Big games helped put the Ohio High School Athletic Association postseason playoff picture in focus, at least in Region 16 of Division IV.

Wednesday, October 06, 1999

Big games helped put the Ohio High School Athletic Association postseason playoff picture in focus, at least in Region 16 of Division IV.

Ironton’s win over the Portsmouth Trojans not only moved the Fighting Tigers up three notches to sixth place, but put them in position to qualify for the playoffs provided they win at least two of their final three games.

The Fighting Tigers (5-1) have a 10.1166 point average. Cincinnati Wyoming, with a key 29-28 win over Cincinnati Madeira last Friday, remains first with a 14.366 average.

A season-ending win over powerhouse Columbus St. Francis DeSales could vault Ironton into first or second place. Ironton, which is idle this week, hosts Columbus South next Friday and travels to Belfry, Ky., the following Friday before playing DeSales at home.

The Wheelersburg Pirates win over Newark Catholic moved them up one spot to second this week with a 12.128 average and virtually guaranteed a playoff berth. The Pirates still end the season at Portsmouth.

The Trojans slipped to seventh after the 21-12 loss to Ironton with 9.133 points.

The Wheelersburg-Portsmouth game takes on even greater significance for the Trojans after losing to Ironton. Portsmouth has the toughest remaining schedule with Miami Trace, Spring Valley, W.Va., Kettering Alter, and Wheelersburg.

Portsmouth could jump to the top with four wins or sink to the lower half with a couple of losses.

The top eight teams of Region 16 in Division IV are Wyoming, Wheelersburg, Hamilton Badin, Madeira, Ironton, Cincinnati Indian Hill, Portsmouth, and Finneytown.

Waverly is ninth (6.85) and must beat Wheelersburg this week to have any chance of making the playoffs.

Rock Hill is 10th with a 6.535 average and Germantown Valley View is 11th with a 6.35 average.

Valley View can make the playoffs by winning its remaining four games. Valley View would supplant Finneytown among the final eight.

The Cincinnati area schedule has Mariemont at Madeira, Deer Park at Wyoming, North Bend Taylor at Finneytown, Ready at Indian Hill, and Hamilton Badin at Dayton Chamindate-Julienne.

In Region 19 of Division V, the Chesapeake Panthers virtually locked up a postseason playoff berth for the second straight year with a 40-18 win over Rock Hill last week.

Chesapeake, 6-0, was runner-up in the region for the second straight week with a 10.5806 average.

Woodsfield Monroe leads with a 10.969 average. After Chesapeake comes Liberty Union and Johnstown Northridge at 9.8, Valley at 8.6606, Amanda Clearcreek 8.536, Fort Frye 8.5333, and Oak Hill 8.3303.

Lucasville Valley plays at Symmes Valley Friday in a pivotal game, not only in terms of computer points but to help determine the Southern Ohio Conference championship.

As for Symmes Valley, the Vikings jumped to second this week in Region 23 of Division VI after being third last week.

Hemlock Miller is first with a 7.066 average and Symmes Valley has a 6.9 total. Third is East Knox at 6.883 followed by Beallsville at 6.65, Newark Catholic 6.5166, Bellaire St. John 6.0, Danville 5.2, and Morral Ridgedale 5.1166.