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Newark rises to No. 2 in latest Division I Power Rankings

By Zach Fleer, 01/16/17, 7:00PM EST

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Newark has the area's longest winning streak at 13 games (Photo via Central Ohio Photography)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Officially into the second half of the high school season, we have learned a lot about Central Ohio's first, second and third tier teams through a month and a half. For the first time all season, the top three does not include Pickerington Central, Westerville South and Newark. Let's take a look at the top 25 in Central Ohio Division I basketball.

#1

Record: 11-1

Ranked Wins: 6

Last Week: Defeated Westerville Central, 46-37. Defeated #13 Grove City, 83-49. Lost vs. Wheeler (GA), 64-51. 

This Week: Tuesday at Chillicothe. Friday at #12 Gahanna

Outlook: Pickerington Central suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday against one of the best teams in the country. The Tigers retain the first overall ranking, however. Pickerington Central has a tough stretch coming up with five of its next six games away from home. The additions of transfers Javohn Garcia and Jah Blevins give the Tigers even more depth, as we are interested to see how additional minutes to additional players will affect the Tigers' chemistry. PC must be careful to not overlook rival Gahanna in Friday's OCC-Ohio showdown on the road. 

#2

Record: 13-0

Ranked Wins: 4

Last Week: Defeated #21 Lancaster, 67-49. Defeated #12 Groveport, 79-51. 

This Week: Friday at #21 Canal Winchester 

Outlook: Newark just continues to dominate and rack up wins. Only one team has come within double digits of the Wildcats this season, as Newark has yet to face a challenge in the OCC-Capital. The next six games for the Wildcats will tell us a lot about this Newark team. Newark will play No. 4 Westerville South at the Play-By-Play Classic on Jan. 28 before heading to No. 1 Pickerington Central a week later on Feb. 4. Newark will be the unanimous No. 1 if they can win both of those games, but even splitting those matchups would still be highly impressive for the Wildcats.  

#3

Record: 10-1

Ranked Wins: 1

Last Week: Defeated International, 79-42. Defeated East, 87-52.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Mifflin, Friday at #10 (D2) Beechcroft

Outlook: Northland has dominated the City League North this season and will look to continue to rack up wins. A big matchup comes on Friday on the road at Beechcroft, a team with enough length and athleticism to give the Vikings problems. Ahead for Northland are four winnable games before a matchup against No. 1 Pickerington Central on Jan. 28. Northland can rise to the top ranking in the area if it can win its next five games. 

#4

Record: 10-3

Ranked Wins: 4

Last Week: Lost vs. #7 Reynoldsburg, 65-63. Defeated Cathedral Prep (PA), 82-54. Lost vs. Paul VI (VA), 58-47. 

This Week: Friday vs. Westerville Central

Outlook: Losing two of three games last week, despite great competition, Westerville South falls to its lowest ranking in two years. The Wildcats are dealing with injury problems at the moment, but through it all, Kaleb Wesson has been a man among boys, including 43 points in the win against Cathedral Prep on Friday. Westerville South can rise in the rankings again with games away from home against No. 2 Newark and No. 6 Upper Arlington in the next 12 days. 

#5

Record: 13-1

Ranked Wins: 4

Last Week: Defeated #25 Dublin Scioto, 59-33. Defeated Hilliard Darby, 64-47. Defeated Beavercreek, 43-25. 

This Week: Friday at #23 Thomas Worthington

Outlook: Hilliard Bradley has not lost since Dec. 4, as the Jaguars have held 11 of the 12 teams it has played in a 12-game winning streak to less than 50 points. Dominating teams behind the arc and on the defensive side of the ball, Hilliard Bradley will look to keep winning in an OCC-Cardinal division that it controls at the top. Starting two freshmen, a sophomore and two juniors in its lineup, Hilliard Bradley isn't going anywhere. 

6. Upper Arlington (6)

Record: 12-1

Ranked Wins: 4

Last Week: Defeated #10 Westerville North, 67-53. Defeated Marysville, 58-22. Defeated Garfield Heights, 62-34. 

This Week: Friday vs. #17 Dublin Coffman

Outlook: Upper Arlington is on fire coming off a dominant week in which the Golden Bears won each game by an average of 26 points per game. Dane Goodwin has been outstanding this season, leading all of Central Ohio in scoring. Upper Arlington will get to test its toughness on Jan. 24 when No. 4 Westerville South comes to town. 

