Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

Rankings can still be deceiving at this point

Computer Points

By Bruce Monnin
Although the official computer points have been announced for the first time of the season by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, it is still too early to put too much stock in these ratings.
Last year, this column pointed out that Versailles was the top team in region 20 with a 4-0 record. The Tigers won just two of their last six games to finish 12th in their region and out of the postseason.
On the other end of the spectrum, the same article noted that Minster was tied for last place in region 24 with a 0-4 record. The Wildcats went on to win their next five games to claim the eighth and final place in region 24 to qualify for the playoffs.
Here is a listing of how all the area Midwest Athletic Conference and Western Buckeye League teams stand in the computer rankings after the fourth week. We will start to track the points of non-area playoff contenders starting next week.

Team - Ranking (Computer Points)
Region 8:
Wapakoneta - 5th (8.00)
Celina - 24th (0.00)
Celina's 0-4 start to the season has the Bulldogs out of any playoff consideration while Wapakoneta dropped two places in the region rankings because of the lack of second-level points earned after beating the Green and White. With eight teams still undefeated in the region, Wapakoneta road to the postseason won't be easy with difficult WBL contests still ahead.

Region 10:
Elida - 1st (6.70)
St. Marys - 15th (3.40)
Lima Shawnee - 16th (3.30)
Defiance - 17th (3.13)
Elida (3-1) took over the top position in this region. The Bulldogs have been helped by the fact that the only remaining undefeated team in the region, Bryan, has defeated teams with a combined record of just 4-12.
St. Marys' (2-2) win over Lima Bath (2-2), coupled with losses by Lima Shawnee (2-2) and Defiance (2-2), have landed the Roughriders as the second-highest ranked WBL team in the region. The region has only seven teams with three or more wins and 12 teams with a 2-2 mark.

Region 14:
Kenton - 3rd (7.58)
Ottawa-Glandorf - 5th (6.85)
Lima Bath - 14th (3.30)
Van Wert - 27th (0.00)
Two of the five undefeated teams in the region, Kenton and Ottawa-Glandorf, face off on Friday in the WBL game of the week. The winner will be almost a lock for the playoffs while the loser will need to quickly regain their winning ways to stay in the top eight.

Region 20:
Versailles - 4th (6.45)
Coldwater - 8th (4.78)
Anna - 18th (2.58)
Parkway - 23rd (1.68)
Local teams had very little movement in this region last week. The winner between the Coldwater and Versailles matchup on Friday will almost be assured of claiming one playoff spot for the MAC. The game is critical for both teams as it may offer more potential computer points than any other game remaining on their schedules. This region has six undefeated teams and another six teams with just one loss. Anna (2-2) could vault up the rankings with a win over Marion Local (3-1) while Parkway (1-3) can get back into the playoff conversation with a victory over Fort Recovery (3-1).

Region 22:
Delphos St. John's - 10th (3.34)
Delphos St. John's may be just 2-2 on the season but wins over Minster (2-2) and Anna (2-2) have the Blue Jays just out of the top eight in this region.

Region 24:
Marion Local - 5th (3.97)
Fort Recovery - 10th (3.38)
Minster - 11th (3.15)
St. Henry - 17th (1.35)
New Bremen - 21st (0.00)
This is one of the first regions that has started to clear up as it consists of two extremes. Currently, 17 teams have one win or less in the region, and of those, St. Henry (1-3) is probably the only team with any realistic playoff hopes.
On the other extreme, several teams appear to be virtual playoff locks because of their quick starts to the season and weak schedules remaining. Lockland and Cincinnati Country Day are unbeaten while Springfield Catholic Central, Ada and Fort Loramie (who might win the rest of its games) are 3-1. Expect at least one more playoff spot to be secured by either Tri-County North, Ansonia or Bradford.
That leaves two playoff spots for five MAC teams to fight over. Marion Local (3-1) has the inside track thanks to wins over Minster and Our Lady Mount Carmel. New Bremen (0-4) is likely out of the playoff chase because of losses to two of these regional MAC rivals (Marion Local and Fort Recovery). The other playoff spot is likely to be filled by one of the following teams Fort Recovery, Minster or St. Henry. All three of those teams have yet to play each other but will in the second half of the season.
Additional online stories on this date
St. Marys dealer displays newly uncovered Corvette
ST. MARYS - She's in pristine condition from headlights to taillights, despite a thick blanket of dust that has built up over 30 years.
The 1978 In [More]
NEW BREMEN - Board of education members intend to put a $13.3 million bond issue in front of voters next year to pay for construction of a K-8 building. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Shelby County Sheriff Dean A. Kimpel was arrested Wednesday and charged with sexually assaulting a female deputy last summer.
Kimpel, 57, of Botkin
NEW BREMEN - John Basinger of Van Wert was hired as interim superintendent during a special meeting Wednesday evening.
He replaces superintendent A
ST. MARYS - Board members on Wednesday argued over financing the proposed athletic complex and the timeline of the project.
Board member Ralph Wiley suggested kicking off fundraising by committing the estimated $2.5 million leftover from the school construction project to the athletic complex.
Grand Lake
GRAND LAKE - VTF Excavating of Celina was chosen to jump-start a wetlands restoration project this fall on the south side of Grand Lake.
Mercer County Commissioners on Tuesday awarded the $209,784 contract for the excavation work at Prairie Creek in Franklin Township.
CELINA - Mercer County Commissioners on Tuesday tentatively approved a request by the sheriff's office to purchase two new cruisers.
Sheriff Jeff G
MINSTER - Board of education members this week discussed the importance of a permanent improvement levy that voters will be asked to renew in November.
As far as rivalries are concerned, you won't find one more intense than the Battle of Grand Lake and the 93rd all-time matchup between Celina and St. Marys that will take place on Friday at Celina Stadium.
MAC Football Game of the Week
A stake for first place in the Midwest Athletic Conference is on the line on Friday at Cavalier Stadium as undefeated Versailles (4-0) faces Coldwater (3-1) in a battle of state-ranked teams.
Last Curtain Call
This weekend, Parkway will be holding a 15-year high school class reunion and it is almost inevitable that the conversation will sway toward volleyball at some point.
Local Roundup
Compiled by Ryan Hines and Gary R. Rasberry
The Celina girls' tennis team wrapped up an undefeated Western Buckeye League regular season with a 5-0 shutout over Bath on Wednesday afternoon at the Booster Club Tennis Complex in a match rescheduled after Monday's rainout.
By The Numbers:
0 - Kick return yards by St. Henry during Friday's game vs. Coldwater (all kicks went into end zone for touchbacks).
7-3 - Parkway's record against Fort Recovery the previous 10 meetings.