Undefeated Warren Harding takes over top spot in AP poll

STAFF REPORT

Warren Harding took over the No. 1 spot in this week’s Associated Press boys basketball poll.

The Raiders (11-0) moved up to the top spot in Division I after top-ranked Columbus Northland and No. 2 Cincinnati Moeller both suffered defeats over the weekend.

Northland lost to Canton Timken in overtime, the same team that Warren Harding beat by 10 points over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend in the Pizza Oven Classic.

The Raiders were ranked No. 3 in each of the first three Associated Press polls.

Poland, in Div. II, remained the only other area team to earn a ranking this week. The Bulldogs (10-4) are No. 13.

Unbeaten McDonald (13-0) and Youngstown Christian (13-2) again didn’t receive enough votes to warrant a mention, but those two teams, along with Columbiana, should snap up the top three seeds at the upcoming Div. IV sectional tournament draw.

Likewise, Maplewood (13-1) and Newton Falls (11-2) didn’t get enough votes in Div. III but should get a high seed at the tournament draw for the Warren Harding sectional. And East Palestine (12-2) should get one of the top seeds at the Div. III sectional at Salem.

St. Paris Graham (Div. II), Smithville (Div. III) and New Knoxville (Div. IV) remained the top teams in their respective divisions.

The poll will continue for three more weeks. The boys tournament begins March 2.