CLEVELAND, Ohio — Red hot St. Ignatius outshot rival St. Edward on Friday. As a result, the Wildcats are shooting up the cleveland.com boys basketball rankings with a seven-game win streak.
The area's top three teams remain the same with St. Vincent-St. Mary, Lorain and Brush. The third-ranked Arcs travel Sunday to No. 1 STVM to make up their postponed game from a few weeks ago.
As for STVM, the Fighting Irish have a three-day stretch this weekend that includes not only Brush but a St. Edward team reeling from its 65-53 loss to St. Ignatius.
The Eagles, who split their regular-season series with the Wildcats, dropped one spot to No. 5. Their short fall by just one spot is a result of that split and a resume that includes a victory vs. Pennsylvania power Kennedy Catholic, which beat two of the area's top three teams.
Two teams enter this week's Top 25 in Cleveland Central Catholic and Garfield Heights. The Ironmen handed St. Ignatius its last loss on Jan. 19 and put together consecutive double-digit wins last week against North Coast League powers Villa Angela-St. Joseph and Lake Catholic. Garfield Heights, which edged Benedictine last week on Demetrius "Meechie" Johnson Jr.'s last-second shot, has won five of its last seven.
Those two losses?
They came against state-ranked Pickerington Central and No. 2 Lorain, both of which are coming off state semifinal runs in Division I.
Coincidentally, the Ironmen visit the Bulldogs on Wednesday.
With district tournament seeding announced Sunday, there are two weeks left in the regular season. Here is how this week's Top 25 shapes up.
1. St. Vincent-St. Mary (13-3)
Last week: Ranked No. 1; beat Archbishop Hoban 69-48 on Feb. 6, beat Lutheran East 74-58 on Feb. 8
This week: Tuesday at Walsh Jesuit, Friday vs. No. 5 St. Edward, Sunday vs. No. 3 Brush
Signature wins: Cleveland Central Catholic 73-52 on Dec. 15, Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.) 74-59 on Dec. 21, St. Ignatius 72-55 on Dec. 31, Lorain 82-75 on Jan. 6, Warrensville Heights 68-59 on Jan. 22, Benedictine 65-53 on Jan. 26, Archbishop Hoban 69-48 on Feb. 6
Losses of note: SPIRE 81-58 on Dec. 3, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller 99-62 on Dec. 8, at Kennedy Catholic 75-72 on Feb. 2
2. Lorain (17-1)
Last week: Ranked No. 2; beat Maple Heights 85-57 on Feb. 5, beat Cleveland Heights 75-66 on Feb. 8
This week: Tuesday vs. Elyria Catholic, Friday at No. 13 Lutheran East
Signature wins: Euclid 82-62 on Dec. 1, Lutheran East 67-59 on Dec. 18, Cleveland Heights 75-71 on Jan. 11, Warrensville Heights 80-64 on Jan. 25, Garfield Heights 87-78 on Feb. 2, Cleveland Heights 75-66 on Feb. 8
Losses of note: St. Vincent-St. Mary 82-75 on Jan. 6
3. Brush (16-2)
Last week: Ranked No. 3; beat Shaker Heights 39-29 (called at half) on Feb. 5, beat Mayfield 88-52 on Feb. 8
This week: Tuesday at Kenston, Friday vs. No. 12 Willoughby South, Sunday at St. Vincent-St. Mary
