The proof is in another great season. The Wildcats (19-4) played streaking Sidney (18-6) in a boys high school basketball Division I sectional final at Centerville on Friday night. The winner will play the Elder/Winton Woods winner in one of four D-I district finals at the University of Dayton Arena on Saturday, March 10.
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Besides the challenging non-conference schedule, Springfield also faces two games each in the area’s best big-school division: the five-team Greater Western Ohio Conference National East. Springfield, Wayne, Centerville and Fairmont all will play for sectional titles this weekend.
Springfield took a 4-1 run into the Sidney showdown, having lost only at mighty Trotwood-Madison, 79-72. Springfield defeated Springboro 77-60 in its tourney opener on Tuesday. Wildcats scoring leaders are Raheim Moss (14.9), Leonard Taylor (12.9), Michael Wallace (9.9) and JaJuan Rodgers (9.2).
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There were two other boys games on Friday and involved area teams:
• Shawnee (16-8) took a four-game win streak into a D-II sectional final at Springfield High School against Carroll (15-9). Shawnee overwhelmed Central Buckeye Conference Mad River champ Urbana 53-31 in the semifinals. Carroll dodged Graham 35-32 in overtime.
The winner plays the Aiken/Hughes winner in one of three D-II district finals at UD Arena on Thursday.
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• It’s on Emmanuel Christian (9-14) to follow up on a stunning 70-54 upset of third-seeded Franklin Monroe. Emmanuel faced Tri-Village of the Cross County Conference in a D-IV sectional final at Troy on Friday. That winner advances to a D-IV district final at UD Arena on Friday, March 9, against the Russia/Jackson Center winner.
• West Liberty-Salem is the only area school to still have its boys and girls in tourney contention and both Tigers teams will play on Saturday.
First up is the WL-Salem girls (19-5) against Cincinnati Summit Country Day (25-0) in a D-III district final at Springfield High School at 11 a.m. The winner advances to the D-III regional semis also at Springfield on Wednesday.
At 3:30 p.m. it’s the WL-Salem boys (17-7) against top-seeded Versailles (20-4) and Ohio State signee Justin Ahrens in a D-III sectional final at Northmont. The winner advances to a D-III district final at UD Arena on Wednesday against the Clark Montessori/Madeira winner.
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• The Catholic Central boys (21-3) will take an eight-game win streak into a D-IV sectional final against Legacy Christian (18-6) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Troy. That winner will play in a D-IV district final at UD Arena on Friday, March 9 against the Ripley Union-Lewis/James Gamble Montessori winner.
• Finally, the Cedarville girls (20-5) will play Fort Loramie (20-5) in one of three D-IV district finals at 3 p.m. Saturday at Troy. The winner advances to the D-IV regional semifinals at Butler on Thursday against the Legacy Christian/Covington winner.
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