The NEO Top 25 poll: Benedictine rises to No. 3
As we reach February, the number of weeks in the regular season is dwindling. Here’s a look at the best teams in the Cleveland/Akron area (last week’s rankings in parentheses).
1. St. Vincent-St. Mary (2)
Record: 12-3
The Irish bounced back from a loss with a 21-point home win against a young Shaker Heights squad. Look for interest to pick up on junior Jayvon Graves, who has been a steady producer this past month.
Last week: Defeated Shaker Heights
This week: Feb. 2 at Archbishop Hoban, Feb. 5 at No. 3 St. Edward, Feb. 6 vs. Walnut Ridge
2. Garfield Heights (3)
Record: 14-3
The Bulldogs bounced back from their own loss last week with a 15-point win over Cornerstone Christian. The team will soon have Youngstown State commit Braun Hartfield back in the lineup.
Last week: Defeated Cornerstone Christian
This week: Feb. 2 vs. No. 6 Lorain, Feb. 6 at Hoover
3. Benedictine (8)
Record: 15-2
Senior Justin Layne has this team on a mission and has scored in double-figures in all but two games this season. There only five games left in the regular season for the Bengals in what has been a bounce back year.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 5 Archbishop Hoban, Padua and then-No. 4 St. Ignatius
This week: Feb. 5 vs. NDCL, Feb. 4 at Gilmour
4. St. Edward (2)
Record: 11-5
Junior Tommy Schmock is one of the area’s top breakout players this season and should be the leader of the future for the Eagles. St. Edward plays the No. 1 team this week as it tries to bounce back from a loss.
Last week: Defeated Cleveland Heights, lost to Toledo St. John’s Jesuit
This week: Feb. 5 vs. No. 1 St. Vincent-St. Mary, Feb. 6 vs. Euclid
5. St. Ignatius (4)
Record: 11-4
The slide might continue this week for St. Ignatius, which has the unenviable task of trying to win at Columbus Northland this weekend. A loss would give them three in their last five games.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 12 Cleveland Central Catholic, lost to then-No. 8 Benedictine
First game: Feb. 6 at Columbus Northland
6. Lorain (6)
Record: 14-2
The Titans have one of their toughest weeks of the season ahead with games against Garfield Heights and up-and-coming Maple Heights. They’ll need junior Naz Bohannon to stay hot, as he’s been one of the area’s top forwards this season.
Last week: Defeated North Ridgeville, Shaw and Toledo Scott
This week: Feb. 2 at No. 2 Garfield Heights, Feb. 5 vs. No. 24 Maple Heights
7. East Tech (7)
Record: 15-3
The Scarabs just wrapped up their third-straight perfect conference season and now head towards the conference playoffs. Junior Markell Johnson added an Ohio State offer this past weekend.
Last week: Defeated Max Hayes and Lincoln West
This week: Feb. 3 and 5 in Senate Athletic Conference tournament
8. Beachwood (9)
Record: 14-2
The Bisons got back on track after a loss by defeating Perry despite senior Maishe Dailey missing the game with an ankle injury. Senior Desmond Crosby picked up the slack with 20 points in the win.
Last week: Defeated Perry
First game: Feb. 2 at Geneva, Feb. 5 vs. Wickliffe, Feb. 6 at No. 14 Walsh Jesuit
9. Bedford (10)
Record: 13-4
The Bearcats are hot right now, as they have won nine of their last 10 games. Senior Lamont Rhodes has been a double-double machine this season.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 24 Willoughby South and Cleveland Heights
First game: Feb. 5 at Warrensville Heights
10. Archbishop Hoban (5)
Record: 13-3
The Knights could be staring a three-game losing streak in the face if they can’t beat St. Vincent-St. Mary on Tuesday. The team needs senior Anthony Christian at his best and in the lineup, as he missed a game last week.
Last week: Lost to then-No. 8 Benedictine and then-No. 15 Walsh Jesuit
This week: Feb. 2 vs. No. 1 St. Vincent-St. Mary, Feb. 5 vs. Lake Catholic
11. Cleveland Central Catholic (12)
Record: 11-5
In two wins this week, senior Terrell Beck reached the 1,000-point mark for his Ironmen career. Central Catholic has had a tough schedule but faces a relatively easy week ahead.
Last week: Defeated Warren JFK and Toledo Central Catholic, lost to then-No. 4 St. Ignatius
This week: Feb. 5 at Trinity
12. Elyria (14)
Record: 11-4
The red-hot Pioneers have a couple of tricky games on the schedule this week but have a good chance of adding to their eight-game win streak.
