Ohio high school's version of March Madness is in full tilt with girls’ sectional tournaments underway and the boys’ regular season ball winding down.

While the Lady Jeeps of South Webster and Lady Eagles of Eastern clinched sectional titles on Thursday, nine more sectional finals that include local teams will be played today.

Looking at today's local schedule, there are 17 games between high school girls, boys and college action.

In Division IV basketball, the SOC I champion New Boston Tigers will face the Lady Tartans of East in a 1 p.m. game at Northwest High School. To follow, Clay's Lady Panthers suit up for a 2:45 p.m. start versus Whiteoak.

Four Division III Sectional Championships will be decided at Rock Hill High School today beginning at 1 p.m. when West hopes to upset Chesapeake. The 2:45 p.m. tipoff will pit Ironton against Fairland.

At 4:30 p.m. the Lady Pirates of Wheelersburg take on Coal Grove before the 6:15 p.m. game that pits the SOC II champions from Oak Hill versus the Lady Trojans of Portsmouth.

The nets at Valley High School are up for grabs when Northwest looks to upset Adena in the 2:45 p.m. game. Following that contest will be Eastern Brown against Piketon at 4:30 p.m.

Continuing D-III play the Lady Indians of Valley head to Wellston High School along with the Mighty Minford Lady Falcons. At 1 p.m. Valley hosts River Valley before Minford takes the court at 4:30 p.m. against Trimble.

In boys regular season action rivals Portsmouth and Ironton face off in an SEOAL South showdown at Portsmouth High School tonight.

Also, Oak Hill could clinch the SOC II trophy outright with a league win at Waverly, while South Webster hosts Clay in an inter-divisional game. Both contests are set to follow 6 p.m. JV games.

At 3 p.m. the Valley boys cross the river for a contest versus the Musketeers of Greenup County and later tonight Western travels to East.

In college hoops, the Bears host an AMC doubleheader with rival Cedarville. The Shawnee State women tip off at 1 p.m. before the 3 p.m. men's contest.

The Cedarville contest will go a long way toward determining whether or not the SSU women travel to Sioux City for the NAIA National Tournament.

See Sunday's edition of the Portsmouth Daily Times for stories and scores from today's local basketball action.

ALI KEATON can be reached at akeaton@heartlandpublications.com