By Skip Weaver
Contributing writer
The Middletown boys' basketball team will open the Division I sectional tournament at 7 p.m. Feb. 22 against Kings at Oak Hills High School, a far cry from the location coach Josh Andrews desired.
But after losing to Lakota East on Friday night, the Middies landed a 12th seed at the tournament draw on Sunday and Andrews took what he felt was the best situation available on the bracket.
“It’s about where we expected to be,” Andrews said of the seeding. “I think 12th is a fair seed for us. Now it’s all about playing basketball. “
Should the Middies (11-10) get by their first-round opponent, they will face the Western Hills-Northwest winner in the sectional semifinals and would likely face fourth-seeded St. Xavier in the sectional final.
“This is a draw that gives us a chance to do well and make a deep run,” Andrews said. “We’re a dangerous team. We have experience back from the success we had last year, but it doesn’t mean anything for this year. We have to go out and shoot it in, guard and be ready to play. We have to be poised and confident and we have to get better.”
Middletown won the Greater Miami Conference title last season and stands in a position to gain at least a share of the league title this year. The Middies made their deepest tournament run in years last season by reaching the regional championship game. They were one win away from the final four when they lost to GMC foe Fairfield in overtime.
“Everybody is 0-0 starting next week,” Andrews said. “We are certainly battle-tested and this is a year we feel our guys are capable of making a deep run.”
Walnut Hills garnered the top seed earning 988 points and earning 30 first-place votes. Moeller was the second seed with 934 points and the other three first-place votes. Withrow, St. Xavier, Lakota East, Lakota West, Winton Woods, LaSalle, Fairfield and Sycamore rounded out the top 10 seeds.
