Ohio boys high school basketball Top 25 rankings: Findlay keeps the top spot (01/22/2024)

Trotwood-Madison makes its first appearance in the Ohio boys high school basketball Top 25 rankings

This past week in Ohio, the weather really impacted the schedule, as a good amount of games at the end of the week had to be postponed to a later date.

Even with Mother Nature trying to ruin the week, there were still plenty of games played, with Findlay coming out still as the No. 1 team in the SBLive Ohio Power 25.

The other four teams in the top 5 - St. Ignatius, Olentangy Orange, Westerville North and Lutheran East - remained the same, just in a different order from last week. 

Hilliard Bradley made its way back into the SBLive Ohio Power 25, while Trotwood-Madison makes its debut.

SBLive Ohio boys basketball Power 25 

1. Findlay (12-0)

Last Week: 1

If there were any doubts about Findlay being at the top of last week's SBLive Ohio Power 25, they answered them by opening the week with a 62-34 win over Toledo Rogers, followed by a Northern Lakes League win at Fremont Ross, 64-22. Findlay will head to Perrysburg for a league battle this Friday in their only contest of the week.

2. St. Ignatius  (12-3)

Last Week: 3

There is one less undefeated team in the state of Ohio thanks to St. Ignatius. The Wildcats battled with then-No. 13 Lutheran West on the road, finishing the game on a 19-5 run to win 76-64. Junior Quinn Woidke scored 23 with Cleveland State commit Reece Robinson finishing with 22. The gauntlet continues to end January as the Wildcats face a pair of SBLive Ohio Power 25 opponents this weekend in Lutheran East and Buchtel.

3. Olentangy Orange (14-0)

Last Week: 2

Olentangy Orange's 45-42 win at Olentangy Liberty marks their third one-possession win in the month of January. Nonetheless, the Pioneers remain undefeated, supplemented by a 66-48 win against Walnut Ridge on Saturday. The Pioneers are tasked with a pair of Ohio Capital Conference Central Division matchups this week, hosting Hilliard Davidson on Tuesday and off to Dublin Coffman on Friday.

4. Westerville North (10-2)

Last Week: 5

The Warriors opened the weekend with an Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division win over Franklin Heights. The next night, Westerville North controlled the tempo from start to finish in a 62-46 win over then-No. 17 Buchtel. Micah Young led all Warriors in scoring with 19 on the night. The Warriors head to Delaware Hayes on Tuesday, followed by crosstown rival Westerville South at home on Friday.

5. Lutheran East (13-2)

Last Week: 4

After a 70-36 win at Cleveland Central Catholic, Jesse McCulloch fell ill, missing the next contest. As a result, the Falcons dropped a heartbreaker at home to Glenville, 49-44. Lutheran East will look to bounce back when they face their toughest opposition of the season, a road contest against No. 2 St. Ignatius on Friday.

6. Garfield Heights (15-0)

Last Week: 9

Garfield Heights tested their endurance with three games in five days. The Bulldogs passed the test with flying colors, earning double-digit wins over Holy Name, Reynoldsburg, and Cleveland Heights. The Bulldogs head to Shaw on Tuesday, followed by a Thursday home contest against Lorain. That will make five games in nine games when it's all said and done.

7. Brunswick (11-2)

Last Week: 6

Brunswick only had one game this past week, but it was a barn burner against then-No. 24 Uniontown Green. Green opened the game with an 18-5 run but the Blue Devils chipped away throughout, regaining the lead midway through the fourth quarter. A strong final frame saw the Blue Devils earn the big non-conference victory, 45-41. Brunswick gets a pair of Greater Cleveland Conference road games this week with Euclid on Tuesday and Cleveland Heights on Friday.

8. Whitmer (12-1)

Last Week: 7

Whitmer took care of business in a pair of Northern Lakes League road contests this past week as the Panthers defeated Northview on Tuesday, followed by a 62-54 win at Southview this past Friday. Makhi Leach scored 25 in the latter contest. Whitmer's lone game this week is against Glenn (Michigan).

9. Centerville (10-4)

Last week: 8

Centerville used a huge third quarter to pull away from Springfield, winning 81-60 and improving to 7-1 in Greater Western Ohio Conference play. Four Elks finished in double digits, led by Ethan Greenberg's 21 points while Jonathan Powell posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The Elks head to Beavercreek on Tuesday, a game that will decide sole possession of first place in the GWOC. Centerville hosts Northmont on Friday.

10. Louisville (11-1)

Last Week: 10

The Leopards opened the week with an 80-60 win over previously undefeated CVCA on Tuesday. Louisville followed it up with an 80-51 win against Boardman. The Leopards host Uniontown Lake on Tuesday before their top 25 showdown at No. 18 St. Edward this Friday.

11. Archbishop Moeller  (14-1)

Last Week: 14

Moeller sits alone on top of the Greater Catholic League South after a 56-46 win at St. Xavier. Eric Mahaffey posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds on the night. Alex Kazanecki led all Crusaders in scoring with 14. Moeller wrapped up the weekend with an 85-66 win against Mentor. The Crusaders host La Salle on Friday, followed by a road trip to Walnut Hills on Saturday.

