SBLive’s Top 25 in Ohio high school girls basketball: Undefeated Hoban makes a strong case for No. 1
By Sam Houseworth | Photo by Mike Cook
The brackets are drawn up. Everybody knows what their road to Dayton looks like.
Now it’s time to finish up the regular season, award our conference champions, and then the party begins as the top teams in the state look to punch their tickets to UD Arena in Dayton.
SBLIVE'S OHIO TOP 25
1. Reynoldsburg (14-2)
Last week: 1
The Raiders were off last week. They head to Gahanna on Tuesday, followed by Lancaster on Friday.
2. Archbishop Hoban, Akron (17-0)
Last week: 2
The Knights are making a stronger case to be the top team in the state. Last Monday, they dominated a talented Green team, 73-39. Then Thursday, it was the SWC leader Olmsted Falls on the road. A close game from wire-to-wire saw Knights topple their top 15 opponent 75-70. Hoban will host WRA this Saturday.
3. Dublin Coffman (17-1)
Last week: 3
The Shamrocks have clinched at least a share of the OCC Central Division. They did that with a 51-27 win at Olentangy Orange on Friday, which they followed up with a 59-48 win over Centerville. Next up on the schedule is Olentangy at home. Then, the Shamrocks will have a chance to win the division outright on Friday when they head to Hilliard Davidson.
4. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (18-1)
Last week: 4
The Cougars have completed another perfect season in the GGCL, dominating St. Ursula and Seton last week to finish 7-0 in the conference. Notre Dame commit and Ms. Ohio Basketball favorite KK Bransford scored 35 in the two games while collecting 15 boards. The Cougars earned the top seed in the southwest district and will open the OHSAA D-I Tournament against Oak Hills on Feb. 9.
5. Fort Loramie (19-0)
Last week: 5
The Lady Skins played with fire last week as two MAC opponents gave them their closest contests of the season. Fort Loramie captured a huge road win against New Knoxville in a top 25 showdown, 44-39. Then on Saturday, they squeaked by Marion Local 51-45 at home. Loramie has a busy week ahead, hosting Fairlawn and Houston before heading to Liberty-Benton for another top 25 contest on Saturday.
6. Princeton, Cincinnati (18-2)
Last week: 6
The Vikings bounced back nicely after a disappointing weekend. Princeton took down Lakota West on Wednesday 64-43 before smoking Oak Hills on the road 71-22. The Vikings hold a half-game lead in the GMC standings as they wrap up their regular season at Lakota East on Wednesday and at home against Hamilton on Saturday.
7. Tri-Village, New Madison (17-2)
Last week: 7
The Patriots extended their win streak to 14 with a pair of blowout conference wins over the weekend. Tri-Village blew out Twin Valley South on Thursday 73-10 and Bradford on Saturday 68-27. The Patriots end the season with Tecumseh on Tuesday, their final WOAC game at Preble Shawnee on Thursday, and Fort Recovery on Saturday.
8. Purcell Marian, Cincinnati (16-1)
Last week: 8
The Cavs handed CHCA a blowout loss on Wednesday, 84-24. Freshman Trinity Small led all scorers with 36 points, while fellow freshman Dee Alexander recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. The Cavs are at Cincinnati Country Day on Wednesday for a top 25 contest, followed by Trotwood-Madison on Saturday.
9. Archbishop Alter, Kettering (17-1)
Last week: 10
The Knights bounced back after suffering their first loss of the season last Saturday. The Knights blew out Franklin 59-17, followed by GCL Co-Ed wins over McNicholas and Carroll later in the week. The Knights finish the regular season at home with Summit Country Day on Wednesday and Mercy McAuley on Saturday.
10. Olmsted Falls (17-2)
Last week: 11
A busy week saw the Bulldogs suffer their second loss to a top 5 team this season, 75-70 against Hoban. This loss was sandwiched between two comfortable wins over North Ridgeville on Wednesday 73-40 and Elyria on Saturday 65-27. The Bulldogs are back in action Saturday when they head to Avon.
11. Pickerington Central (13-6)
Last week: 9
No surprises this week as the Tigers extend their win streak to four after a rough start to the new year. The Tigers blew out Central Crossing 62-18 on Friday, followed by a 50-38 win over Africentric on Saturday. Pick Central will head to New Albany on Tuesday, then host Groveport Madison for senior night on Friday.
12. Mason (17-2)
Last week: 12
There are few easy nights in the GMC, and Wednesday was no exception. The Comets overcame a 39-38 deficit heading into the fourth quarter to beat Lakota East 51-44. Saturday, things came a little easier as Mason beat Lakota West 64-51. Mason finishes the regular season with three GMC games in four days — at Hamilton on Wednesday, against Colerain Thursday and against Sycamore on Saturday.
