Ohio’s first Associated Press high school boys basketball poll has moved with a few north central Ohio teams earning rankings.
Veteran coach John Kurtz has his Crestview Cougars rolling with a 10-0 record and are tied atop the Firelands Conference with a 5-0 mark.
Crestview’s lone game decided by single digits was a 40-39 victory on Dec. 9 at Colonel Crawford.
The Cougars are coming off a 58-48 non-conference victory over Highland on Saturday night.
Crestview will meet a formidable foe on Thursday when Norwalk St. Paul visits Olivesburg. Both the Flyers and Cougars are undefeated in the Firelands Conference.
In Division II, Lexington grabbed a first-place vote and checks in at No. 3.
The Minutemen earned 93 points in the poll, just a point behind No. 2 Kettering Alter and six points behind No. 1 Lutheran East.
Coach Scott Hamilton’s sophomore-dominated squad takes a 12-0 record into tonight’s home matchup with Mount Vernon. Lex (12-0 overall, 6-0 in the OCC) is alone atop the conference, a game in front of Mansfield Senior.
Other area teams in the rankings include Willard and Norwayne, both in Division II.
The Crimson Flashes are 9-1 and rated fifth with 50 points. Willard’s lone loss was a 58-48 decision to Margaretta on Jan. 4.
The Crimson Flashes host Sandusky tonight in what should be a superb clash.
Norwayne is No. 9 in Division II with a 9-0 mark, 5-0 in the Wayne County Athletic League.
The Bobcats host Waynedale on Friday night.
Division I
1. St. Ignatius (3) 9-2 77
2. Findlay 8-0 69
3. Garfield Hts. (2) 9-0 67
(tie) Cin. Moeller (2) 9-0 67
5. Louisville (1) 9-1 65
6. Olentangy Orange (1) 9-0 63
7. Brunswick (1) 9-0 43
8. Tol. Whitmer 8-1 42
9. Cin. Elder 8-0 28
10. Beavercreek (1) 6-1 19
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11. Delaware Hayes 14. 11. Newark 14. 13. Centerville 13.
Division II
1. Lutheran West (9) 11-0 99
2. Kettering Alter (1) 7-1 94
3. Lexington (1) 12-0 93
4. Cin. Wyoming 6-0 58
5. Willard 9-1 50
6. Col. Hartley 8-1 48
7. CVCA 9-0 36
8. Young. Ursuline 7-2 20
9. Norwayne 8-0 18
10. Col. Ready 5-2 12
Others receiving 12 or more points: none.
DIVISION III
1. Lutheran East (8) 9-1 106
2. Ottawa-Glandorf (2) 9-1 89
3. Shawnee (1) 8-0 70
4. Wayne Trace 9-1 50
5. Margaretta 8-1 46
6, Tol. Emmanuel Chr. 9-1 28
6. (tie) Tri-Village 9-0 28
8. Malvern 10-0 23
9. Cin. Mariemont 7-1 22
10. Fairview 5-0 21
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11. Harrison Cent. 18. 11. Minford 18. 13. Ashland Crestview 13.
Division IV
1. Warren JFK (4) 9-1 96
2. Russia (3) 9-0 90
3. Lima Cent. Cath. 9-0 80
4. Maumee Valley (1) 9-0 70
5. Richmond Hts. (3) 4-7 47
6. S. Webster 9-1 41
7. Pandora-Gilboa 8-0 28
8. Fairfield 12-0 26
(tie) Monroe Cent. 9-0 26
10. Berlin Hiland 6-2 24
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11. Troy Chr. 23. 12. Antwerp 18.