The NEO Top 25 poll: CVCA, Maple Heights enter mix
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. Garfield Heights (1)
Record: 8-0
A perfect start to the season has Garfield Heights sitting atop the Northeast Ohio basketball world. Senior Willie Jackson continues to dominate and is coming off of a 26-point performance.
Last week: Defeated Shaker Heights
This week: Dec. 28 at No. 2 St. Vincent-St. Mary, Jan. 3 vs. Massillon Jackson
2. St. Vincent-St. Mary (2)
Record: 5-1
Guard Jon Williams is heating up for the Irish, as he’s coming off a 22-point performance. Now the Irish battle Garfield Heights in a matchup between the area’s top teams.
Last week: Defeated Firestone
This week: Dec. 28 vs. No. 1 Garfield Heights, Dec. 31 vs. No. 7 St. Ignatius, Jan. 3 vs. No. 16 Cleveland Heights
3. Medina (3)
Record: 6-0
The quietest undefeated team in the area continues to pick up win after win. Now the Bees head to Florida to challenge themselves against other teams across the country.
Last week: Defeated Olmsted Falls
This week: Dec. 28-31 at Nature Coast Tournament in Fla., Jan. 3 vs. No. 6 St. Edward
4. Beachwood (4)
Record: 7-0
No team had a bigger statement win that Beachwood last week, which dropped Division I power St. Edward at home. Now the Bisons play two more ranked teams this week.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 7 St. Edward and Harvey.
First game: Dec. 29 at No. 22 Glenville, Jan. 3 vs. No. 15 Bedford
5. Lorain (6)
Record: 6-0
A balanced effort at home helped Lorain survive an upset bid last week from North Olmsted. Junior Naz Bohannon is looking like one of the top players in Northeast Ohio.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 18 North Olmsted
This week: Dec. 29-30 at Elyria Holiday Tournament
6. St. Edward (7)
Record: 3-1
With another 25-point game last week, guard Tommy Schmock appears to be one of the most improved players in Northeast Ohio. Now St. Edward heads to Myrtle Beach for an out-of-state tournament.
Last week: Lost to No. 4 Beachwood
This week: Dec. 28-31 at Beach Ball Classic in S.C., Jan. 3 vs. No. 3 Medina
7. St. Ignatius (5)
Record: 4-1
The Wildcats’ first loss of the season was an unexpected one and came at the hands of Louisville. They’ll need to figure out what went wrong quick with a big week ahead.
Last week: Lost to Louisville
First game: Dec. 29 vs. Warren G. Harding, Dec. 31 at No. 2 St. Vincent-St. Mary, Jan. 2 at GlenOak
8. Archbishop Hoban (9)
Record: 4-1
The guard-heavy Knights are showing great balance and had four player sin double-figures in a win against Coventry last week. They have won four games in a row.
Last week: Defeated Coventry.
This week: Dec. 29 at Akron East, Jan. 2 at Firestone
9. Walsh Jesuit (12)
Record: 5-1
With 26 points last week in a win against East Tech, senior Mitch Peterson had his best performance of the season. Only a home loss against rival Hoban stands between the Warriors and a perfect start.
Last week: Defeated John Hay, lost to then-No. 15 Archbishop Hoban
This week: Dec. 27 vs. No. 8 East Tech
10. Brunswick (10)
Record: 6-1
The Blue Devils did not play this past week and will resume action with a pair of tough games this week.
Last week: None
This week: Dec. 29 at Marysville, Jan. 3 vs. No. 11 Cleveland Central Catholic
11. Cleveland Central Catholic (11)
Record: 4-1
After a week off, three tough games lie ahead for the Ironmen.
Last week: None
This week: Dec. 29 at No. 18 Benedictine, Jan. 2 vs. Lake Catholic, Jan. 3 vs. No. 10 Brunswick
12. East Tech (8)
Record: 6-3
The Scarabs are struggling to find any scoring beyond Markell Johnson right now and will need to right the ship quickly against a similarly struggling team in Holy Name.
