OLIVESBURG — John Kurtz has worked his magic yet again.
Kurtz, who is in the first year of his second tour of duty as Crestview’s coach, has the Cougars in the district tournament for the first time since 2011. The last time Crestview won a sectional championship, Kurtz was in his third and final season of his first stint outside Olivesburg.
The fifth-seeded Cougars (17-7) will get a third shot at Firelands Conference rival Western Reserve in the Division III district semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Shelby thanks to last week’s 47-46 upset at Oak Harbor. No. 2 Western Reserve (15-6 overall, 10-4 in the Firelands Conference), which advanced with an 86-46 win over Kansas Lakota, swept the regular season series. The Roughriders won 97-59 and 70-44 in the regular season.
In Thursday’s early game at Shelby, top-seeded Colonel Crawford (23-0) will take on No. 3 Willard (18-5). Crawford advanced to the district tournament with a 78-44 win over Van Buren, while Willard advanced with a 61-45 win over Bloomdale Elmwood.
In the nine seasons since Kurtz last coached at Crestview, the Cougars never won more than 12 games in a season. Crestview was 3-9 in the tournament.
“There is a lot for these kids to look forward to,” Kurtz said earlier this season. “For them this is an all new experience and it’s exciting to see them enjoy the process.”
While Crestview hasn’t reached the district since 2011, Colonel Crawford is making its 10th straight appearance in the district tournament. The Eagles were unbeaten in the regular season for just the second time in program history and first since 1963.
“Whether we like it or not there’s a bull’s-eye on our back,” veteran coach David Sheldon said. “We’re going to get everybody’s best shot.”
In Division I, sixth-seeded Ashland is in the district tournament for second straight year after dispatching No. 8 Toledo Start 55-43. Ohio Cardinal Conference Player of the Year Luke Denbow led the way with 21 points while senior Eli White added 12.
The Arrows (18-4) will take on fourth-seeded Sylvania Northview at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Millbury Lake. Northview advanced with a 74-48 win over Oregon Clay.
A pair of Richland County rivals and Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference members advanced to the Division II district tournament at Ashland.
Top-seeded Shelby coasted to a sectional championship with a 71-36 win over No. 8 Vermilion. The MOAC champion Whippets (18-3) will take on No. 6 Huron at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Arrow Arena. Huron advanced with a 57-51 win over Clear Fork.
In Wednesday’s late game at Ashland, No. 2 Ontario will meet No. 3 Norwalk. The Warriors (17-5) knocked off Mansfield Senior 57-53 in the sectional final while the Truckers (16-8) roughed up No. 4 Upper Sandusky 52-38. Norwalk beat Ontario 58-46 in early-December.
In Division IV, fifth-seeded Lucas earned an opportunity to defend its district title with a 52-38 upset of No. 4 Sandusky St. Mary. The Cubs (17-7) will tangle with top-seeded South Central at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Willard in a rematch last year’s district championship game, which Lucas won in overtime. The Trojans (16-6) advanced with a 63-36 win over No. 9 Buckeye Central.
