Big school, small school mixture at top of Richland County Boys Basketball Power Poll
MANSFIELD — Christmas week was kind to Richland County teams.
There are still three undefeated squads and six with records better than .500 and two more just one game under .500. There was some slight movement in this week's power poll, but the upcoming slate of games should give us plenty to talk about next week.
Let's check out how this week's poll shook out.
DEEP EXPECTATIONS IN POOL: Swimming outlook: Ontario, Lexington load up for another strong run to state
11. St. Peter's (1-6)
The Spartans dropped their only game since the last power poll falling to Mansfield Christian 70-29. With this entire week off for the holidays, the Spartans should be able to get in some quality practices as they prepare to take on Central Christian on Jan. 5 as they look to usher in the new year with a turnaround.
10. Madison (1-6)
The Rams suffered a major blow to an already thin lineup. Cameron Kuhn suffered an ankle injury that will keep him out an extended amount of time and it proved to be a major loss as the Rams dropped their first game without him to New Philadelphia 58-27. The 27 points are tied for the 20th fewest points scored in a game by a Madison team in program history. Will Kepple had 12 of those 27 and the Rams will have no time to figure out what life is like without Kuhn as they head to Ontario on Wednesday and host Ashland on Friday in two key games.
9. Ontario (1-6)
The Warriors followed up their first win of the season with two losses last week falling to Pleasant 60-49 and Lexington 84-46. Grady Schroeder had 21 points against Pleasant while Landon Foltz had 10 in the loss to Lexington. The 1-6 start is the worst start for Ontario boys basketball since 1979-80 when the Warriors went 3-18 after starting the season 1-3 before going on a 13-game losing streak to start 1-16. This year’s Warriors have a chance to get back on track this week as they host Madison on Wednesday before having the rest of the week off to get ready for 2024.
8. Plymouth (3-4)
The Big Red went into the Christmas break after suffering a 60-40 loss to Black River in their only game since the last power poll. They now sit under .500 and have their first losing streak of the season to contend with. They will look to snap it on Friday at home against St. Paul before hosting Wynford on Saturday.
7. Clear Fork (2-3)
The Colts had an up and down week last week falling to Marion Harding 69-39 in Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference play before turning around and beating Northmor 66-41 behind Adam Vanausdle’s 16 points. Logan Richmond also added 15 and Garret Hotz scored 11 for a nice balanced game by the Colts. Clear Fork has a busy week this week host Fredericktown on Wednesday and traveling to Shelby on Friday.
6. Mansfield Senior (5-2)
The Tygers have found a nice groove of late with a nice four-game winning streak. Last week, they won both of their games beating Eastmoor Academy 83-59 before bouncing Wooster 66-53 in Ohio Cardinal Conference play. Kyevi Roane had 22 points while Rashad Reed Jr. had 20 and Duke Reese added 15 against Eastmoor while Roane polished off a nice week with 21 points against Wooster with Reese adding 10. The win over the Generals gave the Tygers win No. 1,600 in program history making them the unofficial fifth-winningest team in Ohio high school basketball history. The Tygers will look for win No. 1,601on Friday at home against West Holmes before heading to Harvest Prep on Saturday to take on Parkersburg South in a holiday shootout.
5. Mansfield Christian (5-1)
The Flames continued their winning ways with a dominating 70-29 win over St. Peter’s in their only game since the last power poll. Amarr Davis had 20 points while Davion Mack added 19 as the duo combined to outscore St. Peter’s by 10 points. The Flames have something special brewing with a solid 5-1 start and they will look to push it even further this week hosting East Knox on Thursday and traveling to Northmor on Saturday.
4. Shelby (5-1)
The Whippets come in at No. 4 again this week, but earned possibly the biggest win of the season last week beating River Valley 61-60 behind Alex Bruskotter’s clutch free throws with 0.4 second left on the clock. The win puts Shelby all alone in first place in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference and in the driver’s season as they search for their fifth straight league championship. They will look to remain undefeated in the league on Friday at home against Clear Fork before the big one when the Whippets travel to Lexington for what looks to be the game of the year.
3. Lucas (7-0)
The Cubs remain undefeated after beating Loudonville 66-39 last week to improve to 7-0. Since a close five-point win over Mohawk in the first game of the year, the Cubs haven’t been tested since winning all but one game by 20-plus points and even that other game was by 18. So, they are looking for a tester to gauge where they are this season and should get it on Friday as they travel to Galion for what should be a fun one. They will need that test before the big Mid-Buckeye Conference showdown with Mansfield Christian next week.
2. Crestview (7-0)
The Cougars improved to 7-0 thanks to a dominating 85-46 win over New London and into a tie for first place in the Firelands Conference with St. Paul. Justice Thompson had another 30-point game with 31 while Jarek Ringler scored 23 including his first in-game dunk and Dylan Bruner had 10 to give the Cougars plenty of balance. Like Lucas, the Cougars have only been tested once this year, a 40-39 win over Colonel Crawford, so they are kind of looking to be pushed a little bit. They host Mapleton on Saturday and have very winnable games next week. But Jan. 11 will be the one the Cougars have in mind when St. Paul comes in for a visit with first place on the line assuming both teams take care of business until then.
1. Lexington (8-0)
Lexington continues to hold onto the top spot in the power poll after two absolutely dominating victories last week. First, Lex beat Ashland 88-54 in OCC play behind a hot shooting night going 12-for-24 from three as Elijah Hudson led the way with 21 points and Brayden Fogle, who didn’t need a 3-pointer, scored 18 while pulling down seven boards. Seven Allen and Dantrell Hughes each had 11 points apiece. Then, Lex took it to Ontario with an 84-46 beatdown in the annual rivalry game for their most lopsided win over Ontario since beating the Warriors by 39 on Feb. 5, 1982, 82-43. Had it not been for Ontario's late 3-pointer in the closing seconds, it would have been the most lopsided result in the rivalry's history. Hudson had 19 in that game while Fogle added 18, Joe Caudill added 14 and Gavin Husty scored 12. Lexington is absolutely rolling of late averaging 76.4 points per game while allowing just 47.9 for a near 30-point differential. But this week is huge for the Minutemen. First, they have to travel to New Philadelphia for a matchup between the 2022-23 OCC co-champs before turning around and hosting Shelby on Saturday in what looks like the Richland County Game of the Year.
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Last Week’s Rankings
11. St. Peter's
10. Madison
9. Ontario
8. Clear Fork
7. Plymouth
6. Mansfield Senior
5. Mansfield Christian
4. Shelby
3. Lucas
2. Crestview
1. Lexington
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Lexington Minutemen No. 1 in Richland County Boys Basketball Power Poll
