SBLive’s Top 25 in Ohio high school boys basketball: Sean Jones becomes Gahanna Lincoln's all-time leading scorer
By Sam Houseworth | Photo by Jeff Harwell
With two weeks left in the season, many conference and division titles are going to come down to the wire.
Despite climbing to No. 1, Centerville still hasn’t clinched an outright GWOC title. Two top 5 teams are in a neck-and-neck race for the OCC Ohio title. The GMC has turned into a logjam at the top of the standings. And the Cincinnati Metro Red is going to come down to the final two weeks of the season.
Add to that the statewide tournament draw being announced in less than a week and there is plenty of action to finish up the season right around the corner.
SBLIVE’S OHIO TOP 25
1. Centerville (17-0)
Last week: 1
The Elks jumped out to huge leads in all three of their contests last week and coasted to victory in each case. Over the week, senior forward Rich Rolf led all Elks in scoring with 56 points over the three games. Centerville will face Vertical Academy (N.C.) on Monday, followed by its toughest test before the state tournament, a chance to win the GWOC outright at Kettering Fairmont on Friday.
2. St. Vincent-St. Mary, Akron (11-3)
Last week: 2
It was the Sencire Harris show over the weekend against St. Ignatius. The Illini commit finished with 29 points in the Irish’s 56-38 win against the former top 25 team from Cleveland. After Hoban on Monday, the Irish have the toughest back-to-back in the state. They head to Brush on Friday, followed by a trip down south to Pick Central on Saturday. Back-to-back top 5 opponents in the same weekend.
3. Gahanna Lincoln (15-2)
Last week: 3
The Lions stay put in the No. 3 spot this week after a 68-49 win over New Albany. Sean Jones led all scorers with 30 on the night, surpassing Stevie Taylor as the school's all-time leading scorer, while Javan Simmons added 14 of his own. The Lions are on the road this week against Reynoldsburg on Tuesday and Westerville Central on Friday.
4. Pickerington Central (15-1)
Last week: 4
Last week, it was mentioned that Ohio boys basketball has a big three. Well, the Tigers are making a case that they are closer to the big three than the second tier of teams in the state. Friday, they dismantled Central Crossing 65-27, followed by an 86-54 blowout of Africentric on Saturday. Pick Central has New Albany and Groveport Madison during the week, followed by a top 5 shootout against St. Vincent-St. Mary on Saturday.
5. Brush, Lyndhurst (12-2)
Last week: 5
After last week’s loss to Gahanna, the Aces bounced back with a statement win and a blowout. Brush earned a convincing win over Lake Erie League leader Shaker Heights, 69-57. They followed that up with a 74-28 win over John Adams on Saturday. Brush has another great test on its hands with St. Vincent-St. Mary coming to town Friday.
6. Archbishop Alter, Kettering (14-2)
Last week: 7
Alter has clinched at least a share of the GCL Co-Ed title after a 64-45 win at Chaminade Julienne on Friday. The Knights opened the game on a 20-0 run and never looked back, led by Anthony Ruffolo’s 20 points and nine boards. Alter is on the road all week with games at Edgewood, McNicholas and Marshall over a five-day span.
7. Fairfield (14-3)
Last week: 6
The Indians fall a spot in the SBLive Top 25 after a heartbreaking 51-49 loss at Princeton on Friday. Deshawne Crim led Fairfield with 12 points, but fouled out in the midst of their comeback attempt in the fourth quarter. The Indians lead Sycamore by only one game in the GMC standings, who they face on the road Tuesday.
8. St. Edward, Lakewood (13-2)
Last week: 12
The Eagles played lockdown defense against Garfield Heights in their 51-33 win on Sunday. Then, they turned up the tempo in a 94-69 win over Glenville on Thursday. Then on Saturday, the Eagles combined the two for an 86-45 blowout of Cleveland Central Catholic. The Eagles are back in action Friday when they host St. Ignatius in one of the top rivalries in northeast Ohio.
9. Kettering Fairmont (16-1)
Last week: 8
Make that 10 wins in a row for the Firebirds after a pair of GWOC wins last week. Anthony Johnson recorded a double-double in Fairmont’s 67-52 win over Springfield with 24 points and 10 rebounds. On Friday, junior Aden Marrero scored 15 in the Firebirds’ 54-41 win over Miamisburg. Fairmont heads to Fenwick on Tuesday, followed by senior night against the top team in the state, Centerville.
10. Richmond Heights (13-4)
Last week: 24
It has truly been a tale of two halves for the Spartans as they extended their win streak to eight after a pair of Chagrin Valley blowouts this week. Richmond Heights won 78-40 over Beachwood on Tuesday, followed by a 91-54 statement over an 11-2 Edgewood squad. The Spartans continue their conference schedule at Hawken on Tuesday and against West Geauga on Friday.
11. Sylvania Northview (13-1)
Last week: 17
The Wildcats feasted on the basement of the Northern Lakes League last week. Northview doubled up Holland Springfield 70-35 on Tuesday, followed by a 71-28 domination of Anthony Wayne on Friday. The Wildcats are on the road all week with games at Bowling Green on Tuesday and Napoleon on Friday.
12. Westerville South (16-0)
Last week: 15
It’s starting to look like the Wildcats are destined to finish the regular season undefeated. After a 75-46 win over Big Walnut on Tuesday, South faced Westerville North with the Warriors having revenge on their mind. Drey Carter had other ideas. The Wright State commit was just short of his career high, scoring 31 against their crosstown rival in a 74-65 win over North. South is on the road this week against Delaware Hayes on Tuesday and Canal Winchester on Friday.
