3 Fighting Irish Earn All-Northwest District Division II Laurels

Three members of the Central Catholic boys’ basketball team have been named to the All-Northwest District Division II squad. The teams were selected by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association media panel.

Freshman Isaiah Mack-Russell earned 2nd-team accolades, while sophomores Manny Johnson and Draden Wardrop collected honorable mention laurels.  

A 6-foot-3 wing, Mack-Russell is averaging a team-high 15.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and a squad-best 26.8 minutes per game. He has scored at least 10 points on a team-high 21 occasions, including a season-best 29 points twice.

A 6-foot-2 wing, Johnson is contributing 10.0 points and 2.3 assists. He has poured double digits 15 times in 2023-24, including a season-best 26 points vs. Bowling Green in the sectional finals on March 1.

A 6-foot-2 guard, Wardrop is tallying 10.9 points and 1.7 steals. He has tallied double figures on 14 occasions this season, including a season-high vs. Solon on December 21.

Central Catholic (12-14) returns to the hardwood against Rocky River Lutheran West this evening in the regional semifinals at 6 p.m. in the Stroh Center on the campus of Bowling Green State University.

Tickets are tonight’s neutral-court matchup are available at www.ohsaa.org/tickets (Basketball, Basketball – Boys, Division II, March 14, Locate our Game, Get Tickets).  General admission tickets cost $5 for students and $12 for adults.  In addition, all parking at BGSU is $5.

Thursday’s postseason matchup can also be heard on The Ticket l 100.7 FM with the “Voice of the Irish” Bill Clark & Mike Murnen, starting at 5:45 p.m. or streamed online HERE.

CCHS advanced to tonight’s contest on the heels of post-season victories vs. Woodward, 65-13, Bowling Green, 77-49, Wauseon, 65-59, and Scott, 44-41, to secure its 3rd district title in the last 4 years.

Should the Fighting Irish advance to the Region 6 finals, they would face either Shelby (23-2) or Lima Shawnee (19-6) on Saturday, March 16 at 4 p.m. in the Stroh Center.

Isaiah Mack-Russell
2nd-Team All-Northwest District
1st-Team All-District 7
All-League (CHSL)

Manny Johnson
Honorable Mention All-Northwest District
2nd-Team All-District 7
All-League (CHSL)

Draden Wardrop
Honorable Mention All-Northwest District
Honorable Mention All-District 7