skip navigation

Power Rankings: New No. 1 in Division III, plus top 10 matchups galore!

By Zach Fleer, 01/18/22, 10:00AM EST

Share

A look at the latest power rankings in Central Ohio basketball

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The mid January basketball train is rolling and not losing any momentum. We are in the thick of event season and that will be the case once again on Saturday at Ohio Dominican for the Scholastic Play By Play Classic.

Let's get into the action. Make sure to subscribe to the 270 Hoops All-Access Pass to access the complete rankings, included with strength of record, strength of schedule, RPI metrics, a full outlook and a listing of tiers, both ranked and unranked, for every team.

Division I

  1. Pickerington Central (11-1): The Tigers remain at No. 1 after a close win over Reynoldsburg on Friday and a blowout win over Garfield Heights at Flyin to the Hoop on Sunday. Central will have two tough matchups away from home this week, heading to No. 5 Newark, the team responsible for their one loss, on Friday before taking on Cincinnati Taft on Saturday at Ohio Dominican. Two wins here would give the Tigers an even greater lead in strength of record. 
  2. Gahanna Lincoln (11-2): The Lions got back on track last week, picking up two great wins over No. 4 Pickerington North and Brush out of the Cleveland area. Gahanna will be tested in two of three games this week, hosting No. 10 Walnut Ridge on Wednesday before a matchup against Akron Buchtel on Saturday at Ohio Dominican. 
  3. Westerville South (13-0): The Wildcats began the week by holding off Dublin Jerome and picking up arguably their best win of the year. Westerville South is the only unbeaten team remaining in the area and will have a realistic chance of running the table in the regular season. Will that be enough to guarantee a No. 1 seed? We don't think so due to a rather soft strength of schedule. 
  4. Pickerington North (10-2): The Panthers lost a tough one to Gahanna on Friday but bounced back with a win over Huber Heights Wayne on Saturday. After a loaded week of ranked matchups, the Panthers have just one game this week, heading to Westerville Central on Friday.
  5. Newark (12-2): Death. Taxes. Newark being a contender no matter who is on the roster. That's the case once again as the Wildcats enter the top five for the first time all season. Newark has two top 10 matchups this week, hosting both No. 1 Pickerington Central and No. 9 Olentangy Liberty. If Newark can go 2-0 this week, they could realistically rise to the No. 1 overall ranking, while taking complete control of the OCC-Buckeye.

Make sure to subscribe to the 270 Hoops All-Access Pass to access the complete rankings, included with strength of record, strength of schedule, RPI metrics, a full outlook and a listing of tiers, both ranked and unranked, for every team.

Subscribers, access the full power rankings here and check back each week for updated rankings with breakdowns included!

Division II

  1. Bloom-Carroll (13-1): The Bulldogs have been absolutely rolling this year, going unbeaten against all teams inside the border of Ohio. Bloom-Carroll will get its biggest test on Wednesday when No. 3 Linden-McKinley comes to town. That game will be a matchup of two top five scorers in the area in Bloom's Evan Dozer and Linden's LA Walker.
  2. Beechcroft (9-2): Beechcroft has tore through competition in the City League this year and that does not look to change this week. The Cougars will head to East on Tuesday before hosting Mifflin on Friday. We all can't wait for the Jan. 24 matchup between the Cougars and bitter rival Linden.
  3. Linden-McKinley (9-4): Linden has played one of the toughest schedules of any team in Division II and is sitting nicely at 9-4 through 13 games. They'll have two winnable games this week around the Bloom-Carroll matchup against International and East. Top 2 wins are hard to come by and the Panthers have the opportunity to get two of them in a span of six days.
  4. Buckeye Valley (11-1): According to Martin RPI, Buckeye Valley has the strongest RPI in the region. The Barons have been almost perfect this year and will get a big test when they travel to No. 9 DeSales this week. Another top 10 win would do wonders for Buckeye Valley's resume.
  5. Heath (9-2): Heath has kind of been flying under the radar this year, despite another successful season. The Bulldogs get two top 10 matchups this week against No. 6 (D3) Johnstown and No. 9 DeSales. Seniors Brandon McLaughlin, Reece Huber and Keylan Williams have had incredible careers and will have the chance to go out on top with a district title this year.

