Division I Power Rankings - Week 8
Our top five remains the same heading into a pivotal Week 8
The top five remained intact after a busy week of hoops with nearly every top team taking part in a weekend tournament. Here’s the latest top 25 after MLK weekend.
1. Olentangy Orange (12-0)
This Week: Friday at #14 Olentangy Liberty, Saturday vs. #22 Walnut Ridge (Reynoldsburg)
MaxPreps RPI ranking: #1
The Pioneers went 3-0 last week, winning very close games over top 10 opponents Hilliard Bradley and Grove City. Orange will be tested once again with a matchup at rival Olentangy Liberty on Friday before taking on a talented Walnut Ridge team on Saturday at the Play by Play Classic.
2. Newark (12-1)
This Week: Friday vs. Lancaster
MaxPreps RPI ranking: #3
The Wildcats were 3-0 last week, all wins away from home as they took down Groveport Madison and Pickerington North on the road and were victorious over Austintown-Fitch at Ohio Dominican. Newark has just one game this week before a busy next few weeks with a few top matchups.
3. Delaware Hayes (11-1)
This Week: Tuesday at Olentangy, Friday at #10 Big Walnut
MaxPreps RPI ranking: #4
Delaware Hayes has been quietly humming along as of late. The Pacers had two easy games over two of the lower ranked teams in the district last week but will be challenged twice on the road this week. Friday’s matchup vs. Big Walnut is a big one, as the Eagles are rolling and took Hayes to overtime earlier this season.
4. Westerville North (10-2)
This Week: Friday vs. Franklin Heights, Saturday vs. Akron Buchtel (Reynoldsburg)
MaxPreps RPI ranking: #2
Westerville North scored the win of the weekend when they took down Ohio Division II favorite Kettering Alter at Ohio Dominican on Sunday. The Warriors have the best two losses of any team in the top five, falling in close games to Olentangy Orange and Delaware Hayes. North has to be licking their chops at the rematch against Hayes coming up next week.
5. Reynoldsburg (8-4)
This Week: L vs. Oak Ridge (FL), Friday at #17 Pickerington Central, Saturday vs. Garfield Heights
MaxPreps RPI ranking: #17
Reynoldsburg lost another overtime game, their third of the season, on Monday at Flyin’ to the Hoop against one of the country’s best teams in Oak Ridge out of Florida. The Raiders have lost just one game in regulation this season, on the road at No. 2 Newark, without their head coach. With MaxPreps’ RPI system greatly valuing win percentage (40% of a team’s seed calculation), Reynoldsburg is going to need to start winning these big time matchups to get their RPI seed higher.