For the second consecutive season, the Geneva Eagles have earned the top seed at the Pymatuning Valley Division II sectional-district tournament.
This time, however, it was by unanimous vote.
Coach Nancy Barbo’s Eagles (13-3), who have already clinched a share of the Premier Athletic Conference championship in the first season in the league, received all 11 first-place votes for the top seeds at the tournament drawing, held Sunday afternoon at Perry High School.
The Eagles have some familiar company in regards to being a high seed at PV as coach Tony Pasanen’s Conneaut Spartans (13-5) were voted the second seed, coach Rod Holmes’ Jefferson Falcons (12-6) received the third seed.and coach Ryan Dolotowski’s Perry Pirates (11-6) received the fourth seed.
The Eagles, Falcons and Spartans were the only area squads to earn a top-four seed Sunday.
The big surprise came in the draw for the Division III sectional-district, to be contested at Lakeside Gymnasium.
Despite a 16-2 record and being ranked 11th in the weekly Associated Press state poll last week, coach Jeff Compan’s Pymatuning Valley Lakers — who just clinched a second-straight Northeastern Athletic Conference championship with a victory against Mathews on Thursday night, were snubbed in regards to being voted a top-four seed, a titanic-sized chip you can bet the Lakers will be wearing on their shoulders when they begin postseason play.
Barbo opted for a first-round bye and her Eagles will meet the winner of a sectional semifinal between Edgewood (6-11) and Lakeview (4-13) — to be played on Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. — in a sectional championship game Feb. 25 at 6 p.m.
Pasanen chose to place his Spartans in Geneva’s half of the bracket and his Spartans will meet eight seed Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin in a sectional semifinal on Feb. 22 at 7:30, with the winner advancing to take on seventh-seeded West Geauga (8-8) in a sectional final on Feb. 25 at 7:30. The second seed is the highest for a Conneaut squad since coach Tom Ritari’s 2000-01 Spartans were the top seed at Edgewood — and made good on it by earning Conneaut’s only district championship.
Holmes chose a first-round bye and his Falcons will play the winner of a first-round game between sixth-seeded Lake Catholic (7-9) and 11th-seeded Harvey (6-12) — to be played on Feb. 23 at 7 — in a sectional final on Feb. 27 at 7:30.
The first sectional final that night will feature Perry against CVC Chagrin Division rival Kenston — the five seed — at 6 p.m.
In Division III, PV will play Hawken in a sectional semifinal on Feb. 22 at 6, with the winner moving on to play fourth-seeded Berkshire in a sectional final on Feb. 25 at 7:30.
The other local entry at Lakeside, Grand Valley, will meet second-seeded Gilmour Academy in a first-round game on Feb. 25 at 7:30.
In D-I at Perry, Madison will play the winner of a first-round game between South and Mayfield on Feb. 25 in the nightcap that day, while Riverside drew top-seed Mentor for a first-round game on Feb. 22.
In D-IV at Hubbard, SS. John and Paul will play Wellsville in a first-round game on Feb. 20 at 2 p.m.
All four tournament brackets will appear in our Tuesday edition.
