BASKETBALL

BOYS

Tournament Schedule

Tuesday’s Games

Canton Division IV Regional

(At Canton Memorial Fieldhouse)

Cleveland Hts. Lutheran East vs. McDonald, 6:15 p.m.

Willoughby Cornerstone Christian vs. Malvern, 8 p.m.

———

Wednesday’s Games

Toledo/Akron Division I Regional

(At University of Toledo)

Lorain vs. Lima Senior, 7 p.m.

Canton Division III Regional

(At Canton Memorial Fieldhouse)

Newton Falls vs. Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph, 6:15 p.m.

St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Oberlin, 8 p.m.

———

Thursday’s Games

Toledo/Akron Division I Regional

(At Rhodes Arena, University of Akron)

Brunswick vs. Canton McKinley, 7 p.m.

Canton Division II Regional

(At Canton Memorial Civic Center)

St. Vincent-St. Mary vs. Youngstown Ursuline, 6:15 p.m.

Cleveland Benedictine vs. Perry (Lake Co.), 8 p.m.

———

Friday’s Games

Canton Division IV Regional Final

(At Canton Memorial Fieldhouse)

Cleveland Hts. Lutheran East-McDonald winner vs. Willoughby Cornerstone Christian-Malvern winner, 7 p.m.

———

Saturday’s Games

Toledo/Akron Division I Regional Final

(At Rhodes Arena, University of Akron)

Brunswick-Canton McKinley winner vs. Lorain-Lima Senior winner, 7 p.m.

Canton Division II Regional Final

(At Canton Memorial Civic Center)

St. Vincent-St. Mary-Youngstown Ursuline winner vs. Cleveland Benedictine-Perry (Lake Co.) winner, noon

Canton Division III Regional Final

(At Canton Memorial Fieldhouse)

St. Thomas Aquinas-Oberlin winner vs. Newton Falls-Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph winner, 7 p.m.

All-Northeast
Inland District Teams

COLUMBUS: (AP) —The 2015-16 Associated Press All-Northeast Inland District boys all-star basketball teams, as selected by a media panel from the district, with height, year and regular-season scoring average:

DIVISION I

First team: Kyle Young, Jackson, 6-foot-7, junior, 20.6 points per game; Mitch Peterson, Walsh Jesuit, 6-5, sr., 21.0; Chandler Vaudrin, Lake, 6-7, sr., 16.1; Drew Noble, Louisville, 6-8, sr., 20.0; Larnell Nealy, Copley, 5-8, sr., 19.0; Jon Teske, Medina, 7-1, sr., 16.9; LePear Toles, Canton McKinley, 6-5, sr.,13.9; Gabe Simpson, Warren G. Harding, 5-10, sr., 20.5; Nathan Bower-Malone, Stow, 6-0, sr., 18.0.

Co-players of the year: Jon Teske, Medina; Kyle Young, Jackson

Coach of the year: Joe Mackey, Brunswick

Second team: Logan Hill, Jackson, 6-5, jr., 13.8; Zack Meder, Hudson, 5-10, sr., 19.4; Derek Culver, Warren G. Harding, 6-10, jr., 16.6; Chris Libertore, Louisville, 6-3, jr., 12.1; Raybon Lewis, Firestone, 6-5, sr., 16.0; A.J. Gareri, Ellet, 6-9, jr., 22.3; Bryce Harvey, Copley, 6-0, sr., 18.1; Michael Quiring, Brunswick, 5-10, sr., 14.5; Kevin Simmons, Brunswick, 6-0, sr., 15.2.

Third team: Spencer Neubert, Kent Roosevelt, 5-10, sr., 19.7; Nathan Fox, North Canton Hoover, 6-4, jr., 13.3; Darryl Straughter, Canton McKinley, 5-10, jr., 12.9; Luke Schaefer, Medina, 6-3, jr., 15.2; Nick Koontz, Wooster, 5-10, sr., 12.9; Anthony Christian, Archbishop Hoban, 6-3, sr., 13.9; Drew Myers, Lake, 6-4, sr., 14.1; Collen Gurley, Archbishop Hoban, 6-1, so., 12.9; Malik Marrow, Youngstown East, 6-0, sr., 20.0.

Honorable mention: Isaac MacGillis, Hudson; Shakem Johnson, Warren G. Harding; Eli Blackledge, North Canton Hoover; Anthony Pangio, Austintown Fitch; Gannon Murray, Boardman; Derek Gunter, Austintown Fitch; Luciano Romeo, Warren Howland; Peyton Bennington, Wooster; Jaylin Moore, Firestone; Joe Iacobacci, Walsh Jesuit; Jeff Woolridge, Barberton; Kevin Gainer, Cuyahoga Falls; Sevon Gordon, North; Buzz Walker, Barberton; Dominick Holley, East; Jaret Andres, GlenOak; Toddy Broyles, Massillon; Noah Glass, Green; Bobby Staudt, Green; Jordan Davis, Canton McKinley; Ben Seaman, Jackson; Jack Lostoski, Lake; Rashaad Gibbons, GlenOak; Wyatt Vega, Perry; Kylan Richburg, Firestone; Alex Beck, Hudson; Crysjawn Waters, Garfield; Brian Cuppett, Archbishop Hoban; Logan Huffman, Stow; Coryon Rice, Stow; Jordan McLean, Springfield; Austin Brenner, Copley; Joe Wiencek, Highland; Collin Rittman, Highland; Jackson Sartain, Medina; Zach Cebula, Brunswick; Jordan Barnes, Kent Roosevelt; Kyle Fayne, Aurora.

———

DIVISION II

First team: Henry Baddley, St. Vincent-St. Mary, 6-5, sr., 19.0; Jai’Ron Brackett, Alliance, 6-2, sr., 16.2; Jordan Fabry, Crestwood, 6-3, jr., 23.6; Cameron Kane-Johnson, Niles McKinley, 5-9, sr., 25.4; Greg Parella, Youngstown Ursuline, 6-2, sr., 23.4; Jayvon Graves, St. Vincent-St. Mary, 6-2, jr., 17.0; Mason Mangapora, Canfield, 6-3, sr., 19.1; Conner Wess, Coventry, 6-1, sr., 16.0; Jerry Judd, Streetsboro, 6-2, sr., 16.5.

Player of the year: Henry Baddley, St. Vincent-St. Mary

Coach of the year: Larry Kukura, Alliance

Second team: Bryce Hargrove, Coventry, 6-6, sr., 18.0; Matt Baker, Poland Seminary, 6-7, sr,, 14.2; Trell Thomas, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, 6-0, sr., 18.7; Malik Campbell, Canton South, 5-10, sr., 18.5; D.J. Pullie, Salem, 5-10, sr., 13.5; Jared Burkert, Poland Seminary, 6-0, sr., 15.9; Andrew Armstrong, Cardinal Mooney, 6-2, sr., 16.6; Andrew Carbon, Struthers, 6-1, jr., 19.3; D.J. Hancock, Alliance, 6-0, jr., 13.2.

Third team: Dillon Henderson, Buchtel, 5-11, jr., 14.0; Nate Peters, CVCA, 6-1, sr., 15.0; Deon’ta Collins, Kenmore, 5-7, sr., 14.0; Mason Lydic, Woodridge, 6-1, so., 15.0; Caleb Pratt, Norton, 6-3, sr., 14.5; Tyler Helderman, Tallmadge, 6-3, sr., 13.0; Trevon Ridgell, Field, 6-1, sr., 17.0; Mark Standohar, Girard, 5-10, sr., 10.0; Brock Begue, Marlington, 6-3, jr., 19.0.

Honorable mention: Matt Fennell, Northwest; Aaron Czerny, Crestwood; Darren Tiggett, Girard; Timmy Schuerger, Cloverleaf; Matthew Francesconi, Tallmadge; Derrick Harvey Jr., Buchtel; Reed Becker, Norton; Ryan Foguth, CVCA; Pete Nance, Revere; Mike Hill, Revere; Jeremy Gorby, West Branch; Jake Daniska, Canton South; Scott Wormald, Northwest; John Williams, St. Vincent-St. Mary; Devernte’ Martin, Alliance; Andrew Brady, Marlington; Thomas Woods, Kenmore; Robby Robinson, Norton; Preston Clark, Woodridge; Steven Taylor, CVCA; Trey Toothman, Salem; Liam Murray, Buckeye; Timmy Schuerger, Cloverleaf; Avery Van Reeth, Streetsboro; Brenden Candella, Hubbard; Chris Muir, Cortland Lakeview; Nick Koken, Youngstown Mooney.

———

DIVISION III

First team: Derek Koch, Northwestern, 6-8, jr., 21.7; Bailey Breitenstine, Chippewa, 5-9, sr., 19.8; Nate Weinman, Norwayne, 6-7, jr., 20.7; John Carroll, Tuslaw, 6-11, sr., 13.6; Jacob Paul, St. Thomas Aquinas, 5-10, sr., 17.0; Jaden Walton, Newton Falls, 6-2, sr., 27.1; Graham Mincher, New Middletown Springfield, 5-10, sr., 27.7; Preston Stitt, N. Lima South Range, 5-11, sr., 14.0; Dalton Fall, Garrettsville, 6-4, jr., 16.4.

Player of the year: Derek Koch, Northwestern

Coach of the year: Kevin Lower, Tuslaw

Second team: Lucas Nasonti, Warren Champion, 5-9, jr., 17.9; Luke Smith, Orrville, 6-2, sr., 17.0; Mark Meyer, Tuslaw, 6-7, sr., 11.1; Nate Emens, Garrettsville, 6-0, sr., 13.0; Shawn Swindall, Loudonville, 6-2, jr., 18.9; Brevin Riebe, Waynedale, 5-10, sr., 12.1; Isaiah Viator, Smithville, 6-2, sr., 15.1; Mark Mokros, Canton Central Catholic, 6-1, sr., 12.4; Zane Rummell, Mineral Ridge, 6-3, sr., 20.0.

Third team: Logan Newman, St. Thomas Aquinas, 6-0, jr., 11.0; Mike Eakins, Leavittsburg LaBrae, 5-8, jr., 11.6; Brandon Youngs, South Range, 5-11, so., 11.0; Drake Batcho, Warren Champion, 6-2, so., 13.6; Allan Benson, Black River, 5-10, sr., 19.6; Vince Dorsey, Waterloo, 6-7, jr., 16.2; Brian Hiner, Brookfield, 6-0, so., 16.8; Michael Turner, Warren Champion, 6-0, jr., 13.6; Jake Clark, Hanoverton United, 6-1, sr., 16.0.

