Heartland’s next test on Friday

BARBERTON — The Heartland Christian basketball team is making history as the first Columbiana County boys team to capture a district title since Columbiana in 2008.

The Lions can add a regional title with one more win. Heartland (22-4) will play Jeromesville Hillsdale (19-7) in a Division VII regional championship game at 7 p.m. Friday at Barberton High School.

It is a rematch of last year’s district championship game that saw the Falcons overpower the Lions in the second half for a 73-54 win.

Hillsdale’s top player is sophomore point guard Lowen Ferguson, who set school records for most three-pointers in a season and career during Tuesday’s 67-45 win over Tiffin Calvert.

The starting lineup includes two standouts from the Hillsdale football team that was Division VII state runners-up the past two seasons — first-team All-Ohio quarterback Kael Lewis and second-team All-Ohio receiver Hayden McFadden, also a state track qualifier in the 200-meter dash and long jump.

This is Heartland’s first trip to the regional tournament. The only other time Hillsdale reached the regional final was in 1990.

Tickets for Friday’s game are $12 for adults and $5 for students.

Columbiana County Classic MVPs

LISBON — The 39th Columbiana County Classic featuring the top basketball players in the county was held Sunday by the Columbiana County Basketball Coaches Association.

Boys MVPs were Lisbon’s AJ Ramgeet and Columbiana’s Cooper Brown in the senior game; Salem’s Ty Manion and Columbiana’s Senator Johnson in the underclassmen game; and Beaver Local’s Holden Rogers and East Palestine’s Brody Jurjavcic in the junior high game.

Girls MVPs were Crestview’s Addison Rhodes and Salem’s Maddy Andres in the senior game; Southern’s Katie Kellogg and Salem’s Abby Knickerbocker in the underclassmen game; and Crestview’s Abby MacKay and Beaver Local’s Lily Johnson in the junior high game.

Kirtland stings Grand Valley

CANTON — The Kirtland boys basketball team is a win away from a second straight state semifinal berth.

The Hornets got 31 points from Lucas Renfro as they defeated Orwell Grand Valley, 79-58, Tuesday in a Division VI regional semifinal at the Canton Fieldhouse.

The matchup of the two Salem district champions was no contest as Kirtland build a 43-24 halftime lead.

Backing Renfro for the Hornets were Jake LaVerde with 14 points, Ben DiFranco 10 and Sammy Ridgeway eight.

Solomon Schultz had 24 points for Grand Valley, which finished 21-5 with its first district title.

Kirtland (23-3) advances to play Richmond Heights (17-7) in the regional final at 7 p.m. Friday at the Canton Fieldhouse.

Richmond Heights — which won three straight Division VI state titles from 2022-24 — beat Willoughby Andrews Osborne, 68-58, in Tuesday’s nightcap.

Andrews Osborne (12-11) won the Gilmour district title as an 18th seed.

Fairfield returns to NCAA tournament

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Crestview All-Ohioan Addison Rhodes’ new home will be featured in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Fairfield University (Conn.) held Quinnipiac (Conn.) to 17 field goals on the way to the Stags’ third straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title, 51-44, Monday night at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.

The 27th-ranked Stags (28-4) advance to the NCAA Tournament for the eighth time. The tournament bracket will be announced Sunday night.

Jillian Huerter led Fairfield with 16 points and Cyanne Coe had 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Quinnipiac graduate student Jackie Grisdale — the all-time leading scorer at Poland (Ohio) High School — played all 40 minutes. She had five points, two rebounds and one steal.

Grisdale ended her collegiate career with 1,285 points in 130 games, including 104 starts.