12. Ottawa-Glandorf (12-2)

Last Week: 11

Ottawa-Glandorf bounced back after a heartbreaker to end last weekend, a two-point loss on the road against No. 1 Findlay. The Titans improved to 4-0 in Western Buckeye League play with a win over Bath. The following night, Ottawaa-Glandorf posted a 51-48 win over Lima Senior in front of a sold-out home crowd. Ohio State commit Colin White scored 29 in the Titans' win over Lima Senior. They host Van Wert on Friday, followed by Hiland on Saturday.

13. Delaware Hayes (13-1)

Last Week: 12

Delaware Hayes showed they can match any style of play and come away with victories. The Pacers used a fast-paced attack to defeat Olentangy, 81-58 on Tuesday and followed it up with shutdown defense in a 50-44 win against Big Walnut on Friday. The biggest game in the Columbus area this week just might be No. 4 Westerville North at Delaware Hayes on Tuesday. North is looking for revenge while Hayes is looking to practically clinch the Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division with a season sweep. The Pacers end the week by heading to Worthington Kilbourne on Friday.

14. Lutheran West (13-1)

Last Week: 13

Lutheran West saw their undefeated run come to an end in a 76-64 loss to then-No. 3 St. Ignatius. The Longhorns have nearly a full week to regroup before hosting Bay and Archbishop Hoban this weekend.

15. Richmond Heights (6-6)

Last Week: 18

The Spartans defeated Westminster Academy on Monday and the Spartans will stay in the state this week with a pair of road games against Brush on Tuesday and SVSM on Friday.

16. Archbishop Alter (11-3)

Last Week: 15

Alter created even more separation between them and the rest of the Greater Catholic League Co-Ed this weekend. The Knights defeated McNicholas on the road, 62-34. Alter has a long road trip this weekend as they face Linsly (West Virginia) on Saturday afternoon.

17. Brecksville-Broadview Heights (11-1)

Last Week: 16

As a result of the weather, the only game this past week for the Bees was a 72-66 win against International Sports Academy. The Bees face a pair of Suburban League opponents this week, heading to Solon on Tuesday and hosting Twinsburg on Friday.

18. St. Edward (8-5)

Last Week: 19

St. Edward played their first game in ten days when they faced SPIRE Institute on Sunday at the Chet Mason Invitational. The Eagles controlled the pace throughout the contest, defeating SPIRE, 74-46. The Eagles will be tested throughout the rest of the regular season with five SBLive Ohio Power 25 opponents over the next four weeks. It begins with Louisville on Friday and Benedictine on Saturday.

19. Elder (13-2)

Last Week: 22

Elder will get another chance at Moeller but need to take care of other business first. The Panthers earned a pair of road wins against Oak Hills on Tuesday and La Salle on Friday. Drew Murphy was a catalyst for both wins, scoring 16 and 10 respectively. Elder hosts St. Xavier on Friday, then heads to Fairmont on Saturday.

20. Lexington (15-1)

Last Week: 23

Lexington is looking to begin a new winning streak after opening the season 14-0. The Minutemen came up big at home on Friday, in an 83-56 win over Mansfield Senior. The win sees Lexington build a two-game lead at the top of the Ohio Cardinal Conference. The Minutemen head to Madison Comprehensive on Tuesday, followed by a home game against Ashland on Friday.

21. Russia (14-0)

Last Week: 25

Russia used their nonstop pressure and chaos to remain perfect, defeating Miami East 65-44. Russia will host Houston on Tuesday before a Saturday contest against Versailles.

22. Hilliard Bradley (9-4)

Last Week: NR

Hilliard Bradley returns to the SBLive Ohio Power 25 following a 54-41 win against Dublin Coffman. Andrew Lamb led the Jaguars with 21 points while Cade Norris secured 11 rebounds. The Jaguars head to Upper Arlington on Tuesday, followed by a pair of tough weekend tests against Hilliard Davidson and Newark.

23. Trotwood-Madison (11-3)

Last Week: NR

Riding a five-game win streak in 2024, Trotwood-Madison debuts in the SBLive Ohio Power 25. The Rams have been rolling since the calendar turned, winning four of their five games by double digits. Senior Tim Carpenter has been lights out, averaging 21.2 points per game during the ongoing win streak. The Rams host Western Hills this Tuesday in their lone contest of the week. 

24. Reynoldsburg (9-5)

Last Week: 21

Reynoldsburg had a busy week with three games. The highlight of the week was a 93-83 road win against a tough Pickerington Central team. The win was sandwiched between losses to Oak Ridge (Florida) and undefeated Garfield Heights. The Raiders head to Groveport-Madison on Tuesday, then host Newark on Friday.

25. Green, Uniontown (9-3)

Last Week: 24

Green stays in the SBLive Ohio Power 25 despite a heartbreaking loss at Brunswick this week. The tough schedule continues for the Bulldogs as they host Massillon on Tuesday and Hoover on Friday.