The NEO Top 25 poll: St. Vincent-St. Mary back at No. 1
Another week of the boys basketball season is in the books, and there’s plenty to discuss for the 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. St. Vincent-St. Mary (2)
Record: 11-3
With the top three teams losing this past week, there was no clear No. 1, but the Irish simply have the best overall resume to this point of the season. St. Vincent-St. Mary has won five of its last six games and has not allowed an opponent to score 60 points in the their last four games.
Last week: Lost to New Concord John Glenn
This week: Jan. 30 vs. Shaker Heights
2. St. Edward (2)
Record: 10-4
With their thrilling win over St. Ignatius, the Eagles are at their highest point of the season right now. Tenacious defense coupled with a roster deep with outside shooting has allowed St. Edward to defy expectations this season,
Last week: Defeated then-No. 1 St. Ignatius and Green
This week: Jan. 26 vs. Cleveland Heights, Jan. 30 at Toledo St. John’s Jesuit
3. Garfield Heights (3)
Record: 13-3
With two of the team’s three losses coming to national powers, Garfield Heights would be staring at just one defeat if it played a little easier schedule. Senior Frankie Hughes has been steady this year and scored 17 points against La Lumiere (Ind.).
Last week: Defeated then-No. 10 Cleveland Central Catholic, lost to La Lumber (Ind.)
This week: Jan. 29 vs. Cornerstone Christian
4. St. Ignatius (1)
Record: 10-3
The Wildcats fall this week, as they are not playing particularly well in 2016. The team is just 4-2 during that stretch and has even struggled in some of their victories.
Last week: Defeated Berea-Midpark, lost to then-No. 4 St. Edward
First game: Jan. 26 vs. No. 12 Cleveland Central Catholic, Jan. 30 at No. 8 Benedictine
5. Archbishop Hoban (5)
Record: 13-1
The best one-loss team out there hasn’t been tested much this season, but that should change with three games in a row against ranked teams. Wins in those games would give the Knights a serious case for an even higher ranking.
Last week: Defeated Western Reserve Academy and Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin
This week: Jan. 26 at No. 8 Benedictine, Jan. 29 vs. No. 15 Walsh Jesuit
6. Lorain (7)
Record: 11-2
All is again well for Lorain, which again has a healthy roster and picked up back-to-back quality wins. The Titans now hit a softer part of their schedule before a brutal finish.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 12 Medina and then-No. 23 Cleveland Heights
This week: Jan. 26 vs. North Ridgeville, Jan. 29 at Shaw, Jan. 30 vs. Toledo Scott
7. East Tech (8)
Few teams picked up a bigger win this past week than East Tech, which showed in a home victory over Beachwood that the Scarabs were still legit threats in Division II. East Tech has now won 28-straight home games and will play just one more this regular season.
Last week: Defeated Cleveland MLK, John Marshall and then-No. 6 Beachwood
This week: Jan. 26 at Max Hayes, Jan. 29 at Lincoln West
8. Benedictine (9)
Record: 12-2
The toughest week of the season lies ahead with games against Archbishop Hoban and St. Ignatius looming ahead. Senior Justin Layne is ending his basketball career on a high note as the team’s leading scorer.
Last week: Defeated Revere, then-No. 14 Walsh Jesuit and Holy Name
This week: Jan. 26 vs. No. 5 Archbishop Hoban, Jan. 29 at Padua, Jan. 30 vs. No. 4 St. Ignatius
9. Beachwood (6)
Record: 13-2
Following the loss to East Tech, the Bisons must rebound this week with a tough road game against a conference opponent ahead. The Bisons have allowed at least 70 points three times this season and lost two of those games.
Last week: Defeated West Geauga, lost to then-No. 8 East Tech
First game: Jan. 29 at Perry
10. Bedford (11)
Record: 11-4
After a long, tumultuous few months, Bedford is finally back in the Top 10. The short will be stay unless the Bearcats can beat a few teams desperate for a big win to add to their resume.
Last week: Defeated Maple Heights
First game: Jan. 26 vs No. 24 Willoughby South, Jan. 29 at Cleveland Heights
11. Cleveland Central Catholic (12)
Record: 9-4
A double-digit road loss to Garfield Heights is not anything to be down about, but the Ironmen are still lacking a truly big win this season. Senior Terrell Beck has excelled regardless of opponent, as he has at least 17 points in every game this season.
Last week: Defeated Youngstown Valley Christian, lost to No. 3 Garfield Heights
This week: Jan. 26 at No. 4 St. Ignatius, Jan. 29 vs. Warren JFK, Jan. 30 vs. Canton Central Catholic
12. Brunswick (13)
Record: 13-3
Quietly, Brunswick added a few more quality wins this week by beating Mentor and Walsh Jesuit. The Blue Devils have now six games in a row.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 22 Mentor and then-No. 14 Walsh Jesuit.
