DIVISION I BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Princeton def. Kettering Fairmont, 59-44
LaSalle def. Woodward, 61-42
Moeller def. Trotwood, 51-47
St. Xavier def. Wayne, 46-40

Return Engagement
By Sonny Fulks – for SWDAB.com

By trade Ft. Loramie’s Karl Raterman is a math teacher, and not surprisingly you could almost see him calculating the future in his coaching mind following the Redskins’ second Division IV title win in as many years on Friday night at UD Arena.

The Redskins eliminated a talented Seven Hills team from Cincinnati, 58-37, to set up a return engagement for Raterman and his Redskins in next week’s regional round of the tournament.

“We had to work for it,”  said the ever-cautious Raterman, in assessing the Redskins’ impressive performance at both ends of the court.  “Seven Hills can play, there’s no doubt about that.  They’re physical, they’re athletic and they made us play as fast as we’ve played all year.  This was a good win to prepare us for next week.”

Raterman got a superb floor game and 19 points from guard Cody Albers, and 14 more from University of Findlay-bound center, Mark Frilling, to claim Loramie’s 17^th win of the season and a chance for some regional redemption next week at Trent Arena.

“We played there last year against a very good Lockland team, and hopefully that experience will benefit us,” added Raterman.  “We should be more comfortable this year and there should be less of an intimidation factor.  At least I’d like to think so.”

In Friday’s second Division IV final, Lehman Catholic once again had its hopes for a district title crushed…emphatically…by the Jefferson Broncos and forward Cody Latimer.  Latimer was devastating on both ends of the court, scoring 19 points, to lead Jefferson past the Cavaliers, 76-41.  Center Adreian Payne, a recruit to play next season at Michigan State, added 14, as the Broncos avenged a 42-7 loss to Lehman during football season.

“I actually didn’t think about that football game,”  smiled Latimer afterwards, clutching to his district champion medal.  “But winning tonight feels pretty good when I think about it now.”

“Tonight was a pretty tall order for us…no pun intended,”  mused Cavs’ coach Bruce Vanover, referring to Jefferson’s overwhelming height advantage.  “But you know, we had a pretty good year when you consider the number of kids who played JV last year and contributed so much to the kind of team we became this season.”

The Cavaliers struggled early to score, got into foul trouble against the bigger Broncos, and simply could not overcome Jefferson’s advantage of size and quickness.

“It would have helped if we could have made some shots early, for confidence,”  added Vanover.  “We didn’t box out well, either, and you have to do that against a team with that size.  Bottom line, it’s been 28 years since Lehman’s gotten out of the district round and tonight was a reminder of the level of play it takes to win a district title.”

Another perennial district winner, Lockland, will seek a return engagement of its own after punching a ticket for next week’s regional round in the final game of the evening, a 23-point win over Franklin Monroe, 59-36.  Lockland’s Frankie Young scored 22 points to lead all scorers as the Panthers won their third district title in the last four years.

District tournament play wraps up on Saturday with the Division I pairings, beginning at 11 AM.  In addition, members of the Southwest District Athletic Board will recognize Mr. Chick Ludwig and Mr. Jack Pohl on Saturday afternoon…as the Southwest’s 2010 recipients of the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Media Award. This award was initiated by the State office a number of years ago to honor distinguished members of the media. Each District (six in the state) is asked to honor two individuals on an annual basis. Honorees are to have given ten or more years of service in covering high school athletics.  

Top Photo:  Cody Albers’ 19 points paced Ft. Loramie to a 58-37 win over Seven Hills and a second consecutive regional appearance for the Redskins
Left Photo:  Adreian Payne’s dunk off an offensive rebound punctuated Jefferson’s 76-41 win over Lehman Catholic.
View Pictures from the Division IV District Finals
View Pictures & Review from the Division III District Finals
View Pictures & Review from the Division II District Finals

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONS
Daniel Glascoe, Bowling Beavercreek High School	Jake Howe, Wrestling Repeat State Champion Blanchester High School	Megan Gill, Beam Beavercreek High School	Corbin Running, Wrestling Repeat State Champion Clinton Massie High School
Daniel Schmitz, Swimming Oakwood High School	Nick Miller, Wrestling, 189 Weight Class Centerville High School	Kyle Burns, Wrestling, 245 Weight Class Troy Christian High School	Ethan Hayes, Wrestling, 215 Weight Class Dixie High School
Molly Hazelbaker Swimming Turpin High School
Graham High School Six individual winners!  Names TBA.

View pictures of our Girls Basketball District Champions!

View pictures of our Wrestling State and District Champions!

Division I Boys Basketball District Finals
Special ticket pricing will once again be available for the Division I Boys Basketball District Finals, Saturday, March 13, at the University of Dayton Arena.  A $16.00 All Session Ticket includes tickets to all three sessions (5 games), parking, and a program.  Tickets will be sold at the competing schools and the University of Dayton Arena Ticket Office.  Advanced purchase is preferred as there is a limited supply!

CONGRATULATIONS!
The following Southwest officials were selected to work in the State Wrestling Championships:
Richard Lowenstine, Paul Branco, Gerry Glowik, Dan Kuhlmann, Steve Long, D. Scott Myers, Dick Roche, and Tony Trent.

OHSAA SCHOLAR ATHLETE INFORMATION
Attention all Southwest Ohio Principals, Counselors, and Athletic Directors.  The OHSAA sent principals information regarding the OHSAA Scholar Athlete Scholarship Information electronically this year.  Prior to this year, the OHSAA mailed out this information in January.  The principal of each school is responsible for insuring that only the most qualified female and male candidate's applications are forwarded to the selection committee.  Each school can submit an application for one senior female and one senior male student-athlete.  In addition, we are pleased to continue our Ethnic Minority Scholarship program, which will permit the selection of one additional scholarship recipient from each of the six OHSAA Athletic Districts.  You may also submit one senior female minority and one senior male minority candidate for these scholarships in addition to your two other candidates.  Applications are due no later than April 5, 2010.  Any questions?  Contact Scott Kaufman.

March Message Regarding 7th & 8th Grade Athletics
Southwest District Board President, and 7th & 8th grade representative to the board, Steve Zimmerman reports on the issues pertaining to 7th & 8th grade interscholastic athletics.  Mr. Zimmerman also serves as a member of the OHSAA Board of Directors.   View March 5 message.  Posted 3-5-10.

Spring Sports Newsletter
With spring tournaments right around the corner, the Southwest District Board members share changes for the spring.
View Spring Sports Newsletter.  Posted 3-3-10.

Southwest Ohio Softball Umpires School
Sponsored by the OHIO HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION and the METRO DAYTON AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION.  Targeting FEMALE AND MINORITY PARTICIPANTS but open to all this is the only class of its kind in the nation – an opportunity to obtain your OHSAA officiating permit and ASA registration in a two-day session and in time to start the season!  One Dayton Session only--March 20 & 21, 2010, Miamisburg High School.  One Cincinnati Session only--March 27 & 28, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy.  For further information, contact Jerry Fick, 513-563-2755 or email swdoc@fuse.net.  View details for Dayton Session.  View details for Cincinnati Session.  Posted 2-15-10.

Minutes
March 2, 2010 Minutes.  View...