Signature wins: Warren Harding 73-47 on Nov. 30, St. Edward 81-74 on Dec. 18, Warrensville Heights 68-50 on Dec. 27, Garfield Heights 81-63 on Jan. 6, Willoughby South 62-55 on Jan. 18
Losses of note: SPIRE 82-61 on Jan. 15, Kennedy Catholic 70-65 on Jan. 27
4. Mentor (15-1)
Last week: Ranked No. 5; beat Brunswick 72-67 on Feb. 8
This week: Tuesday at No. 11 Euclid, Friday at Medina
Signature wins: Shaker Heights 80-79 on Dec. 14, Solon 81-61 on Dec. 21, Willoughby South 76-57 on Dec. 28, Benedictine 83-81 on Dec. 29, Medina 89-64 on Jan. 11, Solon 83-68 on Feb. 1, Lakota East 67-57 on Feb. 2
Losses of note: Shaker Heights 69-66 on Jan. 29
5. St. Edward (12-6)
Last week: Ranked No. 4; lost at St. Ignatius 65-53 on Feb. 8
This week: Friday at No. 1 St. Vincent-St. Mary, Saturday vs. Toledo Whitmer
Signature wins: Lakewood 79-51 on Dec. 3, North Mecklenburg (N.C.) 59-57 on Dec. 29, Benedictine 74-60 on Jan. 5, Kennedy Catholic 68-59 on Jan. 6, St. Ignatius 87-64 on Jan. 11
Losses of note: Lima Senior 77-74 on Dec. 15, Brush 81-74 on Dec. 18, North Crowley (Texas) 63-59 on Dec. 27, Kennedy Catholic 73-64 on Jan. 18, SPIRE 122-86 on Jan. 26, at St. Ignatius 65-53 on Feb. 8
6. St. Ignatius (12-6)
Last week: Ranked No. 11; beat John Marshall 83-35 on Feb. 4, beat St. Edward 65-53 on Feb. 8, beat Beachwood 56-54 on Feb. 9
This week: Friday vs. Erie Catheral Prep
Signature wins: Lutheran East 80-73 on Dec. 1, Cleveland Heights 61-59 on Dec. 7, Elyria Catholic 76-46 on Jan. 6, Villa Angela-St. Joseph 76-58 on Jan. 21, Benedictine 74-38 on Feb. 2, St. Edward 65-53 on Feb. 8
Losses of note: Solon 77-71 in OT on Dec. 15, at Canton McKinley 64-56 on Dec. 22, Lake Catholic 71-68 on Dec. 29, St. Vincent-St. Mary 72-55 on Dec. 31, at St. Edward 87-64 on Jan. 11, at Cleveland Central Catholic 72-66 in OT on Jan. 19
7. Villa Angela-St. Joseph (13-4)
Last week: Ranked No. 6; lost to Cleveland Central Catholic 57-45 on Feb. 5, beat Padua 86-55 on Feb. 8, beat Euclid 58-43 on Feb. 9
This week: Friday at Benedictine
Signature wins: Cleveland Heights 53-52 on Dec. 6, Archbishop Hoban 80-78 in OT on Dec. 14, Cleveland Central Catholic 75-71 in OT on Dec. 21, Benedictine 95-83 in OT on Jan. 11, Hoban 76-74 on Jan. 25, Euclid 58-43 on Feb. 9
Losses of note: Pickerington North 89-58 on Dec. 1, West Memphis (Ark.) 69-53 on Dec. 28, St. Ignatius 76-58 on Jan. 21, Cleveland Central Catholic 57-45 on Feb. 5
8. Archbishop Hoban (13-4)
Last week: Ranked No. 7; lost to St. Vincent-St. Mary 69-48 on Feb. 6, beat Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 70-42 on Feb. 8, beat Massillon 63-46 on Feb. 9
This week: Friday at Canton Central Catholic
Signature wins: Ellet 50-48 on Dec. 8, Benedictine 59-45 on Dec. 21, Lake Catholic 61-54 on Jan. 4, Cleveland Central Catholic 65-44 on Jan. 11, Benedictine 65-64 on Feb. 1
