Heading to February who are Southwest Ohio’s top boys’ hoop teams?
In the last Ohio media poll of January, the Elder Panthers have maintained their No. 7 ranking in the state after sweeping the season series with Moeller. The Panthers won on the road over the Crusaders last Friday, 54-48 to go to 4-0 in the Greater Catholic League South and 15-3 overall.
Elder hosts Cooper Tuesday and La Salle on Friday as they shoot for their first GCL-South outright title since 2006. They shared honors in 2007, 2015, 2016 and last season.
Fairfield dropped out of the top 10, coming in at No. 12 after losing at Princeton last Friday. It was their first defeat in the Greater Miami Conference. With a 63-35 win over Moeller Saturday, undefeated defending state champ Centerville remains the clear-cut No. 1.
In Division II, Woodward remains No. 5 at 12-3 led by Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference scoring leader Paul McMillan IV at 27.9 points per game. The Bulldogs have barn-burners at Withrow Tuesday and Taft Friday.
Taylor keeps their No. 10 ranking for a second week. The Yellowjackets are 9-0 in the Cincinnati Hills League and 15-2 overall. Taylor travels to Wyoming Tuesday and hosts Reading Friday.
In Division III, Taft goes up a spot to No. 7. The Senators are 9-5 against a tough schedule but 7-1 in the CMAC, second only to DII Woodward who gave them their lone league loss. After a home game with Western Hills Tuesday, the Senators host Woodward in a rematch Friday.
Cincinnati College Prep Academy is undefeated in the CMAC-Blue Division and 13-1 overall. CCPA did receive votes this week in Division IV and is 13th in the state. CCPA hosts Spencer Center Friday and will be at Summit Country Day Saturday.
DIVISION I
1. Centerville (19)
2. Pickerington Cent.
3. Westerville S.
4. Kettering Fairmont
5. Gahanna Lincoln
6. Lakewood St. Edward
7. Elder
8. Sylvania Northview
9. Lyndhurst Brush
10. Pickerington N.
Others receiving 12 or more points: Brecksville-Broadview Hts. 21. Fairfield 18. Lima Sr. 17.
DIVISION II
1. Akr. SVSM (9)
1. Kettering Alter (9)
3. Tol. Cent. Cath. (1)
4. Bloom-Carroll
5. Woodward
6. Cols. Beechcroft
7. Dresden Tri-Valley
8. Waverly
9. Akr. Buchtel
10. Taylor
Others receiving 12 or more points: Day. Oakwood 17. Gates Mills Gilmour 12. Plain City Jonathan Alder 12
DIVISION III
1. N. Robinson Col. Crawford (11)
2. Versailles (2)
3. Collins Western Reserve (3)
4. Ottawa-Glandorf (2)
5. Canal Winchester Harvest Prep
6. Haviland Wayne Trace
7. Taft (1)
8. Cols. Africentric
9. Swanton
10. Cle. Hts. Lutheran E.
Others receiving 12 or more points: Cols. Ready 17. Proctorville Fairland 16. New Middletown Spring. 14. Minford 12.
DIVISION IV
1. Botkins (15)
2. Antwerp
3. Tiffin Calvert (2)
4. Glouster Trimble (1)
5. New Madison Tri-Village
6. Spring. Cath. Cent.
7. Richmond Hts. (1)
8. Lucasville Valley
9. New Bremen
10. Berlin Hiland
Others receiving 12 or more points: Malvern 16. Cedarville 14. Cincinnati College Prep 13. Hannibal River 12.
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