5 months ago
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Lutheran East ends 2025 astatine nan apical of nan cleveland.com boys hoops Top 25, moving up to No. 1 aft Brunswick’s upset nonaccomplishment Monday nighttime to unbeaten Gilmour Academy.
The Falcons are nan 3rd squad to clasp nan apical spot successful nan rankings. All three, including preseason No. 1 Garfield Heights, will beryllium successful action Sunday astatine Euclid High School for nan yearly Scholastic Play By Play Classic
It features 5 games, starting astatine noon pinch Rhodes (4-2) vs. Lutheran West (3-4).
Rhodes astir came backmost Sunday vs. Hawken astatine Garfield Heights for nan NEO Youth Elite Christmas Classic, arsenic elder defender Jahavi Dye scored 20 points against nan Hawks. Lutheran West, which has mislaid 3 consecutive games, has gotten standout inferior guardant Aiden Monroe backmost aft missing a fistful of games, including a travel to St. Vincent-St. Mary during its caller skid. Coach Jordan Duke’s squad has 2 much games this week earlier nan Play By Play opener connected Sunday, wherever a rematch from past season’s Division IV authorities semifinals will besides return place.
That was connected nan mind of Hawken’s Greg Price aft his squad hit Rhodes connected Sunday.
“We’re reasoning astir it a lot,” said Price, who scored 24 points against nan Rams. “I wouldn’t opportunity it’s revenge, but it’s much of to show we tin compete.”
The Hawks fell successful past season’s authorities semifinals to Glenville (2-4), which brings backmost four-year starting constituent defender Theo Castro, Arvell Nelson Jr. and Jahi Hobson from its first tally to nan authorities finals. Hawken (8-1) has won 4 consecutive since its only nonaccomplishment successful overtime to nan International Sports Academy.
Another crippled to watch is Brunswick (7-1) and IU-Indianapolis enlistee Trey Drexler taking connected St. Vincent-St. Mary (4-4) and DeCarlo Prince. The Blue Devils person leaned connected Drexler and Flagler enlistee Sean Barnett for 1 of nan state’s apical backcourt. Coach Dru Joyce II’s squad will put that to nan trial pinch a pressing defense, led by Prince and sophomore Ascen Lomack. Leigh Cotton, their 6-foot-7 elder forward, could beryllium nan X-factor against a guard-laden Brunswick team, which dropped to eighth in this week’s cleveland.com Top 25 aft its nonaccomplishment to unbeaten Gilmour. The Lancers jumped 10 spots pinch their signature capacity Monday connected a neutral level astatine Berea-Midpark.
Two much games information retired Sunday’s showcase. No. 5 Garfield Heights (4-4) and reigning Ohio Mr. Basketball Marcus Johnson return connected Shaker Heights (1-4), which made a Cinderella tally to past season’s Division II location finals and has an emerging sophomore successful Dillon Vaden-Slaughter. Johnson, who flipped earlier this autumn from Ohio State to South Carolina, is coming disconnected a 40-point game against Glenville to threat a three-game skid from nan Bulldogs’ caller travel to nan City of Palms Invitational successful Florida.
“I deliberation we learned that it’s levels,” Johnson said. “There’s different levels to basketball. A batch of talented players retired location made america want to activity harder, watch much movie and believe harder.”
Sunday’s showcase closes pinch caller No. 1 Lutheran East (6-0) against big Euclid (5-3), nan area’s No. 12-ranked squad pinch first-year coach Quentin Rogers. The Falcons travel successful pinch awesome victories against defending Division II authorities champion Westerville North and Division I authorities finalist Reynoldsburg. They conscionable took down Warrensville Heights to avenge 1 of their losses past twelvemonth connected nan measurement to nan Division V authorities crown.
Those 5 games aren’t each that is happening to commencement 2026. Rivals No. 2 St. Edward (6-0) and No. 3 St. Ignatius (5-3) meet Saturday astatine Public Hall successful Cleveland pinch a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.