13. Shelby (18-0)
Last week: 13
The Whippets continued their undefeated run, but it hasn’t been easy. On Thursday, Shelby nearly tripled up Highland, 66-23. But on Saturday, they spent all 32 minutes fighting off a hungry River Valley team, pulling away late for a 59-53 win on the road. The Whippets host Upper Sandusky on Tuesday, then Clear Fork on Friday.
14. Liberty-Benton, Findlay (16-1)
Last week: 14
Three games, three wins for the Eagles this past week. Liberty-Benton had no issues with their two conference opponents, beating Arcadia 84-19 and North Baltimore 52-18. The tough showdown was at Bryan on Saturday, where the Eagles squeaked away with a 56-53 victory. Liberty-Benton wraps up the regular season with a home game against Pandora-Gilboa on Thursday.
15. Worthington Christian (14-2)
Last week: 18
WCHS looks incredibly dominant this past week in their two contests. The Warriors smoked Whitehall 68-30 on Wednesday, followed by a 58-10 win on Friday against Columbus School for Girls. The Warriors have a busy week ahead with Wellington on Tuesday, Teays Valley on Thursday and Columbus Academy on Saturday.
16. Sheridan, Thornville (11-3)
Last week: 15
No basketball to report this week. The biggest news out of Thornville is the Generals earning the top seed in the southeast district on Sunday night. The Generals will play the winner on Gallia Academy and Washington on Feb. 14.
17. Ursuline Academy, Cincinnati (16-4)
Last week: 16
The Lions earned a statement win last Monday over Cincinnati Country Day, 57-49, as both teams get ready for the state playoffs in the coming weeks. Senior Kate Stuhlreyer recorded a double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds in the win. The Lions finished GGCL play with a 47-30 win over Mercy McAuley. Ursuline Academy ends the season against Roger Bacon on Saturday.
18. New Knoxville (16-2)
Last week: 20
The Rangers suffered their second loss of the season while giving defending D-IV state champion Fort Loramie its closest contest of the season, 44-39. New Knoxville responded with a 47-26 win against D-I opponent Wapak on Saturday. The Rangers head to Russia on Tuesday, followed by St. Henry on Thursday.
19. Cincinnati Country Day (13-4)
Last week: 17
The Nighthawks suffered their first loss of 2022 last Monday against Ursuline Academy, 57-49. They came back Wednesday to earn an MVC win over Roger Bacon, 57-40. Sarah Zimmerman led all scorers with 17 while collecting seven rebounds. The Nighthawks end the season with three games in four days, including a rematch against Purcell Marian on Wednesday, with the MVC Scarlet Division on the line.
20. Olentangy Liberty, Powell (13-5)
Last week: 24
The Patriots snapped their three-game skid with a blowout win over Upper Arlington on Friday, 55-33. The following night, they made it back-to-back wins by defeating Watterson on the road 38-31. Olentangy Liberty hosts Dublin Jerome for senior night on Tuesday, followed by a divisional road game against Hilliard Bradley on Friday.
21. Union Local, Belmont (14-3)
Last week: 22
The Jets welcomed Linsly (West Virginia) to town on Wednesday for an OVAC showdown. Linsly came into the contest at 14-2, but were edged out by a hungry Jets team, 51-48. Union Local earned the top seed in the east district and will face Buckeye Local on Feb. 12.
22. Russia (15-4)
Last week: 25
Russia’s only contest of the week was a 70-44 blowout of Anna. The Raiders will host New Knoxville on Tuesday in a top 25 showdown before heading to Botkins on Thursday with second place in the SCAL on the line. They end their regular season at home against Versailles on Saturday.
23. Granville (17-0)
Last week: 23
Only one game for Granville last week and it was incredibly one-sided. The Blue Aces took home a win over Utica 60-13. Ella Wigal led all scorers with 14. The Blue Aces head to Licking Valley on Saturday.
24. GlenOak, Canton (14-3)
Last week: 19
The top of the Federal League is starting to look pretty crowded as the Golden Eagles suffered their second conference loss in as many weeks. On Wednesday, the Golden Eagles lost to Massillon Jackson 46-37 after falling apart late in the fourth quarter. GlenOak responded with a 58-37 win over Lake on Saturday. Next up is Green on the road Wednesday.
25. Arcanum (17-1)
Last week: 21
Arcanum hit the court only once last week, resulting in a 56-21 win over Tri-County North. The Lady Trojans head to Marion Local on Tuesday, finish their WOAC slate at Newton on Thursday, then end the regular season against Carroll on Saturday.
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