Losses of note: Villa Angela-St. Joseph 80-78 in OT on Dec. 14, St. Stephens/St. Agnes (Arlington, Va.) 63-51 on Dec. 29, VASJ 76-74 on Jan. 25, St. Vincent-St. Mary 69-48 on Feb. 6
9. Olmsted Falls (17-2)
Last week: Ranked No. 8; beat Amherst 89-61 on Feb. 5, beat Berea-Midpark 70-49 on Feb. 8
This week: Tuesday at Midview, Friday at Avon Lake
Signature wins: Avon 63-43 on Dec. 21, Brunswick 60-49 on Dec. 29, Lakewood 57-44 on Jan. 29
Losses of note: at Lakewood 44-40 on Dec. 14, Midview 50-48 on Jan. 11
10. Shaker Heights (12-6)
Last week: Ranked No. 9; lost to Brush 39-29 (called at half) on Feb. 5, beat Elyria 82-81 in OT on Feb. 8
This week: Tuesday vs. Solon, Friday at Strongsville
Signature wins: Buchtel 85-62 on Dec. 1, Garfield Heights 75-41 on Dec. 19, Solon 95-91 in OT on Jan. 8, Medina 62-55 on Jan. 18, Brunswick 78-58 on Jan. 25
Losses of note: at Cleveland Heights 76-51 on Dec. 2, at Brunswick 74-53 on Dec. 7, Mentor 80-79 on Dec. 14, Lutheran East 89-67 on Dec. 28, Euclid 79-74 on Feb. 1, Brush 39-29 on Feb. 5
11. Euclid (12-6)
Last week: Ranked No. 19; beat Kirtland 61-51 on Feb. 5, beat Strongsville 66-48 on Feb. 8, lost to Villa Angela-St. Joseph 58-43 on Feb. 9
This week: Tuesday vs. No. 4 Mentor, Friday at Elyria
Signature wins: Solon 62-57 on Dec. 14, Beachwood 64-52 on Dec. 29, Willoughby South 61-47 on Jan. 22, Medina 64-62 on Jan. 25, Solon 91-76 on Jan. 29, Shaker Heights 79-74 on Feb. 1
Losses of note: Lorain 82-65 on Dec. 1, Medina 74-61 on Dec. 7, at Garfield Heights 57-49 on Dec. 11, Shaker Heights 57-52 on Dec. 21, at Mentor 72-61 on Jan. 8
12. Willoughby South (15-4)
Last week: Ranked No. 17; beat Kenston 52-40 on Feb. 5, beat Madison 78-47 on Feb. 8
This week: Tuesday vs. Eastlake North, Friday at No. 3 Brush
Signature wins: Lake Catholic 62-52 on Dec. 4, Beachwood 72-68 on Jan. 27
Losses of note: Glenville 58-55 on Nov. 30, at Mentor 76-57 on Dec. 28, Brush 62-55 on Jan. 18, Euclid 61-47 on Jan. 22
13. Lutheran East (10-7)
Last week: Ranked No. 15; beat Warrensville Heights 72-58 on Feb. 5, lost at St. Vincent-St. Mary 75-58 on Feb. 8
This week: Tuesday vs. Richmond Heights, Friday vs. No. 2 Lorain
Signature wins: Shaker Heights 89-67 on Dec. 28, Warrensville Heights 81-70 on Jan. 4, Lakewood 43-40 on Jan. 5, Warrensville Heights 72-58 on Feb. 5
Losses of note: St. Ignatius 80-73 on Dec. 1, Cleveland Heights 56-52 on Dec. 14, at Lorain 67-59 on Dec. 18, SPIRE 118-96 on Jan. 27, at Cleveland Heights 86-74 on Jan. 29, at St. Edward 77-66 on Feb. 1, at St. Vincent-St. Mary 75-48 on Feb. 8
14. East Tech (18-2)
Last week: Ranked No. 18; beat MLK 63-54 on Feb. 6, beat Rhodes 67-63 in OT on Feb. 8
This week: Tuesday at No. 25 Cleveland Heights
Signature wins: Warrensville Heights 60-50 on Dec. 2, Rhodes 72-69 on Dec. 11, Berlin Hiland 55-43 on Dec. 22, Rhodes 67-63 in OT on Feb. 8
Losses of note: Maple Heights 61-58 on Jan. 27, at Glenville 57-54 on Feb. 1
15. Revere (14-3)
Last week: Ranked No. 23; beat Kent Roosevelt 73-50 on Feb. 5, beat Aurora 81-61 on Feb. 8
