CLEVELAND, Ohio — St. Vincent-St. Mary opened as the preseason No. 1 in the cleveland.com boys basketball Top 25 and closed the regular season in that spot.
The Fighting Irish, coming off their second straight OHSAA Division II state championship last year, now begin their first postseason in Division I. How far can they go? Well, they own victories against Lorain — the only other team to hold the top spot in these rankings this season — plus Brush, St. Ignatius and St. Edward.
STVM (18-3) played six of the top eight teams in the area and beat them all.
The only team they did not see was Mentor (19-2), which opened the season at No. 23 with only one returning starter in point guard Luke Floriea and has emerged as a contender to reach Columbus.
"We didn't have a lot of scoring coming back," Mentor coach Bob Krizancic said Saturday after a 60-52 win vs. Lake Catholic. "We didn't have a lot of experience coming back."
Mentor set a new program record with its 19th win and will play one more regular-season game Tuesday at Massillon Jackson.
The postseason begins this week with sectional semifinal games on Tuesday.
The top nine teams remain the same from last week's rankings. However, Solon made a considerable leap with a recent surge that included a home victory against No. 5 St. Edward. Medina also returned to the Top 25 with a 20-point road win at Shaker Heights, as part of a late shakeup courtesy of the Greater Cleveland Conference.
The Bees and Benedictine of the North Coast League are this week's two new teams in — or ones that returned to — the Top 25. See how the area stands entering the tournament below with an extended list of teams considered for the rankings, plus a look back at some signature moments from the season.
1. St. Vincent-St. Mary (18-3)
Last week: Ranked No. 1; beat Villa Angela-St. Joseph 63-59 on Feb. 19, beat Canton McKinley 71-51 on Feb. 22
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, St. Edward 78-64 on Feb. 15, Brush 71-67 on Feb. 17, Villa Angela-St. Joseph 63-59 on Feb. 19
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 (21-1)
Last week: Ranked No. 2; beat Avon 66-52 on Feb. 19, beat Warrensville Heights 75-60 on Feb. 22
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, Lutheran East 74-56 on Feb. 15, Warrensville Heights 75-60 on Feb. 22
Losses of note: St. Vincent-St. Mary 82-75 on Jan. 6
3. Brush (19-3)
Last week: Ranked No. 3; beat Madison 103-58 on Feb. 19
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, Willoughby South 75-57 on Feb. 15
Losses of note: SPIRE 82-61 on Jan. 15, Kennedy Catholic 70-65 on Jan. 27, at St. Vincent-St. Mary 71-67 on Feb. 17
4. Mentor (19-2)
Last week: Ranked No. 4; beat Villa Angela-St. Joseph 81-74 on Feb. 18, beat Elyria 97-58 on Feb. 22, beat Lake Catholic 60-52 on Feb. 23
This week: Tuesday at Massillon Jackson
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, Euclid 64-53 on Feb. 12, Villa Angela-St. Joseph 81-74 on Feb. 18, Lake Catholic 60-52 on Feb. 23
Losses of note: Shaker Heights 69-66 on Jan. 29, at Medina 74-72 on Feb. 15
5. St. Edward (14-8)
Last week: Ranked No. 5; lost at Solon 63-58 on Feb. 19, beat Villa Angela-St. Joseph 93-68 on Feb. 22
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, Toledo Whitmer 65-51 on Feb. 16
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, at St. Vincent-St. Mary 78-64 on Feb. 15, at Solon 63-58 on Feb. 19
6. St. Ignatius (15-7)
Last week: Ranked No. 6; beat Cornerstone Christian 82-41 on Feb. 19, beat Kenston 83-41 on Feb. 22, lost at Stow 45-42 on Feb. 23
