OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio – Ten teams can be their own worst enemy.
At least for now.
Listen to Avon Lake coach Eric Smith describe the Southwestern Conference after his team’s 65-62 win Tuesday night at Olmsted Falls, and it might resemble a 10-car pileup.
“This league is so good that everybody just beats up on each other,” he said.
Perhaps that is why four teams — his Shoremen, Olmsted Falls, Berea-Midpark and Avon — entered Tuesday tied for the SWC lead. Westlake is just a game behind, as is Olmsted Falls following its loss.
The knock-down, drag-out affair of the SWC isn’t a bad thing to Smith or his counterpart at Olmsted Falls, Chris DeLisio. Both said they think a payoff is ahead — regardless of how this race shakes out.
“If this league doesn’t prepare you for the postseason, nothing’s going to prepare you for the postseason,” Smith said. “Every game is a two- or three-point game.”
The majority of these teams will be headed to the Division I Elyria Catholic District, which is headlined by defending champion Lorain, the fourth-ranked team in the cleveland.com Top 25.
RELATED: District seeding takeaways.
Nine of the SWC’s 10 teams (Lakewood heads to Strongsville) are in the EC bracket. So expect more SWC teams to beat up SWC teams.
SOUND FAMILIAR?
Make it three straight comebacks for No. 11 Maple Heights. The Mustangs rallied from 10 points against Lutheran East for a 92-83 win. Fonse Hale led Maple Heights with 30 points and seven assists. Tyree Harris had 17 points, while Daray Menefield added 13 points and 12 rebounds.
The effort follows last week’s double-digit comebacks at No. 25 Brecksville and No. 18 Cleveland Heights.
SETTING THE SUBURBAN LEAGUE
Speaking of Brecksville and keeping in line with conference races, Stow is now in control of the Suburban League National Division. No. 22 Wadsworth’s 53-39 win against Brecksville pulls that title race even closer.
No. 23 Stow leads the division by a half game after its 68-54 win at Cuyahoga Falls behind junior Mason McMurray’s 26 points. The performance sets up a trip Friday to Brecksville.
A win keeps Stow in position to win the division with trips to North Royalton and Green still left. A Brecksville win could split the division lead three ways.
“It came down to us missing layups, missing free throws and turning the ball over,” Steve Mehalik said. “We took a step backwards tonight” pic.twitter.com/CJ0Q7OIF4S
— Dom DiPasqua (@beevillesports) February 15, 2017
UPSET OF THE NIGHT
Bedford has not won a game in the Lake Erie League, but that didn’t stop Pete Priola’s Bearcats from leaving No. 21 Elyria Catholic with a 58-57 victory. It marks just the third win of the season for Bedford, which reached last year’s Division I Solon District final but was hit hard by graduation.
Six-foot senior guard Desean Reed led the Bearcats with 32 points. EC had a chance to win, but Doug Taylor Jr.’s last-second shot did not fall.
SO MUCH FOR STATE RANKINGS?
The Associated Press state basketball rankings have rarely translated with on-court performances this season. Another example came in Stark County.
Massillon Jackson, ranked second in the Division I state poll, throttled third-ranked and previously unbeaten Wooster, 80-52.
Quick Recap: @PurpleNGoldCrew Hands Wooster Their First Loss https://t.co/IiIXFa1siN pic.twitter.com/QbeixOgc2c
— T.J. Peatross (@NEO_Spotlight) February 15, 2017
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GAME BALLS
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WHAT’S AHEAD
Here is a look at Friday’s games as the regular season winds down. Conference title races will further clear up, while a handful of Top 25 matchups also take place.
No. 2 St. Vincent-St. Mary (14-4) at Massillon Jackson (18-1): The Fighting Irish will test their eight-game win streak against one of the state’s top teams. STVM will play host Wednesday to No. 12 Villa Angela-St. Joseph.
No. 8 Elyria (16-3) at No. 16 Mentor (13-5): The Greater Cleveland Conference picture will clear up after this one. Elyria beat Mentor the first time and has lost only to Brunswick in GCC play.
No. 23 Stow (14-4) at No. 25 Brecksville (14-5): Coach Dave Close’s Bulldogs won this matchup by 12 at home earlier in the season. Another win can seize control of the Suburban League National Division.
No. 24 East Tech (16-5) at Lutheran East (12-9): A pair of senior point guards, East Tech’s Isaiah Washington and Lutheran East’s Maurico Tate, will get late-season tests before tournament play. The Scarabs have won six straight.
Oberlin (15-4) at Clearview (16-3): The Patriot Athletic Conference Stripes Division title is at stake, when the Phoenix challenge last year’s champion. Oberlin won the first meeting, 67-54, but is looking up to Clearview in the standings.
Avon (14-5) at Berea-Midpark (13-6): The SWC plot thickens with this one. The winner will remain in first place. Will Avon Lake? The Shoremen take on Midview.
Madison (16-2) at Brush (17-3): Madison has just two losses despite a shorthanded lineup for coach Pat Moran. The Blue Streaks remain in the Western Reserve Conference chase. If they can pass Wednesday’s home matchup with Willoughby South, WRC-leading Brush awaits. The Arcs beat Madison, 76-67, last time and have clinched a share of the WRC.
Gilmour (12-7) at Hawken (15-5): Call it the “Battle of Gates Mills.” Coach David Pfundstein takes his Lancers, minus senior guard Jackson Clark, to Hawken. Junior point guard Hugh Brown and sharpshooting Brendan Paul will pose a tough test.
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