Last week: Lost to Dublin Jerome and then-No. 13 Walsh Jesuit
This week: Jan. 3 vs. Holy Name
13. Mentor (13)
Record: 5-2
After two wins against locals in a holiday tournament, the Cardinals fell in double overtime in their opener down in Tennessee. The balance is there as each game last week had a different leading scorer.
Last week: Defeated University School and Lake Catholic, lost to David Crockett (Tenn.)
This week: Dec. 29-31 at Arby’s Classic in Tenn.
14. North Olmsted (18)
Record: 7-1
In a near-road upset of Lorain last week, North Olmsted proved it was one of the best teams in the area. Andy Lucien and Paris Villanueva are one of the best scoring duos in the area.
Last week: Lost to then-No. 6 Lorain
First game: None
15. Bedford (13)
Record: 4-3
After winning four in a row, Bedford had another setback in a home loss to Euclid. Senior Lamont Rhodes continues to play well, though, and had 16 points in defeat.
Last week: Lost to Euclid
First game: Dec. 29 at Normandy, Jan. 3 vs. Beachwood
16. Cleveland Heights (15)
Record: 2-4
A long break will give the Tigers some time to regroup after a 2-4 start. A tough opponent waits at the end of that break.
Last week: None
This week: Jan. 3 vs. No. 2 St. Vincent-St. Mary
17. Elyria Catholic (16)
Record: 6-1
The Panthers were another team that didn’t play this past week and test themselves against Warrensville Heights this week in a Division III showdown.
Last week: None
This week: Dec. 29 vs. Warrensville Heights
18. Benedictine (17)
Record: 3-1
The Bengals picked up their third win of the season last week by squeaking by Cardinal Mooney for a two-point road victory. A busy week lies ahead with three games.
Last week: Defeated Cardinal Mooney
This week: Dec. 29 vs. No. 11 Cleveland Central Catholic, Jan. 2 at Hawken, Jan. 3 vs. Warrensville Heights
19. Villa Angela-St. Joseph (20)
Record: 5-1
This young Vikings group is coming together and now has its highest ranking of the season. Now this team has a chance to bond together with an out-of-state trip.
Last week: Defeated John Hay
This week: Dec. 28 at Fairmont Classic in W. Va.
20. Brecksville (22)
Record: 6-1
It’s all defense for Brecksville, which allowed just 33 points in a win last week against North Royalton. The Bees look for their sixth win a row this week.
Last week: Defeated Highland and Nordonia
This week: Dec. 29 at Independence
21. Copley (23)
Record: 6-0
The perfect season is still alive after Bryce Harvey gave Copley 16 points in a two-point road win against Highland. The Indians are nearly a third of the way through the season without a loss.
Last week: Defeated Highland
This week: Dec. 30 at Cloverleaf
22. Glenville (19)
Record: 3-3
Few teams have had a tougher schedule this season than Glenville, which has lost to St. Edward, East Tech and Warren G. Harding. That doesn’t change this week with a game against Beachwood.
Last week: Lost to Warren G. Harding
This week: Dec. 29 vs. No. 4 Beachwood
23. Stow (25)
Record: 5-2
Nathan Bower-Malone broke out for Stow last week, as he poured in 26 points in a win against Hudson. The Bulldogs have won two games in a row since back-to-back losses against Nordonia and Massillon Jackson.
Last week: Defeated Hudson
This week: Dec. 29 vs. Solon
24. CVCA (NR)
Record: 4-1
The Royals have won four games in a row and not allowed more than 43 points in any of those wins. A big run of victories could be on the horizon.
Last week: Defeated Triway and Woodridge
This week: Dec. 29 vs. Tuscarawas Valley
25. Maple Heights (NR)
Record: 5-3
After a 2-2 start, the Mustangs have looked a lot better and have won three of their last four games with a loss to Lorain as the only blemish. Three road games in their next four contests will show a lot about Maple Heights.
Last week: Defeated Akron Manchester and Creswtood
This week: Dec. 29 at Mayfield
Dropped out: Elyria and Ellet