Middies’ Dalton excited about tourney matchup

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By Skip Weaver, Staff Writer Associated Press Associated Press Updated 12:29 AM Monday, February 8, 2010

MIDDLETOWN — Middletown High School girls basketball coach Scott Dalton is excited about his teams’ first-round matchup in the Division I sectional tournament.

The Middies (8-10) earned the 22nd seed and will take on 24th-seeded Turpin (8-9) at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 18 at Harrison High School.

“It’s a good draw for us,” Dalton said Sunday afternoon, Feb. 7. “Turpin is a young team and we’ve been improving a lot the last three weeks, especially on defense.”

The Middies haven’t won a playoff game since 2001, according to Dalton.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve won a playoff game here,” said Dalton, who was in his first coaching stint with the Middies when they last won a postseason contest. “That’s been our No. 1 goal all year. Now, we just have to stay positive and play hard.”

If the Middies get past Turpin, they would face Greater Miami Conference rival Colerain, which is the No. 3 seed.

In other Division I matchups for area teams, Lebanon (6-11) will play Northmont at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 17 at Trotwood-Madison High School. At Troy High School, Springboro (10-8) faces Stebbins at 7 p.m. on Feb. 18 and Edgewood (4-11) battles fourth-seeded Beavercreek at noon on Feb. 20.

In Division II, Franklin earned the sixth seed at the Springboro sectional, which is just about where coach Frank Russell expected to be.

“I expected us to be anywhere from fourth to sixth,” Russell said. “I’m pretty happy. I like our placement on the bracket. Now it just comes down to how hard the girls want to play. Hopefully hard.”

The Wildcats (10-8) have a first-round matchup with Clinton-Massie at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 15.

Monroe (7-10) and Valley View (8-9) also compete in the D-II Springboro sectional. The Spartans will face top-seeded and state-ranked Alter at 6 p.m. on Feb. 17 in the first round. Monroe will get the winner between second-seeded Chaminade Julienne and Stivers at 2:45 p.m. on Feb. 20.

In the Division III sectional, Preble Shawnee (3-14) will face the winner between top-seeded Anna and Dixie at 6 p.m. on Feb. 22 at Tippecanoe High School.

In Division IV, Middletown Christian (7-11) will play fifth-seeded Summit Country Day at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 16 at Monroe High School.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852 or sweaver@coxohio.com.

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