MANSFIELD — The Mansfield St. Peter’s boys basketball team has been crowned Division IV state poll champions after the final rankings were released on Tuesday night.
The Spartans finished their regular season with a 22-0 record after beating arch-rival Mansfield Christian 66-55 on Saturday night at the Franciscan Activity Center. It was the first time St. Peter’s has completed a perfect regular season since the 1961-62 and 1962-63 teams both turned the trick.
The Plymouth 2009-10 squad and the Ontario 1988-89 team were the last two boys outfits to run the route unscathed.
Coach Joe Jakubick’s team earned 156 points, including 13 of 17 first-place votes. McDonald (19-1) finished second with 126 points and one first-place vote. Willoughby Cornerstone Christian (12-7) was ninth but had the other three first-place votes.
St. Peter’s has reached the Elite Eight the past two seasons in the Division IV tournament, last year falling one point short of the state tournament when faulty free throw shooting crippled the Spartans in a 44-43 upset to Delphos St. John’s. That event was fresh in the mind of point guard Elijah Cobb after beating the Flames over the weekend.
“We have to focus on the next game, but absolutely we want to get to state,” Cobb said.
Cobb and senior Jared Jakubick were the key returnees from those two squads, and both have enjoyed fine senior seasons.
The Spartans knocked off a couple of heavy hitters during their campaign. Cobb and Co. pulled away from a halftime tie to beat Berlin Hiland 51-41 on Dec. 16. The Hawks finished No. 8 in the Division IV rankings.
St. Peter’s also stopped Northmor 67-61 on Jan. 27 before a sellout crowd. The Knights were undefeated and ranked No. 9 in the Division III poll at the time.
Perhaps most impressive win was a 54-47 victory at Columbus Watterson on Jan. 6. The Eagles are a 12-9 team in Division II and tri-champions in the Columbus Central Catholic League with a 6-2 mark.
The final state rankings, compiled after a statewide ballot of media members working through the OHSAA, are listed below:
DIVISION I
Rank School (1st place votes) Record Total Points
1. Solon (14) 20-0 159
2. Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller (1) 19-3 123
3. Huber Heights Wayne (1) 20-1 113
Upper Arlington (1) 20-1 113
5. Toledo St. John’s 20-1 104
6. Sylvania Southview 19-1 81
7. Cincinnati Princeton 19-3 47
8. Lakewood St. Edward 17-3 42
9. Logan 19-2 41
10. Hilliard Bradley 20-1 31
Others receiving 12 or more points: Pickerington North 16. Springfield 16. Garfield Heights 14.
DIVISION II
Rank School (1st place votes) Record Total Points
1. Wauseon (12) 21-0 150
2. Columbus Beechcroft (4) 20-1 147
3. Poland Seminary (1) 18-1 108
4. Proctorville Fairland 19-3 100
5. Trotwood-Madison 18-3 92
6. Parma Heights Holy Name 18-2 76
7. Thornville Sheridan 18-3 43
8. Columbus Eastmoor 17-5 39
9. Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary 11-8 36
10. Gnaddenhutten Indian Valley 17-2 35
Others receiving 12 or more points: Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph 23. Chillicothe Unioto 19.
DIVISION III
Rank School (1st place votes) Record Total Points
1. Canal Winchester Harvest Prep (12) 22-0 159
2. Cincinnati Deer Park (2) 21-0 139
3. Ottawa-Glandorf 20-1 122
4. Leavittsburg Labrae (3) 20-0 106
5. Oregon Cardinal Stritch 19-1 105
6. Versailles 18-4 69
7. Oak Hill 19-2 55
8. Columbus Wellington 16-4 46
9. Genoa Area 17-3 36
10. Columbus Africentric 15-6 24
Others receiving 12 or more points: Archbold 19. Canfield South Range 18.
DIVISION IV
Rank School (1st place votes) Record Total Points
1. Mansfield St. Peter’s (13) 22-0 156
2. McDonald (1) 19-1 126
3. Hannibal River 18-1 112
4. Fort Loramie 20-2 103
5. St. Henry 18-3 87
6. Bristolville Bristol 18-2 71
7. Pettisville 17-2 61
8. Berlin Hiland 16-5 40
9. Willoughby Cornerstone Christian (3) 12-7 34
10. Springfield Catholic Central 18-3 33
Others receiving 12 or more points: Warren John F. Kennedy 24. Richmond Heights 21. Pandora-Gilboa 16.
