SBLive’s Top 25 in Ohio high school girls basketball: Top three holds steady as Olmsted Falls cracks the top 10
By Sam Houseworth | Photo by Gabe Haferman
Only three weeks left in the regular season. So many conference titles yet to be decided, so many teams fighting for seedings, and only so many games left until Destination Dayton begins on Feb. 7.
SBLIVE'S OHIO TOP 25
1. Reynoldsburg (12-2)
Last Week: 1
Great teams never quit. That’s what fans in Reynoldsburg got to see Thursday when Pick Central came to town in a battle of the 614’s two best teams. The Raiders held a double-digit lead in the fourth, but Pick Central chipped away at it, all the way down to 54-51. West Virginia commit Imarianah Russell made three free throws in the final minute to seal the win, 56-53. Reynoldsburg remains undefeated in OCC Buckeye Division play. The Raiders host Groveport Madison on Friday, then head to Africentric on Saturday.
2. Archbishop Hoban, Akron (12-0)
Last Week: 2
The Knights remain perfect with a pair of wins over respected programs. On Wednesday, Hoban fought off a tough Laurel team, 73-63. Then Saturday, they steamrolled Westerville North, 64-29. The Knights will host Lutheran East on Thursday, followed by a top 15 showdown against Kettering Alter in Columbus on Saturday.
3. Fort Loramie (15-0)
Last Week: 3
Ava Sholtis was on fire last week in both of the Redskins’ conference wins. The senior scored 17 with six boards and five blocks in Loramie’s 56-19 win over Jackson Center. On Saturday, Sholtis was back, posting a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in the Redskins’ 55-39 win over Anna. Loramie will host Botkins on Thursday, then Lima Bath on Saturday.
4. Dublin Coffman (13-1)
Last Week: 5
The Lady Rocks jump up one spot after a trio of comfortable wins against strong opponents last week. Coffman dominated at Northland 54-19 on Monday, earned a 50-31 win over Hilliard Bradley on Friday, followed by a 60-44 win over Louisville Central (Kentucky) on Sunday. Coffman’s only game this week could decide who wins the OCC Central Division. The Lady Rocks will host second-place Olentangy Liberty on Friday.
5. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (13-1)
Last Week: 4
After a comfortable 52-21 win against Mercy McAuley on Tuesday, the Cougars took on a pair of the state’s best. Thursday, their defense made up for some cold shooting as the Cougars took down Ursuline Academy, 44-38. Then Sunday, MND handed Olmsted Falls its first loss of the season, 53-49. MND will go for the season sweep of Mercy McAuley on Thursday, followed by Cooper on Saturday.
6. Princeton, Cincinnati (14-1)
Last Week: 6
Princeton’s unblemished season is no more. Wednesday’s 54-47 home loss to Mason was a back-and-forth contest for the ages. Sole Williams’ 24-point performance was not enough to make up for a cold shooting night, paired with losing rebounding battles to Mason’s front court. The Vikings bounced back in a big way with wins over Colerain and Gahanna over the weekend. Princeton will host Middletown on Wednesday, then heads to Columbus to face Pick Central in a top 10 showdown Saturday.
7. Tri-Village, New Madison (13-2)
Last Week: 13
The Patriots improved to 8-0 in WOAC play with an 88-21 win over Franklin Monroe on Thursday. They followed that win up with a 67-37 win against Bellbrook on Saturday. Both Meghan Downing and Morgan Hunt recorded double-doubles in the win over Bellbrook, combining for 29 points and 22 rebounds. Tri-Village heads to Bradford on Thursday, then stays on the road to face Minster on Saturday.
8. Purcell Marian, Cincinnati (12-1)
Last Week: 9
The Cavs were truly dominant in their Miami Valley Conference game at CHCA on Tuesday, scoring a season high in their 90-40 win. PMHS followed that up with a 60-59 win over Example Academy (Illinois) on Saturday. Freshman forward Dee Alexander had an incredible Saturday with 32 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in the Lady Cavs’ win. Purcell Marian is on the road this week, facing Norwood on Wednesday and Roger Bacon on Saturday.
9. Pickerington Central (9-5)
Last Week: 10
Here are the Tigers’ five losses: Reynoldsburg, which has been No. 1 most of the season; Newark, which has visited the SBLive Top 25 regularly; Mount Notre Dame, whose 79-game win streak was snapped this season; Reynoldsburg again; and Montverde Academy, which is No. 5 in the SBLive Florida Top 25. There isn’t another team in the state as battle-tested as the Tigers.
10. Olmsted Falls (14-1)
Last Week: Unranked
The Bulldogs have had an incredible 2022 year so far. After winning the Cactus Jam tournament in Phoenix, the Bulldogs returned to Ohio to dominate SWC opponents with blowout wins over Amherst Steele, Avon Lake and Berea-Midpark to kick off the new year. Junior Danielle Cameron has been lights-out, averaging 17.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game since returning from Arizona. OFHS heads to Midview on Saturday.
11. Archbishop Alter, Kettering (13-0)
Last Week: 11
After steamrolling Trotwood Madison 66-30 on Thursday, Alter earned the biggest win in its unblemished campaign. The Knights pulled away from Worthington Christian in the fourth quarter to earn a 46-35 win over the SBLive Top 25 mainstay. Three Knights finished in double figures, led by Maddie Moody, who had 12 points and four boards on the night. Alter will host Thurgood Marshall on Wednesday before facing Toledo St. Ursula on Saturday.
