»» RELATED: Girls state basketball polls
“It probably doesn’t mean much at all, but it is a recognition for our kids,” said CJ coach Joe Staley.
It’s been a banner season for state-wide recognition among area teams.
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• Trotwood, beaten 95-80 by Pickerington Central in the Premier Health Flyin’ to the Hoop the same day it vaulted to the top spot, fell to No. 3.
• Anna (15-0) is No. 3 among D-III boys.
• The Centerville girls (17-1) climbed to No. 2 in the D-I state poll this week.
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»» PHOTOS: Carroll at Fairmont girls basketball
• The Carroll girls (17-1) went from No. 1 in D-II to No. 2 after suffering their only loss to Beavercreek, then rebounded with a 64-60 double-OT defeat of Fairmont.
• Unbeaten Waynesville (16-0) is No. 5 in the girls D-III state poll.
»» RELATED: Former Trotwood blur in hall of fame
• Fort Loramie (18-1) and defending state champ Minster (16-1) are 1-2 in the girls D-IV poll.
Both CJ and Moeller posted wins this week. CJ withstood visiting Thurgood Marshall’s 3-point barrage (10) to win 66-64 on Tuesday behind Milton Gage’s 27 points. CJ had clinched an outright GCL Co-Ed North title with a 58-54 win at Hamilton Badin last Friday.
»» RELATED: Boys state basketball polls
»» RELATED: Trotwood wears out Sidney in 4th quarter
Moeller, loaded with another recruited lineup, won 60-42 at Cincinnati Winton Woods (10-6) on Tuesday and is at Cincinnati LaSalle (10-6) in a Greater Catholic League South matchup on Friday.
This past Saturday, Moeller hammered visiting Springfield 74-42. The Crusaders have mounted a 36-game win streak over the last two seasons and last lost to an Ohio team in the 2017 D-I state final, 39-38 to Massillon Jackson.
Moeller’s leading scorer Alec Pfriem has signed with Bellarmine University. Former Crusaders starting quarterback Miles McBride gave up football and signed with West Virginia to play basketball. Logan Duncomb, a 6-foot-8 sophomore starter at center, is drawing heavy recruiting interest.
“I know the smart money would be bet on Moeller, but you never know,” Staley said. “They’re talented and bigger than us in every spot. They’ve got depth. They’re loaded. They’ve got everything.”
CJ and Moeller haven’t played since Dec. 22, 2015, a 61-45 Moeller home win. CJ made its most recent final four (D-III) appearance that season, losing 55-50 to eventual state runner-up Lima Central Catholic. Moeller has won four D-I state titles and advanced to seven final fours, all since 1999.
CJ last beat Moeller at home in 2010 and lost by one in 2012. The series resumes this season and CJ will play at Moeller next season. CJ has won 10 straight games since losing 44-41 at Columbus Hartley.
Staley, a Chaminade grad and in his 34th season as the Eagles’ head coach, said CJ was last ranked No. 1 early in the 1993-94 season and for much of the 1988-89 season. The Eagles also were No. 2 for “several weeks” in the 2009-10 season.
The unbeaten Chaminade team in the 1969-70 season was ranked No. 1 in the state the entire season and defeated Rossford 69-47 to win the Class AA state title and complete a 27-0 run.
Gage, a four-year starter, leads the Eagles in scoring (17.9). Senior Jack Nauseef, the other guard, averages 10.9 points. Other key players in CJ’s rotation are senior Dominic Wilcox, sophomore Dan Nauseef, junior Larry Turner and junior Brandon Gibson.
“They’ve played as hard as any team I’ve ever had,” Staley said. “The two things I think about this team is how hard they’ve worked in the offseason and how hard they’ve improved. I know this season has surprised a lot of people, but our kids have really gotten a lot better. Secondly, we have a really good backcourt and we’re really good at the end of close games.”
Saturday’s varsity contest will be the last of a tripleheader. The freshmen will play at 3 p.m., followed by the JV at 4:30 p.m. The varsity game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. tipoff.
FRIDAY’S TOP 5 BOYS GAMES
All at 7:30 p.m.
Centerville (11-5) at Springfield (11-5)
Jackson Center (12-3) at Anna (15-0)
Legacy Christian (15-2) at Emmanuel Christian (11-4)
Monroe (9-7) at Brookville (14-2)
Xenia (10-7) at Fairmont (12-5)
SATURDAY’S TOP 5 GIRLS GAMES
Anna (14-3) at Fort Loramie (18-1), 2:30 p.m.
Cedarville (13-5) at Catholic Central (13-4), 1:30 p.m.
Centerville (17-1) at Fairmont (11-7), 7:30 p.m.
Tecumseh (11-5) vs. Parkersburg (16-1) at Ironton, 7:45 p.m.
Waynesville (15-0) vs. Portsmouth Notre Dame (15-0) at Ironton, 3 p.m.
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