Honorable mention: Christian Simmons, Fairless; Luke Stuffel, Canton Central Catholic; Harley Snyder, Tuslaw; Aaron Spidell, Waynedale; Kaleb Bauman, Rittman; Gabe Walker, Triway; Albert Alli, Mineral Ridge; Noah Suarez, Newton Falls; Caelan Hyland, Leavittsburg LaBrae; Burdette Baker, Columbiana; Blaine Hewitt, Tuslaw; Petey Williams, Canton Central Catholic; Gino Pellegrene, St. Thomas Aquinas; Jason Schumacher, Fairless; Jo Jo France, Manchester; Alex Widmer, Norwayne; Matt McMillan, Rittman; Jerry Bennett, Chippewa; Austin VanSickle, Loudonville; Kaden Smith, Hanoverton United; Eli McCallum, Columbiana Crestview; Branden Kemp, East Palestine; Curtis Roupe, Black River; Eric Karafa, Warren Champion; Andre Bower, Youngstown Liberty; Ben Simpson, Newton Falls; Tariq Drake, Leavittsburg LaBrae.

———

DIVISION IV

First team: Zeddie Pollock, Mogadore, 6-2, sr., 16.2; Alex Jones, Bristolville Bristol, 6-3, sr., 17.0; Cole Beatty, Lowellville, 6-6, sr., 18.0; Kavon Swoope, Lake Center Christian, 6-1, sr., 20.1; Clay O’Dell, Vienna Mathews, 6-3, jr., 20.0; Josh Zmuda, Sebring McKinley, 5-8, sr., 14.5; Eric Pickering, Hillsdale, 6-6, sr., 19.4; Austin Rutecki, Lisbon David Anderson, 6-5, sr., 18.5; Jake Reckard, McDonald, 6-1, sr., 15.0.

Player of the year: Austin Rutecki, Lisbon David Anderson

Coach of the year: Chris Huckshold, Lisbon David Anderson

Second team: Mitch Clark, Dalton, 6-5, jr., 13.7; Josh Liberati, Lisbon David Anderson, 6-0, sr., 13.0; Jarad Dunn, Mogadore, 6-3, jr., 14.5; Robbie Rouse, Sebring McKinley, 6-1, jr., 12.3; Justin Bofenkamp, Warren JFK, 6-1, jr., 20.0; Tommy Hall, Southington Chalker, 6-4, sr., 15.9; Ben Rogers, Hillsdale, 6-6, jr., 13.3; Troy Holden, Salineville Southern, 6-1, sr., 16.0; Justin Miller, Wellsville, 6-1, jr., 24.0.

Third team: Cody Steiner, Dalton, 6-2, sr., 13.3; Evan Magill, McDonald, 6-2, jr., 12.0; Nate Starcher, Lake Center Christian, 6-2, sr., 11.3; Lance DeZee, Berlin Center Western Reserve, 6-1, sr., 12.0; Josh Craig, Lisbon David Anderson, 6-3, sr., 14.2; Cody Hilles, Berlin Center Western Reserve, 6-2, jr., 12.0; Bryce Gabrielson, Bristolville Bristol, 6-1, sr., 6.9; Zach Dawson, Cortland Maplewood, 6-4, jr., 14.0; Nate Woods, Warren JFK, 6-3, jr., 17.0.

Honorable mention: Sean McDivitt, Vienna Mathews; Garrett Miller, Kidron Central Christian; Elijah Anderson, Youngstown Valley Christian; Avery Andric, Lisbon David Anderson; Christian Adkins, Salineville Southern; Nathan Sommers, Columbiana Heartland Christian; Evan Davis, Leetonia; Andrew Barker, Mogadore; John Paul Miller, Lake Center Christian; Manny Edwards, Lawrence School; Aiden Miller, Kinsman Badger; Coty Turner, North Bloomfield Bloomfield; Tommy Donadio, Bristolville Bristol; Eric Wilson, Southington Chalker; Jake Hall, Cortland Maplewood; Matt Howard, McDonald; Jiryes Rafidi, Warren Lordstown; Eric Park, Windham; Milan Square, Youngstown Valley Christian.

GIRLS

State Tournament Schedule

(At Schottenstein Center, Ohio State)

Thursday’s Games

Division III Semifinals

Gilmour Academy (23-5) vs. Marion Pleasant (26-2), 1 p.m.

Ironton (27-0) vs. Columbus Africentric (22-5), 3 p.m.

Division II Semifinals

Columbus Eastmoor Academy (22-4) vs. Kettering Alter (26-2), 6 p.m.

Hathaway Brown (17-10) vs. Ottawa-Glandorf (25-2), 8 p.m.

———

Friday’s Games

Division IV Semifinals

Willoughby Cornerstone Christian (23-4) vs. Waterford (26-1), 1 p.m.

Fostoria St. Wendelin (25-3) vs. Jackson Center (24-4) winner, 3 p.m.

Division I Semifinals

Wadsworth (26-1) vs. Reynoldsburg (23-5), 6 p.m.

Solon (18-5) vs. Mason (25-2), 8 p.m.

———

Saturday’s Games

Division III Final

Gilmour Academy (23-5)-Marion Pleasant (26-2) winner vs. Ironton (27-0)-Columbus Africentric (22-5) winner, 10:45 a.m.

Division II Final

Columbus Eastmoor Academy (22-4)-Kettering Alter (26-2) winner vs. Hathaway Brown (17-10)-Ottawa-Glandorf (25-2), 2 p.m.

Division IV Final

Willoughby Cornerstone Christian (23-4)-Waterford (26-1) winner vs. Fostoria St. Wendelin (25-3)-Jackson Center (24-4) winner, 5:15 p.m.

Division I Final

Wadsworth (26-1)-Reynoldsburg (23-5) winner vs. Solon (18-5)-Mason (25-2) winner, 8:30 p.m.

All Northeast
Inland District Teams

The 2015-16 Associated Press All-Northeast Inland District girls all-star basketball teams, as selected by a media panel from the district, with height, year and regular-season scoring average:

DIVISION I

First team: Jodi Johnson, Wadsworth, 5-11, sr., 18.1; Brandie Snow, Lake, sr., 17.5; Taylor Mikesell, Jackson, 5-9, so., 19.3; Kierstan Bell, Canton McKinley, 6-1, fr., 21.0; Krista Johnson, Boardman, 5-8, sr., 17.1; Maddie Blyer, North Canton Hoover, 5-5, jr., 13.0; Dai’Shona Washington-Polk, GlenOak, 5-9, jr., 16.0; Holly Groff, Nordonia, 5-5, sr., 15.3; Jasmine Bishop, Twinsburg, 6-0, jr., 14.1.

Player of the year: Jodi Johnson, Wadsworth

Coach of the year: Michael Griffen, Nordonia

Second team: Karlee Pireu, Perry, 5-10, jr., 15.3: Katie Karalic, Nordonia, 5-9, sr., 13.0; Lexi Manos, North Canton Hoover, 5-5, sr., 10.0; Kia Allen, Warren G. Harding, 5-6, jr., 12.0; Caitlin Tytler, Jackson, 5-11, sr., 10.0; Sophia Fortner, Wadsworth, 5-5, so., 8.5; Marlee Profitt, Highland, 6-1, sr., 15.6; Ny Brown, Wooster, 5-9, so., 18.0; Ashley Kaleel, Canfield, 5-5, sr., 12.2.

Third team: Allexis Sallee, Austintown Fitch, 5-9, jr., 14.0; Lauren Turschak, Stow, 5-9, jr., 10.0; Kayla Fischer, Kent Roosevelt, 5-5, so., 13.9; Nasha Flowers, Canton McKinley, 5-6, jr., 6.0; Farrah Benner, Brunswick, 5-9, sr., 13.7; Armani Jackson, Copley, 5-9, jr., 18.4; Madison Jackson, Green, 6-0, sr., 11.0; Jessie Stout, Stow, 5-10, sr., 9.6; Sabria Hunter, Austintown Fitch, 6-0, fr., 13.1.

Honorable mention: Dasja Anderson, Twinsburg; Savannah Blackwell, Barberton; Shymara Dykes, Warren G. Harding; Imani Jackson, Firestone; Ava Cristofoli, Hudson; Syarra Sellers, Aurora; Jailyn Reid, Twinsburg; Diamond Jones, East; Kimmie Borck, Perry; Lauren Gabriele, Boardman; Jill Baker, Canfield; Bailee Brooks, Cuyahoga Falls; Macey Chik, Barberton; Soleil Barnes, Nordonia; Tiffany Bentler, North Canton Hoover; Da’Vina Shelton, GlenOak; Taylor Champagne, Lake; Sarah Lairson, Louisville; Emily Hollifield, Louisville; Sasianna Meadows, North; Cassie Dario, Ellet; April Davis, Aurora; Hannah Bouchy, Walsh Jesuit; Olivia Stein, Walsh Jesuit; Jessie Holzman, Medina; Lexi Lance, Wadsworth; Carla Stoll, Wooster; Serena Sammarone, Canfield; Jenna Vivo, Boardman; Zanayia Brown, Youngstown East.

———

DIVISION II

First team: Sara Price, Warren Howland, 6-1, jr., 22.0; Addie Becker, Cortland Lakeview, 6-0, sr., 19.2; Annie Pavlansky, Cortland Lakeview, 6-0, so., 15.8; Kara Marshall, Archbishop Hoban, 5-8, sr., 13.0; Jane Uecker, St. Vincent-St. Mary, 6-3, sr., 13.0; Danielle Norquest, Southeast, 5-10, jr., 23.1; Bella Gajdos, Poland Seminary, 5-3, so., 16.8; Lexi Civittolo, Cloverleaf, 5-11, sr., 22.3; Victoria Rappach, Warren Howland, 5-4, sr., 18.1.

Player of the year: Sara Price, Warren Howland

Coach of the year: Bob Dunn, Southeast

Second team: Abbe Esterak, Woodridge, 5-5, sr., 17.3; Taylor Geib, Ravenna, 6-0, sr., 11.6; Autumn Retherford, Ravenna, 5-4, sr., 12.3; Makayla Trebella, Girard, 5-5, jr., 11.0; Emily Brock, Revere, 5-5, jr., 13.2; Camryn Brown, Revere, 5-4, sr., 13.9; Rachel Chessar, Archbishop Hoban, 5-8, jr., 12.0; Chloe Cheresne, Salem, 6-0, jr., 17.2; Emily Melnek, Poland Seminary, 5-7, jr., 10.5.