Now present this week’s Top 25 and really teams stack up since past week successful cleveland.com’s seven-county sum area:
- Who is Northeast Ohio’s champion inferior girls hoops player? Our picks, your votes (poll)Dec. 30, 2025, 5:00a.m.
- Highlights and apical performers from nan NEO Youth Elite Christmas ClassicDec. 29, 2025, 6:05a.m.
- Who is Northeast Ohio’s champion elder girls hoops player? Our picks, your votes (poll)Dec. 29, 2025, 5:30a.m.
25. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (5-1)
Previously: Not ranked; Dec. 12 hit Lake Catholic 64-40, Dec. 13 hit Streetsboro 77-38, Dec. 16 won astatine Holy Name, Dec. 20 mislaid to Massillon Washington 77-72, Dec. 23 hit Padua 74-54, Dec. 27 hit Walsh Jesuit 76-56
This week: Jan. 2 astatine Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, Jan. 4 vs. Barberton
24. North Ridgeville (6-2)
Previously: Not ranked; Nov. 26 won astatine Lorain 70-52, Nov. 30 mislaid to Gilmour Academy 61-42, Dec. 2 hit Brookside 78-65, Dec. 5 won astatine Nordonia 58-51, Dec. 9 hit Elyria Catholic 71-44, Dec. 16 mislaid astatine Elyria 72-53, Dec. 19 won astatine Midview 73-68, Dec. 23 hit Buckeye 69-48
This week: Dec. 30 vs. Avon
23. Amherst (6-1)
Previously: Ranked No. 25; Nov. 26 hit North Olmsted 91-30, Dec. 2 hit Fairview 76-65, Dec. 5 mislaid astatine Elyria Catholic 69-66, Dec. 12 hit Berea-Midpark 73-68, Dec. 16 won astatine Avon Lake 71-69 (OT), Dec. 19 hit Olmsted Falls 64-59, Dec. 23 hit Lorain 70-59
This week: Dec. 30 vs. Keystone
22. Keystone (8-0)
Previously: Ranked No. 24; Nov. 26 hit Olmsted Falls 55-53 astatine Midview, Dec. 5 won astatine Black River 85-51, Dec. 6 hit Western Reserve 64-21, Dec. 9 won astatine Oberlin 75-49, Dec. 12 hit Clearview 82-45, Dec. 16 won astatine Columbia 72-50, Dec. 19 hit Firelands 72-43, Dec. 23 hit Walsh Jesuit 69-52
This week: Dec. 30 astatine Amherst
21. Benedictine (6-2)
Previously: Ranked No. 23; Nov. 30 mislaid astatine Lutheran East 64-35, Dec. 5 hit Revere 54-42, Dec. 6 mislaid astatine Bedford 52-46, Dec. 9 won astatine Trinity 59-46, Dec. 12 hit Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 57-54, Dec. 16 won astatine Lake Catholic 56-52, Dec. 19 won astatine Villa Angela-St. Joseph 72-64, Dec. 23 won astatine Fairview 68-60 (OT)
This week: Dec. 30 vs. Shaw, Jan. 2 astatine Padua
20. Archbishop Hoban (3-3)
Previously: Ranked No. 22; Dec. 9 hit Canton McKinley 77-63, Dec. 12 won astatine Pittsburgh North Catholic 85-75, Dec. 13 hit Harvey 89-53 astatine Barberton, Dec. 16 mislaid to Brunswick 70-52, Dec. 19 mislaid to Trotwood-Madison 80-45 astatine Cincinnati McNicholas, Dec. 20 mislaid to Cincinnati Aiken 75-31 astatine Cincinnati McNicholas
This week: Dec. 30 vs. Louisville, Jan. 3 vs. Sandusky astatine Wooster Triway
19. Hudson (6-1)