This week: Tuesday at No. 18 Warrensville Heights, Friday vs. Akron East
Signature wins: Rhodes 81-68 on Dec. 22, Beachwood 73-65 on Dec. 28, Copley 78-73 on Feb. 1
Losses of note: Medina 66-63 on Dec. 8, at Copley 66-50 on Dec. 14, at Wadsworth 44-37 on Dec. 18
16. Copley (13-4)
Last week: Ranked No. 13; beat Tallmadge 72-56 on Feb. 5, lost to Highland 60-53 on Feb. 8
This week: Tuesday at No. 17 Green, Friday at Aurora, Saturday at North Canton Hoover
Signature wins: Revere 67-66 on Dec. 11, Lexington 64-48 on Dec. 22, Stow 62-54 on Dec. 27, Highland 74-51 on Jan. 4, Massillon Jackson 65-53 on Jan. 29
Losses of note: Canton McKinley 58-49 on Nov. 30, Tallmadge 64-63 on Dec. 21, at Revere 78-73 on Feb. 1, Highland 60-53 on Feb. 8
17. Green (13-4)
Last week: Ranked No. 16; beat GlenOak 66-47 on Feb. 5, lost to Massillon Jackson 59-49 on Feb. 8
This week: Tuesday vs. No. 16 Copley, Friday at Ellet
Signature wins: Stow 54-59 on Nov. 30, Uniontown Lake 46-32 on Dec. 11, Massillon Perry 63-61 on Dec. 14, Massillon Jackson 58-49 on Jan. 8
Losses of note: at North Canton Hoover 62-58 on Dec. 7, Solon 65-60 on Dec. 27, at Canton McKinley 65-62 on Feb. 1, Massillon Jackson 59-49 on Feb. 8
18. Warrensville Heights (12-6)
Last week: Ranked No. 12; lost to Lutheran East 72-58 on Feb. 5
This week: Tuesday vs. No. 15 Revere, Friday at Maple Heights
Signature wins: Cleveland Central Catholic 73-70 on Dec. 18, Garfield Heights 86-71 on Jan. 11, Cleveland Heights 72-62 on Jan. 18, Buchtel 69-66 on Feb. 2
Losses of note: East Tech 60-50 on Dec. 2, Brush 68-50 on Dec. 27, at Lutheran East 81-70 on Jan. 4, St. Vincent-St. Mary 68-59 on Jan. 22, at Lorain 80-64 on Jan. 25, Lutheran East 72-58 on Feb. 5
19. Cleveland Central Catholic (11-8)
Last week: Not ranked; beat Villa Angela-St. Joseph 57-45 on Feb. 5, beat Lake Catholic 68-53 on Feb. 8
This week: Wednesday at No. 24 Garfield Heights, Friday vs. No. 8 Archbishop Hoban
Signature wins: Solon 71-64 on Dec. 1, Cleveland Heights 66-62 on Dec. 27, St. Ignatius 72-66 in OT on Jan. 19, Villa Angela-St. Joseph 57-45 on Feb. 5, Lake Catholic 68-53 on Feb. 8
Losses of note: Benedictine 83-69 on Dec. 14, St. Vincent-St. Mary 73-52 on Dec. 15, Warrensville Heights 73-70 on Dec. 18, Villa Angela-St. Joseph 75-71 in OT on Dec. 21, at Archbishop Hoban 65-44 on Jan. 11, Benedictine 66-59 on Jan. 24, at Toledo St. John's Jesuit 42-38 on Jan. 26, St. Edward 56-51 on Feb. 2
20. Lake Catholic (13-4)
Last week: Ranked No. 10; beat Cornerstone Christian 76-67 on Feb. 5, lost at Cleveland Central Catholic 68-53 on Feb. 8
This week: Tuesday vs. Bedford, Friday at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin on Feb. 15
Signature wins: Gilmour 84-65 on Nov. 30, St. Ignatius 71-68 on Dec. 29, Solon 66-61 on Jan. 6, Holy Name 77-72 on Jan. 29
Losses of note: Willoughby South 62-52 on Dec. 4, Archbishop Hoban 61-54 on Jan. 4, Walsh Jesuit 75-62 on Feb. 1, at Cleveland Central Catholic 65-53 on Feb. 8
