SBLive’s Top 25 in Ohio high school boys basketball: Alter debuts after overtime win over Moeller

The Crusaders get a chance to redeem themselves this weekend with a long trip to Akron to play No. 1 St. Vincent-St. Mary.

By Sam Houseworth | Photo by Ben Jackson

Some of the best high school basketball is played in November and December, when teams have more freedom with their schedules.

This allows them to enter prestigious tournaments, welcome statewide powers to their gym (or neutral gyms when seating demand is too high), and avoid the cream puffs they may see in conference play.

Playing these big-time programs was important to improving or maintaining ratings in the early version of the all-classification SBLive Top 25 in Ohio high school boys basketball.

SBLIVE’S OHIO TOP 25

1. St. Vincent-St. Mary, Akron (0-2)

Last week: 1

The 0-2 start is a result of playing the toughest schedule not just in Ohio, but in the nation. The Fighting Irish played an overtime thriller against Pickerington North, then took a cross-country flight to Southern California to play a D-I-recruit-filled Sierra Canyon team at Staples Center. It’s too early to overreact to this start. Let's see how the Irish do in their home opener against Moeller on Saturday.

2. Gahanna Lincoln (3-0)

Last week: 4

Three wins. Three different leading scorers in each win. Despite two players going to D-I programs, Eljae Deas was the leading scorer in their most recent win against Westland. The depth of talent on this Lions team was on display throughout the first week-plus of the season. The Lions open conference play at New Albany on Friday.

3. St. Xavier, Cincinnati (1-0)

Last week: 6

Louis Semona led the way with 14 in the Bombers’ opening-weekend 51-37 win against Olentangy Liberty in the Ohio Valley Hoops Classic. St. X goes back on the road to face Purcell Marian on Friday before its home opener the following day against Hamilton.

4. Mentor (0-0)

Last week: 3

The Cardinals open the season this coming Friday at Strongsville, before coming back to Mentor for their home opener against Rhodes.

5. Archbishop Moeller, Cincinnati (3-1)

Last week: 2

The Crusaders jumped straight into the deep end, winning three of four against some of the top programs in the state over the first week-plus of the season. Penn State commit Evan Mahaffey has led the way, leading the team in points (19.5) and rebounds per game (8.8). Things don’t get any easier with Hughes and St. Vincent-St. Mary this weekend.

6. Brush, Lyndhurst (3-0)

Last week: Unranked

One week after the top girls team in Ohio took down the top girls team in Indiana, another Ohio team took down the top-ranked Indianapolis Cathedral squad. The win, paired with two earlier blowout wins against Cleveland Central Catholic and Lakewood, catapults the Arcs into the top 10 in the state.

7. St. Edward, Lakewood (2-0)

Last week: 17

Congratulations on your D-I state championship in football! The split in focus between the two big in-school teams didn’t slow down the basketball Eagles, as they dominated in their two wins in the early season. St. Edward gets DeMatha Catholic on Friday.

8. Centerville (0-0)

Last week: 9

The Elks open their season at home against Miamisburg on Tuesday, following by Beavercreek on Friday.

9. Pickerington North (3-0)

Last week: 20

The Panthers opened the season with two top 10 wins. After smoking Centennial on Tuesday, Pick North picked up statement wins against Westerville Central and No. 1 St. Vincent-St. Mary to close out the week. The Panthers face Central and Westland this week.

10. Elder, Cincinnati (2-1)

Last week: 13

After falling to defending Indiana state champion Carmel last Saturday, Elder put up two Ws against in-state competition in Western Hills and Bishop Fenwick. They will head back on the road Tuesday to face Roger Bacon.

11. Pickerington Central (1-1)

Last week: 7

The Tigers split a pair of early-season top 25 contests. In the All-Ohio Showcase, Central came away with a road win against Akron superpower Buchtel, followed by a home loss to Newark. Next up is the biggest game on the calendar: Tuesday against crosstown rival Pickerington North.

