COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The matchup that has been waiting in the wings for the last three years is almost here. Going back a little more than two years, it appeared Beechcroft and Eastmoor would one day take over the City League, as both programs featured rosters stock full of talented sophomores. Now as seniors, both programs have dominated through their respective divisions and will meet on the hardwood for all the marbles on Saturday.

Let's take a look at the matchup and how each team will fare in what might be the most anticipated City League title game in the last several years.

When: Saturday, Feb. 17 at 12 p.m.

Where: Africentric Early College

Tickets: Can be purchased at the door on the day of the game.

For Beechcroft, the Cougars won its first City League North division title since 1994 and became the first existing North division program to make it to the City League title game in that span as well. Beechcroft hasn't won a City League title since 1986, as the Cougars fell to Eastmoor in its last appearance 24 years ago, which was also the Warriors' last City championship on the hardwood.

For Eastmoor, the Warriors, despite winning two regional titles in the last three years, won its first City League South division title since 2009. The Warriors are looking to make history and take down Beechcroft for the second-straight time in the title game.

Zero players in Saturday's game were alive the last time their respective schools played in this game, as this will offer the most unfamiliarity of any City League title game that we have seen in more than a decade.

Squaring off at the end of the regular season for the last several years, Saturday's contest will have more riding on its than any of the previous games. Beechcroft won the last matchup, taking down Eastmoor on the road in a 53-52 slugfest on Feb. 16, 2017. Nearly a year later, the Cougars are looking to go out on top once again.

For Eastmoor, the Warriors head into Saturday's matchup as the prohibitive underdog as the Cougars have topped Division II rankings in the area from start to finish this year. Two programs ranked among the 10 best in the state in Division II, Beechcroft and Eastmoor each face its toughest challenge yet in the City League.

Beechcroft enters at 19-1, with its only loss coming on the road at No. 1 (D1) Pickerington North on Jan. 6. Winners of its last 11 games, Beechcroft hasn't been challenged all that much this year, winning 16 games by double-digits. With one of the area's most high powered transition offenses, Beechcroft has a rotation full of long, athletic pieces that can each score in a variety of ways.

For Eastmoor, the Warriors have played at a slower pace, but have still been successful. At 17-4, Eastmoor doesn't really have a bad loss this season, however, the Warriors fell to Walnut Ridge on the road 75-62 last Tuesday. Relying heavily on senior guard Taevion Kinsey, Eastmoor will need more of a balanced offensive attack in order to take down a Beechcroft team that will be intent on shutting down the athletic Kinsey.

In a matchup between two senior laden teams that don't go very far into their benches, you will see plenty of familiar faces all afternoon long. Let's take a look at some keys to the game for each team.

Beechcroft

• Shot-making ability: Big games from Jelani Simmons and Datrey Long will go a long way in this matchup. These two have set the tone for the Cougars all season long and much will be expected out of them again. The three-point shooting of Therron Jennings and Teon Jennings has been the straw that has broken the camel's back for opponents this year, as Beechcroft is damn near unstoppable when those two are hitting.
• The rebounding margin: Beechcroft has dominated opponents on the glass all year, especially on the defensive glass. The Cougars are able to crash with three players and send two in transition, which has resulted in a ton of fast break points. Eastmoor offers a big front line and relies on second-chance points to score, which will make the rebounding margin as important as anything.
• Defending without fouling: A team that lives in transition, Beechcroft can be prone to getting into foul trouble by being too aggressive. The Cougars cannot afford to have any of their top rotation players miss a large chunk of time, as Eastmoor will be looking to take advantage of any opportunity possible.

Eastmoor

• Balanced scoring: With Kinsey being the only double-digit scorer on the roster, Eastmoor cannot rely on the 6-foot-5 combo guard to do it all for them. The Warriors will need other contributors, such as Randy Olverson, Tim Smith or Tariq Brown to step up on Saturday. Going 4-3 in non-conference games this season, Eastmoor has scored less than 50 points in each of those losses, which cannot happen against a Beechcroft team that can really score the basketball.
• Offensive rebounding: A team that isn't the best at perimeter shot making, Eastmoor lives on the offensive glass. The Warriors will need to hit the boards hard in order to limit Beechcroft's transition offense and create second chance opportunities. Eastmoor cannot afford to not be the aggressor in the paint on Saturday or we could see plenty of one-and-done possessions for the Warriors.
• Defensive pressure: Eastmoor is one of the finest defensive teams in the City League but the Warriors haven't faced an offense quite like Beechcroft's yet in the league. The Warriors will have to pressure the ball and make Beechcroft uncomfortable. Eastmoor cannot afford to go bucket for bucket with Beechcroft or it could be a long afternoon for the Warriors. This game will be won on defense and on the glass for Eastmoor.

Beechcroft

Record: 19-1 (14-0)

Points Per Game: 83.3

Points Allowed Per Game: 57.3

Top Scorers: Jelani Simmons, 19.4 PPG

Datrey Long, 16.4 PPG

Therron Jennings, 13.3 PPG

Teon Jennings, 11.0 PPG

Elijah Bishop, 10.4 PPG

Na'elle Simmons, 6.9 PPG

Eastmoor

Record: 17-4 (13-1)

Points Per Game: 65.7 

Points Allowed Per Game: 51.5

Top Scorers: Taevion Kinsey, 19.6 PPG

Randy Olverson, 8.8 PPG

Tim Smith, 8.4 PPG

Stanley Williams, 7.3 PPG

Tariq Brown, 7.1 PPG

Tripp Hopkins: 5.8 PPG