The NEO Top 25: St. Ignatius is new 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. Ignatius (7)
Record: 7-1
The Wildcats had one of the most impressive weeks of the season as they knocked off a few state title contenders (Warren G. Harding and St. Vincent-St. Mary) and a solid GlenOak team. No team has better wins this season than St. Ignatius, and that is why the Wildcats are the new No. 1.
Last week: Defeated Warren G. Harding, No. 2 St. Vincent-St. Mary and GlenOak.
First game: Jan. 9 at Huber Heights Wayne
2. St. Vincent-St. Mary (2)
Record: 7-2
The Irish hold steady at No. 2 after beating Garfield Heights and Cleveland Heights but losing to St. Ignatius. Early this season, St. Vincent-St. Mary has shown it can beat the best teams but also allow lesser competition to hang around.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 1 Garfield Heights and then-No. 16 Cleveland Heights, lost to then-No. 7 St. Ignatius.
This week: Jan. 5 vs. No. 12 Cleveland Central Catholic
3. Garfield Heights (1)
Record: 9-1
It’s not often a win over a team as good as Massillon Jackson occurs during a week when a team drops in the rankings, but it’s hard to rank the Bulldogs above No. 3 considering they lost handily to St. Vincent-St. Mary earlier the week. That loss, though, appears to have woken up Garfield Heights.
Last week: Defeated Massillon Jackson, lost to No. 2 St. Vincent-St. Mary.
This week: Jan. 5 vs John Adams
4. Lorain (5)
Record: 7-0
One of then few unbeatens left, the Titans missed a chance to really test themselves last week against Toledo St. John’s Jesuit after the game was cancelled due to a parking lot altercation at Elyria’s holiday tournament. Still, the win over Elyria was another solid one for Lorain.
Last week: Defeated Elyria.
This week: Jan. 8 vs. No. 18 Warrensville Heights
5. St. Edward (6)
Record: 5-3
The Eagles have not played a single game against easy competition this season, so a 5-3 record to this point looks pretty good. The three losses are a 1-point road defeat to Beachwood and two defeats to state title contenders from other states during the Beach Ball Classic.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 3 Medina and East Jackson (Ga.), lost to Shadow Mountain (Az.) and Mustang (Okla.)
This week: Jan. 9 at No. 17 Villa Angela-St. Joseph
6. Archbishop Hoban (8)
Record: 6-1
Since losing their season opener, the Knights have won every single game by at least 10 points. Senior Anthony Christian is coming off a 20-point effort against Firestone.
Last week: Defeated Akron East and Firestone.
This week: Jan. 5 at Kenmore, Jan. 8 at Lake Catholic
7. Beachwood (4)
Record: 8-1
The Bisons take a tumble in the rankings after falling to an up-and-down Bedford squad over the weekend. In that loss, the usually balanced lineup of Beachwood had only two players score more than eight points.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 22 Glenville, lost to then-No. 15 Bedford
First game: Dec. 29 at No. 22 Glenville, Jan. 3 vs. No. 15 Bedford
8. Walsh Jesuit (9)
Record: 7-1
Senior Mitch Peterson is on a real roll, as he’s scored at least 23 points in each of his last three games. The Warriors have won every game outside of an overtime loss to Archbishop Hoban.
Last week: Defeated University School and Akron East
This week: Jan. 8 at Padua, Jan. 9 vs. Western Reserve Academy
9. Medina (3)
Record: 8-2
The Bees suffered their first two losses of the season this past week, including a flat performance against St. Edward on Sunday. The Bees need a little more from senior Jon Teske, who has yet to get into a consistent offensive rhythm.
Last week: Defeated Zephyrhills (Fla.) and Toledo Bowsher, lost to Lakeland (Fla) and then-No. 6 St. Edward
This week: Jan. 5 vs. No. 14 Brunswick, Jan. 8 at Shaker Heights
10. East Tech (12)
Record: 7-3
The Scarabs snapped a three-game skid with a convincing win over Holy Name on Sunday. The win saw a much-needed 26-point performance from sophomore Tyshaun Howard.
Last week: Lost to Dublin Jerome and then-No. 13 Walsh Jesuit
This week: Jan. 3 vs. Holy Name
11. Benedictine (18)
Record: 5-2
In a mess of a week for the rankings, the craziest thing to happen is Benedictine jumping seven spots despite a week that included a loss. But the Bengals’ win earlier in the week against Cleveland Central Catholic means they are still among the area’s best.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 11 Cleveland Central Catholic and Hawken, lost to Warrensville Heights
This week: Jan. 8 at NDCL
12. Cleveland Central Catholic (11)
Record: 6-2
After a tough road loss to Benedictine, the Ironmen bounced back with two quality wins. Senior Tervell Beck is having a monster season and scored 24 points in the win over Brunswick.