Third team: Madison Worden, Northwest, 5-4, sr., 14.0; Riley Norquest, Southeast, 5-7, jr., 15.0; Brenna Rito, West Branch, 5-5, jr., 9.8; Abbey Murawski, Norton, 5-10, so., 10.0; Sydney Kulla, Crestwood, 5-9, jr., 12.0; Octavia Loll, St. Vincent-St. Mary, 5-5, sr., 10.0; Morgan Penird, Marlington, 5-5, sr., 13.0; Jensen Silbaugh, Cortland Lakeview, 5-9, jr., 11.7; Brin Stralka, Tallmadge, 6-1, jr., 11.2.

Honorable mention: Shayla Williams, Woodridge; Natalie Zuchowski, West Branch; Caitlin Kane, Struthers; Daichele Hatcher, Buchtel; Jillian Piacella, Field; Kelsey Hosey, Norton; Jimi Howell, Norton; Emma Tecca, Archbishop Hoban; Allie Rodenbucher, Springfield; Jada Wright, CVCA; Alexis Bury, Struthers; Q’Deare Dix, Kenmore; Sarah Taylor, Kenmore; Viktoria Farian, Revere; Daijana Johnson, Alliance; Robin Campbell, Marlington; Kaylee Manning, West Branch; Kamryn Tharp, Canton South; Justina McDonald, Streetsboro; Mackenzie Maze, Warren Howland; Ali Ciminero, Girard; Logan Nitsche, Hubbard; Amanda Blank, Niles McKinley; Kayla Glancy, Buckeye; Ava Illig, Cloverleaf; Jamie McGhee, Tallmadge; Karli Morisak, Coventry; Kia Greene, Coventry; Dani Carlson, Archbishop Hoban; Rachel Radcliff, CVCA; Annie Santucci, St. Vincent-St. Mary; Allee Davidson, Salem.

———

DIVISION III

First team: Trinniti Hall, Orrville, 5-11, sr., 19.1; Ashley Richardson, Chippewa, 6-1, sr., 18.3; Mayci Sales, Tuslaw, 6-0, jr., 15.3; Gabrielle Kline, Newton Falls, 6-1, sr., 19.1; Grayson Rose, Garrettsville, 6-2, jr., 18.5; Morgan Czopur, South Range, 5-7, sr., 20.7; Dayshanette Harris, Youngstown Ursuline, 5-6, fr., 21.0; Hanna Risaliti, Canton Central Catholic, 5-8, sr., 11.5; Micah Findley, Triway, 5-6, sr., 14.1.

Player of the year: Ashley Richardson, Chippewa

Coaches of the year: Mark Alberts Sr., Orrville; Mark Baker, Newton Falls

Second team: Carley Kandel, Northwestern, 5-9, jr., 15.5; Karlee Pezzano, Lisbon David Anderson, 5-7, jr., 14.5; Alexis Gates, Columbiana Crestview, 5-7, jr., 15.3; Maddie Durkin, Canfield South Range, 6-1, so., 18.9; Carly Koncz, Chippewa, 6-0, sr., 13.4; Alley Leeman, Fairless, 5-6, sr., 17.0; Madisson Geddes, Garrettsville, 5-4, sr., 12.0; Isabelle Kline, Newton Falls, 5-10, so., 14.7; Becky Adelman, Waterloo, 5-9, so., 12.5.

Third team: Simone Comer, Youngstown Ursuline, 5-9, jr., 13.0; Sarah Miller, Canton Central Catholic, 5-10, sr., 10.0; Autumn Kirila, Brookfield, 5-10, sr., 10.2; Kennedy Fullum, Columbiana, 5-7, fr., 13.0; McKenzie Drapola, Brookfield, 5-5, jr., 10.0; Madison Near, Waynedale, 5-10, sr., 10.0; Lauren Beech, Hanoverton United, 5-7, sr., 10.0; Nikki Weber, Loudonville, 5-6, fr., 13.7; Lauren Rutherford, Leavittsburg LaBrae, 5-11, sr., 14.4.

Honorable mention: Lauren Erickson, Smithville; Faith Edwards, Ashland Mapleton; Kayla Barreca, Newton Falls; Megan Turner, Champion; Lauren Jones, Garrettsville; Brynn Pennell, Columbiana; Marlaina Frye, East Palestine; Mackenzie Mason, Lisbon David Anderson; Molly Dennis, Orrville; Kiauna McDuffie, Orrville; Taylor Richards, Chippewa; Kelseigh Wright, Northwestern; Maggie Coblentz, Waynedale; Kirsten Hilty, Norwayne; Faith Lau, Tuslaw; Bethany Koons, Tuslaw; Tanner Wirth, Triway; Katy Farey, Canton Central Catholic; Tori Sheehan, Brookfield; Abby White, Warren Champion; Morgan Meyer, Leavittsburg LaBrae; Amy Mikulich, Youngstown Liberty; Maggie Monahan, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney.

———

DIVISION IV

First team: Antonella LaMonica, Warren JFK, 5-0, jr., 19.8; Katarina Schubert, Vienna Mathews, 5-2, jr., 11.0; Sara Joseph, McDonald, 5-5, sr., 16.0; Brittany Knight, Windham, 5-9, sr., 21.0; Elizabeth Breckbill, Central Christian, 6-2, jr., 10.1; India Snyder, Youngstown Valley Christian, 5-4, so., 21.0; Kaitlyn Totani, Jackson-Milton, 5-5, jr., 12.3; Sydney Smith, Sebring McKinley, 5-9, sr., 14.0.

Player of the year: Brittany Knight, Windham

Co-coaches of the year: Pat Keney, Jackson-Milton; Tate Moore, Windham

Second team: Murphy Flowers, Sebring McKinley, 5-5, sr., 14.0; Kristy Eckman, Leetonia, 5-10, jr., 13.0; Ashley Bennett, Wellsville, 5-7, sr., 15.0; Sam Homa, McDonald, 5-9, jr., 13.0; Bryanna McClurg, Vienna Mathews, 5-6, sr., 11.0; Lexi Knight, Windham, 5-6, jr., 15.3; Bethany Marcum, Rittman, 5-9, sr., 8.4; Michaelina Terranova, Jackson-Milton, 5-7, so., 13.0; Ashley Totani, Jackson-Milton, 5-5, jr., 12.4.

Third team: Briana Ryan, Rootstown, 5-9, sr., 18.5; Kirsten Shoup, Dalton, 5-8, so., 11.1; Courtney Warnick, Southington Chalker, 5-2, so., 15.0; Chloe Moore, Lake Center Christian, 5-5, jr., 15.1; Katie Hiestand, St. Thomas Aquinas, 6-0, so., 14.6; Talia Miller, Central Christian, 5-7, jr., 10.2; Imane Snyder, Valley Christian, 5-4, so., 10.4; Sydney Miller, Western Reserve, 5-9, sr., 10.2.

Honorable mention: Paige Sponsler, Vienna Mathews; Lauren Falasca, Western Reserve; Kendall Leatherman, Rittman; Paige Dempsey, St. Thomas Aquinas; Destiny Crow, Wellsville; Haylee Mott, Kinsman Badger; Hailee Elza, Bristolville Bristol; Sara Baugher, Southington Chalker; Taejah Burney, Warren JFK; Kellee Applegate, Warren Lordstown; Jordyn Patterson, Cortland Maplewood; Brenna Rupe, McDonald; Lexie Pierce, Mogadore; Madi Morris, Mogadore; Anna Sevek, Salineville Southern.

HOCKEY

State Tournament

State Division I Semifinals

(At Nationwide Arena, Columbus)

Thursday’s Games

Hunting Valley University School vs. Dublin Coffman, 4 p.m.

Toledo St. Francis de Sales vs. Cleveland St. Ignatius, 7 p.m.

———

State Division I Finals

(At Nationwide Arena, Columbus)

Saturday’s Game

Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.

The Ohio Development Services Agency is seeking to pair summer interns with small-to-medium sized Buckeye State businesses emerging as exporters.

Companies have until March 15 to apply for the program, through which the state provides 50 percent reimbursement to help cover the cost of interns’ wages.

“Students gain practical skills to compete in a globally competitive job market,” said agency director David Goodman, “while companies have the opportunity to expand internationally and create jobs.”

This program is a partnership with the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University and Youngstown State University’s Williamson College of Business Administration. In the last four years, the student-company matches generated more than $19 million in expected global sales and 17 full-time job offers.

Company applications can be found at http://eip.development.ohio.gov.

Several presidential candidates will be making stops in Northeast Ohio this week in advance of the March 15 primary.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is scheduled to appear at a rally on Tuesday in Cleveland.

She will appear from 7 to 10 p.m. at Cuyahoga Community College’s Metro Campus and its Recreation Center, 2900 Community College Ave.

Advance sign-up is required at https://www.willhillarywin.com/hillary-clintons-events.

Also appearing on Tuesday in southern Cuyahoga County will be John Kasich, Ohio governor and a Republican presidential candidate.

He will appear at a rally in Broadview Heights at Ohio CAT, 3993 E. Royalton Road. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. The event begins at 5 p.m.

Advance sign-up is required at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/battleground-ohio-rally-with-john-kasich-tickets-22553721789.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will appear at 2 p.m. Saturday at the I-X Center in Cleveland.

Doors open at 11 a.m.

Advance sign-up is required at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/donald-j-trump-in-cleveland-oh-tickets-22635314836.

A 52-year-old Akron man was sentenced to seven years in prison Monday for robbing a bank inside a local grocery store.

Michael Williams of Sawyer Avenue, whose trial was scheduled for Monday, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery with a gun specification, a first-degree felony. Summit County Common Pleas Judge Lynne Callahan immediately sentenced Williams to seven years in prison.

Williams walked into the Acme on State Road in Cuyahoga Falls Nov. 4 and handed the teller in the U.S. Bank inside the store a note stating, “Give me all the money from the drawer. This is not a game. You have 30 seconds or I will blow your head off. If I pull this gun, I’m gonna [expletive] use it,” according to a news release from the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office.

After getting the money, Williams got into a vehicle driven by another man. A short time later, police pulled the vehicle over for a headlight violation.

During the traffic stop, officers were notified about the robbery and that the suspect’s vehicle matched the description of the one they had pulled over, according to the news release.

When Williams completes his prison sentence, he will serve two more years for violating his federal parole for a previous bank robbery.

Timothy Rogers, 26, of Akron, whom prosecutors say was Williams’ getaway driver, is charged with complicity to aggravated robbery with a gun specification. His trial is scheduled to begin May 5 in Callahan’s courtroom.

MEDINA: A registered nurse whose family ran a dairy farm has donated more than $103,000 to the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities (MCBDD).

The gift came from the estate of Dorothy O. Hirschman of Spencer, who died in May 2015.

The board will use the money for its Assistive Technology Program, which allows people with disabilities to gain greater independence through technology.

