SBLive’s Top 25 in Ohio high school girls basketball: Sheridan jumps 17 spots into the top 10

By Sam Houseworth | Photo by Gabe Haferman

Not nearly as much movement in the rankings as there was a week ago.

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The top four do minimal shuffling while this week’s top 10 features eight teams that were in there last week.

As teams get some more resume boosters in before the holidays, let’s see who else joined the ranks of the all-classification SBLive Top 25, including a small school that only locals can correctly pronounce.

SBLIVE’S OHIO TOP 25

1. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (5-0)

Last week: 1

The Cougars played their closest game of the season this past week: an 11-point win over Ursuline Academy on Thursday. Afterward, they headed to Indianapolis to post another out-of-state W against North Central, 62-46. Kesha Francisco led the way with 21 points against North Central.

2. Reynoldsburg (4-1)

Last week: 2

Coming back with a vengeance after their out-of-state loss, the Lady Raiders earned a big top 10 win against Pickerington Central, 67-51, on Tuesday, followed by a 70-21 steamrolling at Groveport-Madison on Friday. The schedule doesn’t get any easier as the Lady Raiders welcome top 10 opponent Newark to town on Friday.

3. Archbishop Hoban, Akron (4-0)

Last week: 4

The wins keep getting bigger for the Knights. Hoban ended last weekend with a 68-17 win over Kenmore-Garfield, followed by a Saturday victory against Gilmour Academy, 77-46. The Knights stay at home this week for games against Lutheran East on Wednesday and CVCA on Saturday.

4. Fort Loramie (4-0)

Last week: 3

The Lady Skins were again dominant in a pair of Shelby County contests this week, defeating Jackson Center 58-14 and Anna 49-25. Loramie will be on the road this week with a conference game at Botkins on Thursday and a nonconference game at Minster on Saturday.

5. Dublin Coffman (3-1)

Last week: 15

Much better showing for the Shamrocks in Week 2 of this young season. Coffman dismantled Hilliard Bradley 65-28 on Tuesday, followed by a comfortable 52-36 win over Olentangy Liberty. The Shamrocks are back Friday when they host Olentangy Orange.

6. Princeton, Cincinnati (4-0)

Last week: 6

The Lady Vikings kept the momentum from a strong opening week, going 2-0 in Greater Miami Conference play with road wins against Lakota West and Middletown. Conference play continues at home this week with contests against Oak Hills and Fairfield on Wednesday and Saturday.

7. Notre Dame Academy, Toledo (1-0)

Last week: 9

No games this past week. Next contest is Thursday against Clay, followed by a game at Homestead on Saturday.

8. Sheridan, Thornville (2-1)

Last week: 25

We told you the opening-weekend loss to Mount Notre Dame was nothing to panic over. The Lady Generals are just crushing it with a pair of 40-plus-point wins this past week against Maysville and River View.

9. Pickerington Central (2-2)

Last week: 8

Losses to Reynoldsburg and Newark don’t knock the Lady Tigers down much given the prestige of their opponents. They will look to pick up the pieces Friday when they host Central Crossing.

10. Newark (3-2)

Last week: 5

After a disappointing showing at the Journey To The Tourney, the Wildcats brought out the claws, taking down Lancaster and Pickerington Central in convincing fashion. They will have their work cut out for them Friday when they head to No. 2 Reynoldsburg.

11. Russia (4-1)

Last week: Unranked

First, it’s pronounced “ROO-shee.” The Raiders caught lightning in a bottle this past week, storming over Houston and Fairlawn in a pair of dominant performances. Their only loss of the season comes against defending D-IV champion Fort Loramie, while they hold an opening night win against Sidney that flew under the radar.

12. Tri-Village, New Madison (3-1)

Last week: 18

74-19 was the final in Tri-Village’s win over Tri-County North on Thursday. That’s the summary. That is all anybody needs to know.

13. Mason (2-1)

Last week: 20

The Comets split their early December games, falling to Lakota East 55-50, then bouncing back with a big 61-19 win over Fairfield. The schedule stays tough with Lakota West and Oak Hills on the agenda this week.

14. Tecumseh, New Carlisle (2-0)

Last week: 13

The long layoff between games didn’t hinder the Arrows. Tecumseh, with a 70-30 win over Indian Lake last Wednesday, moves the team to 2-0 on the season.

15. Ottawa-Glandorf (2-0)

Last week: 22

The Titans opened their season with league play, a 78-51 win over Kenton on Thursday, followed by a 76-46 blowout of Sherwood Fairview. If there was any doubt as to who the WBL favorite is, these two scores should make that discussion clear.

16. Lakota West (3-2)

Last week: 11

After back-to-back losses early in the week, the Firebirds made up for them with a bragging-rights win over cross-county rival Lakota East. Lakota West heads on the road Wednesday to face another Top 25 team, the Mason Comets.

17. Purcell Marian, Cincinnati (4-1)

Last week: Unranked

The Cavaliers make their debut in the SBLive Top 25 after a stellar showing in the Journey To The Tourney with wins over Africentric and Newark. The winning streak came to a halt in their home opener against Summit Country Day. Still, this is a team to be respected moving forward.

18. Warren, Vincent (4-1)

Last week: Unranked

We may have a new favorite to win D-II in Ohio. No team in this division is as hot as Warren, which has won three in a row. After an early-season loss to Fairfield Union, the Lady Warriors have secured wins over Dover, Vinton County and Marietta by an average of 15.3 points per game. They will head to West Virginia to play Linsly on Saturday.

19. Napoleon (5-0)

Last week: 21

After opening the season with three wins on the road, the Lady Cats had their home opener Tuesday and beat Sylvania Northview 41-35. They followed that up with a Thursday win against Perrysburg, 47-31. Next on the schedule is Maumee on Tuesday and Bowling Green on Thursday.

20. Fort Frye (2-2)

Last week: 17

The point difference on the season for the Cadets is incredibly one-sided, but you couldn’t tell that by their record. Their two losses have been by a combined 12 points, while their sandwiched wins have been by a combined 93 points.

21. Buckeye Central, New Washington (4-0)

Last week: 12

After two lopsided wins to open the season, the Bucks continue their hot hand with two comfortable wins against Riverdale, 55-43, and Colonel Crawford, 69-43. A pair of road games are up next at Mohawk and Seneca East this week.

22. Hiland, Berlin (3-1)

Last week: 7

Make that three in a row for the Hawks. After an opening-night loss, the Hawks have built up a winning streak against Toledo Christian, Ridgewood and CVCA. They head to Tusky Valley on Saturday.

23. Worthington Christian (3-0)

Last week: 24

After a long layoff, WCHS came back as fresh as opening night with a 54-16 clobbering of Grandview Heights. The Warriors are back in action Tuesday at Buckeye Valley.

24. Centerville (4-1)

Last week: 14

After suffering their only loss of the season to Westfield (Indiana), the Lady Elks earned two wins as they jumped into GWOC play. Wins over Springfield and Miamisburg sent the Elks to the top of the conference in the early going.

25. Arcanum (4-0)

Last week: Unranked

It took four blowout wins, but the Trojans are getting the attention they deserve. Arcanum has won its four contests by an average of 26.8 points per game. With that in mind, it’s time to circle the game against Tri-Village a week from Thursday. This is guaranteed to be the best small-school game in December.

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