High School Basketball Excitement: Holiday Hoops Tournaments and Power Rankings Update
The holiday season brings excitement to high school basketball fans with various holiday hoops tournaments showcasing multiple games in one location. Locally, the Hardwood Holiday Classic at Xavier features 11 games over two days on December 27-28, with Cincinnati's top teams participating. The latest power rankings reveal the Bombers leading the pack after defeating strong opponents like Louisville Ballard and Trotwood-Madison. La Salle and Moeller remain undefeated as well. Upcoming games include a tournament in Tampa, Florida and a match against McNicholas on January 3.
The Rockets have been dominating their schedule, boasting a 3-0 record in the Greater Catholic League-Coed and securing a victory over Elder. Tarik Fadel and Grant Waters lead the team in scoring and assists. Their upcoming games include a match against Mason at Xavier, followed by games against Walnut Hills and St. Xavier. Holy Cross, led by former Holmes standout Ricardo Johnson, has maintained an unbeaten record with impressive wins over larger schools like Scott County and Montgomery County. Seniors Luke Arlinghaus, Brady Gabbard, and Nate Rominger have been key contributors to the team's success. Their upcoming schedule includes games against Taylor, Scott, Evangel Christian, Middletown, and Purcell Marian.
The Falcons are emerging as contenders once again, with a strong performance in the Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference. Despite a loss to Olentangy Orange, Chris Washington, Jr. and his teammates have been putting up impressive numbers. Their upcoming games include matchups against Dayton Dunbar and Columbus Bishop Hartley. The Vikings, with a 4-1 record in the Greater Miami Conference, have added five-star prospect Kam Mercer to their roster. However, Mercer's availability for the upcoming Hardwood Holiday Classic remains uncertain. A'mire Gill, Rognny Santiago, and Amir Phillips lead the team in scoring. The Comets suffered their first loss to Northridge but remain unbeaten in the Greater Miami Conference. Brycen Johnson has been a standout player for the team. Their upcoming game is against McNicholas at Xavier.
The Senators faced a setback against WEB DuBois but bounced back with high-scoring wins. Antwan Hinton and Keion Griffin have been leading the team in scoring and rebounds. Herman Walker has been a key playmaker for the team. The Colonels had a strong showing at the King of the Bluegrass tournament, with Athens McGillis standing out as a top player in the state. Braeden Myrick and Donovan Bradshaw have also been key contributors. The Cowboys have been dominant in the Cincinnati Hills League, with Kellen Wiley, Darren Gray, Devin Evans, and Carlyle Billingsley leading the charge. The Firebirds have been showcasing their state contender status with impressive wins in the Greater Miami Conference. Josh Tyson, Bryce Curry, and Elijah Dunn have been standout players for the team.
Teams to watch include Beechwood, Campbell County, East Clinton, Edgewood, Goshen, Highlands, La Salle, Moeller, Monroe, North College Hill, Norwood, Shroder, and Williamsburg. The high school basketball season is heating up with exciting matchups and tournaments ahead, promising an action-packed start to the new year.