7. Reynoldsburg (7)

Record: 11-3

Ranked Wins: 7

Last Week: Defeated #2 Westerville South, 65-63. Lost vs. #9 Pickerington North, 48-46. 

This Week: Friday vs. #24 Lancaster

Outlook: Reynoldsburg could've found themselves in the top four if the Raiders were to go 2-0 last week. After picking up a signature win at No. 2 Westerville South on Tuesday, the Raiders would fall on Friday at home vs. No. 9 Pickerington North. Still a top eight caliber team with more ranked wins than anyone in Central Ohio, the Raiders have two winnable games coming up before a road matchup at No. 12 Gahanna on Jan. 27. 

8. St. Charles (8)

Record: 11-1

Ranked Wins: 2

Last Week: Defeated #7 (D2) Hartley, 42-38. 

This Week: Friday vs. #3 (D2) DeSales

Outlook: St. Charles has quietly won 11 games in a row, as the Cardinals haven't lost since Dec. 2. The Cardinals will get a stiff challenge at home on Friday against bitter rival DeSales, as the two lone remaining undefeateds in CCL play will do battle. St. Charles has challenging games remaining in each matchup for the rest of the season, as we will see how legit the Cardinals are this year. 

9. Groveport (12)

Record: 12-3

Ranked Wins: 4

Last Week: Defeated #9 Pickerington North, 69-67. Lost at #3 Newark, 79-51. Defeated Granville, 52-41. 

This Week: Friday vs. Big Walnut

Outlook: Groveport greatly improved its standing in the area with a big home win over No. 9 Pickerington North. While the Cruisers got blasted at Newark on Friday, Groveport has to like its chances in an OCC-Capital division with only two legitimate contenders. Groveport has a chance to reel off five-straight wins before a second meeting at home vs. Newark on Feb. 10. 

10. Pickerington North (9)

Record: 10-5

Ranked Wins: 5

Last Week: Lost at #12 Groveport, 69-67. Defeated #7 Reynoldsburg, 48-46. Lost vs. Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, 64-56. 

This Week: Friday at #15 Grove City

Outlook: Pickerington North had a bit of an up and down week, with highs and lows, including a win at No. 7 Reynoldsburg and buzzer-beater loss to No. 12 Groveport. The Panthers helped their standing in the OCC-Ohio with the win at Reynoldsburg, as the Panthers are looking for revenge against rival No. 1 Pickerington Central on Jan. 27. Jerome Hunter continues to blow it up this season, including 29 points and 18 rebounds at Flyin' to the Hoop on Sunday. 

11. Dublin Jerome (11)

Record: 11-3

Ranked Wins: 4

Last Week: Defeated #15 Delaware Hayes, 59-33. Defeated #25 Dublin Scioto, 53-22. 

This Week: Friday at Worthington Kilbourne

Outlook: Dublin Jerome is on a hot streak at the moment, winning four-straight games. The Celtics will look to go for a sweep of Hard Rd. with a win at Worthington Kilbourne this Friday after taking down Dublin Scioto last week. With only one league loss, Jerome is looking to stay hot in league play before a rematch with No. 5 Hilliard Bradley on Feb. 7. 

12. Gahanna (14)

Record: 8-5

Ranked Wins: 2

Last Week: Defeated #21 Lancaster, 68-38. Defeated Dayton Thurgood Marshall, 86-42. 

This Week: Friday vs. #1 Pickerington Central

Outlook: Gahanna defeated its opponents by a total of 74 points this weekend, as the Lions played to its full potential in two wins away from home. A few games over .500, Gahanna is looking to ride that momentum into a rival matchup at home against No. 1 Pickerington Central. In order for Gahanna to pull off the upset, star sophomore Jordan Mitchell will need to score a high level with his talented supporting cast stepping up as well. Gahanna needs a league win against the Tigers in the worst way. 

13. Westerville North (10)

Record: 8-4

Ranked Wins: 4

Last Week: Lost vs. #6 Upper Arlington, 67-53. Lost vs. Watterson, 66-65. 

