Advertisement

Lexington, Crestview, Shelby make push for Ohio boys basketball AP Poll state titles

jake furr, mansfield news journal
·3 min read

COLUMBUS — No. 1 is well within reach.

For who? Take your pick. Three Richland County teams could make a run at an Ohio boys basketball AP Poll state title over the next few weeks.

In Division II, Lexington is No. 2 after receiving two first-place votes and sits behind Rocky River Lutheran West, which received 12 first-place votes. The Minutemen closed out an Ohio Cardinal Conference championship and are closing in on a 20-win season at 18-1. They play at West Holmes on Friday to clinch the OCC title outright.

COACHING MILESTONE: 'I love him as a coach': Crestview's John Kurtz earns 400th career victory

But how about Shelby? The Whippets are ranked No. 6 in the Division II poll and in the MaxPreps RPI, just behind Lexington. Shelby (15-2) clinched a fifth-consecutive MOAC championship last week and head into this weekend with a huge opportunity to make a case for the top spot. They play Division I No. 6 Findlay on Saturday at Ottawa-Glandorf and a win there would go a long way in next week's poll.

Then, there is Crestview. The undefeated Cougars are No. 4 in this week's poll in Division III and seem well on their way to an undefeated regular season, something that has never been done before in program history. The Cougars are one of just two teams in Division III to remain undefeated, joining Malvern. Division I Garfield Heights and Division IV Monroe Central are the other OHSAA undefeated teams.

Huron County's Willard is No. 10 in Division II and will join Lexington and Shelby in the district tournament. Willard hosts Shelby on Feb. 23.

The top 10 teams in the Associated Press Ohio high school basketball poll with first-place votes in parentheses, won-loss record, and total points:

DIVISION I

1. Garfield Hts. (5) 19-0 135

2. Cle. St. Ignatius (4) 16-3 133

3. Cin. Moeller (1) 18-1 132

4. Lewis Center Olentangy Orange (6) 17-1 127

5. Tol. Whitmer 15-1 109

6. Findlay 14-1 95

7. Delaware Hayes 16-1 69

8. Centerville (2) 12-5 46

9. Cin. Elder 15-3 41

10. Louisville 16-2 32

Others receiving 12 or more points: Brecksville-Broadview Hts. 22. Cin. Sycamore 18.

Lexington's Seven Allen has the Minutemen at No. 2 in the latest AP Poll in Division II.
Lexington's Seven Allen has the Minutemen at No. 2 in the latest AP Poll in Division II.

DIVISION II

1. Rocky River Lutheran W. (12) 16-2 167

2. Lexington (2)  18-1 146

3. Cin. Wyoming (3) 16-0 109

4. Cols. Hartley14-2 100

5. Cuyahoga Falls CVCA 17-1 86

6. Shelby 15-2  78

7. Kettering Alter (1) 12-5 74

8. Youngs. Ursuline 13-3 55

9. Creston Norwayne 15-1 52

10. Willard 13-3 32

Others receiving 12 or more points: Marietta 29. Dresden Tri-Valley 15.

DIVISION III

1. Cle. Hts. Lutheran E. (6) 14-4 143

2. Ottawa-Glandorf (6) 15-2  142

3. Malvern (3) 16-0 124

4. Ashland Crestview 17-0 97

5. New Madison Tri-Village (2) 16-1 85

6. Toledo Emmanuel Christian 14-2 76

7. Castalia Margaretta 15-2 68

8. Camden Preble Shawnee (1) 16-3 44

9. Gahanna Cols. Academy 16-2 40

10. Minford 12-3 35

Others receiving 12 or more points: Archbold 32. Haviland Wayne Trace 20. Seaman N. Adams 13. Youngs. Mooney 13. Bluffton 12.

DIVISION IV

1. Russia (9) 17-1 162

2. Tol. Christian (3) 15-1 127

3. Richmond Hts. (6) 9-8 121

4. Lima Cent. Cath. 14-2 105

5. Woodsfield Monroe Cent. 15-0 79

6. Warren JFK 13-4 61

7. Berlin Hiland 13-4 57

8. Troy Christian 15-2 52

9. Leesburg Fairfield 17-2 50

10. Delphos St. John's 16-2 46

(tie) S. Webster 15-2 46

Others receiving 12 or more points: Antwerp 23. Bascom Hopewell-Loudon 17. Pandora-Gilboa 17. Mogadore 13.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Ohio state boys high school basketball AP polls for Feb. 5, 2024