MANSFIELD — The lead in the race for the Richland County Girls Basketball Power Poll title has grown.
The top team created space with key victories as it established itself as the clear favorite to run the table. Who is it and where did everyone else end up this week? Find out right here.
The Rams lost two games since the last power poll falling to West Holmes 57-43 and New Philadelphia 50-41. Against West Holmes, Brynn Kiley led the way with 12 points while Morgan Cook added 11 and Maddie Berry had nine so the Rams have some nice offensive balance but just played two of the better teams in the Ohio Cardinal Conference. The schedule lightens up a bit this week with a road game at Ontario and a home game against Wooster. Expect the Rams to pick up their first win this week.
The Warriors dropped their two games since the last power poll falling to Clear Fork 67-36 and River Valley 50-36. Rylee Milner had a nice game against the Colts with 14 points while Eden Howard had 13 against RV. The Warriors host Madison this week and have a Friday night home game against Galion for two of their most winnable games on the schedule. This week will really tell the Warriors where they stand.
The Big Red went 1-1 since the last power poll falling to Crestview 40-19 before beating South Central 40-15. No one scored more than six points against Crestview but Kendyll Tolbert led the way with 11 points while Madison Montgomery added eight and Kristi Yeager had seven in the win over SC. The Big Red hosts Mapleton on Thursday and Monroeville on Saturday for two big Firelands Conference games this week.
The Cubs broke a lengthy losing streak that dated back to the 2022 season thanks to a 48-43 overtime win over Central Christian. Katie Griffey played a career game with 21 points while Maggie Restelli added 10. It was the Cubs’ second overtime game of the season after falling to Crestview in Game 1 in OT, and it turned out in their favor as they jumped Plymouth in the rankings because of it. They host Northmor on Saturday in their first game since that big win and they hope to start piling the W’s together.
The Flames had a tough week last week going 1-2 since the last power poll but the two losses were to a couple of really solid teams. First, it was a 52-37 loss to Mansfield Senior where the Flames had a sizable lead in at the half before being outscored 32-10 over the final two quarters. Zy’Eir Davis led the Flames with 14 points. Then, it was a 54-46 loss to Genoa Christian as Brooklyn Rider led the way with 12 points and Bailee Nelson added 11. The Flames did salvage the week with a 53-15 win over Crestline as Adelle Cramer had nine points and Davis had eight while the Flames put 12 players in the scoring column. The Flames host Buckeye Central on Saturday in a nonconference battle that should have tournament implications at the end of the year.
The Tygers had a solid week last week by going 2-1 since the last power poll. First, it was a 52-37 win over Mansfield Christian where a balanced scoring attack was what powered them to victory. Annaleise Norris, Tasaya Smith and Callahan Cavanaugh scored 11 points apiece and Javeah Hudgens added 10 to give the Tygers four in double figures. Then, they knocked off Wooster as Norris dominated with 16 points, Smith had 12, and Cavanaugh scored nine for another balanced effort. But a 47-34 loss to Ashland to close out the week kept the Tygers from sneaking into the Top 3 of this week’s power poll. Norris was sensational with 17 points but no one else scored more than four. The Tygers host Perkins and New Philadelphia this week.
Lady Lex went 1-1 since the last power poll but it was their results that helped them jump to No. 4. They beat Wooster 47-46 but lost to Ashland 43-42 in overtime without a starter giving them a better result against the Arrows than the Tygers. In that loss to the Arrows, Makaree Chapman led the way with 15 points but it was Tatum Stover who put up a monster double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds. Things will start to turn around for Lady Lex soon as they host Willard and travel to West Holmes this week.
The Cougars played just one game since the last power poll beating Plymouth in dominant fashion, 40-19. Georgia McFarland led the Cougars with 10 points while Makenzie Spoerr had nine as seven players reached the scoring column. At 2-2, the Cougars are at a pivotal part of the first quarter of the season and need to continue winning games if they hope to challenge for a top spot in the power poll. They host Highland, travel to Monroeville and head to Mapleton this week for a big three-game stretch.
The Colts stay at No. 2 this week after going 2-1 since the last power poll. They dominated Ontario 67-36 as Mel Blubaugh scored 20, Asia Bechtel added 13, Brinley Barnett had 11 and Eliana Pelkey chipped in with 10 for a solid offensive night. Then, they cruised to a 69-13 win over Galion as Blubaugh lit it up for 27 points, 19 in the first quarter, setting the tone for the early win. But a 49-36 loss to Shelby on Monday night keeps the Colts at No. 2 at least until the next meeting. Clear Fork has a tough week with Bellevue and Pleasant coming up. A win over Bellevue would be absolutely massive for the Colts’ confidence heading into next week.
The Whippets remain at No. 1 again this week thanks to a couple of big MOAC wins. First, they knocked off Marion Harding 47-29 as Eve Schwemley scored 24 points to lead the way. Then, they took a four-point loss to Division I Reynoldsburg at a showcase at Ohio Dominican University. Schwemley, who will be attending ODU, scored 24 again while Serena Ramsey added 12 and Charlie Niese scored 10 as the Whippets lost a late lead in a game that made them better. The Whippets then knocked off Clear Fork 49-36 on Monday night to take complete control of the power poll standings. Ramsey had 16 points in that win to lead the way. Shelby has Highland on Friday night at home to cap off the week.
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10. Madison
9. Ontario
8. Lucas
7. Plymouth
6. Lexington
5. Mansfield Senior
4. Crestview
3. Mansfield Christian
2. Clear Fork
1. Shelby