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, Erie Catheral Prep 64-63 on Feb. 15
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, Stow 45-42 on Feb. 23
7. Villa Angela-St. Joseph (14-8)
Last week: Ranked No. 7; lost to Mentor 81-74 on Feb. 18, lost at St. Vincent-St. Mary 63-59 on Feb. 19, lost at St. Edward 93-68 on Feb. 22, beat St. Thomas Aquinas 59-44 on Feb. 22
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, at Benedictine 67-64 on Feb. 15, Mentor 81-74 on Feb. 18, at St. Vincent-St. Mary 63-59 on Feb. 19, at St. Edward 93-68 on Feb. 22
8. Archbishop Hoban (17-5)
Last week: Ranked No. 8; lost to Buchtel 66-58 on Feb. 19, beat Warren JFK 79-26 on Feb. 22, beat East Tech 70-54 on Feb. 23
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, Cleveland Central Catholic 55-49 on Feb. 15, East Tech 70-54 on Feb. 23
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, Buchtel 66-58 on Feb. 19
9. Olmsted Falls (20-2)
Last week: Ranked No. 9; beat North Olmsted 80-48 on Feb. 22
Signature wins: Avon 63-43 on Dec. 21, Brunswick 60-49 on Dec. 29, Avon 85-56 on Jan. 22, Lakewood 57-44 on Jan. 29
Losses of note: at Lakewood 44-40 on Dec. 14, Midview 50-48 on Jan. 11
10. Green (18-4)
Last week: Ranked No. 11; beat Firestone 78-34 on Feb. 19, beat Wooster 79-46 on Feb. 22
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, Copley 74-58 on Feb. 12, Revere 82-53 on Feb. 17
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
11. Euclid (15-7)
Last week: Ranked No. 13; beat Open Door 67-65 on Feb. 19, beat Brunswick 72-70 on Feb. 22
Signature wins: Solon 62-57 on Dec. 14, Beachwood 64-52 on Dec. 29, Brunswick 68-54 on Feb. 22, 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, Brunswick 72-70 on Feb. 22
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, Mentor 64-53 on Feb. 12
12. East Tech (19-3)
Last week: Ranked No. 10; lost to Archbishop Hoban 70-54 on Feb. 23
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, Cleveland Heights 63-62 on Feb. 12
Losses of note: Maple Heights 61-58 on Jan. 27, at Glenville 57-54 on Feb. 1, Archbishop Hoban 70-54 on Feb. 23
13. Revere (18-4)
Last week: Ranked No. 15; beat Shaker Heights 62-52 on Feb. 19, beat Tallmadge 72-61 on Feb. 22
Signature wins: Rhodes 81-68 on Dec. 22, Beachwood 73-65 on Dec. 28, Copley 78-73 on Feb. 1, Warrensville Heights 71-66 on Feb. 12, Shaker Heights 62-52 on Feb. 19
Losses of note: Medina 66-63 on Dec. 8, at Copley 66-50 on Dec. 14, at Wadsworth 44-37 on Dec. 18, Green 82-53 on Feb. 17
14. Solon (14-8)
Last week: Ranked No. 23; beat St. Edward 63-58 on Feb. 19, beat Strongsville 65-54 on Feb. 22
Signature wins: St. Ignatius 77-71 in OT on Dec. 14, Green 65-60 on Dec. 27, Medina 76-65 on Jan. 4, Twinsburg 73-61 on Jan. 23, Medina 72-65 on Feb. 8, Shaker Heights 62-52 on Feb. 12, St. Edward 63-58 on Feb. 19
Losses of note: Cleveland Central Catholic 71-64 on Dec. 1, at Benedictine 82-79 in OT on Dec. 8, Euclid 62-57 on Dec. 14, at Mentor 81-61 on Dec. 21, Lake Catholic 66-61 on Jan. 6, Shaker Heights 95-91 in OT on Jan. 8, at Euclid 91-76 on Jan. 29, Mentor 83-68 on Feb. 1
15. Lutheran East (14-8)
Last week: Ranked No. 14; beat Bedford 70-64 on Feb. 19, beat Maple Heights 63-61 on Feb. 22
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, Richmond Heights 85-77 on Feb. 12
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, Lorain 74-58 on Feb. 15
16. Willoughby South (17-5)
Last week: Ranked No. 16; beat Gilmour 52-48 on Feb. 19
