Loss not enough to drop Northland from No. 1

Monday,  February 2, 2009 4:13 PM

Northland now has a loss -- its first in the regular season since 2006 -- but did we question whether they should stay at No. 1 this week?

Nah. The Vikings fell last Saturday to Canton Timken, which improved to 11-1, had the advantage of being at home and is the 10th-ranked team in the state. Not that any loss is OK, but this one, in the grand scheme of things for the Vikings, isn't extremely meaningful.

The only other team to lose among the Super 7 was Dublin Coffman, which fell to suddenly hot Thomas Worthington and slips from No. 6 to No. 7. The Shamrocks switch places with Beechcroft, which plays Northland on Monday and Brookhaven on Friday -- in other words, more changes could be on the way this week at least at the bottom of the Super 7.

Another big matchup this week pits No. 3 Newark against No. 4 Grove City in the Hoop it Up game of the week. The Wildcats beat the Greyhounds 56-51 on Dec. 23, but Grove City has won nine in a row -- usually impressively -- since that time. Newark has won eight consecutive after losing to Westerville North 49-46 on Dec. 27. This should be a dandy.

And be sure to keep an eye on Newark Catholic at Lakewood, which will be held Wednesday. Both teams have one loss this season, with the Lancers' only setback coming to the Green Wave (62-42 on Dec. 10). The winner could have the inside track at a spot in the Super 7 next week if anyone stumbles.


1. NORTHLAND (13-1 overall, 9-0 City-North) -- Last week: Def. Centennial 62-45 (Jan. 27); def. Columbus East 59-42 (Jan. 30); lost to Canton Timken 67-61 in overtime (Jan. 31). This week: Home vs. Beechcroft (Today); at Whetstone (Tuesday); home vs. Linden-McKinley (Friday). Previous ranking: No. 1

2. DUBLIN SCIOTO (14-1, 10-0 OCC-Cardinal) -- Last week: Def. Westerville South 47-45 (Jan. 27); def. Westerville North 51-34 (Jan. 30). This week: Home vs. Westerville Central (Tuesday); at Olentangy Liberty (Friday). Previous ranking: No. 2

3. NEWARK (13-2, 8-1 OCC-Ohio) -- Last week: Def. Reynoldsburg 49-43 (Jan. 27); def. Groveport 57-47 (Jan. 30). This week: Home vs. Grove City (Tuesday); at Pickerington Central (Friday); home vs. Lancaster (Saturday). Previous ranking: No. 3

4. GROVE CITY (14-1, 9-1 OCC-Ohio) -- Last week: Def. Groveport 76-45 (Jan. 27); def. Lancaster 100-31 (Jan. 30); def. Toledo Woodward 104-43 (Jan. 31). This week: At Newark (Tuesday); at Gahanna (Friday); home vs. Lima Senior (Saturday). Previous ranking: No. 4

5. DeSALES (12-2, 6-0 CCL) -- Last week: Def. Worthington Christian 72-55 (Jan. 30). This week: Home vs. Ready (Tuesday); at Hartley (Friday). Previous ranking: No. 5

6. BEECHCROFT (13-1, 8-1 City-North) -- Last week: Def. Mifflin 73-68 (Jan. 27); def. Whetstone 67-59 (Jan. 30). This week: At Northland (Monday); at Linden-McKinley (Tuesday); home vs. Brookhaven (Friday). Previous ranking: No. 7

7. DUBLIN COFFMAN (13-2, 9-1 OCC-Central) -- Last week: Def. Westland 69-65 (Jan. 27); lost to Thomas Worthington 55-47 (Jan. 30). This week: Home vs. Hilliard Darby (Tuesday); at Hilliard Davidson (Friday); home vs. Pickerington Central (Saturday). Previous ranking: No. 6

Others to watch: Canal Winchester, Newark Catholic, Westerville South