“MCBDD is committed to using new smart technologies to directly impact the people we serve who struggle with communication issues that prevent them from finding employment,” MCBDD assistive technology coordinator Connie Hartman said in a prepared statement.

Mrs. Hirschman, who was born Feb. 8, 1924, in Cleveland, graduated from Orange High School and the Huron Road School of Nursing.

She served with the U.S. Army Cadet Nursing Corps and, in 1946, married Floyd Hirschman. In 1950, they moved to Spencer, where Floyd began dairy farming.

Mrs. Hirschman worked as a registered nurse at Lodi Community Hospital before retiring in 1964. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1998.

“Dorothy was a wonderful woman who believed in community and saw the value in all people,” said Robert Bux, an attorney for the Dorothy Hirschman Trust.

CLEVELAND: The recipient of the nation’s first uterus transplant said Monday that she prayed for years to be able to bear a child and is grateful to the deceased donor’s family and surgeons who’ve given her that chance.

Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic said Monday that the 26-year-old woman is recovering well after receiving the uterus late last month. The experimental surgery is part of a new frontier in transplantation that, if it works, might be an alternative for some of the thousands of women unable to have children because they were born without a uterus or lost it to disease.

The woman, identified only as Lindsey, appeared briefly at a news conference with her husband. She said she already is a mother to three “beautiful little boys” adopted through foster care and that she was told when she was 16 that she wouldn’t be able to bear children.

“From that moment on, I’ve prayed that God would allow me the opportunity to experience pregnancy,” she said. “And here we are today, at the beginning of that journey.”

The woman must wait at least a year to ensure the new uterus is healthy enough to try getting pregnant through in vitro fertilization, using embryos frozen ahead of the operation. To monitor the transplant, she will undergo monthly examinations.

Other countries have tried womb transplants. Sweden reported the first successful birth in 2014, with a total of five healthy babies from nine transplants so far. The transplant team at the Cleveland Clinic, which has been exploring the possibility of performing uterus transplants for 10 years, trained with the Swedish surgeons.

The hospital has screened more than 250 women to identify 10 who qualify for the clinical trial, those lacking a functional uterus but with healthy ovaries that produce eggs. They must understand the risks — complications from abdominal surgery, plus the possibility that the transplant will fail — and that it’s experimental.

“We must remember a uterine transplant is not just about a surgery and about moving a uterus from here to there. It’s about having a healthy baby,” said Cleveland Clinic surgeon Dr. Rebecca Flyckt.

One concern, both medically and ethically, is the effect that necessary anti-rejection drugs have on a developing fetus, the doctors said Monday. Dr. Andreas Tzakis, a transplant surgeon who is leading the study, said many women who’ve had kidney transplants have delivered healthy babies while taking anti-rejection drugs.

Births will be by cesarean section. The transplanted uterus will be removed after the woman has had one or two babies so that she won’t need those drugs the rest of her life.

The United Network for Organ Sharing, which oversees U.S. transplants, said Baylor University in Dallas and Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital have also been approved for uterine transplants.

A uterus donation requires a separate consent from a deceased donor’s family, like donations for other new procedures such as hand and face transplants, said UNOS chief medical officer Dr. David Klassen.

The donor for the Cleveland Clinic transplant was described as a healthy woman in her 30s who’d had children and had died suddenly. Sweden has used living donors for transplants there, but the Cleveland Clinic trial, to avoid any risk to a donor, decided to start with donors who have died.

The Cleveland Clinic patient, Lindsey, said she was grateful to that donor’s family. “They have provided me with a gift that I will never be able to repay.”

Dr. Mats Brannstrom of Sahlgrenska University Hospital at the University of Gothenburg said the Cleveland surgery marked the 13th transplant worldwide. According to Brannstrom, Saudi Arabia and Turkey previously reported attempts and China performed one in November, but Sweden so far has the only births.

Lakeview Intermediate School’s principal was taken down by a police dog in front of all his students Monday afternoon — but not as part of a crime.

Instead, the demonstration was the reward for a fundraiser by students that raised about $1,200 for the Stow Police Department’s K-9 Unit.

“We agreed that I’d do this if they raised $1,000,” said Andy Yanchunas, principal of the school in Stow.

Yanchunas — wearing a protective, padded suit that also limited his movement — waddled into the school’s gymnasium Monday before the entire student body. His expression one of nervous excitement, Yanchunas dashed as quickly as he could move in a padded suit away from K-9 police dog Colt, a 7½-year-old German Shepherd, who sprinted after him at full speed.

In seconds, the dog took Yanchunas to the ground, ripping the principal’s right arm in its toothy grip. If not for the suit, Yanchunas’ arm might have been torn apart. Once the principal was down, the dog’s handler, Sgt. Steve Miller, called the dog off and Yanchunas got to his feet.

The crowd of students went wild, roaring in applause and cheers.

The fundraiser benefited the Celtic Club, which hosted its 12th annual St. Pet’s Day. The Irish-themed event usually collects money and pet food for local shelters, but this year opted instead to support Stow’s police dogs.

Monday’s wrap-up event for the students included more than a K-9 demonstration. The crowd of students, speckled in green and some wearing Irish derby bowler hats and bright orange leprechaun beards, watched performances of traditional Irish music by the band Celtic Rush and stepdancing by the MacConmara Academy of Irish Dancers. Some students even got to participate in a stepdancing tutorial.

One of the academy’s students, sixth-grader Paige Krec, has been stepdancing for three years.

“I went to an Irish festival when I was 9 and I went up on stage to dance,” she said, “and I really liked it, so I started taking lessons.”

She was the only student at the school who took lessons at the academy — but she said she’s been trying to convince her friend, fellow sixth-grader Savannah Pollock, to join her.

“She’s tried to teach me so many times,” Savannah said.

On Monday, Paige got the chance to teach Savannah the ropes when she persuaded her to join the tutorial, led by one of the academy’s teachers. Savannah learned the steps to the Irish Jig along with dozens of other students.

Asked if she’d like to learn more after trying it out, Savannah smiled wide.

“I think so,” she said.

In addition to student donations, Stow-Munroe Falls School District faculty will participate in a silent auction to raise funds, and a variety of other events will collect money for St. Pet’s Day. James Collver, who heads the Celtic Club, said he expects between $2,000 and $2,500 will be raised in total.

Collver said the group opted to raise money for the police K-9 unit because of current events.

“With what’s been going on in the country,” he said, “I thought it was important to show some support for the police.”

Nick Glunt can be reached at 330-996-3565 or nglunt@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickGluntABJ.

Basketball

BOYS

Tournament Schedule

Tuesday’s Games

Canton Division IV Regional

(At Canton Memorial Fieldhouse)

Cleveland Hts. Lutheran East vs. McDonald, 6:15 p.m.

Willoughby Cornerstone Christian vs. Malvern, 8 p.m.

———

Wednesday’s Games

Toledo/Akron Division I Regional

(At University of Toledo)

Lorain vs. Lima Senior, 7 p.m.

Canton Division III Regional

(At Canton Memorial Fieldhouse)

Newton Falls vs. Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph, 6:15 p.m.

St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Oberlin, 8 p.m.

———

Thursday’s Games

Toledo/Akron Division I Regional

(At Rhodes Arena, University of Akron)

Brunswick vs. Canton McKinley, 7 p.m.

Canton Division II Regional

(At Canton Memorial Civic Center)

St. Vincent-St. Mary vs. Youngstown Ursuline, 6:15 p.m.

Cleveland Benedictine vs. Perry (Lake Co.), 8 p.m.

———

Friday’s Games

Canton Division IV Regional Final

(At Canton Memorial Fieldhouse)

Cleveland Hts. Lutheran East-McDonald winner vs. Willoughby Cornerstone Christian-Malvern winner, 7 p.m.

———

Saturday’s Games

Toledo/Akron Division I Regional Final

(At Rhodes Arena, University of Akron)

Brunswick-Canton McKinley winner vs. Lorain-Lima Senior winner, 7 p.m.

Canton Division II Regional Final

(At Canton Memorial Civic Center)

St. Vincent-St. Mary-Youngstown Ursuline winner vs. Cleveland Benedictine-Perry (Lake Co.) winner, noon

Canton Division III Regional Final

(At Canton Memorial Fieldhouse)

St. Thomas Aquinas-Oberlin winner vs. Newton Falls-Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph winner, 7 p.m.

———

GIRLS

State Tournament Schedule

(At Schottenstein Center, Ohio State)

Thursday’s Games

Division III Semifinals

Gilmour Academy (23-5) vs. Marion Pleasant (26-2), 1 p.m.

Ironton (27-0) vs. Columbus Africentric (22-5), 3 p.m.

Division II Semifinals

Columbus Eastmoor Academy (22-4) vs. Kettering Alter (26-2), 6 p.m.

Hathaway Brown (17-10) vs. Ottawa-Glandorf (25-2), 8 p.m.

———

Friday’s Games

Division IV Semifinals

Willoughby Cornerstone Christian (23-4) vs. Waterford (26-1), 1 p.m.

Fostoria St. Wendelin (25-3) vs. Jackson Center (24-4) winner, 3 p.m.

Division I Semifinals

Wadsworth (26-1) vs. Reynoldsburg (23-5), 6 p.m.

Solon (18-5) vs. Mason (25-2), 8 p.m.

———

Saturday’s Games

Division III Final

Gilmour Academy (23-5)-Marion Pleasant (26-2) winner vs. Ironton (27-0)-Columbus Africentric (22-5) winner, 10:45 a.m.

Division II Final

Columbus Eastmoor Academy (22-4)-Kettering Alter (26-2) winner vs. Hathaway Brown (17-10)-Ottawa-Glandorf (25-2), 2 p.m.

Division IV Final

Willoughby Cornerstone Christian (23-4)-Waterford (26-1) winner vs. Fostoria St. Wendelin (25-3)-Jackson Center (24-4) winner, 5:15 p.m.

Division I Final

Wadsworth (26-1)-Reynoldsburg (23-5) winner vs. Solon (18-5)-Mason (25-2) winner, 8:30 p.m.

1975 concert film features Queen

Freddie Mercury had one of the great rock ’n’ roll voices and an unforgettable stage presence. See Queen in its heyday with A Night in Bohemia, a concert film from 1975 featuring the first recorded live performance of Bohemian Rhapsody, in cinemas at 7 p.m. including Cinemark Tinseltown USA in Jackson Township, Strongsville and Valley View. An accompanying documentary features unseen interviews, clips of Queen’s first-ever video and outtakes from the recording sessions of Bohemian Rhapsody. Buy tickets at www.fathomevents.com.