Signature wins: Lake Catholic 62-52 on Dec. 4, Beachwood 72-68 on Jan. 27, Gilmour 52-48 on Feb. 19
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, at Brush 75-57 on Feb. 15
17. Cleveland Central Catholic (13-9)
Last week: Ranked No. 17; beat Trinity 86-45 on Feb. 22
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, Garfield Heights 64-55 on Feb. 13
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, Archbishop Hoban 55-49 on Feb. 15
18. Lake Catholic (17-5)
Last week: Ranked No. 18; beat Beachwood 62-60 on Feb. 19, beat Padua 66-34 on Feb. 22, lost at Mentor 60-52 on Feb. 23
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, Beachwood 62-60 on Feb. 19
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, at Mentor 60-52 on Feb. 23
19. Copley (17-5)
Last week: Ranked No. 22; beat Twinsburg 69-63 on Feb. 19, Friday beat Kent Roosevelt 74-39 on Feb. 22
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, Twinsburg 69-63 on Feb. 19
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, at Green 74-58 on Feb. 12
20. Medina (13-8)
Last week: Not ranked; beat Shaker Heights 71-51 on Feb. 22
Signature wins: Euclid 74-61 on Dec. 7, Revere 66-63 on Dec. 8, Brunswick 70-55 on Feb. 1, Mentor 74-72 on Feb. 15, Shaker Heights 71-51 on Feb. 22
Losses of note: at Brunswick 71-63 in OT on Dec. 21, Solon 76-65 on Jan. 4, at Mentor 89-64 on Jan. 11, Shaker Heights 62-55 on Jan. 18, Euclid 64-62 on Jan. 25, at Solon 72-65 on Feb. 8
21. Shaker Heights (13-9)
Last week: Ranked No. 12; lost at Revere 62-52 on Feb. 19, lost to Medina 71-51 on Feb. 22
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, Solon 62-52 on Feb. 12, at Revere 62-52 on Feb. 19
22. Fairview (20-2)
Last week: Ranked No. 20; beat Lutheran West 62-46 on Feb. 22
Signature wins: Elyria Catholic 65-47 on Jan. 2, Clearview 82-62 on Jan. 4, Columbia 81-64 on Jan. 18, Rocky River 65-54 on Feb. 12, Clearview 69-61 on Feb. 15
Losses of note: Buckeye 72-70 in OT on Dec. 11, Bay 74-71 on Jan. 15
23. Benedictine (12-9)
Last week: Not ranked; beat Harvey 56-50 on Feb. 18, beat Gilmour 75-69 on Feb. 22
Signature wins: Solon 82-79 in OT on Dec. 8, Cleveland Central Catholic 83-69 on Dec. 14, Stow 72-46 on Dec. 15, Cleveland Central Catholic 66-59 on Jan. 24, Villa Angela-St. Joseph 67-64 on Feb. 15, Harvey 56-50 on Feb. 18, Gilmour 75-69 on Feb. 22
Losses of note: at Archbishop Hoban 59-45 on Dec. 21, Toledo St. Francis 67-63 on Dec. 22, Mentor 83-81 on Dec. 29, St. Edward 74-60 on Jan. 5, at Villa Angela-St. Joseph 95-83 in OT on Jan. 11, St. Vincent-St. Mary 65-53 on Jan. 26, Hoban 65-64 on Feb. 1, at St. Ignatius 74-38 on Feb. 2, at Garfield Heights 59-57 on Feb. 7
24. Gilmour (17-5)
Last week: Ranked No. 21; lost to Willoughby South 52-48 on Feb. 21, lost to Benedictine 75-69 on Feb. 22
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, Willoughby South 52-48 on Feb. 21, Benedictine 75-69 on Feb. 22
25. Warrensville Heights (13-9)
Last week: Ranked No. 19; lost to Cleveland Heights 63-56 on Feb. 19, lost to Lorain 75-60 on Feb. 22
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, Cleveland Heights 63-56 on Feb. 19, Lorain 75-60 on Feb. 22
Bay (16-6, was No. 23), Cleveland Heights (12-10, was No. 24)
Brecksville (17-5), Buchtel (15-7), Elyria Catholic (13-9), Garfield Heights (11-11), Holy Name (17-5), Lakewood (16-6), Perry (17-5), Woodridge (18-4)
Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email ([email protected]). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.
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