Boys Super 7 Poll-Week 2=

Northland retains top spot

Monday, December 15, 2008 4:14 PM

All hail the OCC-Ohio Division. =

If for no other reason than the respect it gained by winning the Division I state championship last year, Newark opened the Super 7 at No. 3. The Wildc= ats' loss to Gahanna on Dec. 9 almost certainly will not be their only conference setback, especially when opponents such as the Lions and Grove City are in their league. That trio comprises the Nos. 4-6 spots in our second poll, wi= th the impressive offense by the Greyhounds keeping them ahead of their confer= ence competitors at least for the present.

Of the teams in our first Super 7, only Northland and = DeSales were victors. We believe this says more about the competition these teams played - and the depth of area talent - than ineptitude on our part.

The Vikings' victory over perennial state-power Dayton Dunbar last Saturday= is impressive, and DeSales earned a nice win last = Friday over Worthington Christian. Both the Vikings and Stallions have tough conference games this week as well.

Scioto gets the nod at No. 2 even with a loss since that setback came again= st an out-of-the-area team last Sunday. Hey, the Irish were impressive last Fr= iday in beating defending Division I district champion Westerville South - Scioto probably isn't going anywhere any time soon.

As far as rounding out the poll ... OK, maybe we wrong about Hilliard David= son. A loss to Westland (58-55 on Dec. 9) knocks out the Wildcats, and Westervil= le South also falls out, in favor of the OCC-Ohio teams. Worthington Christian= is sticking for another week, this time at No. 7, after suffering a tough loss= to DeSales last Friday. The Warriors might not lose agai= n for a while.

1. NORTHLAND (2-0 overall) - Last week: Def. Dayton Dunbar 61-55 (Dec. = 13). This week: Home vs. Brookhaven (Tuesday); At Centennial (Friday). Previous ranking: No. 1

2. DUBLIN SCIOTO (3-1, 2-0 OCC-Cardinal) - Last week: Def. Olentangy 73-59 (Dec. 9); def. Westerville South 62-48 (Dec. 12); lost to North Canton Hoover 50-48 (Dec. 14). This week: At Westerville North (Friday). Previous ranking: No. 2

3. DeSALES (3-0, 1-0 CCL) - Last week: D= ef. Worthington Christian 54-49 (Dec. 12); def. Lima Central Catholic 50-38 (De= c. 13). This week: At Ready (Friday); at Big Walnut (Saturday). Previous ranki= ng: No. 4

4. GROVE CITY (4-0, 2-0 OCC-Ohio) - Last week: Def. Reynoldsburg 85-65 (Dec. 9); def. Groveport 94-76 (Dec. 12); def. Columbus East 94-69 (Dec. 13= ). This week: At Lancaster (Friday);. Previous rank= ing: Unranked

5. GAHANNA (4-0, 2-0 OCC-Ohio) - Last week: Def. Newark 65-62 (Dec. = 9); def. Lancaster 64-58 (Dec. 12); def. Wellington 64-36 (Dec. 13). This week:= At Pickerington Central (Friday); at Teays Valley (Saturday). Previous ranking: Unranked

6. NEWARK (2-1, 1-1 OCC-Ohio) - Last week: Lost to Gahanna 65-62 (De= c. 9); def. Reynoldsburg 70-60 (Dec. 12). This week: At Groveport (Friday); ho= me vs. Zanesville (Saturday). Previous ranking: No. 3

7. WORTHINGTON CHRISTIAN (2-1, 0-1 CCL) - Last week: Def. Wellington 78-35 (Dec. 9); lost to DeSales 54-49 (Dec. 12)= . This week: Home vs. Whitehall (Tuesday); at Watterson (Friday); home vs. Fisher Catholic (Saturday). Previous ranking: No. 6

Others to watch: Brookhaven, Canal= Winchester, Dublin Coffman