12. Westerville Central (2-1)

Last week: 10

It’s been a busy week-plus for the Warhawks. Their undefeated start to the season was interrupted by a loss to Pickerington North on Friday. Before that, Westerville Central tallied a pair of big wins against Newark and Desales. On the schedule this week: at Olentangy Orange on Tuesday before coming back home on Friday to face Grove City.

13. Newark (3-1)

Last week: 16

There is a metric ton of competition at the top of the basketball world in the 614 area code. Newark opened the season with a loss to Westerville Central, before winning three in a row against Walnut Ridge, Pickerington Central and Zanesville. The Wildcats will take the week off before picking back up on the 17th against Central Crossing.

14. Lakota East (2-0)

Last week: Unranked

A pair of double-digit wins against tough competition have garnered the attention of everybody in the Cincinnati area. An 80-54 win against Massillon Jackson followed by an 84-70 win against Hamilton showcase an offensive juggernaut that will be tough to slow down for all upcoming opponents.

15. St. John’s Jesuit, Toledo (3-0)

Last week: Unranked

Regardless of the opponents, outscoring your first three opponents by an average of 37 points is impressive. The Titans will look to continue that trend in conference play at Findlay next Friday night.

16. Westerville South (3-0)

Last week: 25

Northland, Dublin Coffman, Dublin Scioto. Win, win, win. The Wildcats started off the season red hot. They head to Big Walnut on Tuesday before coming back home to face crosstown rival Westerville North on Friday.

17. Hilliard Bradley (1-1)

Last week: 5

The Jaguars can’t say they haven’t been battle-tested early this season. On opening night, they pulled out a 54-47 win against Mason. Then this past Friday, they fell to an Upper Arlington team, 48-43, coming off a deep run in the football playoffs. Bradley will face their Hilliard brothers this week with Darby on Tuesday and Davidson on Friday.

18. Sylvania Northview (3-0)

Last week: Unranked

Blowouts have been the name of the game for Northview in the early going, as 46, 33 and 23 have been the margins of victory so far for the Wildcats. Northview will continue conference play against Bowling Green on Friday.

19. St. Francis DeSales, Columbus (2-1)

Last week: Unranked

There are no moral victories in basketball. However, a three-point loss to a loaded Westerville Central team is still a showing that proves DeSales deserves statewide respect. The wins over Trotwood-Madison and Johnstown help that cause.

20. Buchtel, Akron (0-1)

Last week: 15

An early-season loss to Pickerington Central isn’t the end of the world, especially in a true road game. Up next for the Griffs are Taft and Akron East.

21. Dublin Coffman (1-1)

Last week: 21

After an opening-weekend loss to Westerville South, the win over Olentangy Liberty was much needed for the Shamrocks. Coffman will head to Olentangy Orange on Friday, followed by a Saturday evening home game against Parkersburg South.

22. Medina (0-0)

Last week: 19

The Bees open their season this week against Lakewood on Wednesday, then Euclid on Friday.

23. Archbishop Alter (3-0)

Last week: Unranked

If you’re a fan of Alter basketball, your blood pressure needs to be checked regularly. Not only did the Knights beat Homestead on a last-second 3 a week ago, they took Moeller to overtime and came away with the W. Fighting through adversity in the early season is always good for growth over the course of the season.

24. St. Ignatius, Cleveland (1-1)

Last week: 24

A loss to the then No. 1 team in Indiana followed by a comfortable win over Gilmour Academy this past Friday. Nothing mind-blowing about either of these results. We will learn more about the Wildcats when they face Walsh Jesuit and Lutheran East this week.

25. Shawnee, Lima (4-0)

Last week: 12

The Indians, once again, won the annual Elida tip-off classic with wins over Bath and LCC. They followed it up with weekend wins over Convoy Crestview and St. Henry. Despite key losses to graduation, this team looks ready to repeat as WBL champions.

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Sam Houseworth’s complete boys basketball rankings