Head coach Steve Chandler says this victory is a step in the right direction. “We lost our first five games, but now we are on a groove. I had to move people out of the starting line-ups and it was a plus for us.”

By BRYANT K. KIZER
High School Beat Reporter

1.Shaker Heights(9-2) defeated hostingMentor(72-66) andCleveland Heights(70-68). The Red Raiders atMedina, Friday.

2.Garfield Heights(8-1) the Bulldogs defeated Firestone 88-62.Garfield HeightshostsMentor, Friday.

3. Glenville (8-1) beat Buchtel 76-73.

4. Villa Angela-St. Joseph (7-2) beat John Hay 62-55. The Vikings hostDalton, Saturday.

5. St. Edward (7-3) the Eagles lost to Summit Country Day 61-56. The Eagles hosts Beachwood.

6.Mentor(8-2) lost to #1 Shaker Heights 72-66. The Cardinals visit #2Garfield Heights, Friday.

7. St. Ignatius (7-2) lost to St. Vincent-St. Mary 76-73. The Wildcats take onUniversitySchoolat John Carroll, Friday.

8. Brush (8-2) the Arcs led by Brandon Dawson’s career-high of 32 points downed hosting Solon 85-68. The Arcs hostsStow, Friday.

9.RichmondHeights(5-2) beatBrunswick61-51. The Spartans atKirkland, Friday.

10. Beachwood (6-1) lost to #9RichmondHeights61-51. The Bison atBerkshire, Friday.

11. University School (7-1) the Preps beat Riverside 64-46. The Preps battle #7 St. Ignatius, Friday atJohnCarrollUniversity.

12.North Royalton(9-0) the Bears beatElyria58-45. The Bears atNormandy, Friday.

13. Cleveland Central Catholic (6-2) the Ironmen have lost two in a row including a 68-56 to #4 VASJ. The Ironmen host Holy Name, Friday.

14.Cleveland Heights(5-3) lost to Shaw (69-64) and #1Shaker Heights(70-68). The Tigers at Warren G. Harding, Friday.

15. Nordonia (8-0) the Knights beat hostingMedina75-70. The Knights visit Green, Friday.

Girl’s top 15

1. Twinsburg (13-0) beat hosting Shaker Heights 66-33. The two-time Division I champs host North Canton Hoover, today.

2. Hathaway Brown (9-3) lost toNorth Gwinnett57-50. The Blazers atLakeCatholic, today.

3.Wadsworth(11-1) the Grizzles beat visitingBath41-29.WadsworthatRevere, Thursday.

4.Hudson(10-2) beat visitingMentor64-56.HudsonExplores atNormandy, today.

5. Solon (8-2) the Lady Comets beat visitingStow70-53. Solon hosts Magnificat, today.

6. Beachwood (10-0) beatWest Geauga60-52. Beachwood hostsCuyahogaHeights, today.

7.St. JosephAcademy(12-0) beat hosting NDCL 61-43. The Jaguars hosts Padua Franciscan, today.

8.Lakewood(10-1) the Rangers beat John Marshall 71-21.LakewoodRangeshosts Midview, today.

9.Medina(10-2) beat hosting Mayfield 58-52. Medina Bees hostStow, Saturday.

10.LakeRidgeAcademy(10-2) the Lions beat Toledo Bowser 57-25. The Lions hostsNorth Royalton, today.

Last week in high school basketball

Shaw 69, Cleveland Heights 64.

If Shaw’s New Year Resolution was to finally beatCleveland Heights, they have achieved their goal.

The Cardinals (5-5) outlasted visiting Cleveland Heights 69-64. This was the first time since 2007 that the Cardinals have beaten the rival.

“It is definitely a monkey off our back, “said senior guard Cordell Smith. “I am a senior and it feels good to finally beat them.” Smith led the Cardinals with a game-high of 25 points. He had 19 points in the first-half. His backcourt mate senior Thomas Austin had 16 points.

Head coach Steve Chandler says this victory is a step in the right direction. “We lost our first five games, but now we are on a groove. I had to move people out of the starting line-ups and it was a plus for us.”

For the Tigers (5-3) they were led by senior Anthony Harper who had a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds.