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Top 5 unchanged in latest Division I Power Rankings

By Zach Fleer, 01/23/17, 4:15PM EST

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The top four teams in D1 will play eachother on Saturday

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With no new additions to the top 10 in Division I, we could be having a different conversation a week from now. Saturday's Play by Play Classic at Ohio Dominican will offer several big-time matchups, including No. 1 vs. No. 3 and No. 2 vs. No. 4. Ahead of that, check out the top 25 in Division I in Central Ohio. 

The Top Five

#1

Record: 13-1

Ranked Wins: 7

Last Week: Defeated Chillicothe, 73-51. Defeated #12 Gahanna, 65-49. 

This Week: Tuesday at #22 New Albany. Friday vs. #10 Pickerington North. Saturday vs. #3 Northland. 

Outlook: Pickerington Central could become the first team to 10 ranked wins this week, as the Tigers have a challenging three-game slate ahead. Fortunately for Pick Central, they are the most talented team in the area. The emergence of junior wing Jah Blevins has lifted this team to a new level, as the Tigers still appear to be peaking at this point in the season.  Back-to-back games this weekend vs. top 10 teams will test the Tigers more than any stretch two-day stretch this season. 

#2

Record: 14-0

Ranked Wins: 5

Last Week: Defeated #21 Canal Winchester, 57-42.

This Week: Tuesday at #14 Olentangy Liberty, Friday at #22 New Albany, Saturday vs. #4 Westerville South

Outlook: Three games. Three ranked teams. All away from home. Newark will be tested more than ever this week, as the Wildcats are the lone remaining undefeated team in Central Ohio. A less than stellar OCC-Capital league helped the Wildcats go undefeated through the first round of division play. These three games will let us know just how legit Newark is this season. 

#3

Record: 12-1

Ranked Wins: 1

Last Week: Defeated Mifflin, 77-70. Defeated Beechcroft, 82-64.

This Week: Tuesday at Whetstone, Friday vs. Centennial. Saturday vs. #1 Pickerington Central.

Outlook: Northland, more than any other team in the state of Ohio, gets punished by the general public for doing what they are supposed to do - and that is win games in the City League North. The Vikings' conference is constantly held against them, even when the Vikings schedule tough in non-league. A team that feels it is being disrespected on the statewide scale, Northland will get a chance to show the area just how good it really is on Saturday against No. 1 Pickerington Central. 

#4

Record: 11-3

Ranked Wins: 4

Last Week: Defeated Westerville Central, 56-26.

This Week: Tuesday at #8 Upper Arlington, Friday vs. Olentangy, Saturday vs. #2 Newark. 

Outlook: In the last six games, Westerville South is 3-3. After a skiddish start to January, the Wildcats look to be back on the right track after blowing out Westerville Central by 30 points this past Friday. Westerville South has its hands full this week with matchups at No. 8 Upper Arlington on Tuesday and No. 2 Newark on Saturday, two teams led by elite-level coaches. 

#5

Record: 14-1

Ranked Wins: 5

Last Week: Defeated #23 Thomas Worthington, 36-29.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Worthington Kilbourne, Saturday vs. #7 St. Charles

Outlook: A team quietly putting together a terrific season, Hilliard Bradley has the second-longest winning streak in Division I at 13-straight wins. Shutting teams down defensively, Bradley has held teams under 40 points in six of its last eight games. A team that excels at the free-throw line and three-point line, Bradley could be a real tough out in the district tournament. Before then, Bradley will be tested on Saturday against No. 7 St. Charles, who possesses what the Jaguars do not - a true post presence. That matchup will tell us a lot about how Bradley competes against teams with beasts in the paint. 

6. Reynoldsburg (7)

Record: 12-3

Ranked Wins: 8

Last Week: Defeated #24 Lancaster, 42-40.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Central Crossing, Friday at #14 Gahanna

Outlook: Reynoldsburg survived a potentially disastrous loss at home to Lancaster on Friday and will look to go 2-0 this week. Tuesday's home matchup vs. Central Crossing is an interesting one, as the Comets knocked off Groveport earlier in the season. Reynoldsburg must not be caught looking ahead to Friday's important OCC-Ohio matchup at No. 14 Gahanna. 

7. St. Charles (8)

Record: 12-1

Ranked Wins: 2

Last Week: Defeated #3 (D2) DeSales, 43-36.

