The NEO Top 25 poll: East Tech rises
November 30, 2015
The first weekend of the boys basketball season was a light schedule, but there was enough action to shuffle around our top 25 teams for the Cleveland/Akron area. See who rose and fell below.
Check back every Monday for the newest rankings (last week’s rankings in parentheticals).
1. Garfield Heights (1)
Record: 1-0
The Bulldogs are a little short-handed to start the season with Braun Hartfield and Marreon Jackson sidelined by injuries. But while it’s never good to have players sidelined, this should help build the team’s depth for the long-term.
Last week: Defeated Cleveland JFK
This week: Dec. 1 at No. 6 Bedford, Dec. 4 vs. Lutheran East
2. St. Vincent-St. Mary (2)
Record: 0-0
The Irish will kick things off on Saturday with a game against one of the top athletic programs in the Washington, D.C., area.
Last week: No game
This week: Dec. 5 vs. DeMatha (Md.)
3. Medina (3)
Record: 0-0
The Bees jump right into conference play this week, as they open their season against Solon — a new rival for the Greater Cleveland Conference.
Last week: No game
This week: Dec. 4 vs. Solon
4. Beachwood (4)
Record: 1-0
A 20-point win over Orange that included 23 points from senior Maishe Dailey was a healthy way for the Bisons to start the season. Now they turn their attention to one of the top teams in Division IV.
Last week: Defeated Orange
First game: Dec. 2 vs. Cornerstone Christian.
5. St. Ignatius (5)
Record: 0-0
The Wildcats were off last week and should ease into the second Brian Becker era with a game on Friday against Shaw.
Last week: No game
First game: Dec. 4 at Shaw
6. Bedford (6)
Record: 0-0
No team seems to be challenging itself early like Bedford, which plays two state semifinalists from a season ago. With Garfield Heights battling injuries and St. Edward having a revamped roster, these are two games Bedford needs to win to show it is for real.
Last week: No game
First game: Dec. 1 vs. No. 1 Garfield Heights, Dec 4. at No. 13 St. Edward
7. East Tech (9)
Record: 1-0
Perhaps the best win of the opening weekend belonged to East Tech, which handled Lakota East for a 12-point win. With 22 points from Markell Johnson and stellar defense, it’s the formula the Scarabs want to use.
Last week: Defeated Lakota East
This week: Dec. 4 vs. Whitney Young
8. Lorain (8)
Record: 0-0.
The post-Devon Andrews era begins this week with two winnable games. Expect the exciting brand of basketball that had people flocking to the gym last season.
Last week: No game
This week: Dec. 1 vs. John Marshall, Dec. 4 at Vermilion
9. Cleveland Heights (7)
Record: 0-1
The Tigers had one of the tougher opening games to start the season and fell on the road to Wilmington and Mr. Basketball contender Jarron Cumberland. Now they must figure it out in another tough environment.
Last week: Lost to Wilmington
This week: Dec. 4 at Canton McKinley
10. Walsh Jesuit (10)
Record: 0-0
A couple of dangerous games await Walsh Jesuit to start the season. Euclid is desperate for a win and CVCA is one of the school’s biggest rivals.
Last week: No game
This week: Dec. 1 at Euclid, Dec. 5 vs. CVCA
11. Warrensville Heights (11)
Record: 1-0
Behind a big night from Brandon Peters, the Tigers got a tough road win over Kenston to start the season. Now a tough week ahead awaits where we’ll learn a lot abut this team.
Last week: Defeated Kenston
First game: Dec. 1 at Cleveland Central Catholic, Dec 4 vs. IDEA Academy
12. Cleveland Central Catholic (12)
Record: 0-0
It should be an electric environment on Tuesday as the team’s home game against Warrensville Heights is one of the best of the early part of the season.
Last week: No game
This week: Dec. 1 vs. No. 11 Warrensville Heights
13. St. Edward (13)
Record: 0-0
Sean Flannery and Tommy Schmock will try to give the Eagles their second-straight season-opening win against Bedford, while most of the school’s attention is focused on the football team.
Last week: No game
This week: Dec. 4 vs. No. 6 Bedford
14. Mentor (14)
Record: 0-0
One of the better games this week will be Mentor vs. Brunswick, as we’ll find out which of these two teams is most stable after many offsets changes.
Last week: No game
This week: Dec. 4 vs. No. 15 Brunswick
15. Brunswick (15)
Record: 0-0
The Blue Devils’ backcourt of Michael Quiring and Kevin Simmons is one of the best in the area to start the season.
Last week: No game
First game: Dec. 1 at Highland, Dec. 4 at No. 14 Mentor
16. Holy Name (16)
Record: 0-0
Friday will be a special night as Holy Name returns home for the first time since winning a long-sought after district title.
Last week: No game
This week: Dec. 1 at Trinity, Dec. 4 vs. Bay
17. Elyria (17)
Record: 1-0
The Pioneers did what they needed to in a 10-point win against North Ridgeville to open the season. What lies ahead is the team’s home opener against Euclid.
Last week: Defeated North Ridgeville
First game: Dec. 4 vs. Euclid
18. Stow (18)
Record: 0-0
The Bulldogs season was pushed back a week because of the football team being in the state semifinal. Now Stow opens with a home game against one of the best teams in the state.
Last week: No game
This week: Dec. 1 vs. Massillon Jackson, Dec. 4 at Wadsworth
19. Benedictine (19)
Record: 0-0
Another inactive last week, the Bengals welcome back coach Rob Stircula on Saturday.
Last week: No game
This week: Dec. 5 at Canton Central Catholic
20. Glenville (20)
Record: 0-0
After a week off, Glenville begins conference play with a road game against an improved Collinwood squad.
Last week: No game
This week: Dec. 4 at Collinwood
21. Berea-Midpark (21)
Record: 0-0
A rare three-game week to start the season for Berea-Midpark, which will have all three of those games at home.
Last week: No game
This week: Nov. 30 vs. Lincoln West, Dec. 1 vs. Lakewood, Dec. 4 vs. North Ridgeville
22. Brecksville (22)
Record: 1-0
The long ball was flying for the Bees to start the season, as they hit 13 3-pointers in a win over Bay. Now Brecksville hits the road for the first time this season.
Last week: Defeated Rhodes
First game: Dec. 1 at Strongsville, Dec. 4 vs. Cuyahoga Falls
23. North Olmsted (24)
Record: 1-0
A big second quarter advantage (28-14) propelled the Eagles to an impressive road win over Bay to start the season. Now the team tries to establish the consistency it lacked last year.
Last week: Defeated Bay
First game: Dec. 1 vs. Midview, Dec. 4 at Avon
24. Archbishop Hoban (25)
Record: 0-0
Like Stow, the Knights’ first game was pushed back for football. Expect this team to be a work in progress as those players get into basketball shape.
Last week: No game
This week: Dec. 4 at Massillon Washington
25. Villa Angela-St. Joseph (NR)
Record: 1-0
A 20-point win over Euclid to start the season quieted a tumultuous week that saw coach Babe Kwasniak take a leave of absence just two days before the season began.
Last week: Defeated Euclid
This week: Dec. 5 vs. Lake Catholic
Dropped out: Euclid