The NEO Top 25 poll: St. Vincent-St. Mary finishes No. 1
The regular season is complete and the playoffs are upon us. Here’s a look at the top teams in the Cleveland/Akron area (last week’s ranking in parentheses).
1. St. Vincent-St. Mary (1)
Record: 19-3
The regular season champions in Northeast Ohio capped their season by winning eight games in a row, including a road victory over Canton McKinley last Friday. Now the Irish have some unfinished business after losing in the regional round.
Last week: Defeated North Canton Hoover and Canton McKinley
First playoff game: Feb. 23 vs. Field
2. Beachwood (2)
Record: 20-2
If Beachwood can get through a tough district, it probably has the best chance of any team in the state to win it all. The trio of Tyrone Gibson, Desmond Crosby and Maishe Dailey has been phenomenal this season.
Last week: Defeated Harvey
First playoff game: Feb. 26 vs. Wickliffe/Independence
3. Garfield Heights (3)
Record: 18-4
The Bulldogs are the best Division I local team in a loaded field heading into March. Seniors Willie Jackson and Frankie Hughes will be on a mission to make it back to Columbus.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 5 St. Ignatius
First playoff game: Feb. 28 vs. Shaker Heights/John Adams
4. St. Ignatius (5)
Record: 15-6
In the final week of the regular season, St. Ignatius showed that it’s right there with everyone else in Division I, as it beat St. Edward but lost to Garfield Heights. Keep an eye on junior Matt Davet in the postseason as a breakout player.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 6 St. Edward, lost to No. 3 Garfield Heights
First playoff game: Feb. 24 vs. Lincoln West
5. St. Edward (6)
Record: 14-7
Few teams are more balanced than St. Edward, which has about half a dozen players that could creep towards 20 points on a given night. The Eagles should be a lock to make the district final round.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 4 Benedictine, lost to then-No. 5 St. Ignatius
First playoff game: Feb. 27 vs. John Marshall/Valley Forge
6. Benedictine (4)
Record: 18-4
It wasn’t an ideal finish to the regular season for Benedictine, as the Bengals lost their final two games. Still, led by Justin Layne, this team can turn it around fast.
Last week: Lost to then-No. 6 St. Edward and then-No. 15 Walsh Jesuit
First playoff game: Feb. 26 vs. Woodridge/Revere
7. East Tech (7)
Record: 19-3
New to Division II, East Tech will have as good a shot as any to make it out of the tough Stow district. The Scarabs finished the regular season with wins in the final 13 games.
Last week: Defeated Lutheran East and Warrensville Heights
First playoff game: Feb. 23 vs. Ravenna
8. Lorain (8)
Record: 18-3
A season after making it to the regional round, the Titans have the tools to make it at least that far again this year. They were tested in their final game but survived in overtime against a dangerous Cleveland Heights squad.
Last week: Defeated Cleveland Heights
First playoff game: Feb. 24 vs. Avon Lake
9. Brunswick (10)
Record: 18-4
Brunswick won its final five games and locked up the Greater Cleveland Conference title. The Blue Devils will be one of the toughest outs in Division I this March.
Last week: Defeated Shaker Heights
First playoff game: Feb. 27 vs. Highland/Cuyahoga Falls
10. Copley (11)
Record: 22-0
The lone unbeaten in Northeast Ohio did so in dominating fashion, as Copley was rarely tested during the regular season. Senior guard Larnell Nealy is one of the area’s most explosive players.
Last week: Defeated Kent Roosevelt and Green
First playoff game: Feb. 24 vs. Akron East
11. Walsh Jesuit (15)
Record: 14-7
One of the biggest postseason sleepers in the area is Walsh Jesuit, which has beaten East Tech and Benedictine this season. A potential Saturday matchup with Medina might be the best sectional game in the state.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 4 Benedictine
First playoff game: Feb. 27 vs. No. 16 Medina/Akron North
12. Archbishop Hoban (9)
Record: 17-5
Another team from that tough Copley district, the Knights will need to recapture their early season form to survive the bracket. This will be the swan song for talented senior guard Anthony Christian.
Last week: Defeated NDCL, lost to Tuslaw
First playoff game: Feb. 27 vs. Firestone/Nordonia
13. Bedford (13)
Record: 16-6
It might have flown under the radar a bit, but Bedford’s wins over Elyria Catholic and Maple Heights this past week were both high-quality showings for the Bearcats. Senior Lamont Rhodes scored in double-figures in all but two games this season.
