AKRON, Ohio — Villa Angela-St. Joseph has a step up on everyone in the North Coast League.
That is no small feat considering its three-division alignment this season that has VASJ, Archbishop Hoban, Benedictine and Cleveland Central Catholic stuck together. In previous years, they were split into two divisions.
This year, they are a part of a grind unlike many in Northeast Ohio. And that could be good for them.
"It makes all of us better," Benedictine senior guard Davin Zeigler said. "Considering us, Central and Joe's are all D-II, so we might see each other down the way."
VASJ, ranked fourth in this week's cleveland.com Top 25, has a firm lead in the NCL Red Division after its 76-74 comeback win Friday night at No. 7 Archbishop Hoban. A month ago, VASJ shocked Hoban with a nine-point comeback in overtime. Friday in Akron, they did it again — this time from 16 points down in the fourth quarter.
"The league is going to make you better, and you better bring your best effort every night," Hoban coach T.K. Griffith said.
That won't change much next season, even though coaches expect the league to return to a two-division format. The move to three divisions this year was made to accommodate the addition of schools such as Gilmour while allowing nonconference obligations to be maintained.
Teams play six games within their division, plus four crossover matchups.
In this edition of the boys basketball rewind, sound off on conference strength.
No. 21 Benedictine overcame a sluggish start Thursday night at No. 22 Cleveland Central Catholic for a 66-59 win in the other NCL Red Division matchup of the weekend. Bowling Green recruit Davin Zeigler scored a game-high 24 points, and junior guard Jashun Cobb added 14 points on his 17th birthday.
Conference play has hit the midway point. How does the NCL stack up compared to other area leagues? Vote in the poll below.
It will remain open until noon Monday.
Another marquee matchup was Garfield Heights' 79-77 overtime win at Buchtel. It featured a handful of Division I college prospects, mostly not even legal driving age yet — the Bulldogs' Demetrius "Meechie" Johnson Jr., Sonny Johnson and Buchtel freshman Chris Livingston.
Sonny Johnson picked up a scholarship offer from the University at Buffalo, his father and coach William "Sonny" Johnson said. The younger Sonny Johnson scored 14 points and six assists. Meechie Johnson — who is now of legal driving age — poured in 31. Imposing 6-9 senior forward Brison Waller added 25 points and 11 rebounds.
"I think the wins we got are bigger than people think," Coach Johnson said. "To win at Flyin' at the Hoop in Dayton and in Akron against Buchtel, it's making us better. We're peaking at the right time."
That will be put to the test Saturday with a trip to Pickerington Central, which is state-ranked and coming off a Division I state semifinal run.
Before the Buchtel win, Garfield Heights stunned Huber Heights Wayne as "Meechie" Johnson scored five points in the final 25 seconds of a 64-62 win Sunday at Flyin' to the Hoop outside of Dayton.
Johnson scored 26 points, including his 3-pointer to tie it and steal to win it.
Olmsted Falls senior guard Eric Hanna put himself in company so exclusive at his school that not even 2001 graduate and Cavaliers executive Mike Gansey is a part of it: the single-game scoring record.
Hanna scored 49 points, tying Jason Ludwig's 1988 record. Ludwig, who went on to play at Tulane, was a McDonald's All-American and is in the athletic hall of fame at Olmsted Falls.
As for Hanna, his effort helped the Bulldogs to an 85-64 win Friday at Westlake and sets up a first-place showdown in the Southwestern Conference Tuesday against Lakewood.
The Bulldogs lead the Rangers by a half-game because Berea-Midpark edged Lakewood, 48-47, in overtime on Friday. Lian Levesque scored the winning layup with two seconds left in overtime and finished with 11 points. Sophomore Alex Kvak added 12 points for the Titans.
Tim Smith led Lakewood with 15 points. Both No. 16 Lakewood and No. 17 Olmsted Falls have two losses in SWC play, but Lakewood has to make up a game against Amherst. Falls, which suffered a 44-40 loss at Lakewood, will get the Rangers on their court this time. They split the season series and conference title last year.
Holy Name bumped No. 19 Bay from its share of first place in the Great Lakes Conference with a 93-84 home win.
Junior guard Quentin Richardson scored 38 points to fuel the Green Wave, which jumped out to a 27-10 start and held off the Rockets. Senior guard Erik Painter scored 37 points for Bay, which now trails Elyria Catholic by a half game. Holy Name is a game back in the standings and visits the Panthers on Friday.
Click here for Friday's scoreboard.
No. 1 St. Vincent-St. Mary (10-2) at No. 21 Benedictine (8-5): For the second straight year, this is the only time these programs will meet. Benedictine went up to Division I last year and now it's STVM's turn.
SPIRE at No. 6 St. Edward (10-4): The area tour from SPIRE continues with one of its tougher tests. Expect a motivated St. Edward squad, coming off two tough games in Erie, Pa., last weekend. SPIRE has one more area matchup, which is slated the next night at Brush against Lutheran East.
Westerville South at St. Ignatius (6-6): Originally scheduled for earlier this month, the makeup date has been set. South has flirted with .500 against a tough Columbus schedule. St. Ignatius' slate has been brutal, and it showed Monday in a bounce-back performance at Villa Angela-St. Joseph.
Click here for Saturday's full schedule.
With the Dunk 4 Diabetes being discontinued, Brush coach Chet Mason picked up the slack for a basketball showcase during the Sunday before the Super Bowl. A six-game slate is set for Sunday at Brush:
- East Tech vs. Maple Heights, 11 a.m.
- Willoughby South vs. Beachwood, 12:45 p.m.
- Oakville Academy vs. Toronto Basketball School, 2:30 p.m.
- Huntington Prep vs. ISA at Andrews Osborne, 4:15 p.m.
- Brush vs. Kennedy Catholic, 6 p.m.
- SPIRE vs. Lutheran East, 7:30 p.m.
Have notes to add for the rewind? Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email ([email protected]).
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