With only three weeks left in the regular season, teams are positioning themselves for a place in the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s postseason playoffs and losing at this state of the season can be the most costly.

Wednesday, October 13, 1999

With only three weeks left in the regular season, teams are positioning themselves for a place in the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s postseason playoffs and losing at this state of the season can be the most costly.

Teams losing down the stretch can cost themselves a playoff berth or possible home field advantage in the first round.

Four area teams are faced with that situation as the season winds down.

The Ironton Fighting Tigers (5-1) did not play last week but their opposition picked up enough points to move them up a notch from sixth to fifth place in Region 16 of Division IV.

Ironton has an 11.6396 average with good point games ahead in Columbus South, Belfry, Ky., and Columbus St. Francis DeSales.

Cincinnati Wyoming still leads the region and appears to be the favorite in its final three games.

Wheelersburg (7-0) is second but the Pirates must close the season at Portsmouth.

Cincinnati Madeira is third, Cincinnati Indian Hill is fourth, then comes Ironton, Hamilton Badin (11.4025), Portsmouth (9.2965), Cincinnati Finneytown (8.55), Waverly ninth (7.7214), and the Rock Hill Redmen are 10th (7.5358).

Blanchester is 11th (7.4428) and Germantown Valley View is 12th (6.7857). Valley View must still play Eaton which is 8th in Region 12 of Division III.

The Chesapeake Panthers (7-0) have virtually locked up a playoff berth in Region 19 of Division V but need to win out to keep themselves in line for a home game in the first round.

Woodsfield is first with a 13.191 average and Chesapeake is second at 12.4462. Next is Liberty Union (11.4714), Amanda-Clearcreek (11.4424), Johnstown Northridge (11.3357), Lucasville Valley (10.8384), Oak Hill (10.764), and Crooksville (9.2214.

Symmes Valley (5-2) dropped from second to sixth in Region 23 of Division IV after losing to Lucasville Valley with a 7.1714 average.

Leading the region are Beallsville at 9.5928, Bellaire St. John at 8.1928, Hemlock Miller 7.4642, Newark Catholic 7.3642, Howard East Knox 7.2428, Symmes Valley, Danville 7.0142, and Morral Ridgedale at 6.9142.

The top four teams in each region of the six divisions qualify for the playoffs.

Teams ranked 1-4 will host games, but all games after the first round will be played at neutral sites.