CLEVELAND, Ohio – The area district tournaments will be set Sunday, making this an important week for boys basketball teams hoping to improve their chances at high seeds.
If the cleveland.com Top 25 is any indication, here is a look at how the area’s best stack up. St. Ignatius remains in the top spot. The top four are unchanged, while Archbishop Hoban is up to No. 5. The Knights ride a 15-game win streak into Tuesday’s showdown with No. 2 St. Vincent-St. Mary.
Meanwhile, Brecksville and East Tech re-enter the Top 25.
RELATED: Watch, vote for the top plays of the month.
Here are the rankings:
1. St. Ignatius (12-4)
Where they stand: The Wildcats’ season began with a one-point loss to Cleveland Heights at the Great Lakes Classic. Fifteen games later, they avenged that defeat in resounding fashion to further cement their position atop the Cleveland-area rankings. Next up is a rematch with rival St. Edward, followed by another rematch. The Wildcats beat Solon in last year’s regional semifinals.
Last week: Ranked No. 1, beat Cleveland Heights, 74-50, on Saturday.
This week: Friday at No. 3 St. Edward, Saturday vs. No. 15 Solon
2. St. Vincent-St. Mary (12-4)
Where they stand: A showdown looms Tuesday in Akron. Expect a sold-out crowd at LeBron James Arena.
Last week: Ranked No. 2, idle.
This week: Tuesday vs. No. 5 Archbishop Hoban.
3. St. Edward (12-4)
Where they stand: For the second time this season, St. Edward welcomed one of the area’s Division IV powers to Lakewood. The Eagles led Lutheran East throughout and won their third straight. Friday’s game vs. St. Ignatius could determine the top seed in the Division I Strongsville District. The Wildcats won the first meeting in overtime.
Last week: Ranked No. 3, beat Lutheran East, 74-60, on Feb. 3.
This week: Tuesday vs. Shaw, Friday vs. No. 1 St. Ignatius.
4. Lorain (14-2)
Where they stand: The Titans now lead the Lake Erie League by two games and should have sewn up a top seed in the Division I Elyria Catholic District.
Last week: Ranked No. 4, beat Maple Heights, 78-69, on Feb. 3.; beat Toledo Scott, 81-53, on Feb. 4.
This week: Friday vs. Warrensville Heights, Saturday vs. Shaw.
5. Archbishop Hoban (15-1)
Where they stand: The streak is up to 15 entering Tuesday’s showdown with non-conference rival STVM.
Last week: Ranked No. 6, beat Padua, 60-51, on Jan. 31; beat Walsh Jesuit, 52-24, on Feb. 3.
This week: Tuesday at No. 2 STVM, Friday at Lake Catholic.
6. Garfield Heights (13-4)
Where they stand: A last-second loss Wednesday to Central Catholic at The Q was avenged Saturday with the Bulldogs’ visit to Medina. They got 21 points from Shawn Christian in that one, plus 20 from Leonard Cottrell.
Last week: Ranked No. 5, lost to Central Catholic, 64-62, on Feb. 1; beat Medina, 63-45, on Feb. 4.
This week: Tuesday vs. Beachwood, Friday vs. Lutheran East.
7. Copley (16-0)
Where they stand: Speaking of streaks, Copley’s is up to 40 games in the regular season. Two of the Suburban League’s top challengers, Wadsworth and Highland, will put that to the test.
Last week: Ranked No. 7, beat Revere, 88-64, on Jan. 31; beat Tallmadge, 74-54, on Feb. 3.
This week: Tuesday at No. 21 Wadsworth, Friday vs. Highland.
8. Cornerstone Christian (13-4)
Where they stand: The Patriots seem to be finding a groove, as evidenced by their convincing win against a scrappy Orange outfit. The defending Division IV state champs have won seven of eight.
Last week: Ranked No. 10, beat Orange, 77-47, on Feb. 4.
This week: Friday vs. Gilmour, Saturday vs. Harvey.
