Jeff Harwell_St. Vincent-St. Mary_Moeller.13

SBLive’s Top 25 in Ohio high school boys basketball: St. Vincent-St. Mary vs. Brush is the marquee pre-playoff matchup

A big game between top 5 teams tips off the final week of the regular season, with the playoffs starting next week.

Author:
Sam Houseworth
Updated:
Feb 23, 2022 6:44 PM EST
Original:
Feb 7, 2022

By Sam Houseworth | Photo by Jeff Harwell

With winter storms battering Ohio late in the week, many teams were lucky to get one game in. One of the highlights of the past week was the statewide tournament pairings draw, which took place Sunday.

But with one week left in the regular season, plenty of teams have conference titles on the line and nonconference games to tune up for a run in the OHSAA state playoffs!

SBLIVE’S OHIO TOP 25

1. Centerville (19-0)

Last week: 1

The Elks hold onto the top spot in the SBLive Top 25 while also being named the top seed in the southwest district for the upcoming D-I state basketball tournament. On Saturday, the Elks improved to 12-0 in GWOC play with a 51-31 win over second-place Fairmont. With the win, the Elks clinch at least a share of the Greater Western Ohio Conference. Centerville will have two opportunities to clinch an outright title when the Elks host Springboro on Tuesday and Wayne on Friday.

2. St. Vincent-St. Mary, Akron (12-3)

Last week: 2

The Irish owned the first half against Hoban on Monday, taking a 35-20 lead into halftime. The Knights never really threatened in the second hold as the Irish would hold on to win 69-54. The Irish have a busy week ahead, opening at Brush on Monday. They head to Lutheran East on Wednesday, finishing out the week at St. Edward on Friday in their second top 10 showdown of the week.

3. Gahanna Lincoln (16-2)

Last week: 3

The Lions’ lone game of the week went as expected. Javan Simmons led all scorers with 22 as Gahanna dominated Reynoldsburg 69-45. The Lions are at Westerville Central this week, followed by weekend contests against Grove City and Linden McKinley.

4. Pickerington Central (16-1)

Last week: 4

The Tigers’ defense was out in full force Tuesday with a 52-37 win over New Albany. Devin Royal led all Tigers with 12 points, while Sonny Styles and Gavin Headings added 10 each. Pick Central heads to Groveport Madison on Wednesday, then hosts Lancaster on Friday.

5. Brush, Lyndhurst (13-2)

Last week: 5

It was Elmore James Appreciation Week at Brush High School last week. The Arcs had no issues with ISA on Monday, winning 71-42 while James scored 21. The challenge Wednesday was tougher, with James rising to the occasion. The Arcs took a 36-22 lead into halftime, bending but never breaking in the second half en route to a 72-65 win over Vertical Academy (N.C.). James led the Arcs with 27 points. Brush is back in action Monday, hosting St. Vincent-St. Mary in a top 5 contest. That is followed by Warrensville Heights on Tuesday and St. Ignatius on Saturday.

6. Archbishop Alter, Kettering (16-2)

Last week: 6

The Knights’ win was highlighted by two comfortable nonconference wins. Alter beat Edgewood on Tuesday, 75-48. Then on Saturday, they headed to Princeton where they walked away with an 88-61 win over the Vikings. The Knights have a weekend doubleheader to end the season against Carroll on Friday and Meadowdale on Saturday.

7. St. Edward, Lakewood (14-2)

Last week: 8

The Eagles took home bragging rights in one of the best rivalries in the state of Ohio. On Friday, St. Edward let St. Ignatius hang around in the first half, but pulled away in the second with a 27-point third quarter and a 24-point fourth quarter. Michael Bova led the Eagles with 20 points in the 77-57 win over St. Ignatius. St. Edward hosts Solon on Tuesday, followed by St. Vincent-St. Mary on Friday.

8. Fairfield (15-4)

Last week: 7

The Indians failed to take advantage of the opportunity to take sole control of first place in the Greater Miami Conference on Tuesday. One of the most exciting games of the week saw Sycamore’s Deshawne Crim hit a floater with one minute left in the fourth. That would turn out to be the final points of the game as Fairfield fell to Sycamore 44-43. The Indians bounced back Friday with a 65-45 win over Oak Hills. Fairfield ends the regular season with conference games at Hamilton on Monday, at Middletown on Tuesday and hosting Colerain on Friday.

9. Kettering Fairmont (17-2)

Last week: 9

Senior Anthony Johnson recorded his fifth double-double of the season in the Firebirds’ 66-54 win over Fenwick on Tuesday. However, Fairmont had no such luck against No. 1 Centerville on Friday, never putting up a fight in their 51-31 home loss. The Firebirds finish the regular season on the road against Wayne on Tuesday and Beavercreek on Friday.

10. Lakota East (14-4)

Last week: 17

Suddenly, the Thunderhawks have an outside chance at the GMC title. Lakota East jumped out to an early lead and held off a strong Princeton team, 83-70. Then Friday, it was all Thunderhawks all night as they blew out Colerain 86-31. Lakota East is at Mason on Tuesday and back at home to face Hamilton on Friday. With a pair of wins and some help, a GMC championship is not out of the question.

