OHIO PREPS Sylvania Northview girls ignored in poll

ASSOCIATED PRESS
With the lack of respect they have received the past two years in the poll, the Sylvania Northview girls basketball team must feel like Ohio's version of Rodney Dangerfield.
Despite reaching the regionals the past two seasons and starting 11-0 this season, the Wildcats have yet to crack the top 10 in Division I.
Their situation underscores the fact that voters tend to give more weight to teams that make it into the biggest spotlight of them all, the state tournament.
In 2002, a young 19-6 Wildcat team lost in the regional semifinals. Last season, the Wildcats avenged their only defeat from a 19-1 regular season by beating state poll champion Toledo Central Catholic, 24-0 at the time, in the district finals.
11-game winning streak
They ultimately lost to Mansfield Senior in the regional championship game, but returned all five starters from that team and have begun with 11 wins in a row, all by comfortable margins.
The Wildcats have been led by Niki McCoy (17.2 points per game), Indiana University-bound Nikki Smith (10.7) and Brooke Amstutz (11.5), the daughter of University of Toledo head football coach Tom Amstutz.
Production lines
Top-ranked Canton McKinley had its string of 30-point quarters snapped at four but came close with a 28-point third quarter in a 72-53 victory at Boardman; acclaimed freshman O.J. Mayo totaled 59 points in two weekend victories to lead Cincinnati North College Hill -- which was 2-18 last year -- to an 11-0 start; Andrew Brackman totaled 48 points in two wins for Moeller, keeping alive the Crusaders' mark of winning each of their 12 games by at least 18 points.