9. Elyria (14-3)
Where they stand: Without Antonio Blanton’s heroics, Elyria could be 12-5. His second buzzer-beating 3 of the season came Saturday at Elyria Catholic.
Last week: Ranked No. 12, beat Strongsville, 81-64, on Feb. 3; beat Elyria Catholic, 66-63, on Feb. 4.
This week: Friday vs. No. 18 Medina.
10. Holy Name (14-2)
Where they stand: The Green Wave bounced back from their only Great Lakes Conference loss to Elyria Catholic as guards Dwayne Cohill, Brandon Styers and Sean Hickey led the way against Rocky River. They remain in Parma this week until an intriguing Division II matchup with Central Catholic.
Last week: Ranked No. 11, beat Rocky River, 65-48, on Feb. 3.
This week: Tuesday at Parma, Friday vs. Valley Forge, Saturday at No. 19 Central Catholic.
11. Benedictine (13-4)
Where they stand: It’s been a tough stretch for coach Rob Stircula’s Bengals. They have lost two straight, both in the North Coast League Blue Division, and both by just a couple of points. The Bengals stopped that skid against Hoban and Padua by topping Gilmour, one of the area’s better Division III teams, on Saturday.
Last week: Ranked No. 9, lost to Padua, 74-72, on Feb. 3; beat Gilmour, 72-42, on Feb. 4.
This week: Friday at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, Saturday vs. University School.
12. Maple Heights (12-3)
Where they stand: The Mustangs fared better in their rematch against Lorain. The loss likely takes them out of LEL contention, but not out of a high seed at the Division I Solon District. Last week’s postponed game at Warrensville Heights has been rescheduled for Feb. 22. Losses by teams ranked ahead of the Mustangs last week, coupled with the overall body of work, pushes them up.
Last week: Ranked No. 15, lost to Lorain, 78-69, on Feb. 3.
This week: Tuesday at No. 24 Brecksville, Friday at No. 13 Cleveland Heights.
13. Cleveland Heights (11-6)
Where they stand: A nightmare first quarter Saturday in Ohio City set back Cleveland Heights in its rematch with St. Ignatius. The Tigers are 4-4 since a Jan. 13 loss at Maple Heights. They meet again this week.
Last week: Ranked No. 8, beat Shaw, 80-62, on Feb. 3; lost to St. Ignatius, 74-50, on Feb. 4.
This week: Friday vs. No. 12 Maple Heights.
14. Villa Angela-St. Joseph (11-5)
Where they stand: A year ago, VASJ lost to Mentor before reeling off 10 straight wins en route to their fourth straight state final appearance. What does a win against the Cardinals do?
Last week: Ranked No. 17, beat Youngstown Valley Christian, 45-33; beat Mentor, 66-61, on Feb. 4.
This week: Tuesday vs. Gilmour, Friday vs. Warren JFK.
15. Solon (13-5)
Where they stand: An up-and-down week for Solon concluded with a bounce-back performance against Mentor. A regional semifinal rematch looms Saturday with St. Ignatius.
Last week: Ranked No. 16, lost to Brunswick, 64-58, on Jan. 31; beat Mentor, 75-73, on Feb. 3.
This week: Friday at Euclid, Saturday at No. 1 St. Ignatius.
16. Mentor (11-5)
Where they stand: Two close losses ended the week for Mentor. However, coach Bob Krizancic’s Cardinals are still just a game behind Medina — which they beat by double digits — in the Greater Cleveland Conference.. As a scheduling note, Mentor’s matchup this weekend with Glenville was cancelled.
Last week: Ranked No. 13, beat Strongsville, 74-59, on Jan. 31; lost to Solon, 75-73, on Feb. 3; lost to VASJ, 66-61, on Feb. 4.
This week: Friday vs. Shaker Heights.
17. Ellet (14-3)
Where they stand: A.J. Gareri returned Friday at Firestone. Along with Marquise Bridges stellar play, the Orangemen are clicking. They have a five-game win streak since a loss to STVM.
Last week: Ranked No. 19, beat Akron East, 69-46, on Jan. 31; beat Firestone, 77-67, on Feb. 3.
