The Copley Division I Sectional/District draw Sunday will be a heated debate, to say the least.

Eight of the 12 boys basketball teams involved currently have winning records, while Highland and Cuyahoga Falls are 7-8 and Medina’s 4-12 record is very deceiving.

Forward Scott Suren, right, and Brunswick take on Garfield Heights tonight. (GAZETTE PHOTO BY RON SCHWANE)

The top four seeds will be fascinating. On paper, Brunswick (13-3) has the best resume, with Stow (12-3) right behind. Suburban League leader Nordonia (13-2) is no slouch, either, along with Akron City Series contender Firestone (13-3), whose losses have been by a combined 12 points.

The Brunswick-Stow seeding can go either way. The Blue Devils beat the Bulldogs 57-40 on Jan. 17, but it came with an asterisk, as Stow was without 6-foot-6 point guard David Walker, who is averaging 24.6 points in eight games this season.

Walker, a Northeastern (Mass.) recruit, will strengthen Stow’s beef to be the No. 1 seed. The defending district champion is undefeated with Walker and 3-point gunner Kyle Scelza (19.5) in the lineup.

Coach Joe Mackey’s Blue Devils counter with an impressive overtime win over Shaker Heights, but a disappointing loss to Twinsburg hurts their case.

After the top four teams, things get cluttered in a hurry. Walsh Jesuit (10-5), Twinsburg (9-6), Hudson (9-6) and Wadsworth (8-7) appear to be next in line, but will receive heavy competition from Medina due to its rugged schedule and dominating win over the Grizzlies.

Cuyahoga Falls (7-8) and Highland (7-8) will have a hard time securing anything higher than a 10 seed, while Cloverleaf (1-14), which joins Brunswick and Medina from the Midview District, rounds out the district.

Buckeye (7-10), which hasn’t won a tournament game since 2001, will compete at the below-average Westlake D-II Sectional. Meanwhile, D-III Black River (1-14) will once again travel to Wooster for a tourney that will feature state-ranked Norwayne (14-2), Dalton (14-2), Hillsdale (12-3) and Patriot Athletic Conference kingpin Wellington (14-2).

Black River (1-14, 0-13)

The Pirates will play four games over the next eight days — vs. Keystone (tonight), at New London (Saturday), at Firelands (Feb. 17) and at South Central (Feb. 18).

• Now allowing 69.0 points per game, Black River is on pace for its worst defensive season since 1994-95 (70.2). The school record is 75.9, set in 1974-75.

Brunswick (13-3, 4-2)

The Blue Devils are 11-3 all-time when point guard Ryan Badowski makes five or more free throws. The sophomore, who has made 86 free throws this season, is also within striking distance of Dave Riter’s school record of 119 set in 2000-01.

• Badowski is just six 3-pointers away from surpassing Brad Cerovac (88; 1995-97) for fifth on the school’s career list.

• Only one of Jason Swords’ 75 points has come at the free throw line.

Buckeye (7-10, 5-8)

The Bucks are averaging an impressive 71.3 points over their past four games. Ben Checkelsky (19.3 ppg), Bill Doerge (19.0) and Garrett Beck (13.5) have combined for 51.8.

Cloverleaf (1-14, 0-10)

A loss tonight at Copley will clinch the Colts’ 24th consecutive losing season. Cloverleaf has a 105-394 record (.210) since going 17-6 and advancing to the Baldwin-Wallace D-II District championship in 1987-88 behind P.J. Bertemes and Jeff Anderson.

• Assistant coach Mark “Pops” Jordan is vowing not to shave until the Colts win another game. Jordan might look like Grizzly Adams since the final five opponents — Copley, Mansfield Madison, Wadsworth, Green and Nordonia — have a combined 48-27 record.

Highland (7-8, 4-6)

It’s a three-man race for the team free throw title between Brogan Scott (31), Austin Adams (30) and Brennan Scott (30).

• The road to the Hornets’ first winning season since 2004-05 will be a challenging but not impossible one to navigate. Revere (2-13), Copley (10-6), Tallmadge (7-8), Smithville (6-9) and Wadsworth (8-7) remain on the regular-season schedule, and an opponent with a winning record is almost a lock at sectionals.

Medina (4-12, 1-5)

Junior Billy Geschke (42 3-pointers) has overtaken Brunswick’s Badowski (38) for the Medina County 3-point lead.

• Mike Ellenbest (illness) missed Tuesday’s game against Garfield Heights. The junior is averaging 6.5 points.

Wadsworth (8-7, 6-4)

Wadsworth is 6-4 when senior center Josh Kipfer has a double-double.

• The Grizzlies will play four road games over the next eight days — against Green (10-5, tonight), Cloverleaf (1-14, Tuesday), Revere (2-13, Feb. 17) and Orrville (6-9, Feb. 18).

• Two wins would give Wadsworth 10 or more for the 34th time in the last 37 seasons.

• Anthony Palecek scored a career-high 10 points in last week’s two-point win vs. Copley.

Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com.

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