CLEVELAND, Ohio The new cleveland.com Top 25 boys basketball poll is out.Click here to take a look.
Each week after posting the updated Top 25, we'll post another story like this with talking points, including insight into why some teams moved up or down, or in or out of the rankings.
TONIGHT: Live playoff party show at Harry Buffalo
Fans are invited to come to the NEO Varsity Insider's live High School Basketball Playoff Preview video show on tonight at the Harry Buffalo in downtown Cleveland (2120 East 4th Street). More than 25 boys and girls teams will be in attendance and on set during the live show: 6-7:30 for boys and 7:30-9 for girls. Cavs and Monsters tickets will be raffled off and everyone in attendance is eligible for the prizes. If you can't make it watch the live video broadcast at cleveland.com starting at 6.See more details about the cleveland.com event here.
We also invite you to provide your input in the comments section, a new feature added to high school stories this school year. Tell us what you agree or don't agree with. You can even post your own rankings, which we welcome.
Talking point No. 1: Why did Westlake drop out of the poll?
The Demons are now out of the poll despite being the last boys basketball team to lose a game in all of Northeast Ohio. Including that Jan. 24 loss to Olmsted Falls, Westlake has fallen four times in three weeks. Two of those losses came this past week when it fell to Amherst and Brecksville-Broadview Heights.
When you also factor in that Westlake only has one win against a ranked team (Lakewood), the overall resume of the Demons just doesn't stack up against other teams.
Talking point No. 2: How did a week of upsets shake up the poll?
The theme of this past week was unranked teams beating ranked teams. There were eight such occurrences, including two each for Westlake, Olmsted Falls and Brunswick.
The results were Westlake being bounced from the poll, Olmsted Falls falling six spots from No. 12 to No. 18 and Brunswick barely hanging on at No. 25.
Meanwhile, one of those unranked teams, Holy Name, jumped back into the poll by beating then-No. 4 Central Catholic on Friday.
Talking point No. 3: Why didn't St. Edward stay No. 1 in the poll?
Even though St. Edward lost to Shaker Heights this past week, the Eagles' body of work makes a strong case to leave them at No. 1 in the poll.
The Eagles beat Central Catholic on Saturday and have also knocked off St. Ignatius, St. Vincent-St. Mary and Beachwood this season.
Shaker Heights, though, also has plenty of strong wins, including St. Edward and two against Medina. Throw in that St. Edward has now struggled in each of its last three games (St. Ignatius, Shaker Heights and Central Catholic), and the Raiders were the choice.
Talking point No. 4: What games will shape the final poll?
If Shaker Heights was to fall to Brunswick on Friday, the door is open for a new No. 1 team. Thursday's game between No. 3 Villa Angela-St. Joseph and No. 2 St. Edward could be for the top spot.
Another keep an eye on this week is No. 11 Warrensville Heights vs. No. 20 Cleveland Heights on Tuesday. If Cleveland Heights wins, it secures the Lake Erie League title.
Also, if No. 4 Berea-Midpark beats No. 18 Olmsted Falls, it will win the Southwestern Conference outright.
One non-conference meeting to keep an eye on is the showdown between No. 9 Beachwood and No. 17 Lake Catholic on Wednesday.
Contact high school sports reporter David Cassilo by email (dcassilo@cleveland.com)or Twitter (@dcassilo).Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
Source: http://highschoolsports.cleveland.com/news/article/8981750795673834876/why-did-westlake-drop-out-of-the-poll-the-clevelandcom-boys-baskeball-top-25-explained/
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