11. Sylvania Northview (14-1)

Last week: 11

The Wildcats’ lone game of the week came at the expense of Bowling Green. Northview didn’t really get going until the third quarter, where they found a different gear to pull away from the Bobcats. Sean Craig scored 25 in the Wildcats’ 79-56 win. Northview gets rival Southview on Tuesday, followed by Holland Springfield on Friday.

12. Richmond Heights (14-4)

Last week: 10

An 84-47 win over Hawken is the only game to write home about for the Spartans last week. Richmond Heights also earned the top seed in the D-IV northeast district and will enter the state tournament as a heavy favorite. Until then, they still have Chagrin Falls on Tuesday and West Geauga on Wednesday to prepare for the playoffs.

13. Westerville South (17-0)

Last week: 12

The Wildcats had four players in double figures as they blew out Delaware Hayes last Tuesday, 60-38. Drey Carter was the leading scorer with 15. WSHS has clinched at least a share of the OCC Capital, though that’s small potatoes compared to an undefeated regular season. The Wildcats are at Canal Winchester on Tuesday, followed by Franklin Heights on Friday and Jonathan Alder on Saturday.

14. Pickerington North (15-2)

Last week: 14

In a battle of two of the best second-place teams in the OCC, Pick North came out on top of Newark 42-35 on Tuesday. Corey Hudson led all scorers with 13 on the night. The Panthers are at Grove City on Wednesday, followed by weekend games against New Albany on Friday and Reynoldsburg on Saturday.

15. Olentangy Orange (12-5)

Last week: 13

The Pioneers’ offense was running on all cylinders at Thomas Worthington on Tuesday. Four Pioneers finished in double digits, led by Jordan Edwards’ 17 points in the 71-57 win. The Pioneers host Upper Arlington in an important OCC Central showdown on Tuesday, followed by a trip to Hilliard Bradley on Friday.

16. Elder, Cincinnati (16-3)

Last week: 15

It’s been 16 years, but Elder won its first outright title in the Greater Catholic League since 2006. The outright title also breaks Moeller’s streak of nine straight GCL championships. Elder will finish the regular season against St. Xavier on Friday before turning its attention to the state tournament, where they face Milford on Feb. 18.

17. Woodward, Cincinnati (14-3)

Last week: 25

What a week for the Bulldogs. Woodward took down Withrow on Tuesday, 55-37. Then on Saturday, the Bulldogs headed to Taft, coming away with a 63-46 win and earning the season sweep over the Senators. The Bulldogs can clinch a share of the Cincinnati Metro Red with one win this week and clinch the outright title with two. They get Hughes on Monday, Shroder on Tuesday and Western Hills on Friday.

18. Ottawa-Glandorf (15-2)

Last week: 23

The Titans improved to 7-0 in WBL play on Friday with a 80-55 win over Lima Shawnee. However, the fireworks came Saturday when the Titans hosted Harvest Prep in the thriller of the weekend. With less than two seconds left on the clock, Colin White drove from baseline and pushed in the left-handed layup to seal a 63-61 victory for the D-III favorite. O-G has a tough week ahead with Bryan on Tuesday and at Defiance for an outright WBL title on Friday.

19. Archbishop Moeller, Cincinnati (14-5)

Last week: 19

What a thriller in the GCL. On Saturday, Moeller and St. X went into double overtime where the Crusaders fought out the win, 59-56. Penn State commit Evan Mahaffey led the Crusaders with 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists. The Crusaders end the regular season at Purcell Marian on Tuesday, then back home against La Salle on Friday.

20. Hilliard Bradley (12-5)

Last week: 16

The Jaguars are getting cold at the absolute worst time. On Tuesday, Hilliard Bradley fell to Groveport Madison at home, 59-53. This was despite Cade Norris leading all scorers with 25. The Jaguars are at Olentangy Liberty on Monday and face Olentangy Orange and Newark this weekend.

21. Dublin Jerome (13-4)

Last week: 21

The Celtics won their third in a row after a slow start to the 2022 calendar year. Luke Kuhlman scored 16 in Jerome’s 66-62 win over Olentangy Liberty on Tuesday night. The Celtics have three games in four days with DeSales on Tuesday, Olentangy Berlin on Wednesday and Olentangy on Friday.

22. Westerville North (12-5)

Last week: 20

The Warriors got back into the win column, though it was much tougher than it should have been Tuesday night. Westerville North came away from Canal Winchester with a 65-60 win, led by Caleb Iheukwu’s 20-point performance. The Warriors host Big Walnut on Tuesday, followed by a trip to Worthington Kilbourne on Friday.

23. Tri-Village, New Madison (16-3)

Last week: Unranked

The Patriots are getting hot at the right time. Since Christmas, Tri-Village is 11-1, including a conference championship clinching win over Preble Shawnee on Saturday. The Patriots end the regular season at Mississinawa Valley on Friday and host Badin on Saturday.

24. Walnut Hills, Cincinnati (19-1)

Last week: 24

With a pair of conference wins, Walnut Hills clinched their first outright ECC championship since 2018. The Eagles pulled away from Loveland in the second quarter on Tuesday, winning 59-41. Then on Saturday, Milford was never in it as Walnut Hills won 66-35. The Eagles end the regular season at Little Miami on Monday, followed by Turpin on Friday.

25. Green, Uniontown (15-2)