This Week: Friday at #5 (D3) Bishop Ready, Saturday at #5 Hilliard Bradley. 

Outlook: The darlings of the Central Catholic League have been outstanding this season, winning 11-straight games and establishing a one-game lead in the CCL. A challenging schedule remains for St. Charles, starting off with a road matchup at the much-improved Bishop Ready on Friday. After that, the Cardinals get its stiffest challenge of the season in No. 5 Hilliard Bradley on Saturday. 

8. Upper Arlington (6)

Record: 12-2

Ranked Wins: 4

Last Week: Lost vs. #17 Dublin Coffman, 64-59.

This Week: Tuesday vs. #4 Westerville South, Friday at Central Crossing

Outlook: Being upset at home vs. No. 17 Dublin Coffman last Friday, Upper Arlington extinguished its share of first place in the OCC-Central as the Golden Bears will now have some making up to do. That process begins with a stiff challenge against No. 4 Westerville South at home on Tuesday, as the Wildcats will give Upper Arlington all it can handle. 

9. Groveport (9)

Record: 13-3

Ranked Wins: 4

Last Week: Defeated Big Walnut, 62-33.

This Week: Tuesday at #25 Lancaster, Friday at Franklin Heights.

Outlook: A darkhorse team toward the bottom of the top 10, Groveport is looking to finish strong in the final six games of the season. Outside of a home matchup against No. 2 Newark, every other game the Cruisers should be favorited to win, as Groveport is still in the race for an OCC-Capital title. 

10. Pickerington North (10)

Record: 11-5

Ranked Wins: 6

Last Week: Defeated #14 Grove City, 63-47.

This Week: Tuesday vs. #19 Canal Winchester, Friday at #1 Pickerington Central.

Outlook: Pickerington North's quest for an OCC title begins this week, as the Panthers get its revenge matchup vs. rival Pickerington Central on Friday. Only one game behind the top-ranked Tigers, Pickerington North will look to deliver a decisive blow in the OCC-Ohio this week. In order to do that, North will need its entire core to be on its A-game, while junior forward Jerome Hunter will need to continue to dominate like he has all season. In year three of Jason Bates' tenure at North, the Panthers are the strongest they have been up to this point, as a potentially monumental week could be ahead. 

11. Dublin Jerome (11)

Record: 12-3

Ranked Wins: 4

Last Week: Defeated Worthington Kilbourne, 61-54.

This Week: Tuesday at Logan, Friday vs. Thomas Worthington. 

Outlook: Despite graduating three 1,000-point scorers, Dublin Jerome has put together a very successful season with a relatively new starting cast. The Celtics will look to keep rolling this week with two winnable games ahead. A tricky road matchup at Logan, a team the Celtics demolished in the district tournament last season, looms on Tuesday. Three days later, Jerome hosts Thomas Worthington, who it beat 50-47 earlier in the season. A 2-0 week will do great things going forward for the Celtics who could reasonably win 18 games before the tournament. 

12. Westerville North (13)

Record: 10-4

Ranked Wins: 5

Last Week: Defeated Whitehall, 61-49. Defeated #19 Olentangy Orange, 63-52. 

This Week: Tuesday at #13 Dublin Coffman, Friday vs. Westerville Central. Saturday at #14 Gahanna.

Outlook: After losing three-straight, Westerville North rebounded this past week, picking up two wins on the road. The Warriors will be greatly tested this week, with two of three games away from home, and the only home matchup being a rivalry tilt. The Warriors can legitimize its place in the top 12 by taking down two young, but talented teams in No. 13 Dublin Coffman and No. 14 Gahanna. 

13. Dublin Coffman (17)

Record: 8-5

Ranked Wins: 5

Last Week: Defeated #6 Upper Arlington, 64-59. 

This Week: Tuesday vs. #12 Westerville North, Friday at #16 Hilliard Davidson, Saturday vs. #4 (D2) Eastmoor. 

Outlook: A young team that has put together wins in five of its last six games, Dublin Coffman has its toughest stretch of the season this week. With two of three games away from home, the Rocks will look to first knock off a tough Westerville North team on Tuesday. On Friday, Coffman will square off against Hilliard Davidson, whom the Rocks beat on a buzzer-beater early in the season. Then 17 hours later, Coffman takes on a long and athletic Eastmoor team at the Play by Play Classic at ODU. A 3-0 week could possibly lift the Rocks into the top 10. 