Last week: Defeated Lake Catholic and then-No. 10 Brunswick, lost to the-No. 18 Benedictine
This week: Dec. 29 at No. 18 Benedictine, Jan. 2 vs. Lake Catholic, Jan. 3 vs. No. 10 Brunswick
13. Bedford (15)
Record: 7-3
A three-win week, including an upset over Beachwood, has Bedford playing some of its best basketball of the season. Senior Lamont Rhodes is perhaps the most underrated player in the area.
Last week: Defeated Normandy, North Royalton and then-No. 3 Beachwood
First game: Jan. 8 vs. Shaw
14. Brunswick (10)
Record: 7-2
The last four games for the Blue Devils have been decided by six points or less with Brunswick splitting those decisions. Zach Cebula and Kevin Simmons have led a balance attack this season.
Last week: Defeated Marysville, lost to then-No. 11 Cleveland Central Catholic
This week: Jan. 5 at No. 9 Medina, Jan. 8 vs. Euclid
15. North Olmsted (14)
Record: 7-1
The Eagles are back in action after a full week off from the schedule.
Last week: None
First game: Jan. 5 vs. Berea-Midpark, Jan. 8 at Olmsted Falls
16. Mentor (13)
Record: 7-3
The Cardinals are one of the area’s tougher teams to figure out, as their best work has come in out of the state and have not played a ranked local team since the season-opener. Now things should begin to heat up for Mentor.
Last week: Defeated Dobyns Bennett (Tenn.) and Gate City (Va.), lost to Father Henry Carr (Can.)
This week: Jan. 5 at Solon, Jan. 8 vs. Elyria
17. Villa Angela-St. Joseph (19)
Record: 7-1
Two wins in West Virginia have pushed the Vikings’ win streak to five games. Senior Sherman Dean III averaged 17.5 ppg in those victories.
Last week: Defeated Jefferson (W. Va) and Fairmount Senior (W. Va.)
This week: Jan. 8 vs Warren JFK, Jan. 9 vs. No. 5 St. Edward
18. Warrensville Heights (NR)
Record: 4-5
With senior Yavari Hall healthy, the Tigers are a different team and just knocked off two ranked opponents. Hall averaged 17.5 ppg in those wins for Warrensville Heights.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 17 Elyria Catholic and then-No. 18 Benedictine
This week: Jan. 8 at No. 4 Lorain, Jan. 9 vs. Rhodes
19. Cleveland Heights (16)
Record: 2-5
A closely contested loss to St. Vincent-St. Mary is nothing to get down about, but the Tigers need to start winning games to validate the talent on the roster. The schedule doesn’t get any easier this week.
Last week: Lost to No. 2 St. Vincent-St. Mary
This week: Jan. 8 at Maple Heights, Jan. 9 at Warren G. Harding
20. Brecksville (20)
Record: 7-1
The Bees had 14 players score in a win over Independence last week. The victory is the team’s sixth in a row.
Last week: Defeated Highland and Nordonia
This week: Jan. 5 at Wadsworth, Jan. 8 vs. No. 24 Stow
21. Copley (21)
Record: 7-0
The Indians are inching their way up the rankings this season with their one-sided conference wins. They should pick up another two wins this week.
Last week: Defeated Cloverleaf
This week: Jan. 5 at Aurora, Jan. 8 vs. Kent Roosevelt
22. Elyria Catholic (17)
Record: 6-2
A 10-point home loss to Warrensville Heights means a slide down the rankings this week for the Panthers. Senior Jake Kuchta has at least 20 points in three of his last four games.
Last week: Lost to Warrensville Heights
This week: Jan. 5 at Rocky River, Jan. 8 vs. Bay, Jan. 9 at Brookside
23. Glenville (22)
Record: 3-4
A brutal schedule leaves the Tarblooders one win under an even record as they head into 2016. Sophomore Christian Guess has the tools to help his team rise to the next level.
Last week: Lost to then-No. 4 Beachwood
This week: Jan. 8 vs. John Adams
24. Stow (23)
Record: 5-2
The Bulldogs have won three games in a row after losing to Massillon Jackson. Three road games ahead should test how good Stow really is.
Last week: Defeated Solon
This week: Jan. 5 at Cuyahoga Falls, Jan. 8 at No. 20 Brecksville, Jan. 9 at Firestone
25. CVCA (24)
Record: 5-1
The Royals have allowed a total of 60 points in their last two games. That defense will be tested again this week to keep the roll going.
Last week: Defeated Tuscarawas Valley
This week: Jan. 5 at Fairless, Jan. 8 at Tuslaw
Dropped out: Maple Heights