21. Fairview (17-2)
Last week: Ranked No. 20; beat Keystone 71-57 on Feb. 5, beat Firelands 78-55 on Feb. 8
This week: Tuesday at Rocky River, Friday at Clearview
Signature wins: Elyria Catholic 65-47 on Jan. 2, Clearview 82-62 on Jan. 4, Columbia 81-64 on Jan. 18
Losses of note: Buckeye 72-70 in OT on Dec. 11, Bay 74-71 on Jan. 15
22. Gilmour (15-3)
Last week: Ranked No. 21; beat Chagrin Falls 72-50 on Feb. 7, beat Warren JFK 92-55 on Feb. 8, beat University School 65-53 on Feb. 9
This week: Friday at Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas
Signature wins: Buchtel 77-67 on Dec. 28, University School 93-69 on Dec. 31
Losses of note: at Lake Catholic 84-65 on Nov. 30, Holy Name 89-87 on Dec. 22, at Villa Angela-St. Joseph 65-63 on Jan. 18
23. Bay (14-4)
Last week: Ranked No. 25; lost at Parma 75-74 in OT on Feb. 5, beat Elyria Catholic 58-42 on Feb. 8
This week: Tuesday vs. Oberlin, Saturday at Lakewood
Signature wins: Rocky River 87-83 on Jan. 4, Fairview 74-71 on Jan. 15, Elyria Catholic 58-42 on Feb. 8
Losses of note: SPIRE 113-67 on Nov. 30, at Elyria Catholic 82-79 on De. 14, at Holy Name 93-84 on Jan. 25, at Parma 75-74 in OT on Feb. 5
24. Garfield Heights (10-9)
Last week: Not ranked; beat Western Reserve Academy 75-63 on Feb. 5, beat Benedictine 59-57 on Feb. 7
This week: Tuesday vs. Beachwood, Wednesday vs. No. 19 Cleveland Central Catholic
Signature wins: Euclid 57-49 on Dec. 11, beat Glenville 71-58 on Jan. 8, Huber Heights Wayne 64-62 on Jan. 20 at Flyin' to the Hoop, Buchtel 79-77 in OT on Jan. 24, Benedictine 59-57 on Feb. 7
Losses of note: SPIRE 93-60 on Nov. 29, at Warren Harding 83-66 on Dec. 6, St. Ignatius 68-58 on Dec. 14, at Shaker Heights 75-41 on Dec. 19, St. Vincent-St. Mary 88-53 on Dec. 28, Brush 81-63 on Jan. 6, at Warrensville Heights 86-71 on Jan. 11, at Pickerington Central 79-60 on Jan. 26, at Lorain 87-78 on Feb. 2
25. Cleveland Heights (9-8)
Last week: Ranked No. 14; lost at Bedford 50-45 on Feb. 5, lost at Lorain 75-66 on Feb. 8
This week: Tuesday vs. No. 14 East Tech, Friday at Shaw, Saturday at Massillon Jackson
Signature wins: Shaker Heights 76-51 on Dec. 2, Warren Harding 85-60 on Dec. 11, Lutheran East 56-52 on Dec. 14, Canton McKinley 84-60 on Jan. 5, Lutheran East 86-74 on Jan. 29
Losses of note: at VASJ 53-52 on Dec. 6, at St. Ignatius 61-59 on Dec. 7, Cleveland Central Catholic 66-62 on Dec. 27, Lorain 75-71 on Jan. 11, Warrensville Heights 72-62 on Jan. 18, Cincinnati Hughes 83-67 on Jan. 21, at Bedford 50-45 on Feb. 5, at Lorain 75-66 on Feb. 8
Brecksville (12-5, was No. 22), Lakewood (11-6, was No. 24),
Buchtel (13-7), Holy Name (14-4), Perry (13-3), Richmond Heights (15-5), Solon (10-8), Woodridge (15-3)
Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email ([email protected]). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.
Ad Choices