If the Division I Central District high school boys basketball tournament is anything like the regular season, there should be plenty of drama over the next two-plus weeks.

It’s no surprise that Northland has continued on its run that began with a district title in 2007 and included the state championship in 2009, but new powers such as Olentangy Liberty and Pickerington Central also have emerged this winter.

Opening the door further to a season of transition were season-ending injuries to some of the area’s top talents in Dublin Coffman’s Kyle Molock, Westerville North’s Jack Gibbs and Delaware’s Matt Bingaya.

Here’s a breakdown of things to watch for in the three brackets for the Division I district tournament, which begins Thursday, Feb. 23:

BRACKET 1

Best potential matchup in first two rounds: Olentangy Orange vs. Reynoldsburg in second round. The Pioneers could face a Raiders team that has bounced back from a rough start.

Players to watch: Pickerington North’s Jake Butt; Thomas Worthington’s Will Hill; Northland’s Jordan Potts, Jalen Robinson and Devon Scott; Orange’s Andy Bosley; Reynoldsburg’s Wendell Davis

Dark horses: Pickerington North (13th seed), Thomas Worthington (23rd seed)

Could win the title: Grove City (10th seed), Reynoldsburg (15th seed), Orange (ninth seed)

The favorite: Northland (top seed). Potts has been slowed by an ankle injury. Assuming his ankle continues to heal, the Vikings should have little trouble at the district level.

BRACKET 2

Best potential matchup in first two rounds: Upper Arlington vs. Mount Vernon in second round. The Yellow Jackets won the OCC-Capital Division and the Golden Bears won the OCC-Central.

Players to watch: Walnut Ridge’s Alassane Kah and Fred Hardgrove; Liberty’s Jake Bischoff and Nick Archer; Gahanna’s Aaron Jackson; UA’s Connor Casey

Dark horses: Coffman (16th seed), Dublin Scioto (22nd seed). Both the Shamrocks (Jamey Collins) and Irish (Tony Bisutti) have coaches who have been in numerous big games.

Could win: Gahanna (11th seed), Liberty (third seed), Upper Arlington (seventh seed). Liberty is a well-rounded team that is showing that it truly has a great senior class. The Lions and Bears both have flaws but each possesses talent.

The favorite: Walnut Ridge (second seed). No team in central Ohio has as much depth as the Scots, and there are few who can match them in size.

BRACKET 3

Best potential matchup in first two rounds: Olentangy vs. Delaware in first round. The Braves beat the Pacers 64-54 on Dec. 30, but the Delaware County rivalry factor adds intrigue.

Players to watch: Westerville South’s Marcus Ball; Newark’s Christian Keller; Pickerington Central’s Caris LeVert; Westerville North’s Matt Rhodes; Delaware’s Michael Wells

Dark horses: Delaware (21st seed), Westerville Central (24th seed). Wells is the area’s leading scorer, which makes the Pacers dangerous. Central doesn’t have a winning record but beat Liberty 49-46 on Feb. 10 and has reached back-to-back district finals.

Could win: Pickerington Central (fourth seed), Newark (sixth seed), Westerville South (eighth seed). Neither Newark nor South has as much talent as in past years, but both have the coaching to make long runs. The best still could be yet to come for Central considering its stable of young athletes.

The favorite: Westerville North (fifth seed). Without Gibbs, the Warriors might not have as much talent as Pickerington Central, but they do hold the advantage in big-game moments. There’s also the intangible of overcoming adversity this season that tends to bring a team together.

It should be an entertaining and, at times, unpredictable district tournament.

Beyond that, it’s tough not to like Northland’s chances of making it to state for the third time in four seasons.

The Vikings have two standout 6-foot-8 senior post players in Robinson and Scott. Senior wing player Ke’Chaun Lewis and Potts, a senior guard, also have been key players for what has been central Ohio’s premier program the past five years.

That experience can’t be overlooked.

Jarrod Ulrey is a ThisWeek sportswriter. Follow his newest blog, “On the Recruiting Trail,” for the latest in central Ohio high school recruiting news.