‘Flashdance’ comes at UA

Flashdance — The Musical plays at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron. See classic moments from the film created on stage, including the famous “water drop.” Adding to the ’80s kitsch factor, the lead role is played by the daughter of the Karate Kid, Ralph Macchio. Tickets are $32-$62 at 330-253-2488, www.broadwayinakron.com.

Presidential historian to speak

The Tallmadge Civil War Society & Historical Society welcomes Todd Arrington, site manager of the James A. Garfield National Historic Site, at 7:30 p.m. in the Old Town Hall on Tallmadge Circle. He will speak about Garfield’s political views and experiences as a member of Congress during the last years of the Civil War and during Reconstruction. Garfield was recently the subject of a PBS American Experience documentary, in which Arrington appeared. The talk is free and open to the public. 330-630-2474.

The Akron Zoo is planning to renovate its Tiger Valley exhibit, add monkeys and build a 64-foot Ferris wheel.

Zoo President and Chief Executive Officer Doug Piekarz unveiled the wide-ranging project Monday night during a presentation before Summit County Council.

The Tiger Valley exhibit, opened in 1998, needs to be upgraded to serve as a breeding facility for the African lions and Sumatran tigers housed there.

“The focus will be on the conservation of those species,” Piekarz said.

The zoo also wants to add more primates because of how popular they are with visitors. There are lemurs and tamarins at the zoo now, but there’s an interest in adding gibbons and black-and-white colobus monkeys.

The zoo will upgrade its red panda exhibit as part of the project so it can be a breeding facility for those animals.

Meanwhile, the Ferris wheel is expected to rise high enough into the sky to provide a picturesque view of downtown Akron.

The Ferris wheel will add another nostalgic amusement ride and serve as a way to generate additional revenue. Just like the carousel now at the zoo, there will be an additional cost to ride it.

A formal announcement about the overall project is expected later. Piekarz unveiled some of the details after providing an overview of the zoo to the council and after Councilman Tim Crawford quizzed him about future developments.

The zoo is in the early planning and concept stage, and hasn’t begun design work. Construction won’t start until 2017 or 2018, Piekarz said.

He declined to reveal the working cost estimate, saying it is still being finalized.

He also mentioned that there is a major “family-focused event” being planned between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, but declined to release details about it.

The Akron Zoo is one of the most popular attractions in Summit County, having drawn 363,903 visitors last year.

The goal is to grow that by 100,000 by 2021 and one of the ways to do that is adding exhibits.

Looking much further into the future, Piekarz said there are plans for a large African plains exhibit potentially with rhinoceroses and a primate exhibit possibly with orangutans.

Those exhibits will depend on revenue, he said.

County Council members praised the zoo as a community attraction.

Councilman Jerry Feeman noted that it has come a long way since it was referred to years ago as a “duck in a bucket.”

The 50-acre zoo, which houses more than 700 animals, has added many popular exhibits over the years with Penguin Point, Legends of the Wild, Journey to the Reef and Grizzly Ridge.

It is supported through a 0.8-mill, seven-year countywide tax levy. That levy raised $8.5 million last year.

Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.: His voice cracking with emotion, Peyton Manning said goodbye to the game he loved at a news conference packed with friends, family and laughter.

He threw in some Scripture, some fond memories and even a dig at Super Bowl 50 Most Valuable Player Von Miller, whom he thanked for taking a break “from your celebrity tour to be here today.”

He ended it with his signature “Omaha!” and then posed for pictures with more than a dozen of his former teammates with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, each of whom he helped win a Super Bowl.

Manning, who turns 40 this month, said the timing was simply right to call an end to his 18-year NFL career.

“I thought about it a lot, prayed about it a lot … it was just the right time,” Manning said. “I don’t throw as good as I used to, don’t run as good as I used to, but I have always had good timing.”

Thanks from Elway

He came to Denver on March 20, 2012, for the chance to win another title in the twilight of his career and GM John Elway had the blueprints.

Four years later, he hobbles away a champion just like his boss did 17 years ago.

Elway thanked Manning for coming to Colorado for the second chapter of his brilliant career, saying he made his own job easier, noting that with Manning living here, free agents were basically asking Elway “where do I sign?”

Manning went 50-15 in Denver, leading the Broncos to four AFC West titles, two Super Bowl trips, one championship and in 2013 guided the highest-scoring offense in league history — all after retraining himself to throw after a series of neck fusion surgeries forced him to miss all of the 2011 season and led the Colts to cut him.

Team president Joe Ellis told Manning, “If there is a list of achievements needed to attain greatness you’ve checked every box. … We will miss watching you play quarterback. You have been a joy.”

Elway was equally emotional when he walked away from the game after winning his second championship in 1999, and on Monday he said, “Having been through it, I know it’s a hard day for him.”

Indeed, Manning choked up several times, especially when he listed all the things he’d miss about football, the flights home after a big win, his teammates.

Coach Gary Kubiak talked about how Manning missed six weeks with a foot injury and how he worked his way back to regain his starting job in time to lead Denver on its historic playoff run.

Tough in tough times

Manning said if there’s one thing he learned in his most trying season was how to be a good teammate in trying times. He said it’s easy to be a good teammate when you’re the starter and things are going well, but when you’re trying to regain your health and your starting job it’s tougher.

Manning declined to address in detail a recent rehashing of a sexual harassment claim from his days at Tennessee.

“This is a joyous day and nothing could overtake this day. I think it is sad that some people don’t understand the truth and the facts. I did not do what has been alleged. And I am not interested in relitigating something that happened when I was 19 years old. Kind of like my dad used to say when I was in trouble, ‘I can’t say it any plainer than that.’ So, this is a joyous day. It’s a special day. And like Forrest Gump said, ‘That is all I have to say about that.’ ”

WASHINGTON: Pedestrian deaths surged by an estimated 10 percent last year as the economy improved, the price of gas plunged and motorists put more miles behind the wheel than ever before, according to an analysis of preliminary state traffic fatality data.

The growing use of cellphones distracting drivers and walkers may also be partially to blame, states a report released by the Governors Highway Safety Association, which represents governors’ highway safety offices. Warmer weather and shorter winters along with a greater awareness of health benefits may also be encouraging people to walk more.

“This is really sobering news,” said Richard Retting, co-author of the report. “Pedestrian safety is clearly a growing problem across the country.”

The data analyzed were from the first half of 2015. If the trend holds true for the full year, it would be the largest year-to-year increase in pedestrian deaths since 1975 when the current federal system for recording traffic deaths was created.

The report is based on state traffic fatality reports, extrapolated for the full year by researchers at Sam Schwartz Consulting, which specializes in transportation matters.

There were 2,368 pedestrians killed in the first six months of 2015, compared to 2,232 during the same period in 2014 — a six percent increase. Researchers arrived at a 10 percent increase for the entire year by factoring in that fatalities for the first half of the year are typically underreported, and that for at least the last five years an average of 25 percent more pedestrian deaths were recorded in the second half of the year, which includes warmer summer months, Retting said.

Total traffic deaths, which had been trending downward for the past decade, were also up an estimated 8 percent last year. But pedestrian fatalities have been rising since 2005, and now account for 15 percent of total traffic deaths. The last time pedestrian deaths accounted for that large a share of traffic deaths was 25 years ago.

Nearly three-quarters of pedestrian deaths occur after dark, and a third of those killed had been drinking alcohol, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data. By comparison, about 15 percent of motorists involved in those crashes had a blood alcohol content at the legal limit or higher.

In a related issue, the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents city bus drivers, estimates that roughly one pedestrian is killed every 10 days by a city bus because of blind spots in poorly designed buses.

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted announced Tuesday that 173,497 voters had already cast their absentee ballots out of 328,620 ballots requested through Friday.

Democrats and Republicans are running virtually even on the number of ballots submitted, based on an informal survey of Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections ahead of the March 15 primary; 122,255 ballots were cast by mail and 51,242 were cast in-person.

The survey shows the following breakdown by party affiliation:

• Democrats: 149,296 requested; 84,824 cast.

• Republicans: 167,697 requested; 84,446 cast.

• Green: 297 requested; 145 cast.

• Issues only (nonpartisan): 11,330 requested, 4,082 cast.

Absentee voting began Feb. 17.

In total, 335,542 voters cast absentee ballots during the 2012 presidential primary election. During the 2008 presidential primary, 557,686 voters cast absentee ballots.

In addition to the presidential primary, Ohioans will nominate candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, the Ohio Supreme Court, the state legislature and many local races.

Ohio voters can visit MyOhioVote.com/VoterToolkit to check their voter registration status, find their polling location, view their sample ballot and track their absentee ballot.

A story bouncing around social media this week claims that a new movie, The Notebook 2, will be shot in Akron. Don’t believe it. Any of it.

A publicist for Notebook author Nicholas Sparks says the story started on a fantasy site and “it is simply that, someone’s fantasy.” There is no Notebook 2 movie, let alone plans to make it in Akron.

Sparks’ novel, published in 1996, was the writer’s first and a big success. It led to the 2004 movie The Notebook, also a hit and a boost for the careers of its young stars, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.

Sparks never planned a Notebook sequel, which should be clear to people who read the book. (No spoilers here.) He did write a follow-up of sorts, The Wedding, but it focused on the son-in-law of the main characters in The Notebook.

The CW in 2015 began developing a series based on The Notebook, looking at the characters early in their romance. But the project stalled before a pilot could be made.

— Rich Heldenfels

Basketball

GIRLS

State Tournament Schedule

(At Schottenstein Center, Ohio State)

Thursday’s Games

Division III Semifinals

Gilmour Academy (23-5) vs. Marion Pleasant (26-2), 1 p.m.

Ironton (27-0) vs. Columbus Africentric (22-5), 3 p.m.

Division II Semifinals

Columbus Eastmoor Academy (22-4) vs. Kettering Alter (26-2), 6 p.m.

Hathaway Brown (17-10) vs. Ottawa-Glandorf (25-2), 8 p.m.

———

Friday’s Games

Division IV Semifinals

Willoughby Cornerstone Christian (23-4) vs. Waterford (26-1), 1 p.m.

Fostoria St. Wendelin (25-3) vs. Jackson Center (24-4) winner, 3 p.m.

Division I Semifinals

Wadsworth (26-1) vs. Reynoldsburg (23-5), 6 p.m.

Solon (18-5) vs. Mason (25-2), 8 p.m.

———

Saturday’s Games

Division III Final

Gilmour Academy (23-5)-Marion Pleasant (26-2) winner vs. Ironton (27-0)-Columbus Africentric (22-5) winner, 10:45 a.m.

Division II Final

Columbus Eastmoor Academy (22-4)-Kettering Alter (26-2) winner vs. Hathaway Brown (17-10)-Ottawa-Glandorf (25-2), 2 p.m.