14. Gahanna (12)

Record: 8-6

Ranked Wins: 2

Last Week: Lost vs. #1 Pickerington Central, 65-49. 

This Week: Tuesday at Westerville Central, Friday vs. #6 Reynoldsburg, Saturday vs. #12 Westerville North. 

Outlook: Even after taking on top-ranked Pickerington Central this past Friday, Gahanna's toughest week of the season may be this week. The Lions head to Westerville Central on Tuesday, a team that is better than what its 2-12 record suggests. After that, the Lions host No. 6 Reynoldsburg on Friday in an important OCC-Ohio matchup. Losing by double digits to the Raiders earlier in the season, Gahanna will be looking for different results the second time around. Saturday offers an intriguing non-league matchup against No. 12 Westerville North, which should test Gahanna's guards, as the Warriors have one of the area's best backcourts. 

15. Olentangy Liberty (15)

Record: 11-4

Ranked Wins: 2

Last Week: Defeated #20 Olentangy, 83-67. Defeated Lexington, 65-55.

This Week: Tuesday vs. #2 Newark, Friday at #24 Olentangy Orange. 

Outlook: A young team that has performed above expectations this season, Liberty is looking to legitimize itself against the area's elite this week. A home matchup against No. 2 Newark will give the Patriots a big change to make a statement in Central Ohio. Led by sophomores Ben Roderick and Nick Nakasian as of late, the Patriots will look to strike its biggest blow of the season on Tuesday before heading to No. 24 Olentangy Orange for a tough league challenge on Friday. 

16. Hilliard Davidson (16)

Record: 10-4

Ranked Wins: 4

Last Week: Defeated #14 Grove City, 64-51. Defeated Marysville, 47-25. Defeated Hilliard Darby, 47-31.

This Week: Tuesday at Olentangy. Friday vs. #13 Dublin Coffman. Saturday vs. Thomas Worthington. 

17. Delaware Hayes (18)

Record: 10-6

Ranked Wins: 2

Last Week: Defeated Big Walnut, 53-44. Defeated Hilliard Darby, 41-39. 

This Week: Tuesday at Thomas Worthington. Friday at #21 Dublin Scioto.

18. Grove City (14)

Record: 8-8

Ranked Wins: 3

Last Week: Lost at #16 Hilliard Davidson, 64-51. Lost vs. #10 Pickerington North, 63-47.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Westland, Friday vs. #25 Lancaster. 

19. Canal Winchester (21)

Record: 10-5

Ranked Wins: 1

Last Week: Defeated Hamilton Township, 69-57. Lost vs. #2 Newark, 57-42.

This Week: Tuesday at #10 Pickerington North, Friday vs. Big Walnut.

20. Briggs (22)

Record: 6-6

Ranked Wins: 0

Last Week: Lost vs. #4 (D2) Eastmoor, 63-51. Defeated #4 (D4) Africentric, 47-44.

This Week: Tuesday at West, Friday at #1 (D2) South, Saturday at Granville. 

21. Dublin Scioto (25)

Record: 7-6

Ranked Wins: 3

Last Week: Defeated Westerville Central, 56-50. Defeated Licking Heights, 62-53. 

This Week: Tuesday vs. Hilliard Darby, Friday vs. #17 Delaware Hayes.

22. New Albany (NR)

Record: 6-8

Ranked Wins: 2

Last Week: Defeated Franklin Heights, 64-57. Defeated #19 Olentangy Orange, 48-38. 

This Week: Tuesday vs. #1 Pickerington Central. Friday vs. #2 Newark.

23. Mifflin (NR)

Record: 8-7

Ranked Wins: 1

Last Week: Lost at #3 Northland, 77-70. Defeated #10 (D2) Linden, 56-55. Defeated Westerville Central, 57-48. 

This Week: Tuesday vs. International, Friday at #9 (D2) Beechcroft. 

24. Olentangy Orange (19)

Record: 6-8

Ranked Wins: 2

Last Week: Lost vs. #13 Westerville North, 63-52. Lost vs. New Albany, 48-38. 

This Week: Tuesday vs. Franklin Heights. Friday vs. #15 Olentangy Liberty. 

25. Lancaster (24)

Record: 7-8

Ranked Wins: 0

Last Week: Lost at #7 Reynoldsburg, 42-40. Defeated Teays Valley, 48-40. 

This Week: Tuesday vs. #9 Groveport, Friday at #18 Grove City. 

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