CYO Power Rankings for the week of January 17, 2016

The Jaguars came up clutch with two full-strength wins against Gesu in the St. Ann’s Tournament on the same day. The first game had a score of 59-32, and the second had a scoreline of 64-51. They did lose by 4 to St. Paschal, but the two wins on the same day against Gesu put them at the top of this week’s rankings.

St. Paschal is a legitimate threat in the loaded State-White division that includes St. Greg and Gesu. After two straight 70-point performances, the Knights showed their true stuff in a critical mid-season league win over #1 St. Greg. If they can beat the St. Albert team that defeated both Gesu and St. Greg, I wouldn’t be surprised if they ran all the way to a state title.

Gesu had a bye week in league play this weekend, but two losses against a reborn St. Greg squad moved them down two spots. The Bulldogs are nothing to turn your nose up at though, this is still a very good team that has a very palpable chance of winning a state championship.

This a team that can really play. After a 82-48 thrashing on 1/10, the 6ers look to be running away with the State-Red division. They may be playing against lesser competition, but they could run with any of the teams listed above them.

The offensive juggernaut that is the Vikings has been quiet all season, but a 92 (!) point performance proves that they are a legitimate threat to the 216ers. The game on 1/24 against the 6ers will prove the validity of state championship aspirations for both teams.

The Jazz are a young, talented squad of juniors that has been on and off all season. This is evident in a one-point loss this past weekend, after coming off of two 15 point wins. If captains Nick Neroni and Trey Burke can lead this team to consistent play, they could end up taking the Local-Green division title.

The Cougar’s habit of playing close games finally caught up to them, with a 5 point loss on the 10th. Their next matchup, against fellow Westpark school St. Patrick, could set them on a course to come out on top of the Local-Navy division.

The ‘Bolts are starting to heat up, coming off of a huge 76-25 win over St. Jude. Jared Yant, the self-proclaimed “Magic Johnson of CYO”, has been racking up stats in points, assists, rebounds, blocks, and fouls. In their 51 point triumph, he had 19 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 blocks. The team has been playing well too, sitting at #2 in the Local-Maroon division.

The Centurions are starting to heat up, winning a close game right after the CYO-mandated winter break. If they can hold their current form, Holy Family might just be able to jump up to the top of the division.

After an apparent forfeit in their first game after break, the Mustangs find themselves in a hole in a critical point of their season. Their next two games, against the top two teams in the State-Blue division, could by the spark that turns this season around for the ‘Stangs.

The Lions seem to have found their groove, winning handily in their last contest, 50-35. If this talented team can keep up their momentum from the previous game, they could challenge for a title in the Local-Maroon division.

St. Joseph has been at the mercy of two very good teams in their past two losses, with one team managing to score the most points I have ever seen in a single CYO game, a remarkable 104 by St. Mary (Plas). The upcoming schedule has done no favors for the Vikings, but at least one win should turn their season around.

The Bulldogs have not lived up to the hype so far, losing all their games this season. Their most recent game was a 58-30 defeat to the hands of Sacred Heart of Lorain. Something needs to change, and change quickly, if the Bulldogs want to salvage a season that has been less than ideal so far.