It’s that time of the year, Eagle Fans! The 2018 OHSAA Division 1 Boys Basketball State Tournament is approaching! After a very successful regular season, the Eagles have earned a #1 seed in the Strongsville District, which is a part of the Akron/Toledo Region. Let’s take a look at the path the Eagles will have to take to bring home a third banner for the St. Edward Basketball program.

The Eagles will kick off the tournament at home on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 7 P.M. at the Eagle’s Nest against the winner of the Parma and Rhodes game, which is played on February 28. If the Eagles win that one, they will make a trip to Strongsville High School to play in the district semifinal game on Wednesday, March 7 at 7 P.M. It is most likely that the Eagles will be playing Lakewood, a team the Eagles defeated by 11 points in the season opener, in this game. If they Eagles can win that one, they will advance to the Strongsville District Final at Cleveland State University at 7 P.M. on Saturday, March 10. In this game, we could see a Holy War Part 3 against the Wildcats. However, Brunswick, the #2 seed, is a talented team that will give #3 St. Ignatius a tough time. The Eagles are favored to win their district. Hopefully we will be cheering the Eagles on as they cut down the nets at CSU after the District Championship Game.

It only gets tougher from here. If the Eagles become district champions, they will take a trip down to the University of Akron on Wednesday, March 14 at 7 P.M. to play the Elyria District Champion for the Akron/Toledo Regional Semifinal Game. Most likely, this team will be Lorain, the #1 seed from the Elyria District. The Eagles should prevail and make it to the Regional Championship at the University of Toledo on Saturday, March 17 at 7 P.M. It is looking like Toledo St. Johns, a team that beat the Eagles by 14 at their place, will be the Regional Finalists, as well. This will be a tough game, and I am sure the Eagles will have some extra motivation after the regular season loss to the Titans. St. Johns will be enjoying a home-court advantage in the University of Toledo. If the Eagles can defeat the Titans, they will celebrate a Regional Championship and an 11th Final Four appearance. If that is the case, the Eagles will be making their third Final Four appearance in four years, an amazing feat.

If and when the Eagles make it to Columbus for championship weekend, the Eagles will play the Cincinnati Regional Champion, which will most likely be Archbishop Moeller, who is looking to avenge their loss in the championship last year. The State Semifinal Game will take place at Ohio State’s Jerome Schottenstein Center at 5:15 P.M. on Friday, March 23. If the Eagles can win this one, they will play in the State Championship Game on Saturday, March 24 at 8:30 P.M. at the Schott. They will play the other finalist, which can be one of a whole slew of teams, including Upper Arlington, Solon, Pickerington North, Pickerington Central, and more. This path will be difficult, and the Eagles will have to take it one game at a time.

Hopefully, we will be able to experience a third state championship run in the state tournament next month. Let’s get it Eagles!

Go Eagles!

Jack Loesch ‘19