.m. Feb. 28. Top-seeded Fort Frye is the favorite on the other side of the bracket.

Division IV’s East District is split into two eight-team brackets with 16 teams seeded overall. Indian Valley is seeded 10th and will compete in the East 1 bracket as the only Tuscarawas County team in the field.

Indian Valley will play at Harrison Central at 7 p.m. Feb. 19 in Cadiz. The winner advances to a 7 p.m. district semifinal Feb. 25 against either Philo or Cambridge, with the higher seed hosting.

Carrollton, West Holmes and McConnelsville Morgan are the top seeds in the East 2 bracket. District finals are scheduled for 1 p.m. Feb. 25 at sites to be determined.