TOP OF THE CROP

Girls basketball

1: 2: 3: (3) West Geauga 18-2 4: 5: (5) Brush 13-6 6: 7: (6) Kenston 12-8 8: (8) Beaumont 10-8 9: (1) Cornerstone 15-5 (2) North 17-3 (4) Perry 16-4 (7) Mentor 12-7 (9) Kirtland 13-4 10: (NR) NDCL 10-7

Dropped out: Chardon 10-9

Winding down the regular season. Tournament brackets are out. It’s go-time . ... Cornerstone stays at No. 1, and honestly it’s an easy 1. After seeing the Patriots annihilate a very good Beaumont team, leading 51-19 at halftime, the D-IV district at Orwell might want to duck for cover . ... North checks in at No. 2. The Rangers are the top seed (and favorite) in the D-I district at Perry. ... West Geauga stays at No. 3. The Wolverines are the top seed in the Ashtabula D-II district and has wins over second-seeded Perry and third-seeded Geneva. ... Brush stays at No. 5this week. The third seed at the D-I district at Perry, has played North close once this year, so keep an eye on that going forward . ... Mentor is

No. 6 this week. The Cardinals are going to be a dangerous team to see in the D-I tournament at Perry. That GCC schedule tested them well . ... Kenston is No. 7 this week. The Bombers are in a tough D-II district in Nordonia, but can be a dangerous out because of their defense . ... Beaumont is 10-8, but don’t be fooled by that. The Blue Streaks play a brutal schedule, most recently against Cornerstone . ... Kirtland stays at 9 this week. The Hornets have had a good year under first-year coach Brittany Zele as the postseason nears . ... NDCL jumps back into the Crop this week. Few are talking about the Lions as a threat in the D-II district in Ashtabula, but they should be.