Northridge receives No. 4 in Central District boys basketball draw

On Feb 5, 2023

The Northridge boys basketball team wrapped up the Licking County League-Cardinal Division championship on Friday, the program’s first league title, but the Vikings (15-3) still have work to do during a now historic season.

The Vikings earned the No. 4 seed in Division III in the Central District. They host either No. 14 Elgin or No. 16 Columbus International in a second-round game at 1 p.m. Feb. 25.

Potential district semifinal opponents include No. 5 Harvest Prep or No. 12 Utica (11-8), which hosts No. 20 Mount Gilead at 7 p.m. Feb. 22. The district final could come against No. 2 Worthington Christian, which would be a rematch of a postseason game won by the Warriors last season and feeds into the regional at Kettering Fairmont.

Heath (11-7), a reigning Division II district champion which dropped down to Division III, earned the No. 7 seed and hosts No. 19 North Union at 7 p.m. Feb. 22. With a win, the Bulldogs likely would host No. 9 Fredericktown at 7 p.m. Feb. 25, and that winner likely would see No. 1 Africentric in a district semifinal.

Newark (13-6) earned the No. 11 seed in Division I and could have a pair of games at Jimmy Allen Gymnasium. The Wildcats will host No. 36 Olentangy at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 for a first-round game before hosting No. 25 New Albany at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 if they win.

If the seeds hold, Newark would meet No. 6 Gahanna in a district semifinal. Down the road, a potential district final could come against No. 2 Olentangy Liberty, which would be a rematch of the Patriots’ last-second win in December.

Licking Heights (11-10) is No. 35 and visits No. 26 Upper Arlington at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 with the winner likely to visit No. 5 Dublin Jerome at 7 p.m. Feb. 24. Watkins Memorial (10-9) is No. 37 and visits No. 24 Hilliard Davidson at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 with the winner visiting No. 14 Westerville Central three nights later.

Johnstown (12-7) earned the No. 6 seed in Division II and hosts No. 17 Licking Valley (7-12) at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 in a rematch of an LCL game won 53-46 by the Johnnies in late January. The winner will visit No. 4 Bexley at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 with potential matchups against No. 5 Bishop Hartley and No. 1 Bishop Ready, which hosts No. 22 Lakewood (2-18) at 7 p.m. Feb. 21, down the road.

Granville (11-8), attempting to win back-to-back LCL-Buckeye Division championships this week, earned the No. 7 seed and hosts No. 13 Whitehall at 7 p.m. Feb. 21. A visit from No. 9 Bloom-Carroll would be next at 7 p.m. on Feb. 24 as the Bulldogs beat the Blue Aces in late December, and No. 2 River Valley is likely the opponent for that winner in the district semifinal.

Newark Catholic (4-15), attempting to win a third consecutive district championship, received the No. 7 seed in Division IV and visits No. 4 Fairfield Christian at 1 p.m. on Feb. 25 in a game that feeds directly into a district semifinal likely against No. 6 Danville. In a potential district final, the Green Wave could see No. 1 Northside Christian, which would be a rematch of a game won 46-44 by Northside in December.