TOP OF THE CROP

Boys basketball

1: (1) Olmsted Falls 9-2 (3) Elyria 7-3 2: 3: 4: (5) Fairview 8-2 (4) Amherst 9-3 5: (2) Westlake 7-2 6: (6) Columbia 8-2 7: (7) Midview 9-2 8: (NR) Oberlin 6-3 9: (8) Elyria Catholic 5-3 10: (9) Lorain 3-6

Dropped out: (10) Brookside 6-3

Watch list: Avon Lake 4-5, Bay 4-4

Crop Comments: Olmsted Falls was two free throws away from staying undefeated in the Southwestern Conference in a road loss to Amherst. But the Bulldogs avoided a trap loss against Avon Lake at home on Jan. 7, defeating the Shoremen, 73-69. Amherst followed its win against Olmsted Falls with a loss to Elyria, which jumps up to second in the Crop. The Pioneers continue to add depth to their loaded backcourt. Both Amherst and Elyria have road losses to Avon Lake this season. The Pioneers will take on Midview on Jan. 14, which has been on a roll since losing to Amherst in midDecember. The Middies have won six consecutive games to stay in the conference race. Fairview continues to climb. The Warriors started 6-0 before losing back-toback games to Valley Forge (8-2) and Toledo Central Catholic (7-2), which was ranked second in the initial Division II AP poll. The Warriors bounced back with wins against Rocky River and North Olmsted. They will square off against two of the other top teams in the GLC West in Elyria Catholic and Westlake. The Demons drop after a three-point loss to Bay. They also had an 85-59 win against the Panthers. Elyria Catholic followed its Westlake loss with wins over Rocky River and Lutheran West on backto-back days. Oberlin hops back into the top 10 after dropping out last week with a 13-point win over former No. 10 Brookside, which sets up a winner-takes-firstplace game in Oberlin as the Phoenix go up against Columbia on Jan. 11. Westlake went from a possible first placement to fifth in the Crop after falling to Bay (4-4) at home, which put Bay on the watch list.

Note: Records as of Jan. 10