This Week: Tuesday at Whitehall, Friday at #19 Olentangy Orange

Outlook: After an eight-game winning streak, Westerville North is skidding after last week. Losing three-straight games, two of which to unranked Division II opponents at the time, Westerville North is looking to get back on track. Unfortunately for the Warriors, five of its next six games are on the road. This stretch will determine just how good the Warriors are. 

14. Olentangy Liberty (17)

Record: 9-4

Ranked Wins: 1

Last Week: Defeated #16 Hilliard Davidson, 53-48. Defeated Westerville Central, 59-44. Defeated New Albany, 59-48. 

This Week: Friday vs. #20 Olentangy, Saturday vs. Lexington

Outlook: Olentangy Liberty had a strong week last week, going 3-0 with two road wins. The Patriots will look to keep rolling this week with a rivalry game against No. 20 Olentangy on Friday before hosting Lexington on Saturday. The Patriots go as sophomore wing Ben Roderick goes, and Roderick has been stellar as of late. 

15. Grove City (13)

Record: 8-6

Ranked Wins: 3

Last Week: Defeated #23 Central Crossing, 65-49. Lost at #1 Pickerington Central, 83-49. Lost at Watterson, 57-54. 

This Week: Tuesday at #16 Hilliard Davidson, Friday vs. #9 Pickerington North

Outlook: After a rough end to last week, Grove City has no time to rest as two ranked matchups await over the next five days. The Greyhounds could make a big splash in the OCC-Ohio if they are to upset No. 9 Pickerington North on Friday. Grove City will need balanced scoring from its entire team in order to do that. 

16. Hilliard Davidson (16)

Record: 7-4

Ranked Wins: 3

Last Week: Lost vs. #17 Olentangy Liberty, 53-48. Defeated Westland, 65-32. Defeated #15 Delaware Hayes, 45-39. 

This Week: Tuesday vs. #14 Grove City, Friday vs. Marysville. 

17. Dublin Coffman (20)

Record: 7-5

Ranked Wins: 4

Last Week: Defeated #19 Olentangy Orange, 64-57. Defeated #23 Central Crossing, 65-49. 

This Week: Friday at #6 Upper Arlington 

18. Delaware Hayes (15)

Record: 8-6

Ranked Wins: 2

Last Week: Lost at #11 Dublin Jerome, 59-33. Lost at #16 Hilliard Davidson, 45-39. 

This Week: Tuesday at Big Walnut, Friday vs. Hilliard Darby

19. Olentangy Orange (22)

Record: 6-6

Ranked Wins: 2

Last Week: Lost at #20 Dublin Coffman, 64-57. Defeated #24 Olentangy, 59-55. 

This Week: Friday vs. #13 Westerville North, Saturday vs. New Albany

20. Olentangy (24)

Record: 6-6

Ranked Wins: 2

Last Week: Lost vs. #22 Olentangy Orange, 59-55. Defeated #19 Thomas Worthington, 74-68. 

This Week: Friday at #15 Olentangy Liberty

21. Canal Winchester (18)

Record: 9-4

Ranked Wins: 1

Last Week: Defeated Westland, 60-50. Lost at New Albany, 54-40. 

This Week: Tuesday at Hamilton Township, Friday vs. #2 Newark.

22. Briggs (NR)

Record: 5-5

Ranked Wins: 0

Last Week: Defeated Walnut Ridge, 63-58. Defeated Marion-Franklin, 76-51. 

This Week: Tuesday vs. #1 (D2) South. Friday vs. #3 (D4) Africentric.

23. Thomas Worthington (19)

Record: 6-7

Ranked Wins: 1

Last Week: Defeated Hilliard Darby, 55-39. Lost at Worthington Kilbourne, 40-39. Lost vs. #24 Olentangy, 74-68. 

This Week: Friday vs. #5 Hilliard Bradley

24. Lancaster (21)

Record: 6-7

Ranked Wins: 0

Last Week: Lost at #3 Newark, 67-49. Lost vs. #14 Gahanna, 68-38. 

This Week: Friday at #7 Reynoldsburg. Saturday at Teays Valley. 

25. Dublin Scioto (25)

Record: 5-6

Ranked Wins: 3

Last Week: Lost at #5 Hilliard Bradley, 59-33. Lost vs. #11 Dublin Jerome, 53-32. 

This Week: Tuesday vs. Westerville Central. Saturday vs. Licking Heights


Photo via Central Ohio Photography

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