Division IV Final

Willoughby Cornerstone Christian (23-4)-Waterford (26-1) winner vs. Fostoria St. Wendelin (25-3)-Jackson Center (24-4) winner, 5:15 p.m.

Division I Final

Wadsworth (26-1)-Reynoldsburg (23-5) winner vs. Solon (18-5)-Mason (25-2) winner, 8:30 p.m.

Associated Press
All-Ohio Teams

COLUMBUS (AP) — The 2015-16 Associated Press Division II, III and IV All-Ohio girls basketball team, based on the recommendations of a media panel, with school, height, class and scoring average:

DIVISION II

First team: Amani Burke, Columbus Eastmoor Academy, 5-foot-9, senior, 14.3 points per game; Kori Sidwell, Zanesville Maysville, 5-9, sr., 18.8; Sara Price, Warren Howland, 6-1, jr., 22.0; Corrione Cardwell, Cleveland East Tech, 5-8, sr., 21.0; Byrdy Galernik, Toledo Central Catholic, 5-8, sr., 18.7; Shawnee Smith, Chillicothe, 5-7, so., 15.8; Gabby Ozoude, Bellbrook, 6-2, sr., 15.0; Andrea Cecil, Oak Harbor, 6-0, sr., 23.0; Danielle Norquest, Southeast, 5-10, jr., 23.1; Libby Bazelak, Kettering Archbishop Alter, 5-8, jr., 14.8.

Players of the year: Amani Burke, Columbus Eastmoor Academy; Byrdy Galernik, Toledo Central Catholic; Gabby Ozoude, Bellbrook

Coaches of the year: Bennie Carroll, Blanchester; Pat Miller, Zanesville Maysville

Second team: Kendall Stuckman, Caledonia River Valley, 5-7, sr., 18.5; Ali Poole, Carrollton, 5-11, sr., 18.5; Addie Becker, Cortland Lakeview, 6-0, sr., 19.2; Alex Cade, Shaker Heights Laurel School, 6-1, jr., 16.0; Jiselle Thomas, Norwalk, 5-8, jr., 29.0; Jordin Blakeman, Circleville, 5-9, jr., 15.2; Miquela Santoro, Clarksville Clinton-Massie, 5-0, sr., 21.0; Annie Pavlansky, Cortland Lakeview, 6-0, so., 15.8; McKenah Peters, LaGrange Keystone, 5-8, jr., 21.0; Kadie Hempfling, Ottawa-Glandorf, 5-9, so., 14.3.

Third team: Hannah Clark, Millersburg West Holmes, 5-11, sr., 16.1; Lexi Civittolo, Cloverleaf, 5-11, sr., 22.3; Riley Schill, Elyria Catholic, 5-6, sr.,13.0; Tanaya Beacham, Toledo Rogers, 6-2, sr., 15.0; Michaela Puckett, McArthur Vinton County, 5-10, sr., 17.0; . Jamari McDavid, Springfield Kenton Ridge, 5-10, jr., 23.4; Nikki Current, Bellefontaine Benjamin Logan, 5-8, so., 22.5; Kara Marshall, Archbishop Hoban, 5-8, sr., 13.0; Dani Lawson, Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown, 6-2, jr., 14.0; Erica Johnson, Mansfield Senior, 6-0, jr., 22.0.

Special mention: Zaria McBride, Whitehall-Yearling; Maddi Lusk, Johnstown-Monroe; Brie Toney, Columbus Bexley; Lysaih Rice, Steubenville; Alli DeLaney, Belmont Union Local; Lilly Ritz, Cambridge; Anna DeFilippo, St. Clairsville; Bethany Davis, Wintersville Indian Creek; Bella Gajdos, Poland Seminary; Jane Uecker, St. Vincent-St. Mary; Victoria Rappach, Warren Howland; Lindsey Mayle, Geneva; Kelly Hall, Oberlin Firelands; Tanner Bryant, Washington Court House Miami Trace; Laken Smith, Waverly; Taylor Polley, Greenfield McClain; Donna Swinehart, Thornville Sheridan; Rebekah Green, Jackson.

Honorable mention: Cedrica Anderson, Columbus East; Janiyah Joyce, Columbus Linden; Morgan Lott, Caledonia River Valley; Alivia Milesky, Plain City Jonathan Alder; Courtney Vierstra, Hebron Lakewood; Marisa Goodright, Byesville Meadowbrook; Becky Zeroski, Rayland Buckeye Local; Destiny Hutcheson, Philo; Jose Chaddock, Minerva; Brittleigh Macaulay, Millersburg West Holmes; Kara Hutcheson, Philo; Aaliyah Currence, New Philadelphia; Kendal Kirkbride, Zanesville Maysville; Abbe Esterak, Woodridge; Taylor Geib, Ravenna; Autumn Retherford, Ravenna; Makayla Trebella, Girard; Emily Brock, Revere; Camryn Brown, Revere; Rachel Chessar, Archbishop Hoban; Chloe Cheresne, Salem; Emily Melnek, Poland Seminary; Shantell Bostick, Cleveland East Tech; Jayla Sanford, Cleveland Central Catholic; Hailey Peoples, Geneva; Emily Smock, Jefferson; Nora Ziebarth, Bay Village Bay; Morgan Daniel, Cleveland East Tech; Hannah Harlor, Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown; Jackie Garrett, Shelby; NaShail Shelby, Ontario; Brittanie Ulmer, Lima Bath; Keasja Peace, Toledo Rogers; Kendal Glandorff, Bowling Green; Kylie White, Ottawa-Glandorf; Jenna Strayer, Bellevue; Osh Brown, Chillicothe; Anya Bingman, Circleville; Victoria Fliehman, Washington Court House Miami Trace; Hannah Haithcock, Washington Court House Washington; Molly McCutcheon, Vincent Warren; Katrina Scheuvront, Thornville Sheridan; Jalen Hale, McArthur Vinton County; Braxtin Miller, Kettering Archbishop Alter; Hannah Tubbs, Norwood; Ashli O’Neal, Cincinnati Wyoming; Aubrey Cox, Tipp City Tippecanoe; Sydney Bates, Springfield Kenton Ridge.

———

DIVISION III

First team: Bridgette Rettstatt, Worthington Christian, 6-foot-0, junior, 23.4 points per game; Izzy Meese, Sugarcreek Garaway, 5-7, sr., 16.0; Audrey Tingle, West Lafayette Ridgewood, 5-7, jr., 17.0; Ashley Richardson, Chippewa, 6-1, sr., 18.3; Naz Hillmon, Gates Mills Gilmour Academy, 6-2, so., 17.7; Renee Stimpert, Ashland Crestview, 5-9, sr., 27.4; Lexie Barrier, Ironton, 5-11, sr., 18.1; Ravin Alexander, Cincinnati Summit Country Day, 5-5, so., 11.2; Trinniti Hall, Orrville, 5-11, sr., 19.1; Jamie Peterson, West Liberty-Salem, 6-4, sr., 15.4.

Players of the year: Lexie Barrier, Ironton; Bridgette Rettstatt, Worthington Christian; Ashley Richardson, Chippewa

Coach of the year: Jon Dawson, Willard; Doug Graham, Ironton

Second team: Jordon Horston, Columbus Africentric, 5-11, fr., 11.0; Taylor Royster, Beachwood, 5-8, so., 25.0; Gabi Baldridge, Willard, 6-4, sr., 16.1; Ella Skeens, Chillicothe Southeastern, 5-11, so., 21.0; Julia Jenike, Bethel-Tate, 5-10, sr., 18.0; Summer Blevins, Marion Pleasant, 6-0, jr., 13.9; Mayci Sales, Tuslaw, 6-0, jr., 15.3; Alison Schafer, Columbia Station Columbia, 5-8, sr., 20.0; Leah Richardson, Albany Alexander, 5-9, jr., 18.4; Haley Pickard, Genoa, 5-6, sr., 17.0.

Third team: Tyrah King, Martins Ferry, 5-10, sr., 19.0; Grayson Rose, Garrettsville, 6-2, jr., 18.5; Gabrielle Kline, Newton Falls, 6-1, sr., 19.1; Emily Kelley, Gilmour Academy, 5-10, jr., 17.5; Seina Adachi, Attica Seneca East, 5-7, sr., 18.5; Ali Little, Lynchburg-Clay, 6-1, sr., 10.3; Kristen Combs, Jamestown Greeneview, 5-6, sr. 14.6; Korynne Berner, Springfield Northwestern, 5-11, sr., 12.5; Eden Eisel, Metamora Evergreen, 5-9, sr., 12.5; Kallee Dowler, Barnesville, 5-8, jr., 18.0.

Special mention: Sage Brannon, Cardington; Delaney Cutteridge, Columbus Bishop Ready; Allison Kuhn, Woodsfield Monroe Central; Shayla Markovich, Barnesville; Morgan Czopur, South Range; Dayshanette Harris, Young. Ursuline; Hanna Risaliti, Canton Central Catholic; Micah Findley, Triway; Taylor Somodji, Kirtland; Shelby Zoeckler, Garfield Heights Trinity; Lamya Ford, Warrensville Heights; Olivia VanSlooten, Toledo Ottawa Hills; Jade Clement, Columbus Grove; Sydney Holden, Wheelersburg; Sydney Webb, Ironton; Jessie Addis, Nelsonville-York; Emily Chapman, Proctorville Fairland; Staci Dinsmore, Seaman North Adams.

Honorable mention: Landen Collins, Baltimore Liberty Union; Autumn Hudson, North Union; Leah Morrow, Columbus Africentric; Rachel Neff, Columbus Bishop Ready; Claire Sterling, West Jefferson; Paige Richards, Cadiz Harrison Central; Macy Crozier, Bellaire; Kayla Hall, Tusky Valley; Kendra Miller, Sugarcreek Garaway; Carley Kandel, Northwestern; Karlee Pezzano, Lisbon David Anderson; Alexis Gates, Columbiana Crestview; Maddie Durkin, Canfield South Range; Carly Koncz, Chippewa; Alley Leeman, Navarre Fairless; Madisson Geddes, Garrettsville; Isabelle Kline, Newton Falls; Becky Adelman, Waterloo; Marisa Finazzo, Gates Mills Gilmour Academy; Megan Kuczmarski, Independence; Maurinia Nunn, Beachwood; Jada Stevens, Beachwood; Becca Tacchiti, Columbia Station Columbia; Mercedeez Francis, Garfield Heights Trinity; Hallie Zumack, Independence; Kendra Seifring, Fort Recovery; Morgan Mattimore, Delta; Haili Mossing, Metamora Evergreen; Kelci Simms, Bucyrus; Nicollette DeVincentis, Findlay Liberty-Benton; Sydney Holderman, Mount Blanchard Riverdale; Morgan Smoyer, Tontogany Otsego; Regan Stonerock, Williamsport Westfall; Kelsie Robinson, Williamsport Westfall; Rachel Richardson, Albany Alexander; Kaitlyn Hurd, Nelsonville-York; Cheyenne Scott, Ironton; Haley Rawlins, South Point; Kaylee Curry, Chesapeake; Kaci Russell, Ironton Rock Hill; Taylor Perry, Proctorville Fairland; Emily Compliment, Coal Grove Dawson-Bryant; Allison Day, Sardinia Eastern Brown; Ellie Ruby, Wheelersburg; Erin Daniels, Minford; McKayla Binkley, Lynchburg-Clay; Hannah Binkley, Lynchburg-Clay; Avery Harper, Seaman North Adams; Allie Russell, New Lexington; Rachel Murray, Waynesville; Mary Englert, Cincinnati Maderia; Kelli Bush, Middletown Madison Senior; Morgan Haney, Casstown Miami East; Molly McGraw, Hamilton Badin.

