MANSFIELD — It is all on the line this week.
The top spot in the Richland County Boys Basketball Power Poll is never safe and this week, it sure isn’t as the No. 1 and No. 3 teams collide on the court with the winner likely coming away with the top ranking. Who are the teams we are talking about and where did every one else end up in this week’s rankings? Let’s find out.
NOTE: There will not be a power poll next week. We will pick it back up in January.
The Big Red went 1-1 since the last power poll starting out the weekend with a 59-45 victory over South Central. Jarrett Burrer went off for 17 points, 20 rebounds, five steals and two assists while Izaya Reynolds added 10 points and Alexei Grose and Cainen Kilgore scored nine apiece. Then, Plymouth dropped an overtime heartbreaker to Mansfield Christian 60-57. Burrer scored 25 in that one while Eli Keefe added 16. Plymouth travels to Mapleton on Thursday and hosts Black River on Saturday.
The Rams went 1-1, falling to Mansfield Senior 85-69 before beating West Holmes, 52-41. The Rams were down 32 to the Tygers before going on a 17-1 run. Colton Adkins had 10 and Kaleb Gordon added 16 in that one. In the win over the Knights, Justin McCraney had 19 and Cameron Kuhn added 16. The Rams host Dover on Friday to see if they can get a look at their future OCC rival before bringing in Clear Fork on Monday.
The Spartans split their two games, falling to Mansfield Christian 53-49 before knocking off New London 57-45. Dmoni Lentes and Markeis Johnson scored 11 points apiece while Sidiki Sissoko had 10 in the loss to the Flames. Sissoko scored 18 while Antonio Lindsay had 15 and Lentes added 10 against the Wildcats as the Spartans are now one win away from tying last year’s season total. They hope to compete with Central Christian on Friday.
The Cubs fell to Danville 59-43 and Highland 61-27. Zac Winters had a big game with 22 points while Anthony Fanello had 10 against Danville and Fanello had 10 more against Highland. It’s a four-game losing streak now, as the Cubs host Mansfield Christian on Friday, Colonel Crawford on Saturday and head to Buckeye Central on Monday for a chance to turn things around.
The Colts dropped their only game, falling to Ontario 50-39. Garett Hotz and Carter Coole scored 12 points apiece. The Colts travel to Marion Harding on Friday, hoping to not drop any further behind in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference title race. They then travel to Madison on Monday.
The Warriors got in the win column, 50-39 over Clear Fork and 79-47 over Galion. The freshmen duo of Cardae Brown and Trindon Flenoury led the way; Brown had 22 and Flenoury had 22 against Clear Fork while Brown had 23 and Flenoury added 18 against Galion. The Warriors also lost to Pleasant 55-53, giving every MOAC team at least one league loss. Flenoury had 22 and Brown added 11 in that one. Ontario travels to Upper Sandusky on Thursday, hosts Lexington on Saturday and hosts Marion Harding on Monday.
The Flames had a thing for dramatics. First, it was a 53-49 win over St. Peter’s as Davion Mack scored 30 points. Then, it was a 60-57 overtime win over Plymouth as Mack scored 22 more and Taylor Hahn and Evan Hager added 12 apiece. The Flames have a nice test on Friday at Lucas before traveling to Bucyrus on Saturday.
The Whippets put the season-opening loss to Harding in the rear-view mirror with three wins. First, it was a 51-48 win over Galion as Brayden DeVito led the way with 14 points. Then, it was a dominant 71-34 win over Willard as DeVito and Anderson Brubaker had 11 points apiece and Nic Eyser scored 10. Finally, a 64-53 win over Highland on Tuesday capped off a successful week as DeVito scored 20 and Eyster added 10. The Whippets have a big one at home against River Valley on Friday before traveling to Norwalk on Monday.
The Minutemen dropped one spot after going 1-1. First, they beat New Philadelphia 47-34 as Jakob Legron led the team with 14 points and Seven Allen had 10. Then, the Minutemen lost to Wooster 75-68 despite having five in double figures led by Legron with 17, Gavin Husty had 12, Seven Allen added 11, Markale Martin and Joe Caudill had 10 apiece. The Minutemen have to put that one out of their minds quickly, as they host Mansfield Senior on Friday in a massive OCC game before traveling to Ontario on Saturday in a big rivalry contest.
The Cougars dominated New London 72-35 to remain undefeated in the Firelands Conference. Justice Thompson scored 23 points while Karter Goon added 17 and Drew Spoerr had 12 in the balanced victory. The Cubs travel to Mapleton on Saturday in what could be the most important game of the season up until this point.
The Tygers keep control of the top spot thanks to three big wins. First, it was an 85-69 win over Madison as freshman Kaylen Brooks scored a career-high 26 with five 3-pointers. D’Vontae Johnson chipped in with 15 while Rashad Reed added 14 and Kyevi Roane scored 11 in a balanced effort. Then, it was a 46-44 buzzer-beating win over Fremont Ross where Roane tipped in an offensive rebound at the horn to give coach Marquis Sykes his 100th career victory. Brooks had 13 in that one while Reed added 10. On Tuesday, the Tygers beat Ashland 66-59 with Brooks scoring 20, Roane adding 14 and Andrew Brooks Jr. chipping in with 14. The Tygers travel to Lexington on Friday for a massive OCC contest and one that could either shake up the rankings or give the Tygers a commanding lead.
11. Madison (1-3)
10. Plymouth (1-2)
9. St. Peter’s (1-1)
8. Ontario (0-1)
7. Shelby (0-1)
6. Lucas (1-2)
5. Mansfield Christian (1-1)
4. Clear Fork (2-2)
3. Crestview (3-0)
2. Lexington (3-0)
1. Mansfield Senior (2-0)
