The race for the Ohio Cardinal Conference boys basketball championship is a free-for-all.
For the first time since 2018, four teams have designs on the crown and there’s a real possibility the eventual champ will have three conference losses.
Ashland and OCC newcomer Dover sit atop the standings at 7-2. Mansfield Senior and New Philadelphia are a game back.
The Tygers beat both Dover and New Phila. in the first round, but fell at Ashland. The Arrows lost to both the Tornadoes and the Quakers in the first round, but avenged the loss to Dover last Friday. That same night, New Philadelphia knocked off Mansfield Senior.
“This league is a little whacky this year,” Senior High coach Marquis Sykes said after the Tygers avenged a first-round loss to Lexington with a 70-42 victory Tuesday at Pete Henry Gym. “From top to bottom any team can win or lose on any night.
“I kind of expected it coming in. I didn’t think there was a single dominant team.”
Ashland beat Madison on Tuesday, snapping the Rams’ three-game conference winning streak. That run included a double-overtime victory over Lex.
“I told our guys going into (Tuesday’s game) that we have five conference losses and we’re only three games out of first place,” Lexington coach Scott Hamilton said. “It’s a unique situation in our league.”
Wooster had perhaps the biggest win of the first round, upsetting New Philadelphia in overtime on the road. The Generals and Madison each have three OCC wins.
The picture could get even murkier next week when Ashland invades Pete Henry Gym on Tuesday. The Arrows host New Philadelphia three days later.
Mansfield Senior visits Dover on Feb. 6. The following Friday, Dover is at New Philadelphia. The Tornadoes beat their arch-rival 37-34 in the opening round.
The last time an OCC champ had three or more losses was 2018. Lexington and Mount Vernon shared the title at 9-3 with Mansfield Senior and Wooster finishing at 8-4.
It’s pointed that direction again this year.
“I felt like there were four or five teams that could be in contention,” Sykes said, “and that’s how it’s panning out.”