Willard boys up one spot in AP poll

COLUMBUS — After its massive win last week, the Willard boys basketball team moved up one spot in the sixth weekly Associated Press state poll for Division II, released on Tuesday. The Crimson Flashes (18-3) are up from 10th to No. 9 in this week's poll after its 77-39 win at Margaretta (18-3) — the No. 6-ranked team in this week's Div. III poll. Both teams were tied at 8-1 in the SBC Bay Division after the Flashes avenged a 58-48 home loss to the Polar Bears on Jan. 4. Willard then defeated Vermilion (6-16, 4-6) Tuesday night, 77-61, to clinch its share of a fifth league title over the past six seasons. Also in Div. II, Shelby (19-2) is ranked No. 2 and Lexington (20-2) checks in right behind at No. 3. Both teams are longtime Willard opponents and are in the same district as the Crimson Flashes, who also host the Whippets in the regular season finale this Friday in a game that is now assured to feature two top 10 teams in the state poll. The Minutemen defeated Willard, 58-56, in last year's sectional title game at Mansfield Madison. Should both teams win their respective sectional championship games on March 1, they would again meet in a district semifinal at a site to be determined. Also in Div. III, Ashland Crestview (20-1) fell one spot from seventh too No. 8 this week. The Cougars are tied atop the Firelands Conference with St. Paul (15-6) with identical 12-1 records entering Friday's regular season finale for both teams. Crestview and Margaretta are also the top two seeds at the Norwalk High School district in the tournament, and could meet in a district semifinal on March 6 at NHS. Hopewell-Loudon (19-2) from the SBC River Division moved up one spot within the top 10 to No. 9 this week. The top-ranked teams this week in the poll included Cincinnati Moeller (Div. I), Rocky River Lutheran West (Div. II), Cleveland Heights Lutheran East (Div. III) and Russia (Div. IV). GIRLS Two SBC teams remain ranked Margaretta (20-2) remained among the top 10 teams in the Div. III poll on Monday, holding onto the No. 5 spot this week. The Polar Bears reached the state semifinals last season and also own a 39-34 win over Norwalk (16-5) on Jan. 9 in Castalia. Gibsonburg (20-2), which edged Norwalk, 46-41, in overtime on Jan. 30, also stayed put and held at No. 5 in this week's Div. IV poll. Also of note to Norwalk, Mansfield Senior fell out of the Div. II top 10 after a 40-35 loss at New Philadelphia in the regular season finale. The Tygers (19-3) are the top seed in the same Old Fort district as the Truckers. Norwalk beat Mansfield in a sectional title game last season. Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (17-5) is No. 6 and Bryan (21-1) is No. 7 in this week's poll. Bryan defeated both the Fighting Irish and the Truckers to win last year's regional in Mansfield. In Div. III, Liberty Center (20-2) is again ranked No. 8. The Tigers defeated New London (18-4) at the Jingle Bell Jam showcase in Sandusky on Dec. 29. In Div. IV, Loudonville (19-2) is seventh. The Ashland County team won at South Central on Dec. 19. Top-ranked teams this week included Lewis Center Olentangy (Div. I), Cincinnati Purcell Marian (Div. II), Casstown Miami East (Div. III) and Ft. Loramie (Div. IV).