Last week: Defeated then-No. 12 Brunswick and Shaker Heights
First game: Feb. 2 at Vermilion, Feb. 5 vs. Mentor
13. Brunswick (12)
Record: 14-4
A tough road loss to Elyria snapped a string of great play from Brunswick. The Blue Devils have a lighter week ahead, as they only have four games left in the regular season.
Last week: Defeated Solon, lost to then-No. 14 Elyria
This week: Feb. 5 at Euclid
14. Walsh Jesuit (15)
Record: 11-5
The Warriors finally picked up the kind of win they have been looking for by knocking off Archbishop Hoban on the road. Senior Mitch Peterson was at his best in that game, as he finished with 22 points.
Last week: Defeated Lake Catholic and then-No. 5 Archbishop Hoban
This week: Feb. 5 vs. Padua, Feb. 6 vs. No. 8 Beachwood
15. Brecksville (16)
Record: 14-1
The steady play of Dan Auble has been one of many reasons that Brecksville is having such a great season. The team has allowed 60 points just once all season.
Last week: Defeated Twinsburg and Nordonia
This week: Feb. 2 at Valley Forge, Feb. 5 at North Royalton
16. Copley (17)
Record: 16-0
There are only six games that stand between Copley a perfect regular season and one of the tougher ones is Friday’s game with Highland. A big season from Larnell Nealy is one of the reasons Copley has been so good.
Last week: Defeated Revere, Tallmadge and Massillon Washington
This week: Feb. 2 vs. Wadsworth, Feb. 5 vs. Highland
17. Villa Angela-St. Joseph (18)
Record: 12-4
A big win over Lutheran East has the Vikings back on track after a rough patch in mid-January. Senior Sherman Dean III has delivered this season and had 20 points in that win.
Last week: Defeated Youngstown Valley Christian and Lutheran East
This week: Feb. 5 vs. Warren JFK, Feb. 6 at Mentor
18. Medina (13)
Record: 13-5
While some of the other Bees have struggled, senior Jon Teske has had a monster season and kept his team in a lot of games. Still, Medina can play better and has lost a few games it should have won.
Last week: Defeated Euclid, lost to Strongsville
This week: Feb. 5 vs. Shaker Heights
19. Bay (19)
Record: 13-2
A three-game week ahead should provide Bay with several different styles of play to deal with. This scoring juggernaut got a season-high 24 points from Erik Painter in Saturday’s win.
Last week: Defeated Holy Name and Clearview
This week: Feb. 2 vs. Rocky River, Feb. 5 at Normandy, Feb. 7 vs. NDCL
20. Stow (21)
Record: 13-2
A couple of tough road games lies ahead for a Stow team that has been on fire recently. Senior Nathan Bower-Malone has been the fuel to this team’s fire.
Last week: Defeated Nordonia, Massillon Perry and Twinsburg
This week: Feb. 2 at Massillon Washington, Feb. 5 at Hudson
21. Elyria Catholic (22)
Record: 12-4
The Panthers did what they needed to last week, as they won two games by a combined five points. Dorian Crutcher has a season-high 25 points in the overtime win over Holy Name.
Last week: Defeated Normandy and Holy Name
This week: Feb. 2 vs. Parma
22. Firestone (23)
Record: 11-5
Senior Raybon Lewis is one of the most underrated players in the area and is one of the main reasons why Firestone has jumped onto the radar this season. A couple of tough conferences tilts await this week.
Last week: Defeated Akron Garfield and Ellet
This week: Feb. 2 at Bechtel, Feb. 5 vs. Kenmore
23. Olmsted Falls (NR)
Record: 11-4
Although they make their Top 25 debut this week, it could be a short stay for the Bulldogs with a tough week ahead. Senior forward Kevin Meehan has packed plenty of scoring punch for the team this year.
Last week: Defeated Amherst
This week: Feb. 2 at Berea-Midpark, Feb. 5 vs. No. 25 Midview
24. Maple Heights (NR)
Record: 9-5
A win over Warrensville Heights has the Mustangs back in the Top 25 this week. A tough road game awaits on Friday, though.
Last week: Defeated Warrensville Heights
This week: Feb. 4 vs. Lincoln West, Feb. 5 at Lorain
25. Midview (NR)
Record: 12-5
Senior Jacob Wells has had a big season for Midview, which is back in the Top 25. The team has a convincing home win against Berea-Midpark this past week.
Last week: Defeated Berea-Midpark
This week: Feb. 2 at Westlake, Feb. 5 at No. 23 Olmsted Falls
Dropped out: CVCA, Willoughby South and Avon