Lisbon girls are tops in the area in first AP poll

STAFF REPORT

Four area girls basketball teams were among the top vote-getters in the first Associated Press high school poll of the season, released Tuesday.

Lisbon (9-1) was the highest-ranked team among area schools, earning enough votes for the No. 9 spot in Division III.

Ironically, the Blue Devils were unbeaten at the time of state-wide voting by sports writers and broadcasters, then suffered their first loss Monday night, 46-38, to Columbiana.

McDonald also suffered the fate of losing after the poll votes were taken. The Blue Devils were 7-2 entering weekend voting and received enough votes to rank No. 17 in Div. IV, but lost to Western Reserve, 56-55, Monday night.

Not suffering the same fate were Howland (8-0), ranked No. 11 in Div. I, and Salem (9-1), ranked No. 17 in Div. II.

The Tigers and Quakers are scheduled for the first of their two showdowns in the All-American Conference Red Tier on Jan. 24 at Howland.

The poll leaders were defending state champions Cincinnati Mt. Notre Dame in Div. I and Berlin Hiland in Div. IV, and Lima Bath in Div. II and Marion Pleasant in Div. III.

The poll will be released weekly through the remainder of the season until the start of the state tournament in mid-February.