———

DIVISION IV

First team: Julie Didinger, Danville, 5-foot-8, senior, 21.4; Jensen Caretti, Hannibal River, 6-1, sr., 25.1; Brittany Knight, Windham, 5-9, sr., 21.0; Deja Winters, Richmond Heights, 5-10, sr., 27.0; Kamryn Troike, Fostoria St. Wendelin, 6-4, sr., 25.4; Dani Drayer, Waterford, 5-9, sr., 14.8; Allie Downing, New Madison Tri-Village, 5-10, jr., 19.5; Jessica Boerger, Fort Loramie, 5-10, sr., 15.0; Kacie Hall, South Webster, 5-6, sr., 17.8; Abi Rose, Granville Christian Academy, 5-2, sr., 15.8.

Players of the year: Jensen Caretti, Hannibal River; Kamryn Troike, Fostoria St. Wendelin; Deja Winters, Richmond Heights

Coaches of the year: Lisa Stopp, Willoughby Cornerstone Christian Academy; Kevin Lakes, Hamilton New Miami

Second team: Caitlyn Kroll, Bridgeport, 5-8, sr., 29.8; Lauren Shephard, Sugar Grove Berne Union, 5-8, sr., 13.1; Antonella LaMonica, Warren JFK, 5-0, jr., 19.8; Carson Roney, Beaver Eastern, 6-1, sr., 28.3; Elea Karras, Dayton Miami Valley School, 5-10, sr., 13.6; Sarah Loomis, Malvern, 6-3, sr., 21.4; Morgan Ondo, Fairport Harbor Fairport Harding, 5-2, sr.,12.5; Whitney Dodds, Arlington, 5-7, jr., 15.1; Hagen Schaefer, Portsmouth Notre Dame, 5-9, jr., 19.0; Megan King, Columbus Tree of Life Christian, 5-5, sr., 20.9.

Third team: Marissa Rose, Bellaire St. John Central, 5-7, sr., 19.6; Kennedy Schlabach, Berlin Hiland, 5-5, so., 17.5; Riley Hagy, Zanesville Bishop Rosecrans, 5-9, jr., 19.5; Machaela Harrison, North Ridgeville Lake Ridge Academy, 5-7, so., 17.0; India Snyder, Youngstown Valley Christian, 5-4, so., 21.0; Makea Scott, Richmond Heights, 5-8, sr.,16.0; Sydney Wentling, Carey, 5-10, sr., 14.5; Samantha Murphy, Fayetteville-Perry, 5-7, sr., 23.5; Payton Shays, New London, 6-1, sr., 12.3; Isabelle Bolender, Cedarville, 5-10, so., 17.5.

Special mention: Jordan Elliott, Danville; Makayla Liedtke, Beverly Fort Frye; Katarina Schubert, Vienna Mathews; Sara Joseph, McDonald; Elizabeth Breckbill, Central Christian; Kaitlyn Totani, Jackson-Milton; Sydney Smith, Sebring McKinley; Sydney Mayberry, North Ridgeville Lake; Jordan Cloonan, Willoughby Cornerstone Christian Academy; Ashley West, Willoughby Cornerstone Christian Academy; Megan Williams, North Ridgeville Lake Ridge Academy; Hannah Blake, Montpelier; Molly Hammersmith, Defiance Ayersville; Kaela Seiler, Gorham Fayette; Ali Hamilton, New Boston Glenwood; Laura Pullins, Reedsville Eastern; Faith Teaford, Racine Southern; C.C. Shanks, Latham Western.

Honorable mention: Andi English, Granville Christian; Vivian George, Fairfield Christian; Erin McCullough, Delaware Christian; Celeste Mershimer, Fairfield Christian; Megan Mulvaine, Ridgedale; Lexi Brookover, New Matamoras Frontier; Lindsey Froehlich, Bellaire St. John Central; Kelsi Hulit, Malvern; Angela Troyer, Berlin Hiland; Abby Hutcheson, Zanesville Bishop Rosecrans; Brooke Beamer, New Philadelphia Tuscarawas Central Catholic; Murphy Flowers, Sebring McKinley; Kristy Eckman, Leetonia; Ashley Bennett, Wellsville; Sam Homa, McDonald; Bryanna McClurg, Vienna Mathews; Lexi Knight, Windham; Bethany Marcum, Rittman; Michaelina Terranova, Jackson-Milton; Ashley Totani, Jackson-Milton; Autumneeze Gardener, Richmond Heights; Lily Adams, Cuyahoga Heights; Elizabeth Nejadfard, Elyria Open Door Christian; Brianna Kirk, North Ridgeville Lake Ridge Academy; Grace Marino, Willoughby Cornerstone Christian Academy; Dayna Denner, Cuyahoga Heights; Taylor Wilson, Fairport Harbor Fairport Harding; Paige Jones, New Bremen; Shelby Kin, Carey; Erin Mohr, Haviland Wayne Trace; Madison Stolly, Lima Central Catholic; Emily Bauer, Convoy Crestview; Bridget Landin, Ottoville; Sierra Nichols, Arlington; Jenna Karl, New Washington Buckeye Central; Nikki Kish, Glouster Trimble; Lynsey Booker, Ironton St. Joseph; Kaitlyn Payne, Willow Wood; Ragen Kayser, Portsmouth Notre Dame; Jensen Warnock, Portsmouth Clay; Ellie Jo Johnson, South Webster; Morgan Johnson, Manchester; Grace Shope, Leesburg Fairfield; Emma Wardlow, Mowrystown Whiteoak; Katelyn Hughes, Belpre; Regan Porter, Waterford; Alli Kern, Waterford; Izzy Hensley, Cincinnati Country Day; Tia Karras, Miami Valley; Danika Mann, New Madison Tri-Village; Audrey Francis, Sidney Fairlawn; Makenzie Tolson, Middletown Christian.

BOYS

Tournament 
Scoreboard

Tuesday’s Results

Canton Division IV Regional

(At Canton Memorial Fieldhouse)

Cleveland Hts. Lutheran East 63, McDonald 48

Willoughby Cornerstone Christian 62, Malvern 57

Tournament Schedule

Wednesday’s Games

Toledo/Akron Division I Regional

(At University of Toledo)

Lorain vs. Lima Senior, 7 p.m.

Canton Division III Regional

(At Canton Memorial Fieldhouse)

Newton Falls vs. Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph, 6:15 p.m.

St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Oberlin, 8 p.m.

———

Thursday’s Games

Toledo/Akron Division I Regional

(At Rhodes Arena, University of Akron)

Brunswick vs. Canton McKinley, 7 p.m.

Canton Division II Regional

(At Canton Memorial Civic Center)

St. Vincent-St. Mary vs. Youngstown Ursuline, 6:15 p.m.

Cleveland Benedictine vs. Perry (Lake Co.), 8 p.m.

———

Friday’s Games

Canton Division IV Regional Final

(At Canton Memorial Fieldhouse)

Cleveland Hts. Lutheran East vs. Willoughby Cornerstone Christian, 7 p.m.

———

Saturday’s Games

Toledo/Akron Division I Regional Final

(At Rhodes Arena, University of Akron)

Brunswick-Canton McKinley winner vs. Lorain-Lima Senior winner, 7 p.m.

Canton Division II Regional Final

(At Canton Memorial Civic Center)

St. Vincent-St. Mary-Youngstown Ursuline winner vs. Cleveland Benedictine-Perry (Lake Co.) winner, noon

Canton Division III Regional Final

(At Canton Memorial Fieldhouse)

St. Thomas Aquinas-Oberlin winner vs. Newton Falls-Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph winner, 7 p.m.

‘Mamma Mia!’ in Cleveland

Take a chance on Mamma Mia!, running through Sunday at Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace Theatre. It’s a goofy story built around the guilty-pleasure music of ABBA, but if you’re not on your feet singing along to Dancing Queen at the end, we have no hope for you. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, and tickets are $10-$80 at 216-241-6000, www.playhousesquare.org.

Songwriters converge at Musica

Members of the Summit County Songwriter’s Circle will be featured at an open-mic event at 8 p.m. at Musica, in the Maiden Lane neighborhood of downtown Akron. The circle is recruiting new members; find out more at www.songwritersummit.com. For more information on future open-mic nights, see www.brentkirby.com/bk10x3.

Birdwatchers flocking to class

Spring bird migration season is upon us, and warblers are among the coveted sightings for birdwatchers. Summit Metro Parks is offering a class on identifying warblers from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.

Marco Polo’s route retraced

The Hudson Library & Historical Society and Western Reserve Academy have teamed up to bring filmmaker, author and explorer Denis Belliveau to the library at 7 p.m. Belliveau and Francis O’Donnell spent two years retracing Marco Polo’s 25,000-mile route, as seen in the PBS documentary In the Footsteps of Marco Polo. The talk is free; copies of the film will be available for purchase and signing. Register at http://hudsonlibrary.org or call 330-653-6658, ext. 1010.

It was bittersweet, they say, electing a black man over a woman in 2008.

Hillary Clinton backers lined up behind Barack Obama and found comfort in shattering one glass ceiling in the White House.

It had taken more than 50 years since African-Americans achieved voting protections through the Civil Rights Act to elect a president of color. Will it take women twice as long?

In the latest in a series of discussions with likely voters before the Ohio primary on March 15, the Beacon Journal listened to six Hillary Clinton fans, including five women who balanced gender and race as they recalled the last time they considered voting for the former first lady.

As Clinton won Ohio but lost the nomination in 2008, her supporters remember the mounting emotional, physical and financial tolls of six years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Adding to the anxiety were hastily enacted bailouts for banks and auto companies.

