Twinsburg first-year football coach Joe Schiavone looks forward to taking over the Tigers. He said he has only asked for one thing.

“I told our offensive players I want them to be more efficient,” said Schiavone, who has been the Tigers’ defensive coordinator for several years after serving in the same role for Cleveland Benedictine.

The Tigers open the season Friday night against Aurora at Tiger Stadium. Both teams made the playoffs last season – the Tigers (10-2) in Division I and the Greenmen (8-3) in Division II.

Michael Timm, a recent Twinsburg High School graduate, signed with Wright State University to continue his academic and baseball careers on scholarship.

“He is an exceptional baseball player, a great student, and a very fine young man,” Twinsburg coach Donald R. Jones said. “Michael’s best baseball is still ahead of him. We are very proud of him here at Twinsburg High School and are looking for even greater accomplishments from him in the future.”

Timm, a shortstop with a 3.95 cumulative grade-point average, was a three-year letter winner and a two-year starter for the Tigers. He was named to the Division I All-Ohio Second Team as a senior, was a two-time All-Northeast Ohio Conference selection and also was a National Honor Society student.

Timm compiled a .462 batting average as a senior with a .980 fielding percentage. He had 36 hits, scored 23 runs and hit one home run with 28 runs batted in.

Twinsburg girls basketball coach Julie Solis had a feeling heading into Tuesday night’s regional semifinal game against Wadsworth.

‘’ I was terrifield coming into this game,’’ she admitted. ‘’ I know how Wadsworth kids are when it comes to basketball – their basketball I.Q. and everything.  I need to take a moment and enjoy this one.’’

It was a hard fought 45-43 victory, won with a last minute drive and layup by sophomore guard Ashley Morrissette.  And Solis knew that it would lead to another showdown with the Canton McKinley Bulldogs, the team that squashed the Tigers dreams of a state title last year by handing them a 53-43 loss. In the later game Tuesday, the Bulldogs breezed by the Lyndhurst Brush Arcs 74-21 to set up a rematch Friday night.

‘’I think this is the game everyone has been waiting for all year.  That’s been the talk and it’s finally here.  Now I guess we’ll see what happens,’’ Solis said.

There will certainly be time enough for rematch to be hyped in the coming days as both teams will arrive with undefeated records.

‘’I think hype is a good thing,’’ Morrissette, who scored 23 points gainst Wadsworth, said. ‘’If you get hyped up, that means you’re going to get ready for the game. You’re going to be ready for the game.’’

Solis said she knows that matching up with the speedy Bulldogs will not be easy.

‘’We’re going to find a way to make it good if it’s not good,’’ she said.

Here’s a quick look at tonight’s Division I Girls Regional Semi-Finals:

Wadsworth (20-4) vs. Twinsburg (23-0)

This is shaping up to be a good one.  Wadsworth – the No. 3 seed pulled a minor upset in beating second seeded Hudson in the quarterfinals. Twinsburg will have to contend with Wadsworth stars Taylor Woods, who scored 21 against Hudson, Kara Long and Robyn Rotterschmidt.  The Grizzlies will have their hands filled as well.

Twinsburg  is simply loaded and demolished Shaker Heights 61-33 behind the efforts Ashley Morrissette,  Leah Fechko and Malina Howard.  The most important thing to watch from the Explorers is their guard play.  They’re athletic, smooth and smart.

Canton McKinley (23-0) vs. Lyndhurst Brush (12-12)

On its surface this should be a cakewalk for McKinley.  The problem:  a team who entered the tournament with a losing record suddenly finds itself hot.

Below are the results from the finals of the 74th state wrestling championships at Value City Arena in Columbus (local athletes are in bold). For complete results from the state tournaments, click here:

