The NEO Top 25 poll: Beachwood up to No. 2
There is only one week of the regular season remaining. 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: 17-3
The undisputed No. 1 team has quite a stable of playmakers led by Henry Baddley, Jayvon Graves and Jon Williams. The Irish have lost just once since the calendar changed to 2016.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 16 Walsh Jesuit and then-No. 22 Warrensville Heights
This week: Feb. 16 at North Canton Hoover, Feb. 19 at Canton McKinley
2. Beachwood (8)
Record: 19-2
This is what we talk about when we say seizing an opportunity, as Beachwood jumped to No. 2 after earning a road win over Garfield Heights. Only one more test remains before the regular season concludes.
Last week: Defeated Orange and then-No. 2 Garfield Heights
First game: Feb. 18 at Harvey
3. Garfield Heights (2)
Record: 17-4
Even with the loss to Beachwood, senior Willie Jackson continues to play at a high level and is one of the top candidates for the state’s Player of the Year award. The Bulldogs have one last battle before the regular season ends.
Last week: Defeated JFK, lost to then-No. 8 Beachwood
This week: Feb. 17 vs. No. 5 St. Ignatius
4. Benedictine (3)
Record: 18-2
The Bengals have maybe their toughest week of the season ahead with road games against St. Edward and Walsh Jesuit. They have lost once since Dec. 11.
Last week: Defeated Lake Catholic
This week: Feb. 16 at No. 6 St. Edward, Feb. 19 at No. 15 Walsh Jesuit
5. St. Ignatius (4)
Record: 14-5
The Wildcats’ stacked schedule led to a casualty this week, as they fell to Massillon Jackson. Now they finish their season with two games against top-6 teams.
Last week: Defeated Glenville and Cleveland Heights, lost to Massillon Jackson
First game: Feb. 17 at No. 3 Garfield Heights, Feb. 20 vs. No. 6 St. Edward
6. St. Edward (5)
Record: 13-6
The Eagles have the toughest remaining schedule in the area with two games against top-5 teams left. They are coming off a trouncing of Cleveland Central Catholic.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 10 Cleveland Central Catholic
This week: Feb. 16 vs. No. 4 Benedictine, Feb. 20 at No. 5 St. Ignatius
7. East Tech (6)
Record: 17-3
The Scarabs finish up their regular season with two tricky games against hungry teams losing for a big win. East Tech did not play last week.
Last week: No game
This week: Feb. 16 vs. Lutheran East, Feb. 17 at Warrensville Heights
8. Lorain (7)
Record: 17-3
Junior Naz Bohannon fueled a big week for Lorain with his share of noteworthy dunks. The Titans will wrap up the Lake Erie League title with a win this week.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 22 Warresville Heights and then-No. 11 Bedford
This week: Feb. 19 vs. Cleveland Heights
9. Archbishop Hoban (9)
Record: 16-4
The Knights have a couple of winnable games left that could give them a chance to end the regular season on a hot streak. They have won three games in a row after a three-game losing streak.
Last week: Defeated Canton Central Catholic and Padua
This week: Feb. 16 at Tuslaw, Feb. 18 vs. NDCL
10. Brunswick (13)
Record: 17-4
Brunswick has locked up the league title and just has a date with Shaker Heights before the regular season ends. It’s a balanced attack, as three Brunswick players have at least 250 points this season.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 15 Medina and Strongsville
This week: Feb. 19 vs. Shaker Heights
11. Copley (14)
Record: 20-0
Copley is the first team in the area to 20 wins and now has a chance to wrap up a perfect regular season. Game with Kent Roosevelt and Green stand in the way.
Last week: Defeated Akron North and Aurora
This week: Feb. 16 at Kent Roosevelt, Feb. 19 vs. Green
12. Cleveland Central Catholic (10)
Record: 14-6
It was a mixed bag of a week, as the Ironmen grabbed two quality wins but got trounced by St. Edward. They have a chance to earn a season sweep of VASJ this weekend.
Last week: Defeated Elyria Catholic and St. Thomas Aquinas, lost to then-No. 5 St. Edward
This week: Feb. 19 at Youngstown Valley Christina, Feb. 20 at No. 14 Villa Angela-St. Joseph
13. Bedford (11)
Record: 14-6
Two dangerous home games against Elyria Catholic and Maple Heights stand on the schedule for Bedford. The Bearcats came up short last week on the road against Lorain.