Some Clinton fans, some too young to vote then, settled on the change that Obama promised. Clinton’s more seasoned supporters say now, as they did then, that her experience is superior to any of her opponent’s popular appeal.

This time, it’s the less idealistic — and perhaps charismatic — of the two candidates the group thinks is best suited to make the backroom deals and conciliatory handshakes necessary to move the country forward.

While they see hope and change in U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Clinton’s challenger for the Democratic presidential nomination, they figure he has as good a chance of working with Congress as Obama had.

Race vs. gender

The group painstakingly dissected its 2008 pick.

“It was almost tragic to see Hillary there at the same time,” said Katriel Israel, 33, a construction worker from Akron. A black man, Israel said it was a tough decision. But Obama’s story as a community organizer spoke personally to him.

“I was very torn,” Israel said. “But as a young voter at that time, I didn’t have enough experience to know who Hillary Clinton was.”

Females in the room split: the younger women supported the dynamic Obama while the older woman voted for the better-known Clinton.

“I think that racial inequality felt like a much more pressing issue than gender inequality in today’s society,” said a female in her 20s, who wished to remain anonymous because of her city job.

But the room was not quick to discount gender inequality, as Bailey Sandin, 20, would attest.

“I obviously wasn’t old enough to vote in 2008,” said Sandin, now a political science major at the University of Akron. “But I remember thinking it was weird that a woman was running for president. I didn’t think that was something that would even go on in politics.”

The voices who remember when abortion and contraception were illegal recalled their stalwart support for Clinton.

“For me, being the oldest female in the room, having a woman president was beyond what I thought I would ever see,” said Kathy Harris, 57. “I just didn’t think that would be a possibility. I grew up in the ’70s and, believe me, we were not looked upon as equal in society.

“To this day, I feel that sense of excitement,” Harris continued. “Let’s listen to a women’s voice. What ideas and compassion can she bring to governing?”

An easier choice

The group mulled their upcoming decision: Clinton or Sanders, a socialist senator from Vermont or a former senator from New York whose evocative last name they couldn’t quite place as an asset or a hindrance.

Some drew parallels to 2008. Like Obama, Sanders is the outsider. Without Clinton’s command of the establishment, Sanders trails far behind in the delegate count, thanks to super delegates pledged early on to Clinton.

Still, they like Sanders’ big ideas. If electing a king, many would pick him.

But they worry that he’s too idealistic to govern. They prefer Clinton’s familiarity with Beltway politics.

Compared to Obama, they see far less enthusiasm for Clinton, especially among woman and young voters. But after six years of dealing with an obstructionist Congress, they feel Clinton knows what to say behind closed doors to get the job done.

“I think this primary comes down to: Do you want practicality or do you want ideology? It’s not necessarily that one candidate is better than the other,” Sandin said. “It’s just that Sanders is much more ideological.”

An engineer who works with clients in Washington, D.C., and did not want to be named said Sanders will shoot for 100 percent of his goals and get nothing. She, and the rest of the supporters, would rather settle for the pragmatism of 80 percent than another six years of political stalemate.

Harsh words

Clinton, in private and public dealings, has been a magnet for criticism.

Sanders’ success in attacking Wall Street banks has added renewed pressure for Clinton to release transcripts for paid speeches she gave to Goldman Sachs.

As the former U.S. secretary of state, she’s being investigated for using a private server and cellphone to store and transfer sensitive emails. A U.S. embassy attack in Benghazi while she led the state department has been the subject of routine congressional inquiries for four years.

For these and so many more reasons, Republicans have labeled Clinton harshly, calling her a liar and criminal. Clinton’s supporters are used to such barbs, which they say no man would suffer and are merely political hyperbole.

“They go to the emails, they go to Benghazi …,” said Harris, who traces a lot of the criticism back to Republican strategist Karl Rove and the negative advertising his Super PAC has launched against the Clintons over the years.

“They kept referencing these ads over a period of years to constantly discredit Hillary over and over and over,” Harris said. “And you know, if you repeat something long enough with enough conviction — I mean look at Trump — people believe it.”

Then there’s the double standard of being a woman in power and running for the most powerful position in the free world. The criticism cuts both ways.

“There’s the innuendo that she’s not female enough. That she’s too aggressive. That she’s too manly,” said the engineer, one of the first women to work in her office.

“If she wasn’t aggressive or assertive, she wouldn’t be running for president,” Harris said.

The group explained how such characteristics play positively for Donald Trump but badly for Clinton.

Trump’s crazy train

There’s little that Clinton supporters find more disturbing than what Trump says, except that the media repeat it and his followers believe it.

“I think he’s totally just feeding into just how racist and awful this country really is. I really do,” said the marketing specialist. “He’s saying out loud things that people have been dying to say for years. And that’s terrifying.”

They’ve been trying to dismiss Trump’s tone and rhetoric, but his position in the Republican race makes him the likely challenger to the Democratic nominee, who looks to be Clinton at this stage in the game.

“People like us are saying, ‘He’s just on a crazy train with these people.’ But those people are with him,” Harris said.

Sandin said: “And I think there are so many people on that crazy train that the media realizes they can make money off of this. And they’re riding him like a cash cow. It’s not, ‘Hey, we should be afraid of this guy becoming the president of the United States.’ It’s ‘I can make a lot of money off this headline so even though there might be serious political repercussions way down the road, I’m going to milk this for all it’s worth.’ ”

Doug Livingston can be reached at 330-996-3792 or dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @ABJDoug.

LANSING, Mich.: Bernie Sanders breathed new life into his long-shot White House bid with a crucial win in Michigan’s primary Tuesday night, chipping away at Hillary Clinton’s dominance in the Democratic presidential race. Republican Donald Trump swept to victory in both Michigan and Mississippi, overcoming fierce efforts to blunt his momentum.

Even with Sanders’ win, Clinton and Trump moved closer to a general election face-off. Clinton breezed to an easy victory in Mississippi, propelled by overwhelming support from black voters, and she now has more than half the delegates she needs to clinch the Democratic nomination. Trump, too, padded his lead over Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, his closest rival.

The front-runners turned their sights on November as they reveled in their wins.

“We are better than what we are being offered by the Republicans,” Clinton declared.

In a nod toward the kind of traditional politics he’s shunned, Trump emphasized the importance of helping Republican senators and House members get elected in the fall. Having entered Tuesday’s contests facing a barrage of criticism from rival candidates and outside groups, he also delighted in overcoming the attacks.

“Every single person who has attacked me has gone down,” Trump said at one of his Florida resorts. In his typically unorthodox style, the billionaire was flanked by tables packed with his retail products, including steaks, bottled water and wine.

Sanders, meanwhile, said Michigan signaled that his campaign “is strong in every part of the country, and frankly we believe our strongest areas are yet to happen.”

While a handful of recent losses to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz have raised questions about Trump’s durability, Tuesday’s contests marked another lost opportunity for rivals to slow his momentum.

Republicans were also holding contests Tuesday in Hawaii and Idaho. GOP candidates were fighting for 150 delegates, while 179 Democratic delegates were at stake in the party’s two primaries.

The economy ranked high on the list of concerns for voters heading to the polls in Michigan and Mississippi. At least 8 in 10 voters in each party’s primary said they were worried about where the American economy is heading, according to exit polls conducted by Edison Research for the Associated Press and television networks.

Among Democrats, 8 in 10 voters in both states said the country’s economic system benefits the wealthy, not all Americans.

Sanders has sought to tap into that concern, energizing young people and white, blue-collar voters with his calls for breaking up Wall Street banks and making tuition free at public colleges and universities. Michigan, with big college towns and a sizable population of working-class voters, was a good fit for him despite Clinton leading in pre-vote polling.

Tuesday’s contests are a prelude to next week’s high-stakes primaries in Florida and Ohio. Like Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Sen. Marco Rubio must win his home state to remain a viable contender.

“It has to happen here, and it has to happen now,” Rubio told supporters Tuesday during a rally in Sarasota.

The majority owner of Richfield specialty insurer National Interstate Corp. is making another pitch to buy out the entire company for an estimated $293 million.

American Financial Group Inc. says it will pay $30 a share to buy out all the shares of National Interstate it does not own through its wholly owned subsidiary, Great American Insurance Co. Cincinnati-based AFG owns about 51 percent of National Interstate.

“Our proposal represents an attractive opportunity for National Interstate’s shareholders to receive a significant premium to National Interstate’s current and recent share prices,” Carl H. Lindner III and S. Craig Lindner, co-chief executive officers of AFG, said in a news release. “We would be making an additional investment in a business we know well, while at the same time simplifying the ownership structure.”

Shares of National Interstate closed at $29.98 Wednesday. Shares are up 12.3 percent since Jan. 1 and are up 11.3 percent from a year ago.

AFG withdrew its previous offer in March 2014 after intense opposition from other large shareholders as well as an unfavorable court ruling.

Current or former executive officers of GAIC or AFG make up five of the 11 members of National Interstate’s board.

AFG said it will not move forward with the purchase unless it is approved by a special committee.

None of the five National Interstate directors who are affiliated with AFG will participate in the consideration of the AFG proposal by National Interstate, the special committee or the special committee’s advisers, the company said in a news release.

The transaction will be subject to a nonwaivable condition requiring approval of a majority of the shares of National Interstate not owned by AFG or its affiliates, AFG said.

Jim Mackinnon can be reached at 330-996-3544 or jmackinnon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him @JimMackinnonABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/JimMackinnonABJ. His stories can be found at www.ohio.com/writers/jim-mackinnon.

That noise you heard Wednesday afternoon was the sound of another weather record shattering.

The high in Akron hit 72 degrees at the Akron-Canton Airport around 1 p.m. breaking the old record high of 70 degrees set in 2000.

The high reached 74 degrees at the Akron Fulton International Airport, according to the National Weather Service.

This is just the latest chapter in what has been an historically warm and relatively snow-free winter in Akron.

Wednesday’s heat marked the third time this year and the fifth time in four months that record highs were recorded at the weather service’s official monitoring station at the Akron Canton Airport.

The other new high-temperature records were set Feb. 20, Feb. 3, Dec. 27 and Nov. 5.

Federal meteorologists say the warm temperatures — it has already been declared the hottest winter ever in the U.S. — are the result of a combination of a powerful El Nino steering warmer temperatures northward and man-made global warming.

The warm weather has also meant less snow in Akron.

In a typical winter, the National Weather Service says about 39 inches of snow should have fallen by now. This year, Akron has had just 25 inches.

The typical daily high temperature this time of year should be around 44 degrees.

Rain over the next few days will chill things down a bit, but temperatures are expected to still be well into the 60s on Thursday and the 50s on Friday before rising back to the 60s over the weekend.

Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3547.