Harding 8th, Poland 12th in final poll

STAFF REPORT

Warren Harding finished No. 8 and Poland was No. 12 in the final boys Associated Press basketball poll, released Monday.

The Raiders (16-2), who were ranked No. 1 three weeks ago, slid from No. 5 in Division I.

Columbus Northland (19-1), which was ranked No. 1 every week but one of the seven polls, finished in first place, followed by Cincinnati Princeton (19-1), Middletown (18-2), Canton Timken (18-1) and Cincinnati Moeller (18-2).

Poland (15-4) finished No. 12 in Div. II. St. Paris Graham (19-0), which led the poll every week, finished No. 1, followed by Circleville Logan Elm (19-1), Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (15-3), Wilmington (18-2) and Cincinnati Indian Hill (18-2).

Smithville (18-0) was voted the top team in Div. III, followed by Findlay Liberty-Benton (17-1), Casstown Miami East (19-1), Anna (18-2) and Ottawa-Glandorf (17-2).

In Div. IV, New Knoxville (19-0) led the poll every week. Berlin Hiland (20-0), Cleveland Heights Lutheran East (16-2), Oak Hill (18-2) and South Charleston Southeastern (18-2) rounded out the top five.

The regular season concludes Saturday with tournaments scheduled to begin on March 2.