Although Tom Jenkins director of the Ohio Girls Basketball Report, the nations's No. 1 single-state scouting service that organizes the Classic said the girls basketball showcase won't change, he said the matchups for year 2 are more intriguing than last year's.

"As great as it was last year, this year's field is even better," Jenkins said.  "It's extremely hard to single out one game that will be the highlight this weekend because every game serves a purpose for the teams competing in it."

Last year's field included Division I state champion, Cincinnati Mt. Notre Dame and Division III state titlist Youngstown Ursuline.  Of the 33 teams in the field last year, 21 advanced to regional finals, while five were in the state semifinals.

This year, the teams include three defending state champions -- Mt. Notre Dame (Division I), West Branch (Division II) and Ursuline (Division III).  All four of this year's projected state champions are going to be in action this weekend at the Reese Center, as well as two nationally ranked teams by the USA Today -- Mt Notre Dame (17) and Dayton Chaminade-Julienne (5).

Right from Game 1 on Day 1, at 10 am, the matchups will be meaningful, with a contest between West Branch and Mount de Chantal kicking things off.

The defending Division II state champion Warriors play the only team from out of the state as Mount de Chantal is from West Virginia.

This game should feature quite a bit of action in the post, with West Branch's Victoria Arndt being a Top 25 player in Ohio's senior class and the Lions' Sylvie Tafen and Chantelle Handy both committed to play at Division I colleges next year.  Tafen is headed to the University of Pittsburgh, while Handy will be off to Marshall University.

Game 4, at 3:15 on Saturday, may be the highlight of Day 1, as it features Regina, which won four straight Division III state titles from 2000-2003 against Mount Notre Dame, which, along with last year's state title, was 28-0.

The Cougars, of Mt. Notre Dame, feature 6-foot-2 Michelle Jones, the No. 19 rated senior post player in the nation, as well as 6-1 senior post Cassi Brannen and 5-7 junior wing Lee Stephens, who are both ranked in Ohio's Top 25 in their respective classes.

The Royals will feature the No. 4 junior point guard in America, Carla Jacobs, the No. 38 senior post, 6-0 Reecy Mitchell.

This is the third straight year the two teams have played each other, with Regina having won the matchup two years ago and Mt. Notre Dame getting the better of the Royals last year.  Neither coach, however, wants to look at past meetings as they both realize this year's matchup will offer its own unique challenges.

"They're a great team, one of the best in the country," said Regina coach Pat Diulus. "We have a big job ahead of us and we're looking forward to it."

Cougars coach Scott Rogers similarly will not allow his group to look back on the previous two meetings with the Royals.

"We just have to worry about what we're doing in our next game and our next game happens to be against Regina," Rogers said.  "Regina's always a very good team and they come prepared to play.  They pose a lot of problems for us.

"The past doesn't really matter to us.  It's an honor for the girls to be nationally ranked, but they take pride in trying to play one game at a time and playing Mt. Notre Dame basketball."

The nationally ranked Cougars will also play on Day 2 against Barberton which was a fellow Division I state semifinalist last year.  The Magics have 5-11 wing Shana Andrus, the No. 10 senior wing in the nation.  Barberton is a favorite to win a state title this year.

Cincinnati Princeton, which was a regional finalist last year and is 12-1 this season, will get two tough tests this weekend.  The first will come in Game 6, Saturday at 6:45 against North Canton Hoover

Princeton, which features the nation's No. 5 junior wing, Ashlee Bridge, will be facing a Vikings squad with two nationally ranked players in Amber Witt (No. 26 junior wing) and Steph Gibson (No. 19 sophomore point guard).

The Princeton Vikings will play again the following day, Sunday, against Cleveland Central Catholic in the Classic's 11th game at 5:15 pm.

The Lady Ironmen of CCC boast the No. 1 sophomore post in America,  Jantel Lavender, who is also the No. 2-rated post player in the nation, overall regardless of class.

"I think both games will be good competition for us," said Princeton coach Jill Phillips.  "Hoover has an athletic, full-court press defense.  I think handling their pressure will be the key to the game.  Cleveland Central Catholics (Lavender) might pose some problems for us rebounding.

"It'll be good for us to play teams outside our conference and from other parts of the state."

Cleveland Central Catholic will also be among the two-game teams at this weekend's Classic in the Country.

The Lady Ironmen will play in Game 19 on Monday at 6:45 against Youngstown Boardman, a Division I team that has advanced to regionals 12 of the last 22 years.

Along with those big-time matchups, Holmes County's local teams will also be in action in high-caliber matchups.

The host Hawks will close out Day 1 with a contest against defending Division III state champion Ursuline and will play the 20th and final game of the Classic Monday against Division II power Akron Archbishop Hoban.

Both games are scheduled for 8:30 pm.

West Holmes will play Division II state title contender Trinity at 5 pm on Monday.

With so many big games, Jenkins could not single out one as the one to talk about.

"I think the rubber match between Regina and Mt. Notre Dame will be a big game," Jenkins said.  "The rematch between Brookhaven and Wadsworth, two traditional Division I powers, will be a big game.

"You have Princeton trying to earn statewide respect with a couple of tough matchups.

"I expect the game between Dunbar and Fairless (8:45, Sunday) to be a good one.  Dunbar (in Dayton) is recognized as one of the best city programs in the state and Fairless feels it deserves some recognition so this game is more important to the folks at Fairless."

Last year's Classic saw an average attendance of 1,200 at the 1,800-seat Reese Center, but Hiland girls basketball coach Dave Schlabach said this year's Classic will probably have an even higher attendance.

"We've doubled our amount of presale weekend passes this year," he said.  "I think we'll have some of the biggest crowds ever in that gym."