Last week: Defeated Shaw, lost to then-No. 7 Lorain
First game: Feb. 17 vs. Elyria Catholic, Feb. 19 vs. Maple Heights
14. Villa Angela-St. Joseph (17)
Record: 15-5
The Vikings are at their highest ranking of the season after a two-win week. Kevin Roberts had 16 points in the team’s win over Trinity last week.
Last week: Defeated Gilmour and Trinity
This week: Feb. 19 vs. St. Thomas Aquinas, Feb. 20 vs. No. 12 Cleveland Central Catholic
15. Walsh Jesuit (16)
Record: 13-7
The Warriors held their own against St. Vincent-St. Mary and bounced back with a win over NDCL last week. Senior Mitch Peterson is having one of the best seasons in the area.
Last week: Defeated NDCL, lost to St. Vincent-St. Mary
This week: Feb. 19 vs. No. 4 Benedictine
16. Medina (15)
Record: 15-6
It was a mixed bag week for Medina, which beat Elyria but lost to Brunswick. A tricky road game with Mentor is the last remaining one on the regular season schedule.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 12 Elyria, lost to then-No. 13 Brunswick
This week: Feb. 19 at No. 24 Mentor
17. Midview (19)
Record: 16-5
Jacob Wells continues to stay hot, as Midview is in a three-way tie for first in the conference. The team added two conference wins last week.
Last week: Defeated Lakewood and Avon Lake
This week: Feb. 16 at North Ridgeville
18. Elyria (12)
Record: 13-6
After a hot streak, Elyria struggled this past week, partly because of a lack of scoring support for Blake Furcron. The team dropped two games, including a home loss to Strongsville.
Last week: Lost to Strongsville and then-No. 15 Medina
First game: Feb. 19 vs. Solon
19. Brecksville (18)
Record: 16-3
Behind 17 points from Jared Bazil, Brockville edged Wadsworth last week. The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Bees.
Last week: Defeated Wadsworth, lost to Canton McKinley
This week: Feb. 16 at No. 23 Stow, Feb. 19 vs. No. 20 Hudson
20. Hudson (20)
Record: 16-4
The Explorers will show just how good they are with a season finale against No. 19 Brecksville. Zack Meder has been a leader for Hudson.
Last week: Defeated Highland and Twinsburg
This week: Feb. 16 at Wadsworth, Feb. 19 at No. 19 Brecksville
21. Bay (23)
Record: 16-3
It won’t be easy in the final week for Bay, which has games against Elyria Catholic, Parma and Olmsted Falls left. The Rockets have not lost at home since their season opener.
Last week: Defeated Valley Forge and Lutheran West
This week: Feb. 16 vs. Elyria Catholic, Feb. 19 at Parma, Feb. 20 at Olmsted Falls
22. Coventry (24)
Record: 17-3
Coventry has been playing well, but Tuesday’s game against Alliance will be a good test to see just how good they are. Coventry is a on a seven-game winning streak.
Last week: Defeated Western Reserve Academy and Akron Springfield
This week: Feb. 16 vs. Alliance, Feb. 19 at Norton
23. Stow (25)
Record: 16-4
The Bulldogs bounced back from a loss to Hudson with two wins this past week. Now a showdown with Brecksville looms.
Last week: Defeated Barberton and Cuyahoga Falls
This week: Feb. 16 vs. No. 19 Brecksville, Feb. 19 at North Royalton
24. Mentor (NR)
Record: 12-9
Mentor is playing some of its best basketball of the season but still needs to pass its last test — a home game against Medina. The Cardinals are on a three-game win streak.
Last week: Defeated Solon and Shaker Heights
This week: Feb. 19 vs. No. 16 Medina
25. North Olmsted (NR)
Record: 15-5
Senior Andy Lucien has been the rock that North Olmsted has needed to finish their season strong. The Eagles should be able to earn wins in their final two games.
Last week: Defeated Berea-Midpark and Olmsted Falls
This week: Feb. 16 at Avon Lake, Feb. 19 vs. Buckeye
Dropped out: Maple Heights and Warrensville Heights