This week: Wednesday at Akron North, Friday vs. Massillon Washington.
18. Medina (15-4)
Where they stand: In the postseason picture, Medina’s win Friday against Brunswick should mean more than its loss to Garfield Heights. The Bees and Blue Devils are in the same Division I Copley District with Hoban, Stow and Wadsworth.
Last week: Ranked No. 14, beat Euclid, 100-85, on Jan. 31; beat Brunswick, 64-41, on Feb. 3; lost to Garfield Heights, 63-45, on Feb. 4.
This week: Friday at No. 9 Elyria.
19. Central Catholic (10-6)
Where they stand: A turnaround week for the Ironmen should provide a boost for their seeding in the Division II Stow District. However, tough regular-season tests still remain. They have Holy Name this week and St. Edward and Lorain before season’s end.
Last week: Ranked No. 21, beat Garfield Heights, 64-62, on Feb. 1; beat Warren JFK, 89-67, on Feb. 3.
This week: Friday vs. Trinity, Saturday vs. No. 10 Holy Name.
20. Brunswick (13-6)
Where they stand: Like Solon, which it beat, Brunswick had an up-and-down week. That seems standard in the Greater Cleveland Conference, where the top four are separated by a game.
Last week: Ranked No. 18, beat Solon, 64-58, on Jan. 31; lost to Medina, 64-41, on Feb. 3.
This week: Friday vs. Strongsville.
21. Wadsworth (12-4)
Where they stand: The Grizzlies have won seven straight and have a Suburban League crossover Tuesday vs. unbeaten Copley.
Last week: Ranked No. 24, beat Cuyahoga Falls, 74-53, on Jan. 31; beat North Royalton, 61-53, on Feb. 3.
This week: Tuesday vs. No. 7 Copley, Friday vs. Twinsburg.
22. Stow (11-4)
Where they stand: Coach Dave Close’s Bulldogs bounced back from a 12-point loss to Wadsworth. Junior forward Mason McMurray and junior guard Coryon Rice led the way against Nordonia and Twinsburg.
Last week: Ranked No. 25, beat Nordonia, 59-43, on Jan. 31; beat Twinsburg, 59-45, on Feb. 3.
This week: Tuesday vs. Barberton, Friday vs. Hudson.
23. Elyria Catholic (11-5)
Where they stand: A three-point loss against Division I Elyria drops the Division III Panthers just one spot. They are vying for a high seed in the Garfield Heights District with VASJ, Beachwood, Gilmour and MLK.
Last week: Ranked No. 22, beat Parma, 66-51, on Jan. 31; lost Elyria, 66-63, on Feb. 4.
This week: Tuesday at Rocky River, Friday vs. Bay.
24. Brecksville (13-3)
Where they stand: The Bees return to the Top 25 after their 1,000th program win. Of the teams considered for moving up, Brecksville gets a nod for its 17-point win last month at Padua.
Last week: Not ranked, beat Twinsburg, 62-58, on Feb. 1; beat Nordonia, 66-56, on Feb. 3.
This week: Tuesday vs. No. 12 Maple Heights, Friday vs. North Royalton.
25. East Tech (14-5)
Where they stand: The Scarabs are back in the Top 25, too, but for the first time since early in the season. That is because they are now at full strength with senior transfers Isaiah Washington and Arron Pate in uniform. Washington, a 5-foot-11 senior guard, scored 41 points in Friday’s Senate League championship. It marked the fourth straight title for the school, and the Scarabs nearly didn’t get there. They rallied from 23 down in the third quarter of the semifinals vs. MLK.
Last week: Not ranked, beat MLK, 75-68, on Feb. 1; beat Glenville, 71-66, on Feb. 3.
This week: Wednesday vs. Warrensville Heights.
DROPPED OUT
Lutheran East (11-7, was No. 20), Glenville (16-4, was No. 23).
IN CONTENTION
Bay (12-6), Berea-Midpark (12-4), Buckeye (13-3), Padua (12-6).
Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.
Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.
