COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The sectional semifinal round has passed in all four divisions. Let’s take a look at what went down in the first round across the area.

Lower seeds mightily struggled

In Division I, No. 31 Dublin Jerome was the only lower seeded team to win a game. And they even needed every break they could get as freshman Ryan Nutter was fouled with 1.2 seconds remaining and hit two cold-blooded free throws to come away with a road win at No. 20 Olentangy Orange.

In Division II, higher seeded teams won every game but one, as No. 18 Bexley shocked No. 9 Bishop Watterson, 42-38, behind a big night from senior Damian Davis. Watterson’s upset loss concludes a rather confusing season for the Eagles. With wins over No. 1 Jonathan Alder, No. 4 Buckeye Valley and OCC-Central champion Marysville, Watterson went out against a Bexley team that came in at 5-17.

Bexley’s win now heightens the chances for No. 1 Jonathan Alder to reach the district finals, as the Pioneers will take on the winner of Bexley and No. 17 Lakewood, the latter who likely did not anticipate that they would host a tournament game at any point this season.

Much like D1 and D2, Division III featured just one victorious lower seeded team when No. 14 Fairbanks went on the road and dominated No. 11 Elgin, 45-23. Avenging an early season loss to the Comets, Fairbanks used a big night from junior Braylon Green to put Elgin away for good.

Division IV was much different with four lower seeded teams winning sectional semifinal and final games. No. 5 Newark Catholic secured the biggest win of all, going on the road and ending No. 4 East Knox’s first winning season since 1996. The Green Wave are now matched up with No. 6 Fisher Catholic in a rematch from a game earlier in the year that Newark Catholic dominated. The unfortunate part is the winner will more than likely match up with top-seeded Grandview Heights that outscored sectional opponents by 80 combined points. 

Sectional final action will conclude in Divisions I-III this weekend, while we will see district semifinal games in Division IV.

Games to watch this weekend

• Division I (all listed games on friday)

  • No. 21 Marysville (15-8) at No. 16 Chillicothe (17-4) - Marysville has a chance to win more than 15 games for the first time all decade, while winning its first OCC title since 2001. Chillicothe went 0-3 against Central District D1 opponents this season.
  • No. 17 Reynoldsburg (13-10) at No. 15 New Albany (15-7) - This is a rematch of a Jan. 7 game that Reynoldsburg won at New Albany, 53-42. 
  • No. 22 Whitehall (14-8) at No. 14 Canal Winchester (16-7)
  • No. 18 Delaware Hayes (13-9) at No. 12 St. Charles (18-5) - at Pickerington North
  • No. 23 Grove City (12-11) at No. 13 Westerville Central (15-7) - This is a rematch of a Nov. 30 game that Grove City won at home.
  • No. 26 Briggs (14-8) at No. 11 Westerville South (15-8) - The last ever game at Westerville South’s current gym. 
  • No. 31 Dublin Jerome (11-12) at No. 10 Dublin Coffman (17-6) - Dublin Jerome has never beaten Coffman in basketball. 

• Division II (all games on Saturday)

  • No. 8 London (16-7) at No. 7 Bloom-Carroll (16-6) - Trey Woodyard vs. Otto Kuhns. It doesn’t get much better than this.
  • No. 11 Eastmoor (12-10) at No. 4 Buckeye Valley (14-7) - Eastmoor is better than their 12-10 record. The Warriors’ only losses, minus one against Africentric, came against quality Division I competition. Don’t be surprised if they go on the road and beat Buckeye Valley.
  • No. 14 Centennial (10-13) at No. 3 DeSales (16-6) - DeSales is heavily favored due to the talents of Des Watson, however, Centennial has enough firepower to make things interesting.
  • No. 10 Granville (12-9) at No. 2 Heath (23-0) - You know what they say about beating a team twice. Heath just barely survived in the previous matchup on Jan. 24, 36-35. The Blue Aces jumped right on the bye line to get one more crack at the Bulldogs and this is their shot.

• Division III (all games on Friday)

  • No. 7 Johnstown (16-7) at No. 6 Centerburg (15-7) - We were surprised when Centerburg was seeded above Johnstown. The Johnnies can prove us right on Friday when they hit the road to take on the nearby Trojans. Despite playing in different leagues, these schools are separated by only 20 minutes. Johnstown has won seven-straight games including a victory over Division I No. 11 Westerville South.
  • No. 10 Fredericktown (14-9) at No. 8 Northmor (15-7) - For the third time this season, Northmor and Fredericktown will do battle. Northmor won both matchups, however, Fredericktown made it interesting in the returning meeting, losing 48-45. The winner will more than likely take on No. 2 Worthington Christian, that has been rolling as of late, winning its last 10 games.

• Division IV (three games on Friday, one on Saturday)

  • No. 6 Fisher Catholic (12-11) at No. 5 Newark Catholic (13-11)
  • No. 10 Cardington (10-13) at No. 3 Berne Union (14-9)