Ohio boys high school basketball Top 25 rankings: St. Ignatius remains at the top (02/12/2024)

Olentangy Orange jumps to No. 2, Russia returs to rankings

St. Ignatius remains the top team in this week's SBLive Ohio boys basketball Power 25, the penultimate edition of the rankings for this season.

Olentangy Orange made the leap from No. 4 to No. 2, while Lutheran West also jumped two spots to No. 8. Within the Top 10, Brunswick (No. 5) and Archbishop Moeller (No. 6) each moved up one spot.

After falling out of the rankings a couple of weeks ago, Russia is back in at No. 25.

SBLive Ohio boys basketball Power 25

1. St. Ignatius (17-3)

Last Week: 1

St. Ignatius can beat teams with their defense, their inside play, and on Wednesday, from downtown. The Wildcats set a new program record with 17 3-pointers in their 88-35 win at Benedictine. The Wildcats have won 11 of their last 12 with the playoffs looming close. They host Walsh Jesuit this coming Wednesday.

2. Olentangy Orange (19-1)

Last Week: 4

Olentangy Orange clinched their second straight Ohio Capital Conference Central Division title with a 51-47 win over Hilliard Bradley on Friday. In a 69-44 win against Olentangy, Devin Brown had 20 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks on the night. The Pioneers return home on Friday to face Olentangy Liberty.

3. Findlay (16-2)

Last Week: 2

It was standing room only when Findlay hosted Whitmer for first place in the Northern Lakes League. The Trojans did not disappoint, jumping ahead early and never relinquishing. Whitmer was held to 34.1% shooting as Findlay completes the season sweep, 58-45. However, Findlay was upset by Shelby, 59-53 on Saturday. The Trojans hit the road this week with contests at Northview on Tuesday and Napoleon on Friday.

4. Garfield Heights (19-1)

Last Week: 3

The final undefeated team in Division I is no more. Leading 45-42 in the 4th quarter on Tuesday, Lutheran West went on a 12-2 run to pull away and seal a win over the Bulldogs. Garfield Heights looks to bounce back as they host Bedford on Thursday.

5. Brunswick (17-2)

Last Week: 6

Brunswick was off this past week. They can clinch a share of the Greater Cleveland Conference with a sweep this coming week when they head to Strongsville on Tuesday, followed by a home contest against Medina on Friday.

6. Archbishop Moeller (20-1)

Last Week: 7

With a convincing win against St. Xavier on Friday, Moeller clinched their first outright Greater Catholic League South title since 2020. The Crusaders held St. X to 29.7% shooting in their 54-29 win. Alex Kazanecki stepped up for the Crusaders, scoring 12 and adding eight rebounds. Moeller wraps up the regular season with a league game at La Salle this Friday night.

7. Whitmer (16-2)

Last Week: 5

The Thursday loss to Findlay puts Whitmer's back to the wall. The Panthers have two more Northern Lakes League games left on the schedule, but trail Findlay by a game in the standings. Whitmer will need to win out and hope for some help for a chance at their first NLL title. The Panthers earned a confidence-builder with a 52-39 win at Defiance on Saturday. Next up, the Trojans will be on the road all week with Anthony Wayne on Tuesday and Bowling Green on Friday.

8. Lutheran West (18-2)

Last Week: 10

Lutheran West made a statement with two marquee wins in less than a week. After defeating Lutheran East a week ago, the Longhorns were neck-and-neck with then-No. 3 Garfield Heights through three quarters. The Longhorns pulled away in the 4th, going on a 12-2 run to win 54-50. The Longhorns were led by Derek Fairley, who posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards. Lutheran West continued their winning ways with a 77-49 result against traditional power Lima Senior. The Longhorns host Euclid on Tuesday, then John Marshall on Saturday.

9. Delaware Hayes (19-1)

Last Week: 8

The Pacers' win streak extends to 13 after a trio of wins this past week. Delaware Hayes opened with a pair of Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division wins at Dublin Scioto and Canal Winchester. They followed those up with a road win against Gahanna Lincoln on Saturday. The Pacers have clinched at least a share of the Capital Division title. They can win it outright this week when they host Franklin Heights on Friday.

10. Centerville (13-6)

Last Week: 9

The Elks clinched at least a share of the Greater Western Ohio Conference on Monday when they defeated Springfield, 74-35. Five players finished the game in double digits with Baboucarr Njie leading all scorers with 22. This will be the sixth straight conference title for the Elks. Centerville wrapped up the week with a 74-54 loss to nationally ranked La Lumiere (Indiana) The Elks host Springboro on Tuesday, followed by a road contest against Wayne on Friday.

11. Lutheran East (15-4)

Last Week: 11

Trailing after the first quarter, it appeared as if Lutheran East's woes would continue. However, a surge in the second saw the Falcons pull away, setting the stage for a 52-37 win over then-No. 15 St. Edward. Four Falcons finished in double figures, led by Anthony Bruce with 15. Lutheran East wraps up the regular season with a pair of home games against Mentor on Tuesday and Louisville on Friday.