This week: Jan. 26 at No. 14 Elyria, Jan. 29 vs Solon
13. Medina (12)
Record: 12-4
After a shaky few weeks, Medina enters a softer part of its schedule with three games against unranked teams. The Bees are just 4-3 in their last seven games.
Last week: Defeated Solon, lost to then-No. 7 Lorain.
This week: Jan. 26 at Strongsville, Jan. 29 vs. Euclid
14. Elyria (15)
Record: 9-4
Senior Blake Furcron stayed hot this week, as he poured in 30 points in a win over Euclid. The Pioneers can continue to move up the poll with two wins this week.
Last week: Defeated Euclid
First game: Jan. 26 vs. No. 12 Brunswick, Jan. 29 at Shaker Heights
15. Walsh Jesuit (14)
Record: 9-5
A tough luck loser this season, Walsh Jesuit’s last four losses have included an overtime defeat, a three-point loss, a two-point loss and a one-point loss. They need a win on Friday against their biggest rival, Archbishop Hoban.
Last week: Lost to then-No. 9 Benedictine and then-No. 13 Brunswick
This week: Jan. 26 vs. Lake Catholic, Jan. 29 at No. 5 Archbishop Hoban
16. Brecksville (17)
Record: 12-1
Only a one-point loss to Strongsville stands between Brecksville and a perfect season to this point. With a couple of home games on the schedule this week, it would be surprising to see Brecksville lose.
Last week: Defeated Cuyahoga Falls
This week: Jan. 26 vs. Twinsburg, Jan. 29 vs. Nordonia
17. Copley (18)
Record: 13-0
After a pair of wins last week, Copley is now just nine victories away from a perfect regular season. The Indians only play three more road games this year — two of which come this week.
Last week: Defeated Woodridge and Barberton
This week: Jan. 26 vs. Revere, Jan. 29 at Tallmadge, Jan. 30 at Massillon Washington
18. Villa Angela-St. Joseph (16)
Record: 10-4
Senior Sherman Dean III continues to play well and is coming of a 16-point performance in a win over Cornerstone Christian. However, after an 8-2 start, the team is just 2-2 in their last four games.
Last week: Defeated Cornerstone Christian, lost to St. Thomas Aquinas
This week: Jan. 29 vs. Youngstown Valley Christian, Jan. 30 vs. Lutheran East
19. Bay (20)
Record: 11-2
A tough week for Bay lies ahead as it faces Holy Name and Clearview, both of which are dangerous teams that can score. Senior John Koz will need to stay at a high level to avoid an upest.
Last week: Defeated Vermilion and Lakewood
This week: Jan. 26 vs. Holy Name, Jan. 30 vs. Clearview
20. CVCA (21)
Record: 10-2
The Royals continue to pile up victories and have a chance to get to 10 games over .500 with a pair of contests this week. CVCA has won 10 of its last 11 games.
Last week: Defeated Indian Valley and Triway
This week: Jan. 26 vs. Gilmour, Jan. 29 at Tuscarawas Valley
21. Stow (NR)
Record: 10-2
The highest new team in this week’s poll, Stow has three games in four days this week. The Bulldogs have won four in a row since falling to Brockville.
Last week: Defeated Green and Wadsworth
This week: Jan. 26 vs. Nordonia, Jan. 27 vs. Massillon Perry, Jan. 29 at Twinsburg
22. Elyria Catholic (NR)
Record: 10-4
The Panthers are back in the poll despite losing two of their last five games. Senior Jake Kuchta has at least 20 points in six games this season.
Last week: Defeated Columbia
This week: Jan. 26 at Normandy, Jan. 29 at Holy Name
23. Firestone (NR)
Record: 9-5
The leader of the Akron City Series is Firestone, and now the Falcons are in the Top 25 for the first time this season. A showdown with Ellet on Friday means the stay could be brief.
Last week: Defeated Akron East and Akron North
This week: Jan. 26 at Akron Garfield, Jan. 29 vs. Ellet
24. Willoughby South (NR)
Record: 8-5
The Rebels have one of their toughest weeks of the season ahead with games against No. 10 Bedford and Brush. Their stay in the Top 25 could also be brief.
Last week: Defeated Kenston
This week: Jan. 26 at No. 10 Bedford, Jan. 29 vs. Brush
25. Avon (NR)
Record: 10-5
The Eagles are in the Top 25 after winning five of their last six games. The duo of Delshawn Orr and Damantie Thornton has been impressive this year.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 19 North Olmsted and then-No. 25 Midview
This week: Jan. 26 at Highland, Jan. 29 vs. Westlake
Dropped out: North Olmsted, Mentor, Cleveland Heights, Orange and Midview