COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Hell week begins for four of the top five teams in Division II. As the City League had a bevy of cancellations last weekend, the snow pushed back several league games. With four of the top five teams from the City League, those squads will play four games in what will be a revealing week.
1. Beechcroft
Record: 9-1 (5-0)
This Week: Monday vs. #5 East, Tuesday at Whetstone, Wednesday at Mifflin, Friday vs. Linden
Very rarely do we see teams play back-to-back-to-back games, but never have we seen area teams do that against league opponents. Beechcroft will have to do just that, as the Cougars open up the week at home vs. East, who is one game back in the City League North behind the Cougars and hungry for an upset. A potential slip up game for Beechcroft could be on Wednesday at Mifflin, as the Punchers have enough guard play to keep it close. Looking to win its first North division title since 1994, Beechcroft has a lot of work left to do and has not accomplished enough to relax just yet.
2. Eastmoor
Record: 11-2 (7-0)
This Week: Monday vs. Walnut Ridge, Tuesday vs. Briggs, Friday at #3 South, Saturday vs. #4 (D1) Upper Arlington
Eastmoor has been locked at No. 2 in Division II all season, however, an undefeated week with this schedule will move the Warriors to the top spot. Three games against tough opponents come in a span of six days, as Eastmoor's depth and overall mental toughness will be challenged. In arguably the best rivalry in the City League, Eastmoor hosts Walnut Ridge on Monday before it heads to No. 3 South on Friday. Matching up with South for the fourth time in a little more than a year, Eastmoor knows the Bulldogs like the back of its hand and vice versa. One possession away from losing to South at home on Dec. 19, Eastmoor will have its hands full on Friday. Saturday's matchup against Upper Arlington at Ohio Dominican will be Eastmoor's toughest game since its opener against Cincinnati Moeller.
3. South
Record: 11-2 (5-1)
This Week: Monday at Independence, Tuesday at Marion-Franklin, Wednesday at #5 (D3) Africentric, Friday vs. #2 Eastmoor
If you thought Beechcroft's three-day stretch was brutal, South will have to play three-straight league games on the road this week. While the Bulldogs will be heavily favored in the first two games this week, Wednesday's road matchup at Africentric could be a potential trap game for the Bulldogs. South had the same exact scenario a year ago when it took on the Nubians on a Wednesday in a game that South had to overcome a 20-point deficit in order to win. If South can get through this stretch unscathed, the Bulldogs will be in great shape heading into the district tournament.
4. Bishop Hartley
Record: 11-3 (4-1)
This Week: Friday at #2 (D3) Bishop Ready
With just one game this week, Bishop Hartley gets to completely focus on Friday's CCL matchup at undefeated and state No.1 Bishop Ready. Losing by 20 points against the Silver Knights in the first matchup of the year, Hartley was without key players in Morgan Safford and Payton Collins, who both missed the game due to injury. Feeling pissed off and ready for revenge, Friday's showdown at Ready will have major implications in the CCL. Flying a bit under the radar, Hartley is a dangerous team in Division II who has the size and overall talent to compete with anyone.
5. East
Record: 9-2 (6-1)
This Week: Monday at #1 Beechcroft, Tuesday at International, Friday at Centennial
One of the proudest programs in Central Ohio history, East is having a season that has some of its most decorated alums excited. Off to a 9-2 start, the Tigers have done it behind a senior guard trio that has been excellent through the first half of the year. East can make its mark in the City League on Monday as the Tigers will head to top-ranked and first place Beechcroft, who is alone at the top in the North division. If East were somehow able to go undefeated in league play for the rest of the year, the Tigers would secure a league title due to a City League specific type breaker. However, East must take care of business day by day to get there.
# | PRE | Team | Record | SOR Points | This Week |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Beechcroft | 9-1 | 19 | vs. #5 East, @ Whetstone, @ Mifflin, vs. Linden |
2 | 2 | Eastmoor | 11-2 | 16 | vs. Walnut Ridge, vs. Briggs, @ #3 South, vs. #4 (D1) Upper Arlington |
3 | 3 | South | 11-2 | 10 | @ Independence, @ Marion-Franklin, @ #5 (D3) Africentric, vs. #2 Eastmoor |
4 | 4 | Bishop Hartley | 11-3 | 9 | @ #2 (D3) Bishop Ready |
5 | 5 | East | 9-2 | 4 | @ #1 Beechcroft, @ International, @ Centennial |
6 | 7 | Jonathan Alder | 11-2 | @ Bishop Watterson, vs. Benjamin Logan, @ Springfield Shawnee | |
7 | 10 | Bexley | 10-4 | 1 | vs. Patriot Academy, @ #8 (D3) Grandview Heights, @ Bloom-Carroll |
8 | NR | DeSales | 6-4 | 2 | vs. Whitehall, @ Bishop Watterson, @ Mount Vernon |
9 | 6 | Fairfield Union | 7-4 | 4 | @ St. Charles, vs. Logan Elm, @ Liberty Union |
10 | 8 | Granville | 8-3 | 3 | vs Utica, vs. Watkins Memorial, vs. Worthington Kilbourne |
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