LOUDONVILLE — The Redbirds are the class of small-school basketball in northeast Ohio.
Loudonville (16-1) earned the top overall seed in the Northeast District during Sunday’s girls basketball tournament draw and will open Division IV sectional play at home against No. 37 Youngstown Valley Christian at 7 p.m. Feb. 21.
The Northeast District seeds every school and then schools are divided among three district tournament host sites. Loudonville was the No. 1 seed among the 38 Division IV schools in the northeastern part of the state.
The higher seeded team hosts through the sectional tournament. If the Redbirds beat Youngstown Valley, they would host No. 38 Warren Lordstown at 1 p.m. Feb. 24 for a sectional title and a berth in the Norwayne district tournament.
Division I
Ashland will be home for its sectional opener, while Madison will open tournament play on the road.
The 10th-seeded Arrows (9-11) took a first-round bye and will host either No. 12 Holland Springfield or No. 13 Wapakoneta at 4 p.m. Feb. 24. Springfield (7-12) visits Wapakoneta (7-11) at 7 p.m. Feb. 21.
The Rams (8-11) earned the No. 16 seed and will take on No. 15 Lima Senior (10-10) at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 in the sectional semifinals.
Division III
The 12-team Shelby district field is top-heavy, with the top five seeds a combined 71-22 and the bottom seven 50 games below .500.
No. 11 Crestview (3-17) got an opening-round bye and will play for a sectional title at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at a site to be determined. The Cougars will likely play at top-seeded Margaretta (17-2). Margaretta hosts No. 12 Galion (3-16) at 7 p.m. Feb. 22.
Mapleton (11-8) picked up the No. 26 seed among the 46 Division III teams in northeast Ohio and will host No. 34 Northwestern (7-13) at 7 p.m. Feb. 21.
No. 40 Hillsdale (4-15) will visit No. 12 Triway (14-4) at 7 p.m. Feb. 21.