13. Olentangy Orange, Lewis Center (11-5)
Last week: Unranked
Olentangy Orange is another team that has found its groove in the second half the season. After a 4-4 start, the Pioneers have been one of the hottest teams in central Ohio. Olentangy Orange has racked up wins over Dublin Jerome, Hilliard Davidson and Dublin Coffman in the 2022 calendar year. The Pioneers will have plenty more tests this week as they head to Thomas Worthington on Tuesday, followed by weekend contests against Upper Arlington and DeSales.
14. Pickerington North (14-2)
Last week: 14
Despite three games in four days, the Panthers only appeared to get stronger as the week went on. Pick North squeaked by Groveport Madison on Tuesday, 75-70. The next night, they comfortably defeated Canal Winchester, 71-49. Then on Friday, they tripled up Westland, 83-27. Pick North is still only one game back of Gahanna in the standings as the Panthers get ready for Newark on Tuesday and Grove City on Friday.
15. Elder, Cincinnati (15-3)
Last week: 16
And just like that, the Panthers have clinched a share of the GCL South. With their lone game at Moeller on Friday, the Panthers were in a back-and-forth battle through the first three quarters. In the fourth, the flood gates opened as Elder put up 20 in the final frame, winning 54-48. Andrew Harp led the Panthers with 15 points and four steals. Elder hosts Cooper and La Salle this week with a chance to clinch the GCL South outright.
16. Hilliard Bradley (12-4)
Last week: 9
The lone game for Bradley on the schedule resulted in a 50-42 loss to crosstown rival Hilliard Davidson. Sophomore Cade Norris led the Jaguars with 19 points. The loss drops Bradley two games behind Central Division leader Olentangy Liberty with only three games to go. Bradley hosts Groveport Madison on Tuesday before heading to division leader Olentangy Liberty on Friday.
17. Lakota East (12-4)
Last week: 10
Fairfield’s loss Friday opened the door to the Thunderhawks to make a run at the GMC title. However, Lakota East ran into its own issues. After a comfortable 59-38 win at Oak Hills on Tuesday, the Thunderhawks ran into a buzzsaw in the form of Sycamore on Friday. Despite 22 points from Jack Kronauge off the bench, Lakota East had no answer for Raleigh Burgess, who ended with 24 points and 13 rebounds for Sycamore. The 69-54 loss drops the Thunderhawks to third place in the GMC standings with Princeton on Tuesday, Colerain on Friday and Lima Senior on Saturday.
18. Taft, Cincinnati (9-5)
Last week: 18
Because of cancellations, the Senators only had one game this week, a 90-34 blowout at Shroder. Five Senators finished in double figures, led by Mekhi Elmore and Rayvon Griffith, both scoring 20. Taft hosts Western Hills on Tuesday and Woodward on Friday for a share of first place in the Cincinnati Metro Red Division.
19. Archbishop Moeller, Cincinnati (13-5)
Last week: 13
It was a rough week for the Crusaders. With a chance to force a tie at the top of the GCL South, Moeller squandered a fourth-quarter lead at home to Elder, falling 54-48. The following night, Moeller was outplayed from tipoff to final buzzer against No. 1 Centerville, 63-35. The Crusaders will look to bounce back this week with St. Xavier on Friday and Colerain on Saturday.
20. Westerville North (11-5)
Last week: 11
The Warriors were 11-2 in their last 13 games going into this past week. They now have just as many losses in their last 2 games as they did the 13 previous. On Tuesday, Delaware Hayes pulled off the upset win at home, 61-54. Then Friday, the Warriors suffered a season sweep at the hands of crosstown rival Westerville South, 74-65. The Warriors head to Canal Winchester on Tuesday, followed by Big Walnut on Friday.
21. Dublin Jerome (12-4)
Last week: 19
The Celtics are moving in the right direction after a disappointing start to 2022. On Friday, they played their lone game of the week, a 64-44 win at Marysville. Junior Luke Kuhlman has been the hot shooter for the Celtics in recent weeks, averaging 15.7 points per game over his last three. Jerome hosts Olentangy Liberty on Tuesday and Olentangy Berlin on Friday.
22. Lima Senior (14-2)
Last week: 23
The Spartans’ lone game last week was a 94-59 blowout of Clay. Khalil Luster scored 36 while Jareon Mayo added 18. Lima Senior heads to St. Francis on Tuesday, then back home for a date with St. John on Friday. They will end the week against Lakota East in the O-G Winter Classic.
23. Ottawa-Glandorf (13-2)
Last week: Unranked
The Titans climb back into the top 25 with a blowout, statement win. O-G embarrassed Celina 72-35 on Friday, improving to 6-0 in the WBL. The following night, the Titans beat Northern Buckeye Conference leader Rossford 57-45. O-G has a tough schedule this week with Lima Shawnee on the road Friday, followed by Harvest Prep at home Saturday.
24. Walnut Hills, Cincinnati (17-1)
Last week: Unranked
After opening the season with a loss to Moeller, the Eagles have won 17 straight to climb into the SBLive Top 25. Since then, Walnut Hills has captured a win over Turpin, a season sweep of Winton Woods, and went a perfect 3-0 in the Innisfree Hotels Pensacola Beach Basketball Event over winter break. The Eagles can clinch a share of the Eastern Cincinnati Conference with games at Loveland and against Milford this week.
25. Woodward, Cincinnati (12-3)
Last week: 25
The Bulldogs took care of business to stay undefeated in the Cincinnati Metro Red Division last week. Woodward smoked Aiken 95-61 on Tuesday, followed by an 84-40 blowout of Shroder on Saturday. Paul McMillan saw his scoring average climb to 27.9 points per game after the two contests. Woodward plays road games against Withrow on Tuesday and fellow top 25 rival Taft on Friday.
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