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State tourney preview: D-I up for grabs, Hoban favored in D-II

May 11, 2010

by Jim Jicha

Division I is wide open this year, and with nine favorites the title could go to whoever maintains the most intensity. With five-game matches common and close games the rule, a lapse here and there may prove fatal.

Cincinnati is statistically favored because it has more contenders, specifically Archbishop Moeller, Elder, St. Xavier and LaSalle, but only two can reach the quarterfinals. St. Xavier has done the best outside of the GCL, capturing the St. Charles Classic and Worthington Kilbourne’s Wolf Open. They beat Elder and LaSalle (twice) in the process, and they also finished second, ahead of Elder and Moeller, in the Centerville Elite. But the Bombers were, as of this writing, 0-4 and in last place in the GCL. With Moeller and Elder tied for first and LaSalle having just beaten Elder, it’s anyone’s guess which of the four might prevail.

St. Edward became the team to beat when it topped Moeller, Elder and St. Xavier to win the Centerville Elite. But Lakota West did in fact beat the Eagles at a tri-match the following weekend. Confusing matters further, Centerville, which was seventh in the Elite, nipped the Firebirds five days later 25-19, 26-28, 25-21, 16-25, 20-18.

Mt. Vernon has split with Moeller, and the Yellow Jackets beat Centerville just after losing to Lakota West. They also beat Division II favorite Archbishop Hoban and St. Edward early in the season. Hilliard Darby, which dominated its OCC division, almost upended Lakota West last week, losing 25-22, 24-26, 25-22, 22-25, 12-15.

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Hoban is still favored In Division II, but recent results make this a close call. The Knights recently went the distance with St. Charles 25-20, 25-14, 18-25, 26-28, 15-9 and Walsh Jesuit 25-19, 20-25, 28-26, 26-28, 15-13, and they’ll have to beat the latter again to get out of the North regional.

St. Charles is favored in the East, barely, over Bishop Watterson with whom they split matches. Watterson won their first encounter in five and the Cardinals avenged that in a straight set squeaker 25-23, 28-26, 25-23.

Archbishop Alter needs to beat Chaminade-Julienne a third time to make it to state, and while the Knights won both times in three, five of the six games were 25-22 or closer.

The South should be a rubber match between Purcell-Marian and Archbishop McNicholas. The two split four-game contests with each other.