Sandusky up one spot to No. 4 in AP poll

COLUMBUS — The Sandusky boys basketball team, riding a 15-game win streak, moved up one more spot in the fifth weekly Associated Press high school boys basketball state poll, released on Monday. The Blue Streaks (19-1, 11-1) are No. 4 in Division II, up one spot from fifth from the previous week. The top seed in the Ashland district, Sandusky hosts Mansfield Madison (11-10) in a non-league game on Tuesday and closes the regular season on Saturday at rival Fremont Ross (7-13). In Div. I, Powell Olentangy Liberty is again among the top five teams at No. 4, holding from the same position as last week. The Patriots (19-2) are coached by Greg Nossaman, who left Willard for Powell after the 2007-08 season. Nossaman went 173-62 in 10 years at Willard with six regional trips and a state semifinal appearance (2–1). In Div. IV, Russia (19-2) — which defeated Willard (13-8) by a 71-60 score on Jan. 15 — was down one spot to No. 5 this week. The Crimson Flashes played the Raiders at the Fort Loramie MLK Classic. Top-ranked teams in the fifth poll saw no change in Centerville (Div. I), Columbus Bishop Ready (Div. II), Cleveland Heights Lutheran East (Div. III) and Richmond Heights (Div. IV). There is a chance at significant movement in next week's final poll as far as AP champions. Lutheran East hosts Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (14-5) — the No. 6 team in Div. I — on Tuesday. Richmond Heights (21-0) puts an unbeaten season on the line on Friday when it visits Div. I No. 2 Lakewood St. Edward (17-1). Of note to the area in the fifth girls AP poll, Smithville (20-2) is No. 7 in Div. III. The Smithies defeated New London (16-6) on the road, 47-29, back on Dec. 3. Top-ranked teams this week were Mason (Div. I), Kettering Alter (Div. II), Worthington Christian (Div. III) and New Madison Tri-Village (Div. IV).