12. Shelby (14-0)
Last Week: 8
The Whippets continued their perfect season with a 65-37 win over Marion Harding on Saturday. Olivia Baker became only the fifth Whippet in school history to hit the 1,000-point mark in their MOAC win on Saturday. Shelby will head to Lexington on Wednesday, then hosts Galion on Friday.
13. Mason (13-1)
Last Week: 7
The Comets earned their biggest win of the season at Princeton on Wednesday, 54-47. University of Miami commit Kyla Oldcare made the difference as she owned the post all night, scoring 16 and collecting nine boards. However, the Comets barely pulled away from an average Shaker Heights team, 37-30. The Comets head to Fairfield on Wednesday before hosting Oak Hills on Saturday.
14. GlenOak, Canton (12-1)
Last Week: 14
With a pair of wins last week, the Lady Eagles look to be on a crash course with Hoban in the D-I Northeast Regionals once we get to tournament time. Until then, GlenOak is going to focus on holding on to first place in the Federal League. The Eagles beat Perry on Wednesday, 56-48, followed by a 64-54 win over Regis Jesuit (Colorado) on Friday. GlenOak will host Canton McKinley on Wednesday before heading to Hoover on Saturday.
15. Liberty-Benton, Findlay (11-1)
Last Week: 12
The Eagles have all but clinched the Blanchard Valley title going into the final weeks of the season. Liberty-Benton blew out their biggest competition for the title, Van Buren, 55-28 on Tuesday. The Eagles followed that up with a comfortable 63-30 win over Kenton. Liberty-Benton’s only game this week is at Bellevue, which sits at 11-3 in a marquee nonconference bout.
16. Sheridan, Thornville (10-2)
Last Week: 18
Only one game to report for the Generals last week is a 66-18 destruction of River View from Monday. The Generals head to Logan on Wednesday before hosting Meadowbrook on Saturday.
17. Worthington Christian (11-2)
Last Week: 15
After a 10-0 start, the Warriors have hit a couple of speed bumps. The 46-35 loss to undefeated Kettering Alter is their biggest loss, by points, this season. The Warriors still have a 1½ game lead in the Mid-State Ohio Division heading into the final month of the regular season. WCHS will host Buckeye Valley on Tuesday, followed by Centerburg on Thursday.
18. Jackson, Massillon (8-4)
Last Week: Unranked
After a slow start, the Polar Bears have won five of their last six games, having caught fire in the new year. The latest win, a 55-30 victory over Hoover, was a revenge win for a 52-49 loss early in the season. The Polar Bears are at Lake on Wednesday, followed by Stow on Saturday.
19. New Knoxville (13-1)
Last Week: Unranked
New Knoxville got a late start to the start as a result of their volleyball team winning their school’s first state championship in the sport. Since an early-season loss to St. Marys on Dec. 4, the Rangers have won 11 straight. Among those 11 wins are Minster, which is tied for second place in the Midwest Athletic Conference. The Rangers stay at home this week with games against Legacy Christian and Delphos St. John’s.
20. Russia (13-4)
Last Week: Unranked
Welcome back, Russia, we missed you! The Raiders bounced back this week after being blown out at home by conference rival Fort Loramie. Russia earned two blowout wins, the first at Houston, 62-26, and the second against Fairlawn, 61-13. The Raiders have only a single game this week, Saturday at Jackson Center.
21. Cincinnati Country Day (9-3)
Last Week: 20
No games played last week for CCD as their Thursday contest against Mercy McAuley was postponed. They will take part in the Eastern Brown Showcase this Saturday.
22. Olentangy Liberty, Powell (11-3)
Last Week: 19
What was looking like a strong week for the Patriots quickly turned sour. They earned big, blowout wins against Thomas Worthington and Olentangy Orange early in the week. However, OLHS fell to Tri-Valley 41-30 in Pickerington. The Patriots still have a chance at an OCC Central championship when they face first-place Dublin Coffman on the road Friday.
23. Union Local, Belmont (11-2)
Last Week: 23
That 0-2 starts seems like forever ago with the way the Jets have been playing. This week, the Jets earned a pair of 30-plus-point wins against Bellaire and St. Clairsville, all but clinching the Buckeye 8 South. The Jets will go across the river to face 11-1 Wheeling Park on Wednesday.
24. Granville (14-0)
Last Week: Unranked
With the duo of junior Ella Wigal and Belmont Abbey commit Cate Schieber being an unstoppable pair, the time to bypass the Blue Aces is over. Combined, the duo are averaging 29.7 points per game. The Blue Aces will host Northridge on Wednesday, followed by Zanesville on Saturday.
25. Ottawa-Glandorf (9-4)
Last Week: 22
Lima Shawnee fans are going to wonder when their Indians are going to get some respect. The fact of the matter is that O-G’s schedule has been the toughest in the WBL and it’s not even close. The Titans have Van Wert in WBL play this Thursday, followed by another brutal nonconference game against Toledo Central Catholic on Saturday. Shawnee will get its chance against the Titans on Feb. 3.
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