This week’s Crop, area stat leaders unveiled

Boys basketball

Movement in this week’s News-Herald boys basketball Top of the Crop takes place in the bottom half of the rankings, and Nate Barnes also has this week’s area boys basketball statistical leaders.

1: (1) Benedictine 3-1 2: (2) Lake Catholic 7-0 3: (3) VASJ 4-3 4: (4) Cornerstone 1-4 5: (5) Mentor 4-2 6: (6) Brush 6-2 7: (7) Gilmour 3-0 8: (9) Beachwood 5-3 9: (8) Euclid 2-4 10: (NR) South 6-1 Records through Dec. 27 games

Watch list: West Geauga, Andrews Osborne, Chardon, Kenston, Chagrin Falls Dropped out: West Geauga

Crop comments: Benedictine cruised (3-1) to a 64-60 win against NDCL and heads to Elmira, N.Y., for the Josh Palmer Fund/Elmira Holiday Inn Classic from Dec. 28-30. ... Lake Catholic (7-0) proved its merit as the No. 2 team with wins against Akron Hoban, Berlin Hiland and Olentangy Liberty . ... VASJ (4-3) heads to Knightstown, Ind., to play in the Hoosier Gym on Dec. 30 with a threegame winning streak in tow. ... Cornerstone Christian (1-4) was idle, but begins play in Miami, Fla., at the adidas Holiday Slam Dec. 28 . ... Mentor (4-2) fell to Solon and travels to South on Dec. 29 . ... Brush (6-2) rebounded from its first loss with a 28-point win against Madison before the Arcs lost to Solon at the NEO Elite Christmas Classic . ... Gilmour (3-0) defeated Rocky River and hosts Aurora on Dec. 30. ... Beachwood (5-3) moves up to No. 8 via its five-game winning streak, including a win against Crestwood at the NEO Elite Christmas Classic . ... Euclid (2-4) fell to Shaker Heights and faces a strong Warrensville Heights team Dec. 28 . ... South (6-1) enters at No. 10 as the Rebels have won six games in a row after their season-opening loss at Lake Catholic.