Previously: Ranked No. 19; hit Shaw 52-23, Dec. 9 won astatine Twinsburg 70-46, Dec. 12 won astatine Wadsworth 51-34, Dec. 16 mislaid to Brecksville-Broadview Heights 39-34, Dec. 19 won astatine Nordonia 64-53, Dec. 20 won astatine Kenston 67-59, Dec. 23 hit Kent Roosevelt 57-31
This week: Dec. 30 vs. Highland, Jan. 3 vs. Streetsboro
18. Cleveland Heights (5-2)
Previously: Ranked No. 18; Nov. 28 hit Brush 70-38, Nov. 30 mislaid to Elyria 74-61, Dec. 5 hit Strongsville 74-49, Dec. 7 hit Glenville astatine Shaker Heights 66-58, Dec. 12 won astatine Shaker Heights 72-54, Dec. 19 mislaid astatine Medina 78-56, Dec. 21 hit Twinsburg 72-47 astatine Garfield Heights
This week: Idle
17. North Royalton (5-2)
Previously: Ranked No. 14; Dec. 5 won astatine Walsh Jesuit 77-71, Dec. 9 hit Nordonia 76-72, Dec. 12 mislaid to Solon 76-73, Dec. 16 hit Stow-Munroe Falls 66-54, Dec. 19 won astatine Twinsburg 63-34, Dec. 23 mislaid to Medina 50-43 astatine Brunswick, Dec. 26 hit Northeast (Fla.) 76-59 successful Tampa, Fla.
This week: Dec. 30 vs. Rocky Bayou Christian (Fla.) astatine DEC Invitational successful Tampa, Fla.
16. Medina (6-1)
Previously: Ranked No. 16; Dec. 2 mislaid astatine Garfield Heights 76-58, Dec. 5 hit Shaker Heights 66-58, Dec. 12 won astatine Strongsville 55-31, Dec. 19 hit Cleveland Heights 78-56, Dec. 20 hit Marysville 60-59 successful Columbus, Dec. 23 hit North Royalton 50-43 astatine Brunswick, Dec. 27 hit Chicago Horizon Science 74-21
This week: Jan. 2 astatine Brunswick
15. Mentor (5-1)
Previously: Ranked No. 13; Dec. 5 hit Lorain 90-63, Dec. 9 won astatine Berea-Midpark 84-67, Dec. 12 mislaid astatine Euclid 78-65, Dec. 13 hit GlenOak 75-59 astatine Massillon Washington, Dec. 19 won astatine Shaker Heights 71-65, Dec. 29 vs. hit Lincoln Park 84-70 astatine Central Valley tournament
This week: Dec. 30 vs. Woodland Hill astatine Central Valley tournament, Jan. 2 astatine Cleveland Heights
14. Warrensville Heights (3-3)
Previously: Ranked No. 10; Dec. 4 mislaid to SPIRE (national team) 70-40, Dec. 9 hit Maple Heights 70-34, Dec. 12 mislaid astatine Bedford 51-47 (OT), Dec. 17 won astatine Cleveland Central Catholic 87-78, Dec. 18 hit Cleveland JFK 81-56, Dec. 28 mislaid to Lutheran East 60-38 astatine Garfield Heights
This week: Dec. 30 astatine St. Edward
13. Elyria (7-2)
Previously: Ranked No. 11; Nov. 26 hit Toledo Whitmer 66-52 astatine Midview, Nov. 30 won astatine Cleveland Heights 74-61, Dec. 2 won astatine Solon 89-79, Dec. 6 hit Lorain 74-36, Dec. 12 mislaid astatine Olmsted Falls 76-63, Dec. 16 hit North Ridgeville 72-53, Dec. 19 won astatine Avon Lake 70-39, Dec. 20 hit Garrett Morgan 87-54, Dec. 27 mislaid to Massillon Washington 108-83 astatine Canton McKinley
This week: Idle
12. Euclid (5-3)
