Girls basketball: Southview, PH No. 1 seeds

2/13/2006

Southview and Patrick Henry girls basketball teams have avoided defeat up to now.

Southview, ranked No. 2 in Ohio in Division I, and Patrick Henry, ranked No. 2 in Division IV, are 18-0 heading into the final week of the regular season.

For their perfect marks, both have been awarded No. 1 seeds for sectional play scheduled to start Feb. 21.

The Cougars, who have two Northern Lakes League games remaining, passed on receiving an opening-round bye and will take on Rogers (4-14) with the winner facing Central Catholic in the final at Clay.

Central (11-7) received an opening-round bye.A potential Central Catholic-Southview final appears to be one of several intriguing D-I contests.

Bowsher (11-7) takes on St. Ursula (10-8) and Start (9-8) will play Notre Dame (13-5) in opening-round games.

Liz Tansey (12.9 points, 5.6 rebonds) and Mandi Lisk (9.9, 5.1) lead Southview.

"It's nice to be respected by your [peers], but it does put a bull's-eye on you," Southview coach Todd Bostater said. "We'll just have to come out ready to play."

Central coach Steve Pfahler anticipates a meeting with the Cougars.

"You've either got to beat them early or you've got to beat them late," Pfahler said.

Scott (13-4) received a No. 2 seed while Waite (15-3) and Northview (15-3) were rewarded the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds, respectively.

"I think we deserved one of the top four spots and I think everything else fell right into place," Scott coach Darrell Dorn said. "The second seed is a credit to the girls and I'm pleased with it."

Patrick Henry will face the McComb-Kalida winner to open tournament play.

Patriots coach Rick Schweibert considers it an honor, as well as a challenge, receiving top-seed recognition.

"We're very pleased we have the No. 1 seed, but when it's tournament time it really doesn't matter," Schweibert said.

Alison Meyer leads the Patriots in scoring (12.7 points) and rebounding (9.5 rebounds) and is one of six seniors on a team that reached the Division III state tournament last year.

Stacie Coressel (11.3, 7.7), Danielle Collins (9.6 points) and Haley Badenhop (9.5 points) figure to be key in the Patriots' attempt to make it to Columbus for the second straight year.

Ottawa Hills (14-3) will open the Division IV sectional as a No. 1 seed against Liberty Center (7-12) on Feb. 22.

Contact Donald Emmons at: demmons@theblade.com or 419 724-6302.