By Chris Chaney
Sports Editor

The first week of the basketball sectional tournament is fast and furious. The first round through the sectional final takes place over the course of just seven or eight days.

Unfortunately for Clermont County basketball fans, that riptide schedule claimed the seasons of all 10 local boys high school basketball teams before the calendar turned to March.

Goshen, playing in Division II, and Bethel-Tate, playing in Division III, were the only two local teams to earn a postseason victory.

The Warriors, the No. 11 seed in the Mason sectional, upset No. 9-seeded Norwood, 45-43, on Feb. 20 before losing to second-seeded Taft, 77-47, on Feb. 23.

The Tigers, playing at Loveland High School, also advanced via upset, upending No. 11 seed Blanchester, 52-38. Bethel’s victory earned them a sectional semifinal match up with top-seeded Purcell Marian. The Cavaliers ended Bethel’s season with a 65-51 win.

In Division I, Amelia and Milford were first-round casualties. The Barons fell to Loveland, 51-39, on Feb. 18 and the following night the Eagles lost in heartbreaking fashion to Middletown, 38-35, on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.

Glen Este lost to Elder in the sectional semifinals, 70-45, on Feb. 24.

In Division II, Batavia and New Richmond were knocked out of the proceedings in the opening round. The 10th seeded Bulldogs lost to No. 12 seed Western Brown, 57-55, and the 14th seeded Lions were defeated by the three seed, Indian Hill, 56-46, on Feb. 20.

In Division III, Williamsburg lost to No. 6 seed Madeira, 52-31, on Feb. 19. Elsewhere in DIII, Clermont Northeastern was ousted by No. 5 CHCA, 86-46 on Feb. 20.

Lastly, Felicity-Franklin, playing in Division IV, was beaten by Gamble Montessori, 64-53, on Saturday, Feb. 20.

To see complete sectional tournament brackets, log on to swdab.org.