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On Saturday, CJ will host defending D-I state champ Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller (15-0). The Crusaders have been No. 1 in D-I since the debut of the state polls early this month. 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.
Both CJ and Moeller have games before Saturday’s top-ranked showdown. CJ will host Thurgood Marshall (6-7) on Tuesday. CJ clinched an outright Greater Catholic League Co-Ed North title with a 58-54 win at Hamilton Badin last Friday.
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Moeller is at Cincinnati Winton Woods (10-6) in a non-league game on Tuesday and 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 35-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.
CJ and Moeller haven’t played since Dec. 22, 2015, a 61-45 Crusaders 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.
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CJ coach Joe Staley said the Eagles were 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.
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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.
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