DIVISION I

103: Brandon Thompson, Solon dec. David Bavery, Perry 2-0
112: George DiCamillo, Cle. St. Ignatius dec. Edgar Bright, Lakewood St. Edward 3-1 SV
119: Dean Heil, Lakewood St. Edward dec. Max Byrd, Cin. LaSalle 7-2
125: Joey Ward, Cin. Arch. Moeller dec. Kagan Squire, Wadsworth 2-1 TB
130: Anthony Collica, Solon dec. Mike Carlone, Mayfield Vill. Mayfield 7-6
135: Cody Shivener, Springboro maj. dec. Ruben Burrows, Canton McKinley 16-6
140: Zach Dailey, Perry maj. dec. Nate Ball, Wadsworth 11-2
145: Chase Delande, Hilliard Davidson dec. Tanner Lemon, Perry 9-4
152: Mark Martin, Lakewood St. Edward dec. Teddy Hammer, Medina 8-4
160: Domenic Abounader, Lakewood St. Edward dec. Sheldon Brandenburg, Wadsworth 5-1
171: Michael Baker, Twinsburg dec. Ian Korb, Cin. Elder 3-1SV
189: Sam Wheeler, Copley dec. Kevin Hyland, Cin. Elder 1-0
215: Nick Tavanello, Wadsworth dec. Ty Walz, Lakewood St. Edward 5-2
285: Kyle Rose, Centerville dec. Greg Kuhar, Lakewood St. Edward 3-2

DIVISION II

103: Mike Rix, St. Vincent-St. Mary dec. Cody Burcher, Uhrichsville Claymont 1-0
112: Ryan Taylor, St. Paris Graham Local dec. Cory Stainbrook, Walsh Jesuit 6-3
119: Micah Jordan, St. Paris Graham Local dec. Calvin Campbell, Lexington 9-6
125: Tyler Hackworth, Oak Harbor dec. Robby Reed, Canfield 2-0
130: Johnni DiJulius, Walsh Jesuit pin Alex Benedict, Canfield 3:19
135: Nate Skonieczny, Walsh Jesuit dec. Case Garrison, St. Paris Graham Lo 3-1 SV
140: Nick Brascetta, St. Paris Graham Local dec. T.J. Fox, Field 9-4
145: Bo Jordan, St. Paris Graham Local pin Zane Zeman, Avon 3:24
152: Matt Stephens, St. Paris Graham Local dec. Ian Miller, Oak Harbor 2-0 SV
160: Isaac Jordan, St. Paris Graham Local dec. Konner Witt, Oak Harbor 5-3SV
171: Cody Ryba, Crestwood dec. Jake Cramer, Oak Harbor 5-4
189: Chaz Gresham, Goshen dec. Huston Evans, St. Paris Graham Local 5-2
215: Travis McIntosh, Wash. C.H. Miami Trace dec. Logan Erb, Wapakoneta 4-2TB
285: Riley Shaw, Wash. C.H. Washington dec. Trevor Strickland, Clyde 4-1

DIVISION III

103: Nathan Tomasello, CVCA dec. Aaron Assad, Bedford St. Peter Chanel 7-4
112: Jacob Danishek, Day. Christian dec. Cody Steiner, Waynesville 11-9
119: Tyler Heminger, Galion Northmor pin Nick Goebel, Bloomdale Elmwood 2:23
125: Stephen Myers, Reading dec. Jeremy Border, Caldwell 10-4
130: Johnny Matacic, N. Jackson Jackson-Milton dec. Alex Carroll, Galion Northmor 8-2
135: Hunter Stieber, Monroeville pin Tyler Majoy, Milan Edison 1:00
140: Cam Tessari, Monroeville dec. Shane Brown, Manchester 11-4
145: Kyle Burns, Milan Edison dec. Dan Orrill, Bedford St. Peter Chanel 5-4
152: Felipe Martinez, Genoa Area dec. Dominic Prezzia, St. Clairsville 9-5SV
160: Cody Walters, Bedford St. Peter Chanel dec. Xavier Dye, Hamler Patrick Henry 1-0
171: Chris Phillips, Monroeville maj. dec. B.J. Toal, Troy Christian 16-7
189: Alex Utley, CVCA dec. Kurt Schaefer, Northwestern 6-0
215: Ethan Hayes, New Lebanon Dixie pin Kennedy Smith, Bedford St. Peter Chanel 5:31
285: Mimmo Lytle, Swanton dec. Clint Endicott, Ashland Crestview 6-0

The East High School boys hoops team allowed one to slip away Tuesday night against the Twinsburg Tigers in the Northeast District Sectional Tournament.

When you are up 12 points with a quarter left in the game, you’re supposed to win, but East lost 63-60 because they panicked.  I refuse to say that they choked because they’re high school kids.

Besides you have to give Twinsburg coach Bob Pacsi for coming up with a winning strategy in the fourth quarter.  Ultimately, his team lulled East into a false sense of security and the Tigers exploited it.