Previously: Ranked No. 12; Nov. 29 won astatine Pickerington North 73-69, Dec. 5 mislaid astatine Brunswick 71-59, Dec. 6 mislaid astatine St. Vincent-St. Mary 63-35, Dec. 12 hit Mentor 78-65, Dec. 19 won astatine Lorain 71-38, Dec. 20 hit Villa Angela-St. Joseph 59-41, Dec. 22 won astatine Columbus Northland 74-56, Dec. 28 mislaid to Akron Garfield 73-71 (2OT) astatine Garfield Heights
This week: Jan. 2 vs. Shaker Heights, Jan. 4 vs. Lutheran East
11. Akron Garfield (7-1)
Previously: Ranked No. 15; Nov. 28 hit West Branch 49-40, Dec. 4 hit Buchtel 55-40, Dec. 6 mislaid astatine North Canton Hoover 57-48, Dec. 9 hit Ellet 49-43, Dec. 12 hit Akron East 80-24, Dec. 16 won astatine Akron North 88-13, Dec. 19 won astatine Firestone 72-32, Dec. 22 hit Louisville 43-39, Dec. 28 hit Euclid 73-71 (2OT) astatine Garfield Heights
This week: Jan. 2 astatine St. Vincent-St. Mary
10. Bedford (9-1)
Previously: Ranked No. 9; Nov. 29 mislaid to St. Ignatius 62-54, Dec. 2 won astatine Mayfield 77-61, Dec. 6 hit Benedictine 52-46, Dec. 9 hit Cleveland Central Catholic 64-50, Dec. 12 hit Warrensville Heights 51-47 (OT), Dec. 16 won astatine Brush 55-53, Dec. 19 hit Maple Heights 68-48, Dec. 21 hit Lutheran West 58-55 astatine Garfield Heights, Dec. 23 won astatine Barberton 60-55, Dec. 29 won astatine Buchtel 71-51
This week: Idle
9. Brecksville-Broadview Heights (7-0)
Previously: Ranked No. 8; Dec. 5 won astatine Cuyahoga Falls 60-41, Dec. 9 won astatine Wadsworth 44-39, Dec. 12 hit Stow-Munroe Falls 58-22, Dec. 16 won astatine Hudson 39-34, Dec. 19 hit Solon 75-51, Dec. 27 hit Hernando (Fla.) 69-25 astatine Tampa Bay (Fla.) tournament, Dec. 28 hit Sickles (Fla.) 56-52 astatine Tampa Bay (Fla.) tournament
This week: Idle
8. Brunswick (7-1)
Previously: Ranked No. 1; Nov. 28 won astatine Avon Lake 74-58, Dec. 5 hit Euclid 71-59, Dec. 12 won astatine Lorain 69-53, Dec. 16 won astatine Archbishop Hoban 70-52, Dec. 19 hit Strongsville 65-31, Dec. 21 hit Olentangy Liberty 76-70 astatine Capital University, Dec. 23 hit Rhodes 91-73, Dec. 29 mislaid to Gilmour Academy 69-64 astatine Berea-Midpark
This week: Jan. 2 vs. Medina, Jan. 4 vs. St. Vincent-St. Mary astatine Euclid
7. Gilmour Academy (7-0)
Previously: Ranked No. 17; Nov. 30 hit North Ridgeville 61-42 astatine Baldwin Wallace, Dec. 5 hit Avon Lake 69-50, Dec. 12 hit University School 61-56, Dec. 19 won astatine Riverside 89-74, Dec. 21 hit Olmsted Falls 64-55 astatine Garfield Heights, Dec. 27 hit Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 81-72, Dec. 29 hit Brunswick 69-64 astatine Berea-Midpark
This week: Dec. 31 vs. Willoughby South, Jan. 3 astatine Youngstown Ursuline
6. Hawken (8-1)
Previously: Ranked No. 7; Nov. 29 hit Richmond Heights 75-57 astatine Cleveland Heights, Dec. 2 hit SPIRE 72-45, Dec. 5 won astatine Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 81-68, Dec. 7 hit Canton GlenOak 70-61, Dec. 10 mislaid to ISA 77-74 (OT), Dec. 13 won astatine Perry 64-47, Dec. 17 won astatine West Geauga 65-62, Dec. 20 hit Orange 73-32, Dec. 28 hit Rhodes 87-80 astatine Garfield Heights
