(1) Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary VS. (2) VASJ

What: Division II Canton regional final

When: March 17, Noon

Where: Canton Civic Center, 1101 Market Ave. N

Records: STVM 18-8, VASJ 18-8

On deck: The winner advances to a Division II state semifinal March 23 against the winner of Bay and Lexington.

For the record: Villa Angela-St. Joseph returns to a regional final to play for a sixth consecutive state trip, an occurrence considered improbable at the beginning of the season. The Vikings, reigning Division III state champions, will meet Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary — the defending D-II champ. Each program, along with Middletown, is tied for the state’s all-time lead with seven state championships. VASJ survived a challenge from Cortland Lakeview to play in its sixth straight regional final. STVM advanced with a win over Revere in which the Fighting Irish held the Minutemen scoreless in the first quarter. The Canton Civic Center is a second home for STVM. The Fighting Irish will play in their 10th straight Canton regional final March 17. The Vikings matched up with their regional final opponent in their third game of the season, the second game of a back-to-back against Cleveland Heights and STVM. VASJ led, 30-28, at half before the Fighting Irish won, 75-63. The Vikings have improved since then, but so has STVM. The Fighting Irish played one of Ohio’s most challenging schedules, not unlike the Vikings, and picked up wins against Benedictine, Warrensville Heights, Proctorville Fairland and Cleveland Heights. Jerry Higgins scored 30 points in the Vikings’ regional semifinal victory and will be the focus of the Fighting Irish’s defensive attention. Likewise, STVM is led by senior guard Scott Walter, who was a first-team All-Northeast Inland district selection. The contest showcases a pair of electric freshman guards — VASJ’s Jaden Hameed and STVM’s Seth Wilson — each capable of shifting a game’s momentum. Junior forward Lunden McDay (6-foot-2) will present a challenge for VASJ’s Khalil Mitcham and Latrace Jackson inside. STVM undoubtedly enters as a favorite, but VASJ certainly has a legitimate chance to win. The Vikings will need to deliver their best performance of the season. Any additional fortune, similar to Higgins’ game-winning shot against Beachwood in a 2016 district final, would go a long way.

Barnes’ pick: St. Vincent-St. Mary

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