COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The 2022-23 season is really starting to shape up and hit full gear as we hit the longest month of the year. January typically dictates where teams are headed and much of our district tournament picture will be formulated in the next few weeks. Let's take a look at 10 pivotal matchups in the area and what they mean for the teams involved. 

#1 (D2) Bishop Ready (9-0) @ #2 (D2) Bishop Watterson (6-4)
It’s not often you get a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup. Tonight’s game is an absolute banger in the Central Catholic League, as the undefeated Silver Knights are looking to go on the road and pick up a tough win. A red-hot Watterson team stands in their way, as the Eagles have won six-straight games, against high quality competition, to avenge an 0-4 start to the year. This will be Ready’s toughest challenge yet this season, as the road environment will be as rowdy as they’ve seen all year. This game will not only decide first place in the CCL, but will be a big one in determining the top seeds in the Division II district tournament in a little over a month.

#13 Grove City (6-3) @ #6 Gahanna Lincoln (7-2)
For the first time since Sean Jones’ freshman season, the OCC-Ohio is truly up for grabs. Grove City is one of those teams who felt at the beginning of the season that they could realistically win this league. We’ll after starting 1-2 in league play, the Greyhounds have a must win road game on their hands at Gahanna, who is a perfect 3-0 in the league. Gahanna is looking to stay in the race for a fourth-straight league title, as a win here would be very helpful. The Lions will take on Grove City, Walnut Ridge, Reynoldsburg and Pickerington North all in the next week, which is one of the most difficult weeks any team has had. Grove City has to be in desperation mode, while Gahanna cannot overlook any opponent before next Friday’s showdown at North.

#2 Pickerington North (9-1) @ New Albany (4-4)
After a 9-0 start to the year, Pickerington North was humbled in defeat at Reynoldsburg on Tuesday. The Panthers are trying to not make it two losses in a row, as they travel to New Albany to take on an Eagles team that sits one game behind them in the league standings at 2-1. If North struggles to get widespread scoring like they did on Tuesday, New Albany could potentially pull off an upset. Both North and Gahanna cannot be caught looking ahead to next week.

#1 Olentangy Orange (10-0) @ #15 Hilliard Bradley (6-3)
One of only three remaining unbeaten teams in the entire area, Olentangy Orange takes its show on the road to Hilliard Bradley for a tough OCC-Central matchup. The Pioneers have been nearly flawless in the first half of the year, as its high powered offense have closed out tough competition away from home like Dublin Jerome, Dublin Coffman, Cleveland Heights, DeSales and Newark. Orange will be tested once again at Bradley, as the Jaguars are desperate for a big win. Bradley has won two-straight after a three-game losing streak that was topped off with a home loss to rival Hilliard Darby. It’ll be a tall task for the Jags to knock off Orange, but with Bradley, anything is possible. It will be interesting to see if Orange gets caught looking ahead to next week’s rivalry matchup against Olentangy Liberty, that could see both teams enter unbeaten in the league.

Hilliard Davidson (3-6) @ #3 Olentangy Liberty (10-1)
Olentangy Liberty is tied for the area’s longest win streak at 10 games with rival Orange. The Patriots are a surprise team for us, as we thought they would be good but not this good. They can keep their OCC title dreams in tact with Hilliard Davidson coming to town. The Wildcats shocked them at the buzzer in this game last year, so the Patriots have a bit of revenge on their mind. A win here is needed to set up a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup next week between the Patriots and Pioneers. Hilliard Davidson can make it rain from deep and should not be overlooked by Liberty. 

#12 South (8-1) @ Walnut Ridge (4-5)
South returns to the floor after a lengthy break over the holidays. The Bulldogs hit the road to test its unbeaten City League South record at Walnut Ridge. These teams have come together for some legendary matchups over the years and this is no different. South is deeper, but Walnut Ridge has the best player in Dom Aekins. Sometimes that’s all you need to pull off a big win. For both of these teams, they want to stay in the race to knock off Africentric in the South division. Walnut Ridge’s only loss in the league is on the road at Africentric, while South is unbeaten in the league, with a home showdown against the Nubians looming next Tuesday. If South is caught looking ahead, look for Aekins and Walnut Ridge to pull off a big win and remain in the race for the division title. 

#7 Dublin Jerome (7-3) @ Olentangy (4-5)
Coming into the season, Dublin Jerome was the odds on favorite to repeat as champion in the OCC-Cardinal. While that remains to be true so far, there are a couple teams still within striking distance. Olentangy is one of those teams, as the Braves are just a game behind the Celtics. The theme of this article is “don’t get caught looking ahead” and that is the case for Jerome, as they have a big matchup at Olentangy Liberty on the schedule next Tuesday. Olentangy is always formidable and could present a tough challenge for a Jerome team that has not played its best basketball yet this season.

Marysville (4-5) @ #9 Olentangy Berlin (8-2)
Long gone are the days of Olentangy Berlin being the doormat in the OCC-Cardinal. The Bears have arrived and aren’t going anywhere any time soon. They face off against a Marysville team that is better than its 0-3 record in league play. The Monarchs have a terrific front court duo in Jason Moore and Connor Smith, as these big men have carried them in their wins this season. Berlin sits one game behind Jerome in the league, with its only loss coming at the hands of the Celtics on their home floor. Berlin needs to win every single game against non-Jerome opponents going forward if they want the opportunity to host a OCC title deciding game on their home floor later in the year against the Celtics. This game will present a matchup between plenty of top 2024 prospects in the area on both teams.

Dublin Coffman (4-5) @ Upper Arlington (6-4)
Two programs that spent the back half of the 2010’s decade running things in the OCC-Central, Dublin Coffman and Upper Arlington have taken a bit of a step back this season. UA is coming off a league and district title last year, but graduated a great majority of that team. These rivals now enter Friday looking to avoid going to the basement of the league. UA is 0-3 in league play while Coffman is not much better at 1-2. Since the Central went to its current alignment in 2020-21, the Rocks are 9-15 in league play. The Rocks have really struggled to close out opponents, losing a handful of buzzer beater games in the area’s toughest top to bottom division. A road win at UA would be huge for momentum for Coffman, while the young Golden Bears are looking for their first OCC victory together.

#9 (D2) Linden-McKinley (4-6) @ Mifflin (6-3)
The race for the City League North has been something we’ve followed all year. Mifflin and Linden are both teams that feel they can compete for a division title, as this matchup will be important in the chase for both squads. Mifflin is especially desperate, as the Punchers have not won a share of the division title since 1987, when they split with both Linden and Brookhaven. A truly historic year is still in reach for Mifflin. The Punchers are 4-1 in the league, trailing Northland by a game. The next matchup against the Vikings will be on their home floor, as all they need to do is be tied in the league with Northland and Linden to appear in the City Championship. The City League’s tie breaker goes to the team who hasn’t been to the title game in the longest, as Mifflin will win that tie breaker against every team in the division but Whetstone, Centennial, East and International. Linden is on a bit of a losing skid and has a tough challenge on the road. Don’t count the Panthers out in any game, as they’ve been through a grueling schedule to begin the season and want to start 2023 on the right foot.