Ohio boys high school basketball Top 25 rankings: St. Ignatius finishes regular season on top (02/19/2024)

The OHSAA postseason will begin Monday, February 19

As the 2024 OHSAA basketball postseason begins this week, we release our final SBLive Ohio boys basketball Power 25 of the 2023-24 season. 

St. Ignatius finishes as the top team in the state, while Olentangy Orange, Findlay and Garfield Heights remained the top four teams from last week and and Archbishop Moeller moved up one spot to finish in the top 5.

This weeks biggest movers up were Louisville (up five spots to No. 12), Russia (up four spots to No. 21) and Westerville North (up three spots to No. 10).

Three teams who weren't ranked a week ago find themselves in the final rankings, as New Albany is No. 23, Mentor is No. 24 and Ursuline is T-No.25. 

SBLive Ohio boys basketball Power 25 

1. St. Ignatius (18-3)

Last Week: 1

St. Ignatius tied a program record with their 18th win of the season on Wednesday against Walsh Jesuit, 76-42. The Wildcats host Brush on Tuesday. Then it's onto the sectionals where they will face the winner of Cuyahoga Falls and North Olmsted on Saturday, March 2.

2. Olentangy Orange (20-1)

Last Week: 2

Olentangy Orange completed a perfect run through the Ohio Capital Conference Central Division with a 73-70 win against Olentangy Liberty on Friday. Dylan Joy and Keegan Knupp scored 21 points apiece as the Pioneers finished a perfect 10-0 in league play. Olentangy Orange hosts Columbus St. Francis on Tuesday, then host Whetstone in the first round of the sectionals on Tuesday, February 27.

3. Findlay (19-2)

Last Week: 3

A pair of road wins this past week clinched at least a share of the Northern Lakes League for Findlay. The Trojans used suffocating defense to hold off Northview and Napoleon, winning 56-37 and 51-36 respectively. Findlay wrapped up the week with a 48-34 win against Tiffin Columbian. An outright NLL title is on the line when they host Perrysburg this Friday. Findlay will host Waite on Friday, March 1 in their sectional opener.

4. Garfield Heights (20-1)

Last Week: 4

Garfield Heights jumped out to a 22-5 lead in the first and never looked back, defeating Bedford 76-52 on senior night. The Bulldogs wrap up the regular season on Thursday against Maple Heights. Garfield Heights will face the winner of Lakeside and John Marshall on Saturday, March 2 to open sectional play.

5. Archbishop Moeller (21-1)

Last Week: 6

The Crusaders wrapped up a perfect Greater Catholic League South Division season with a 72-48 win at La Salle. Alex Kazanecki led the team with 15 points in the regular season finale. The Crusaders open sectionals against Talawanda on Thursday.

6. Whitmer (18-2)

Last Week: 7

Whitmer earned a pair of road wins in convincing fashion this past week. The Panthers completed a season sweep of Anthony Wayne, 68-50, followed by a 67-54 win over Bowling Green on Friday. Whitmer will host Northview on Tuesday and Start on Friday. Afterwards, the Panthers will open sectional play with the winner of Holland Springfield and Bowsher on Friday, March 1.

7. Lutheran West (19-2)

Last Week: 8

The Longhorns had only one contest this past week, a change of pace for the gauntlet the team has been dealing with in the past month. Lutheran West came out on top against Euclid, 95-61. Jayson Levis led all scorers with 14 points and Josh Meyer recorded his 2nd double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Longhorns wrap up the regular season at Chaney on Saturday. Division II Lutheran West will begin sectionals against the winner of Shaw and Ravenna on Friday, March 1.

8. Delaware Hayes (21-1)

Last Week: 9

The Pacers won the Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division outright with a convincing home win over Franklin Heights on Friday, 75-21. Jesse Burris scored 18 points to become the Pacers' all-time leading scorer at 1,528 and counting. Delaware Hayes faces Logan to open sectional on Tuesday, February 27.

9. Brunswick (18-3)

Last Week: 5

The Greater Cleveland Conference title will come down to the final night of the season after Brunswick suffered a season sweep at the hands of Strongsville on Tuesday, before rebounding at home against Medina, 66-52. The outright GCC title will be on the line on Friday when the Blue Devils head to Mentor. Brunswick will face Max S. Hayes to open sectionals on Wednesday, February 28.

10. Westerville North (17-4)

Last Week: 13

The Warriors finish the regular season in the top 10 after winning five of their last six contests. Westerville North completed the sweep of Dublin Scioto with an 82-49 win on Friday night. Vari Adams lead the scoring with 14. The Warriors face Central Crossing in the first round of sectionals on Tuesday, February 27.

11. Richmond Heights (12-9)

Last Week: 12

Richmond Heights' first season away from the Chagrin Valley Conference has been a mixed bag. Yes, they only won 12 games. However, they faced the toughest schedule in the state, regardless of division meaning the Spartans will be ready for the grind that is the month-long Division IV state playoffs. Richmond Heights will face the winner of Leetonia and Medina Christian on Friday, March 1.

12. Louisville (19-2)

Last Week: 17

Without question, the Leopards' win over then-No. 11 Lutheran East was their marquee win of the season. Hayden Nigro was the catalyst on both ends of the court, leading all scorers with 31 points on Saturday. The Leopards face Canal Fulton Northwest on Friday before they begin their postseason run. Louisville will face Akron North on Wednesday, February 28 to open sectional play.