This week: Jan. 4 vs. Glenville astatine Euclid
5. Garfield Heights (4-4)
Previously: Ranked No. 6; Nov. 29 hit John Marshall 68-24 astatine Cleveland Heights, Dec. 2 hit Medina 76-58, Dec. 9 hit Shaw 64-34, Dec. 14 mislaid astatine St. Vincent-St. Mary 63-60, Dec. 18 mislaid to Paul VI (Va.) 93-60 astatine City of Palms successful Fort Myers, Fla., Dec. 20 mislaid to Bishop McNamara (Md.) 79-59 astatine City of Palms successful Fort Myers, Fla., Dec. 23 mislaid to Sarasota (Fla.) 67-47 astatine City of Palms successful Fort Myers, Fla., Dec. 28 hit Glenville 74-70
This week: Dec. 30 astatine Massillon Jackson
4. St. Vincent-St. Mary (4-4)
Previously: Ranked No. 5; Dec. 2 mislaid astatine Canton McKinley 68-59, Dec. 6 hit Euclid 65-35, Dec. 9 hit Padua 54-49, Dec. 14 hit Garfield Heights 63-60, Dec. 16 hit Lutheran West 54-46, Dec. 20 mislaid to College Achieve (N.J.) 84-73 successful Columbus, Dec. 22 mislaid to St. Ignatius 61-52, Dec. 27 mislaid to Maysville 74-66 astatine Canton McKinley
This week: Jan. 2 vs. Akron Garfield, Jan. 4 vs. Brunswick astatine Euclid
3. St. Ignatius (5-3)
Previously: Ranked No. 4; Nov. 29 won astatine Bedford 62-54, Nov. 30 hit Glenville 64-53 astatine Cleveland Heights, Dec. 6 hit Berlin Hiland 51-35, Dec. 20 hit Olentangy Orange 67-51 astatine Capital University, Dec. 22 won astatine St. Vincent-St. Mary 61-52, Dec. 26 mislaid to JSerra Catholic (Calif.) 71-70 astatine Torrey Pines (Calif.), Dec. 27 mislaid to Francis Parker (Calif.) 86-78 astatine Torrey Pines (Calif.), Dec. 29 mislaid to De La Salle (Calif.) 75-58 astatine Torrey Pines (Calif.)
This week: Dec. 30 vs. TBD astatine Torrey Pines (Calif.)
2. St. Edward (6-0)
Previously: Ranked No. 3; Nov. 30 hit Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 89-50 astatine Baldwin Wallace, Dec. 2 hit Lakewood 83-50, Dec. 6 won astatine Fairview 78-68, Dec. 16 won astatine Walsh Jesuit 64-42, Dec. 20 hit Sandusky 88-42, Dec. 23 won astatine Berea-Midpark 83-62
This week: Dec. 30 vs. Warrensville Heights, Jan. 3 vs. St. Ignatius astatine Public Hall
1. Lutheran East (6-0)
Previously: Ranked No. 2; Nov. 29 won astatine Reynoldsburg 65-57, Nov. 30 hit Benedictine 64-35 astatine Cleveland Heights, Dec. 3 hit Richmond Heights 69-35, Dec. 10 hit Maple Heights 87-40, Dec. 21 hit Westerville North 51-49 astatine Capital University, Dec. 28 hit Warrensville Heights 60-38 astatine Garfield Heights
This week: Dec. 30 astatine Berlin Hiland, Jan. 4 astatine Euclid
Dropped out
Padua (5-3, was No. 20), Lutheran West (3-4, was No. 21)
On nan cusp
Berea-Midpark (5-4), Cleveland Central Catholic (4-4), Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (5-1), Fairview (4-3), Glenville (2-4), Nordonia (5-3), Olmsted Falls (4-3), Rhodes (4-2), University School (6-3)
