All four No. 1 teams in Ohio (Wadsworth in Division I, River View in Division II, Regina in Division III and Fort Recovery in Division IV) are going to be in Berlin at some point this weekend. Area teams Hiland (No. 4), Garaway (No. 9) and West Holmes are also a part of the festivities.

The weekend begins bright and early Saturday morning as Louisville and Shenandoah, a team likely to meet Garaway in the Division III district tournament, face off at 10 a.m. River View, the defending champion in Division II, faces Columbus Africentric, the second-ranked team in Division IV, at 5 p.m. and host Hiland will end the night with an 8:30 game against Lakota West.

On Sunday, Brecksville and Regina kick off the day at noon, but no area teams will be participating on that second day.

Monday's action begins with Garaway facing Ashtabula County power Jefferson Area at 10 a.m. Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown and West Holmes will play at 6:45 with Hiland ending the weekend with its second tough game against Division I Wadsworth at 8:30.

In the coming weeks, Hiland will have faced two No. 1 teams (Wadsworth and River View) as well as Garaway, which is ranked in Division III.

In the media release for the Classic in the Country IV, Hiland coach Dave Schlabach talked tongue-in-cheek about CitC coordinator Tom Jenkins of the Ohio Girls Basketball Report, who organizes the schedule.

"This year we have the opportunity to play against two legit Division I Final Four teams, Lakota West and Wadsworth," Schlabach said. "Tom must have had a 'senior moment' when he scheduled these games for us this year. He really put us in the meat grinder. We are up against the biggest odds we have ever faced in my 16 years as the head coach at Hiland."

The Hawks are led by junior guard Jena Stutzman at 18.9 points per game and senior guard Lydia Miller at 11.4 points per game. Sophomore Karli Mast is also averaging in double figures at 10.4 points per game.

River View is taking on an Africentric team that was beaten by Hiland in the Division IV regional last year (its only loss). They return loads of talent and Black Bears' coach Caroline Daugherty is well aware of the challenge that awaits her team.

"They present a great problem with the press and they are very aggressive," Daugherty said of the Nubians. "We're going to need to try to control the tempo. It's going to be hard because they have a couple of D-1 (college) kids who are really good. It's going to be a true test and it's one of the great games of the weekend that we're proud to be a part of."

This year's seniors have participated in all four years of the Classic.

"This is a great group of kids and we feel very fortunate to be in it all four years; it's an honor," Daugherty said.

The Black Bears are led by senior Kristin Daugherty, a Dayton signee, who is averaging 19 points per game and 10 boards per game. Sister Kari, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, is averaging 12.4 points per game and diminutive but tough point guard Sami Dickerson is averaging 10.4 points per game. She has hit 28 three-pointers this year.

Garaway coach Scott Bardall said that a game against the likes of Jefferson Area will only help his inexperienced squad come tournament time.

"Our goal is always to play in the state tournament," Bardall said in a press release. "Playing Hiland twice (in the regular season) and playing an established team like Jefferson Area in an outstanding environment like that of the Classic in the Country will be a good measuring stick."

Garaway is led by junior Laura Bardall who leads the area in scoring at 19.1 points per game. Classmate Erica Hershberger is a 2-year starter at point guard and averages 10.3 points per game. Five-foot-10 sophomore Kenzie Kaufman has been the pleasant surprise this year, averaging 13.7 points per game in the post.

West Holmes coach Lisa Patterson is in her first year coaching back at her alma mater. She said that participating in the Classic in the Country is an honor.

"It kind of gives us a sense of a tournament-like atmosphere and the mentality of a tournament game," Patterson said. "There's going to be huge crowds all weekend and a lot of excitement. Hopefully we can step up to the plate and perform well."

The Knights are paced by 6-foot-2 sophomore Sarah Hammond (11.2 points per game) and sophomore Kerri Airwyke, another post player (10.2 points per game).