The Johnstown-Monroe High School boys basketball team waited nearly two weeks to begin the regular season and will have a similar experience for the postseason.

The eighth-seeded Johnnies opted for a first-round bye in the Division III district tournament and will open at 7:45 p.m. March 2 against seventh-seeded Fairbanks or 10th-seeded North Union at Central Crossing.

“We went into the draw not wanting a bye, but it’s the way things worked out,” said coach Kevin Martin, whose team was 11-8 overall before closing the regular season Feb. 17 against Northridge. “I think we’re in a good position as far as teams we can play well against.”

The Johnstown football team’s run to a Division IV state semifinal pushed back the beginning of the boys basketball season from Dec. 2 to Dec. 13.

Fairbanks was 14-5 overall before playing Madison Plains on Feb. 18. North Union was 11-8 before playing Grove City Christian on Feb. 17.

The Johnnies have two weeks between their regular-season finale and postseason opener.

“The length of the layoff is something we’re going to have to deal with,” Martin said. “We still have a couple of scrimmages left, so we’ll fill those, and we’ll have two weeks to prepare for two teams.”

Fairbanks and North Union play Thursday, Feb. 23, at Central Crossing.

The second-round winner plays fourth-seeded Amanda-Clearcreek, Heath or 12th-seeded Horizon Science Academy in a district semifinal at 8 p.m. March 6 at Central Crossing. The district final is 8:30 p.m. March 8 in the Fairgrounds Coliseum. Possible opponents include second-seeded Columbus Academy and third-seeded Mount Gilead.

The Johnnies lost to Loudon-ville 57-45 on Feb. 10 in MBC play. Harley O’Flaherty and William Orr both scored nine points and Sam Scovell added seven points.

Before the league finales Feb. 17, Loudonville (12-1) had clinched the title with Johnstown and Fredericktown tied for second (9-4). Utica (8-5) was fourth followed by Northridge (6-7), Centerburg and Danville (both 4-9) and East Knox (0-13).

•The girls basketball team opened the Division III district tournament Feb. 18 against Ready in a first-round game. The fifth-seeded Johnnies entered the contest at 16-4 overall.

The winner plays Columbus School for Girls in the second round at 3:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at New Albany. The Unicorns had a first-round bye and finished the regular season at 1-19.

The second-round winner advances to a district semifinal against Madison Plains, seventh-seeded Marion Pleasant or eighth-seeded West Jefferson at 8 p.m. Feb. 28 at New Albany. Madison Plains finished the regular season 11-9 and Pleasant was 13-7. West Jefferson had a first-round bye and is 12-8.

The district final is 1 p.m. March 3 at New Albany. Top-seeded Africentric (16-4) is a likely opponent.

The Johnnies closed the regular season Feb. 11 with an 82-58 win over Northridge, avenging a 52-47 loss to the Vikings on Jan. 7. Paige Cannon led Johnstown with 20 points, Laiken Valentine had 19 points with eight assists, Sarah Thomas scored 15 points and Natalie Carpenter added 11 points.

“We had excellent balance and we got off to a good start,” coach Carl Dufford said. “We moved the ball very well and applied a little more pressure (than the first game against Northridge) and forced some turnovers.”

In the final MBC standings, Centerburg (12-2) won the title with Johnstown and Utica tied for second (11-3). Fredericktown (7-7) was fourth followed by East Knox (5-9), Danville and Loudonville (both 4-10) and Northridge (2-12).

•The wrestling team had one champion in the MBC meet Feb. 11 at Northridge with Joey Dismuke winning at 182 pounds.

Dismuke, who improved to 37-5 overall, pinned Justin Keyes of Centerburg in 13 seconds in the final for his first league championship after placing second last year.

Loudonville (333) won the MBC for the sixth time in seven seasons followed by Utica (284), Northridge (259), Centerburg (243), Fredericktown (236), East Knox (111), Danville (98) and Johnstown (91).

On Feb. 17 and 18, Johnstown competed in a Division III sectional tournament at Madison Plains. The top four placers in each weight class advanced to district Feb. 24 and 25 at Heath. The Johnnies were seeded 15th of 24 teams in the district.

The top four in each weight class at district advance to the state tournament March 1-3 at Ohio State.