Last week: Defeated Elyria Catholic and Maple Heights
First playoff game: Feb. 27 vs. John Hay/Aurora
14. Cleveland Central Catholic (12)
Record: 15-7
Senior Terrell Beck is entering the last stretch of his career as an Ironman, and few players in Northeast Ohio have had a better four years. He’ll need to get his team refocused for the postseason after a lopsided loss to Villa Angela-St. Joseph to close the regular season.
Last week: Defeated Youngstown Valley Christian, lost to then-No. 14 Villa Angela-St. Joseph.
First playoff game: Feb. 26 vs. Crestwood/University School
15. Villa Angela-St. Joseph (14)
Record: 17-5
The Vikings have not entered many district tournaments in recent memory when they weren’t the favorite, but that’s the case this year with Beachwood as the No. 1 seed. Senior Sherman Dean III will be on a mission to keep the Vikings’ district streak going.
Last week: Defeated St. Thomas Aquinas and then-No. 12 Cleveland Central Catholic
First playoff game: Feb. 26 vs. Kirtland/Lutheran West
16. Medina (16)
Record: 16-6
Senior Jon Teske has been one of the consistent players in Northeast Ohio all season long and needs to keep it going just a few more weeks. The Bees wrapped up the season with some quality wins against Elyria and Mentor.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 24 Mentor
First playoff game: Feb. 24 vs. Akron North
17. Midview (17)
Record: 17-5
Few teams will have more motivation in the postseason than Midview, which will be playing for retiring coach Troy DiFranco. Senior Jacob Wells has been playing well lately and will likely continue that in the postseason.
Last week: Defeated North Ridgeville
First playoff game: Feb. 27 vs. Avon/Berea-Midpark
18. Brecksville (19)
Record: 18-3
Dan Auble led the charge for Brecksville this past week, as it picked up wins over two ranked teams. The Bees only lost two games over the final two months.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 23 Stow and then-No. 20 Hudson
First playoff game: Feb. 27 vs. Rhodes/Lakewood
19. Elyria (18)
Record: 14-6
After losing two games in a row, Elyria bounced back with a win over Solon to close the regular season. Keep an eye on senior Blake Furcron, as he is not only trying to lead Elyria deep in March but also still an unsigned D1 type talent.
Last week: Defeated Solon
First playoff game: Feb. 27 vs. North Ridgeville/Westlake
20. Coventry (22)
Record: 19-3
Senior Bryce Hargrove has Coventry rolling right now, as this is one of the biggest sleepers teams in the Division II field. Few wins this past week were more impressive than Coventry knocking off Alliance.
Last week: Defeated Alliance and Norton
First playoff game: Feb. 26 vs. Marlington
21. Bay (21)
Record: 19-3
Don’t overlook the season of John Koz, who was one of the top scorers in Northeast Ohio. He has a good chance to help lead Bay to the regional round.
Last week: Defeated Elyria Catholic, Parma and Olmsted Falls
First playoff game: Feb. 26 vs. Brookside
22. Hudson (20)
Record: 17-5
It won’t be an easy postseason for Hudson, which finds itself in the loaded Copley district. Still, if Zack Meder and the rest of the Explorers can find enough offensive firepower, this is a team that can do damage.
Last week: Defeated Wadsworth, lost to then-No. 19 Brecksville
First playoff game: Feb. 27 vs. No. 24 Stow/Wadsworth
23. North Olmsted (25)
Record: 17-5
The Eagles are playing well and finished the regular season by winning their final five games. Their reward, though, is one of the toughest sectional semifinal games out there — at home against Strongsville.
Last week: Defeated Avon Lake and Buckeye
First playoff game: Feb. 24 vs. Strongsville
24. Stow (23)
Record: 17-5
A big season from Nathan Bower-Malone has Stow looking dangerous come tournament time. Still, their stay might be short if the Bulldogs can’t upset Hudson in the sectional final.
Last week: Defeated North Royalton, lost to then-No. 19 Brecksville
First playoff game: Feb. 24 vs. Wadsworth
25. Mentor (24)
Record: 12-10
Despite an up-and-down season, Mentor might be the best team in the Euclid district. Andrew Robinson was the top scorer for this balanced Cardinals squad.
Last week: Lost to then-No. 16 Medina
First playoff game: Feb 24. vs Lakeside