Ohio High School Basketball Tournament Brackets Set: What to Expect in the Fresh Seven-Division Format
The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) boys basketball tournament brackets for Divisions III through VII are now finalized. Coaches selected their bracket positions on Sunday, February 15, 2026, based on the MaxPreps RPI. Divisions I and II will follow suit next weekend. This marks the second year of the OHSAA’s seven-division format, a significant change from the previous four-division system used since 1988.
Format Changes and Key Dates
The higher seeds will host games through the district semifinals. District finals will be held at multiple neutral sites, often as doubleheaders on Saturday, March 7. Regionals will follow at both college and high school locations, leading to the state semifinals beginning March 19 at Wright State University and the University of Dayton. The state finals for each division will be held on consecutive days at these venues. Detailed dates and times are available on the OHSAA website, though these are subject to change.
Early Games to Watch
Several first-round matchups are already generating buzz. In Division III, the game between Chardon and Rocky River promises a competitive clash, featuring Chardon’s Luke Galfidi against Rocky River’s Jacob Radcliffe and Danny Berg. Padua will face Nordonia in another Division III contest, showcasing Padua’s freshmen guards and Nordonia’s Max Poulin and Hudson Funk. A potentially exciting matchup in Division III also features Villa Angela-St. Joseph at Westlake, where VASJ’s resilience despite a challenging schedule will be tested against Westlake’s Ryan Turk. Finally, Independence will travel to Oberlin in Division VI, a rematch of a close contest from earlier in the season.
Teams to Watch: Lutheran East and Potential Upsets
Lutheran East is a strong favorite in Division V, entering the tournament as the No. 1 overall seed and enjoying a favorable path to regionals, with games played in and around Cleveland. Their district final is at Cleveland Heights High School. However, the tournament is always ripe for upsets. Hawken, now competing in Division III, faces a challenging road, potentially facing Youngstown Ursuline, a team they defeated last year.
Navigating the Brackets: Division-by-Division Links
Here are direct links to the brackets for each division:
Division III
- Northeast 1 (Strongsville)
- Northeast 2 (Warren Harding)
- Northeast 3 (North Royalton)
- Northeast 4 (Warren Harding)
- Northeast 5 (Strongsville)
- Northeast 6 (Strongsville)
Division IV
- Northeast 1 (North Ridgeville)
- Northeast 2 (North Ridgeville)
- Northeast 3 (Wooster)
- Northeast 4 (Wooster)
Division V
- Northeast 1 (Cleveland Heights)
- Northeast 2 (Firestone)
- Northeast 3 (Cleveland Heights)
- Northeast 4 (Firestone)
Division VI
Division VII
FAQ
- When do the boys district rounds begin? February 23.
- When are the district finals? February 28.
- Where are the state finals held? Wright State University and the University of Dayton.
- What is the MaxPreps RPI? It’s a formula used by the OHSAA to determine seeding and bracket placement.
Stay tuned for further updates as the tournament progresses. Don’t miss the action!