12. Richmond Heights (10-8)

Last Week: 12

The Spartans' lone contest this past week was against fellow defending state champion Buchtel and Richmond Heights extended their win streak to five in a row with an 84-63 victory over the Griffins. The Spartans wrap up the regular season next weekend at home with St. Edward on Friday and Huntington Prep (West Virginia) on Saturday at the Play-by-Play Classic at the Canton Memorial Civic Center.

13. Westerville North (16-4)

Last Week: 14

The Warriors bounced back to form after a pair of tough road losses. Westerville North improved to 11-2 in the Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division after a pair of conference wins against Big Walnut and Worthington Kilbourne. Junior Micah Young hit the double-digit mark in both contests, scoring 15 and 12 respectively. The Warriors wrap up conference play when they host Dublin Scioto on Friday.

14. St. Edward (12-7)

Last Week: 15

St. Edward recovered from their early week loss at Lutheran East and never trailed in their 82-38 win over University School on Friday. St. Edward faces a pair of SBLive Ohio Power 25 teams in Brecksville on Tuesday and Richmond Heights on Friday.

15. Shelby (17-2)

Last Week: 20

Last week, they secured their fifth straight outright title in the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference. This week, they pulled off the biggest upset in the state, taking down then-No. 2 Findlay, 59-53. Alex Bruskotter led the Whippets with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Shelby hosts Pleasant on Friday, followed by Upper Sandusky on Saturday.

16. Hilliard Bradley (14-5)

Last Week: 13

The Jaguars' lone contest this week was a 51-47 loss to Olentangy Orange. Hilliard Bradley will return to action on Tuesday to host Dunbar, followed by their Ohio Capital Conference Central Division finale at Dublin Coffman.

17. Louisville (17-2)

Last Week: 17

Louisville put the pedal to the metal early against Massillon. The Leopards jumped out to a 25-7 lead in the first quarter, coasting to a 79-59 win on Friday night. Hayden Nigro led all scorers with 23. Louisville faces Hoover on Tuesday, followed by No. 11 Lutheran East on Saturday at the Play-by-Play Classic at the Canton Memorial Civic Center.

18. Reynoldsburg (14-5)

Last Week: 18

It comes down to one game for the Ohio Capital Conference Buckeye Division. Reynoldsburg defeated Central Crossing, 59-24, on Friday. The Raiders' division title will hang on their lone contest next week, a home bout against a red-hot Pickerington Central squad currently riding a 4-game win streak.

19. Ottawa-Glandorf (16-3)

Last Week: 16

There is good news and bad news for O-G. The good news is that their 55-41 win over Lima Shawnee on Friday puts them in the driver's seat to win their third straight Western Buckeye League title. The bad news is the Titans followed it up with a home loss to Troy Christian, 61-50. O-G is on the road next week with Defiance on Friday and Lexington on Saturday. 

20. Lexington (19-1)

Last Week: 19

Lexington clinched the outright Ohio Cardinal Conference title with a 69-34 win at West Holmes on Friday. Elijah Hudson led all scorers with 15 while Joe Caudill scored 8, securing 12 rebounds. The Minutemen wrap up the regular season at Mount Vernon on Friday, then No. 19 Ottawa-Glandorf on Saturday.

21. Harvest Prep (16-4)

Last Week: 23

The Warriors opened their contest at Dublin Coffman with a 14-0 run and never looked back as they made it 11 wins in a row with their 78-64 win on Tuesday night. The Warriors will wrap up the regular season at Buchtel this Saturday.

22. Brecksville-Broadview Heights (17-1)

Last Week: 21

The Bees made it 10 wins in a row with a pair of Suburban League National Division wins this past week. The Bees came from behind, capped by a Steve Skaljac 3-pointer, to beat North Royalton, 44-41. The Bees' win on Friday was more comfortable as they defeated Wadsworth, 65-53. The Bees head to No. 14 St. Edward on Tuesday, followed by Stow-Munroe Falls on Friday.

23. Toledo Christian (17-1)

Last Week: 25

Toledo Christian made a pair of strong statements before the playoff draw this past weekend. On Monday, they defeated Millbury Lake 81-48. That was followed up with an 80-34 win over Cardinal Stritch on Friday. That makes for 6 straight wins by double-digits for the Eagles. Toledo Christian heads to Swanton on Tuesday, followed by a home contest against Northwood on Friday.

24. Elder (17-3)

Last Week: 24

It truly is a philosophy of next man up for Elder. With Cam Williams in foul trouble, Tyler Johnson went lights out in the 4th quarter in Elder's come-from-behind win over Wyoming on Tuesday. Cam Williams paired with Drew Murphy on Friday to score 22 and 14 respectively in the Panthers' 65-47 win over La Salle. Elder wraps up the regular season at St. Xavier this Friday.

25. Russia (19-1)

Last Week: NR

Russia took a week off from the SBLive Ohio Power 25 after a shocking loss to Anna two weeks ago. Since then, the Raiders have been scary good. Russia went into Ansonia and Fairlawn, winning 72-21 and 78-26 respectively. This past Friday, Russia completed the season sweep of Botkins, 65-52. With the outright Shelby County Athletic League title clinched, the Raiders wrap up the regular season with Fort Loramie and Marion Local this weekend.