In the fourth, East suddenly found itself under relentless pressure.  A 12-0 run later, the Tigers had the momentum and rode it to victory.  For a team that began the tournament with a losing record (7-12), it was an impressive comeback.

Walsh Jesuit and Twinsburg are among the area girls’ basketball teams that will participate in the Key Bank Holiday Classic Dec. 28-30 at Pickerington North High School in Pickerington, Ohio.

This tournament annually features top teams from Ohio and out-of-state. Walsh Jesuit will play Marion County (Ky ) at 3 p.m. Dec. 8 in the first game of the tournament. Twinsburg plays Mount Lebanon (Pa.) at 4:45 p.m.

The winners play in the semifinals at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 29. The championship game is scheduled for 8 p.m. Dec. 30.

Other Ohio teams participating include Chaminade-Julienne, Warrensville Heights and Pickerington North.

Friday’s Games (all take place at 7:30 p.m.)

Division II, Region V

Kent Roosevelt at Tallmadge

Warren Howland at Copley

Aurora at Ashland

Division II, Region VII

Columbus St. Charles at Lake

Division IV, Region XIII

Perry at Manchester

Garrettsville at Chagrin Falls

Division IV, Region XIIII

Triway at Orrville

Division VI, Region XXI

Dalton at Bucyrus Wynford

New Washington Buckeye Central at Mogadore

Saturday’s Games (all take place at 7 p.m.)

Division I, Region II

Medina at Canton McKinley

Massillon at Toledo Whitmer

Twinsburg at Sylvania Southview

Division III, Region IX

St. Vincent-St. Mary at Hubbard

Youngstown Cardinal Mooney at Field

Poland Seminary at Buchtel

Division III, Region XI

Minerva at Marlington

Division V, Region XVII

Norwayne at Crestview

Division V, Region XVIII

Hillsdale at Collins Western Reserve

The Ohio High School Athletic Association released its first set of computer rankings for post-season play Tuesday.  Here’s how things look so far for area teams:

Div. I, Reg. 2

Perry (4-0), Medina (4-0) and Twinsburg (4-0) occupy the top three spots respectively.  Massillon (3-1) comes in at No. 8.

On the bubble:  GlenOak, McKinley, Hoover.

Div. II, Reg. 5

Copley (4-0) and Tallmadge (4-0) come in at the first and fourth spots.  Kent Roosevelt (3-1) come in at No. 5.

On the bubble: Walsh Jesuit, Ravenna.

Div. III, Reg. 9

St. Vincent-St. Mary (3-1), Field (3-1) and Buchtel (2-2), occupy numbers three, four and six, respectively.

Div. IV, Reg. 13

Manchester (4-0), Woodridge (4-0) are ranked two and seven respectively.

Div. IV, Reg. 14

Orrville (4-0) is at No. 3.

Div. VI, Reg. 21

Mogadore (4-0) is ranked sixth.

OhioVarsity.com announced its Class of 2011 Preseason Top 150 high school football players in the state of Ohio.

Doran Grant is ranked No. 1 and Steve Miller is ranked No. 5 on the list that has several area players on it.

The local players on the list are:

1. Doran Grant, DB, St. Vincent-St. Mary

5. Steve Miller, DE, Canton McKinley

22. Devin Smith, WR, Massillon Washington

29. Tommy Brown, OL, Firestone

44. Max Pirman, LB, Orrville

57. Mark Murphy, DB-RB, St. Vincent-St. Mary

60. Justin Olack, WR, Massillon Washington

63. Connor Cook, QB, Walsh Jesuit

78. Evan Shimensky, QB, Kent Roosevelt

80. Rakim Reed, TE, Canton Timken

104. Aaron Macer, DB, Twinsburg

107. Johnny Lowdermilk, LB-QB, Carrollton

108. Terrence Pegram, DB, Aurora

129. Kevin Brewton, TE, Garfield

132. Drew Kaser, K/P, Walsh Jesuit

The staff of OhioVarsity.com, along with support from other Rivals.com network sites and recruiting analysts, evaluated hundreds of Ohio’s top prospects before finalizing the preseason rankings. Included in the evaluation process was a review of each prospect’s highlight film, personal observations and camps and combines and recommendations from high school and college coaches. Rivals.com is owned by Yahoo!

The rankings will be revised midway through the 2010 season.