The Ohio high school boys basketball state championship games feature four central Ohio teams, two of which play each other to decide the Division I title.Olentangy Orange (25-2) and Reynoldsburg (26-1) face off in the last of seven games at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at University of Dayton Arena, marking the first time the Columbus area is guaranteed a champion entering the final weekend of the season.Westerville North (24-2) plays for the Division II title at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Massillon Perry (14-13), and at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, undefeated Columbus Academy (28-0) faces Cleveland Heights Lutheran East (24-4) in the Division V final.Here is what you need to know about the boys basketball state finals:What is the state championship game schedule?In addition to those above, here are the other championship matchups:Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.Division III: Cincinnati Aiken (27-1) vs. Louisville (23-5), 1 p.m. FridayDivision IV: Cleveland Glenville (19-8) vs. Zanesville Maysville (26-3), 4:15 p.m. FridayDivision VI: Maria Stein Marion Local (26-2) vs. Woodsfield Monroe Central (23-3), 2 p.m. SaturdayDivision VII: Russia (28-0) vs. Willoughby Cornerstone Christian (21-8), 5:15 p.m. SaturdayThere are seven state finals now?Yes, because of tournament expansion implemented last year by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.Basketball was one of four sports to expand from four to seven divisions, along with baseball, softball and girls volleyball. Soccer went from three to five.Divisions were expanded in an effort to mitigate enrollment disparity within Division I.Divisions I and II are evenly divided between the top 128 schools, with the remaining divisions split as evenly as possible.As an example, Westerville North is the third-largest school in Division II. Without expansion, the Warriors would have competed in Division I as in past years, and likely only one of North, Orange or Reynoldsburg – if any of them – would be at state.How are two central Ohio teams playing in the Division I final?Because there were six Division I district champions and only four teams could feed into the Taft Coliseum regional, two were farmed out to the Wittenberg regional to face southwest Ohio teams. Orange, seeded first in the district, chose a path to Wittenberg, and No. 2 seed Reynoldsburg chose to stay close to home.Once state semifinalists were determined, Orange was sent north to face Cleveland St. Ignatius in Canton and Reynoldsburg played West Chester Lakota West at Wright State.Geography determined the pairings. After all, it wouldn’t have made sense for the Cincinnati- and Cleveland-area teams to play in a semifinal.Why are the games in Dayton rather than Columbus?The bottom line: Because UD wants the games and is able to host.UD Arena has hosted the boys and girls tournaments since 2021 and will continue to do so through at least the 2025-26 season. The facility also hosts the First Four of the NCAA men’s tournament Tuesday and Wednesday.But given tournament expansion, only the finals are at UD this season. Semifinals were held across the state.With the prospect of Ohio State teams playing postseason games at Value City Arena, as will be the case for the women’s basketball team this weekend, availability cannot be promised.How to buy tickets for the state championship gamesTickets are available online only, at ohsaa.org/tickets.No cash is accepted at the gate or anywhere within UD Arena.Single-game tickets are $10 for students and $16 for adults and include parking. The arena is divided into sections for each fan base and student section.All-session tickets start at $100.How to watch the OHSAA boys basketball state finalsSpectrum News 1 will carry all seven finals live.The channel is exclusive to Spectrum customers, who also can stream the broadcasts for free with a Spectrum login.Non-Spectrum customers can purchase a live stream for $9.99 per game at OHSAA.tv.The OHSAA Radio Network also will broadcast the state finals. Its stream is free.dpurpura@dispatch.com@dp

The Ohio high school boys basketball state championship games feature four central Ohio teams, two of which play each other to decide the Division I title. Here is what you need to know about the boys basketball state finals:@dp_dispatchTickets are available online only, at ohsaa.org/tickets. What is the state championship game schedule? dpurpura@dispatch.com Need a […]

The Ohio high school boys basketball state championship games feature four central Ohio teams, two of which play each other to decide the Division I title.

Here is what you need to know about the boys basketball state finals:@dp_dispatchTickets are available online only, at ohsaa.org/tickets.

Columbus Academy students celebrate their team's state semifinal win Friday at Wittenberg.

What is the state championship game schedule?

dpurpura@dispatch.com

No cash is accepted at the gate or anywhere within UD Arena.Division III: Cincinnati Aiken (27-1) vs. Louisville (23-5), 1 p.m. FridayWesterville North (24-2) plays for the Division II title at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Massillon Perry (14-13), and at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, undefeated Columbus Academy (28-0) faces Cleveland Heights Lutheran East (24-4) in the Division V final.Yes, because of tournament expansion implemented last year by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

Reynoldsburg players celebrate their state semifinal win Sunday at Wright State.

There are seven state finals now?

In addition to those above, here are the other championship matchups:All-session tickets start at 0.Divisions were expanded in an effort to mitigate enrollment disparity within Division I.Divisions I and II are evenly divided between the top 128 schools, with the remaining divisions split as evenly as possible.As an example, Westerville North is the third-largest school in Division II. Without expansion, the Warriors would have competed in Division I as in past years, and likely only one of North, Orange or Reynoldsburg – if any of them – would be at state.How are two central Ohio teams playing in the Division I final?Because there were six Division I district champions and only four teams could feed into the Taft Coliseum regional, two were farmed out to the Wittenberg regional to face southwest Ohio teams. Orange, seeded first in the district, chose a path to Wittenberg, and No. 2 seed Reynoldsburg chose to stay close to home.

Once state semifinalists were determined, Orange was sent north to face Cleveland St. Ignatius in Canton and Reynoldsburg played West Chester Lakota West at Wright State.Geography determined the pairings. After all, it wouldn’t have made sense for the Cincinnati- and Cleveland-area teams to play in a semifinal.Why are the games in Dayton rather than Columbus?The bottom line: Because UD wants the games and is able to host.UD Arena has hosted the boys and girls tournaments since 2021 and will continue to do so through at least the 2025-26 season. The facility also hosts the First Four of the NCAA men’s tournament Tuesday and Wednesday.But given tournament expansion, only the finals are at UD this season. Semifinals were held across the state.With the prospect of Ohio State teams playing postseason games at Value City Arena, as will be the case for the women’s basketball team this weekend, availability cannot be promised.

How to buy tickets for the state championship games

The channel is exclusive to Spectrum customers, who also can stream the broadcasts for free with a Spectrum login.Non-Spectrum customers can purchase a live stream for .99 per game at OHSAA.tv.Single-game tickets are for students and for adults and include parking. The arena is divided into sections for each fan base and student section.Division VII: Russia (28-0) vs. Willoughby Cornerstone Christian (21-8), 5:15 p.m. SaturdayHow to watch the OHSAA boys basketball state finalsSpectrum News 1 will carry all seven finals live.

Basketball was one of four sports to expand from four to seven divisions, along with baseball, softball and girls volleyball. Soccer went from three to five.Division VI: Maria Stein Marion Local (26-2) vs. Woodsfield Monroe Central (23-3), 2 p.m. Saturday

The OHSAA Radio Network also will broadcast the state finals. Its stream is free.Division IV: Cleveland Glenville (19-8) vs. Zanesville Maysville (26-3), 4:15 p.m. FridayOlentangy Orange (25-2) and Reynoldsburg (26-1) face off in the last of seven games at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at University of Dayton Arena, marking the first time the Columbus area is guaranteed a champion entering the final weekend of the season.