13. Lutheran East (16-5)

Last Week: 11

The Falcons opened the week with a 95-81 win over Mentor. However, the momentum could not be held as they fell to No. 12 Louisville, 77-65. Nonetheless, Lutheran East will open the Division III state playoffs as the top seed in the Northeast, facing the winner of Bard and Champion on Friday, March 1.

14. Shelby (19-2)

Last Week: 15

After taking down Findlay the previous week, the whole state knew about the Whippets. Shelby rode that momentum to double-digit wins over Pleasant and Upper Sandusky. The Whippets wrap up the regular season at Williard on Friday, before kicking off Division II sectionals against Vermilion on Friday, March 1.

15. Hilliard Bradley (16-5)

Last Week: 16

After some early season growing pains, Hilliard Bradley was one of the most consistent team in the Columbus area. They begin the postseason on Tuesday, February 27 against Briggs.

16. Centerville (13-8)

Last Week: 10

The Elks won the Greater Western Ohio Conference outright, but it wasn't without drama. Centerville fell to Springboro and at Wayne to end conference play. However, Fairmont's upset win over Beavercreek saw the Elks claim solo position of first place at the end of the night on Friday. Centerville will host Huntington Prep (West Virginia) on Monday before facing Piqua in the first round of the sectionals on Thursday.

17. St. Edward (13-8)

Last Week: 14

The Eagles stumbled down the stretch, defeating then-No. 22 Brecksville on Tuesday, but falling to No. 11 Richmond Heights this past Friday. St. Edward has lost three of their last five with the playoffs on the horizon. They wrap up the regular season against Padua Franciscan on Thursday, then begin sectional play against the winner of Steele and Euclid on Saturday, March 2.

18. Reynoldsburg (15-5)

Last Week: 18

The Raiders earned their first conference title since 2013 after a 70-57 win over Pickerington Central. Reynoldsburg are co-champions of the Ohio Capital Conference Buckeye Division with Newark with their only conference losses being against each other. The Raiders face Oak Hill Academy (Virginia) and Licking Heights next week to wrap up the regular season. They face Mifflin on Tuesday, February 27 to open sectional play.

19. Ottawa-Glandorf (18-3)

Last Week: 19

Ottawa-Glandorf clinched a share of the Western Buckeye League with a 59-36 win over Defiance on Friday night. The win is the Titans' 27th straight in conference play. O-G capped off the weekend with a 58-54 win over then-No. 20 Lexington. O-G can clinch a 3rd straight outright WBL title against Kenton on Friday. Their Division III postseason draw sees them face the winner of Van Buren and Elmwood on Friday, March 1.

20. Harvest Prep (17-4)

Last Week: 21

With a 60-47 win over Buchtel, the Warriors finished the regular season on a 10-game win streak. Adonus Abrams led all scorers in the latest victory with 17 points, going 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Harvest Prep opens Division III sectionals against Columbus International on Tuesday, February 27.

21. Russia (21-1)

Last Week: 25

Russia ended the season on a 5-game winning streak, four of those by 15 or more points, and claimed the outright Shelby County Athletic Conference title. The Raiders open Division IV sectionals against Yellow Springs on Friday.

22. Lexington (20-2)

Last Week: 20

The Minutemen didn't get to carry a winning streak into the postseason as they were hoping. After a 61-58 win over Mount Vernon, Lexington fell to No. 19 Ottawa-Glandorf on Saturday, 58-54. The Minutemen will face Galion or Clear Fork on Friday, March 1 in the Division II sectionals.

23. New Albany (18-4)

Last Week: NR

The Eagles fell off the radar early, but not many in the Columbus area had a better second half than New Albany. The Eagles opened the season at 3-4, which included losses to Grove City and Big Walnut. Since Christmas, New Albany has gone undefeated, riding a 15-game win streak heading into the postseason. This includes sweeps of Westerville Central and Pickerington North en route to an Ohio Capital Conference Ohio Division title. The Eagles open sectionals against Thomas Worthington on Tuesday, February 27.

24. Mentor (13-7)

Last Week: NR

All season, Brunswick has looked to be the king of the Greater Cleveland Conference. However, Mentor has found another gear at the perfect time in the season. The Cardinals have won five of their last six, averaging 89.2 points per game during that stretch. Mentor has a chance for their 4th consecutive GCC title when they host No. 9 Brunswick on Friday. The Cardinals open sectionals against Chardon on Wednesday, February 28.

25-T. Toledo Christian (19-1)

Last Week: 23

It is now eight straight double-digit wins for the Eagles as Toledo Christian defeated Swanton, 63-51 on Tuesday, followed by a 72-52 win against Northwood. The Eagles can clinch an outright Toledo Area Athletic Conference title when they host Emmanuel Christian on Friday. Division IV postseason begins for Toledo Christian on Wednesday, February 28 when they face Edon.

25-T. Youngstown Ursuline (16-3)

Last Week: NR

The Fighting Irish are 9-1 since the new year with wins over Hoban, 17-4 Farrell (Pennsylvania), and a season sweep over Cardinal Mooney. Ursuline opens Division II sectionals against Collinwood on Tuesday, February 27.