Boys super 7 poll | Final
Vikings complete another
wire-to-wire run
Thursday, February 26, 2009
9:21 AM
We won't make any predictions here
about whether the Northland boys basketball team will have another meltdown
once it gets deep into the district tournament as it did a year ago, but
there's no questioning that this program is in the midst of a spectacular run
at the regular-season level.
For the second consecutive season, the Vikings were No. 1 in the first Super 7
poll and remained at the spot for the entire season. They've gone 59-1 over the
last three years, with their only slip-up coming Jan. 31 to state-ranked
Canton Timken (67-61 in overtime).
Scioto was second at the beginning of the season and also stayed at the same
position the entire year, pounding its way through an OCC-Cardinal that had
four other teams close the regular season at .500 or better.
The OCC-Ohio showed how tough it was -- at least at the top -- by having Grove
City and Newark earn the third and fourth spots. While the Wildcats were third
in the first Super 7 this year after their state-title run last year, the
Greyhounds emerged after being unranked to earn a share of the league title
with Newark.
There seems little difference between the teams that finished 5-7, and because
there were no matchups between DeSales, Coffman and Beechcroft, we gave the nod
to the Stallions at No. 5 because of their difficult schedule. Not only did
DeSales go 9-1 in the CCL with its only loss to Hartley, which is the No. 1
seed in Division III, but it traveled at least two hours for five of its games.
Coffman switched places this week with Beechcroft after the Cougars lost to one
of the better teams in Cleveland last Saturday. Honestly, the
biggest difference between them is the rather cosmetic advantage the
Shamrocks hold because of a better overall record.
We should know in a couple weeks whether we got it right or not: Coffman would
play Beechcroft on March 7 in a district semifinal if both teams make it
through this week.
Finally, we give props to the trio of Gahanna, Lakewood and Westerville South
for solid regular seasons. Lakewood survived a strong MSL-Ohio to capture a
title. Gahanna might have won some other leagues in central Ohio but
instead ended up third in the OCC-Ohio. South suffered two losses to Scioto and
also fell to Newark and OCC-Ohio fourth-place finisher Reynoldsburg to
just miss the poll.
1. NORTHLAND (19-1 overall, 14-0 City-North) -- Last week: Def.
Eastmoor Academy 62-56 in City League championship game (Feb.
21). This week: At New Albany vs. Watkins Memorial in first round of the
Division I tournament (Wednesday). Previous ranking: No. 1
2. DUBLIN SCIOTO (19-1, 14-0 OCC-Cardinal) -- Last week: Def.
Brookhaven 56-40 (Feb. 18); def. Marysville 77-40 (Feb. 20). This week: At
Worthington Christian vs. Briggs in first round of the Division I
tournament (Wednesday). Previous ranking: No. 2
3. GROVE CITY (18-2, 12-2 OCC-Ohio) -- Last week: Def.
Pickerington North 78-66 (Feb. 20). This week: At Olentangy Orange
vs. Worthington Kilbourne in first round of the Division I tournament
(Wednesday). Previous ranking: No. 3
4. NEWARK (17-3, 12-2 OCC-Ohio) -- Last week: Def. Lancaster 66-54
(Feb. 20). This week: At Worthington Christian vs. Marysville in first round of
the Division I tournament (Tuesday). Previous ranking: No. 4
5. DeSALES (17-3, 9-1 CCL) -- Last week: Def. Watterson 60-49 (Feb.
20); def. Massillon Washington 82-58 (Feb. 21). This week: At Grove
City vs. Amanda-Clearcreek or Whitehall in second round of the Division II
tournament (Saturday). Previous ranking: No. 5
6. DUBLIN COFFMAN (17-3, 13-1 OCC-Central) -- Last week: Def. Upper
Arlington 61-42 (Feb. 20). This week: At New Albany vs. Pickerington North in
first round of the Division I tournament (Tuesday). Previous ranking: No.
7
7. BEECHCROFT (16-4, 11-3 City-North) -- Last week: Lost to Cleveland
Heights 85-64 (Feb. 21). This week: At Harvest Prep vs. Hilliard Darby or Logan
in second round of the Division I tournament (Saturday). Previous ranking: No.
6
Others to watch: Gahanna, Lakewood and Westerville South