Make sure to subscribe to the 270 Hoops All-Access Pass to access the complete rankings, included with strength of record, strength of schedule, RPI metrics, a full outlook and a listing of tiers, both ranked and unranked, for every team.

Subscribers, access the full power rankings here and check back each week for updated rankings with breakdowns included!

Division III

  1. Bishop Ready (10-2): The No. 1 ranking can virtually be interchangeable between Bishop Ready and Africentric. These taems have been the most impressive in Division III and have faced a schedule that is far superior to any other team in the division. Bishop Ready had a successful week last week, winning three games away from home and ending the week on a high note by knocking off Springfield Shawnee on Sunday. The Silver Knights have a difficult road test at St. Charles on Friday to remain in the hunt for a CCL title.
  2. Africentric (9-3): Africentric took its first loss in City League play on Friday when Walnut Ridge came into their home gym and won by 17 points. The Nubians can get back on track this week with a home matchup against No. 8 (D2) South and a road test at Independence. The Nubians have the No. 1 strength of schedule in the state for Division III.
  3. Harvest Prep (8-2): Harvest Prep was victorious against Division IV competition last week and will have much of the same this week. An interesting matchup against Cuyahoga Christian awaits on Saturday. We would love for this program to join the MSL-Ohio division, as it would greatly help Harvest Prep's strength of schedule, as they get nothing out of beating up on small Division IV teams all winter. 
  4. North Union (11-2): North Union bounced back from a loss to Indian Lake by knocking off No. 9 (D2) Jonathan Alder last week. The Wildcats have been so consistently solid for three-straight years now and will once again be a threat in the district tournament. North Union has winnable games against London and Graham in league play this week.
  5. Worthington Christian (9-5): Worthington Christian drops back two spots this week after falling to Bexley last week. The Warriors won in dramatic fashion over No. 7 Columbus Academy at the buzzer on Tuesday. Worthington Christian has just one game this week, a home test against No. 1 (D4) Grandview Heights, as the Warriors attempt to secure the sweep in what has been a great rivalry over the years.

Make sure to subscribe to the 270 Hoops All-Access Pass to access the complete rankings, included with strength of record, strength of schedule, RPI metrics, a full outlook and a listing of tiers, both ranked and unranked, for every team.

Subscribers, access the full power rankings here and check back each week for updated rankings with breakdowns included!

Division IV

  1. Grandview Heights (9-4): The Bobcats went 0-2 last week in tough matchups against No. 4 (D2) Buckeye Valley and state power Marion Local. Grandview Heights can bounce back in a major way this week with a road matchup at No. 5 (D3) Worthington Christian. 

  2. East Knox (10-3): The Bulldogs have continued to skate along this year, having the second highest strength of record. East Knox can inch closer to Grandview Heights with a road matchup at Fredericktown this week.

  3. Newark Catholic (3-7): In no other division can you have a top three team with a 3-7 record. That's the case in Division IV, as Newark Catholic keeps its spot here after ranked losses to No. 6 (D3) Johnstown and No. 10 (D3) Northridge. Aside from Richmond Heights, Newark Catholic has the toughest schedule in the state in Division IV. 

  4. Berne Union (8-6): Berne Union's hot streak was snapped at the hands of Harvest Prep last week. The Rockets can get back on track with home games against Fisher Catholic and No. 8 Millersport this week. The Millersport matchup will be a chance for Berne to avenge a loss early in the year.

  5. Tree of Life (8-4): The Trojans are rising in the MOCAL and will have two league games this week against Shekinah Christian and No. 7 Madison Christian. Tree of Life can pick up a signature win at West Jefferson on Saturday.

Make sure to subscribe to the 270 Hoops All-Access Pass to access the complete rankings, included with strength of record, strength of schedule, RPI metrics, a full outlook and a listing of tiers, both ranked and unranked, for every team.

Subscribers, access the full power rankings here and check back each week for updated rankings with breakdowns included!

Recent News


Get the 270 Hoops Preview Magazine today!


Get your tickets to the Battle in the 614 High School Basketball Showcase