But who is No. 2?

 

We’ll learn the answer Wednesday when Medina (6-1, 3-1) battles Stow (8-1, 4-0) at Quicken Loans Arena.

 

The 3:15 p.m. tipoff precedes the Cavaliers’ home game against the Phoenix Suns, but figures to be much more competitive than the NBA action that will follow.

 

“It’s a great opportunity for our kids to play at The Q -- you just can’t pass up chances like that,” Bees coach Jody Peters said. “It’s not going to be easy for either team, having to go right downtown after school, then play our game, stick around to watch the Cavs, and not get home until late on a school night.

 

“But in the end, being able to be participate in something special outweighs everything else. This is something the kids will always remember.”

 

*** UPDATED NOC BOYS BASKETBALL STANDINGS ARE BELOW ***

 

Lake Division leader North Royalton (10-2, 4-0), River contender Brush (8-3, 3-1) and Valley member Strongsville (6-4, 2-1) are also in the discussion for second-best squad in the 18-team "super conference," but realistically comprise the next tier of teams.

 

Medina sits second in the NOC Valley Division behind the Bulldogs, who were responsible for its only loss. It came on January 4 at Garfield Heights.

 

The Bees feature Michigan State recruit Kenny Kaminski -- a 6-foot-8 junior center -- and senior point guard Justin Letts, a four-year letterwinner.

 

They also have gotten solid production from shooting guard Colin Bradley, who scored 12 points Sunday in their 68-49 win over Alliance Marlington at North Canton Hoover.

 

Stow, which leads the NOC River Division by one game over Brush and Solon, has won eight in a row since dropping its season opener at Green.

 

The Bulldogs are led by junior guards Kyle Scelza and David Walker and senior center Mike Garrison -- the lone league trio to all be averaging more than 13.0 points per game.

 

Also keep an eye on power forward Ryan Yurkschatt, who had a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double Friday in a 43-39 win over Brush.

 

Big Pat on the attack

 

Brunswick center Pat Forsythe -- a West Virginia University men’s basketball recruit -- had the most prolific performance in the league this season.

 

The 6-foot-10 senior amassed a career-high 38 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots in the Blue Devils’ 84-68 loss to Garfield Heights.

 

Forsythe’s outburst equaled the sixth-highest scoring total in Brunswick history was the most in an NOC game this season (boys or girls). The previous high was 32 by Elyria sophomore Kody Bender against the Bulldogs.

 

Hoops talent clearly runs in the family as his older sister Brooke Forsythe is a freshman center at American University. The Eagles are an NCAA Division I program located in Washington, D.C.

 

Triple threat

 

Stow senior Katie Betts is best known for her fall and spring activities, but she also did something notable this winter.

 

On Jan. 1, the Bulldogs’ track and cross country standout marched in the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, Calif.

 

Betts was part of the Salvation Army Band at the annual event, which was beamed worldwide on television and the internet.

 

NORTHEAST OHIO CONFERENCE BOYS BASKETBALL STANDINGS

 

VALLEY DIVISION

4-0 / Garfield Heights (9-0)

3-1 / Medina (6-1)

2-1 / Strongsville (6-4)

1-2 / Brunswick (6-4)

1-3 / Elyria (7-3)

0-4 / Lakewood (2-6)

 

HIGH SCORING GAMES (recent performances in bold)

38 – Pat Forsythe (Brunswick) vs. Garfield Heights

32 – Kody Bender (Elyria) vs. Garfield Heights

26 – Chase Farris (Elyria) vs. Strongsville

25 – Aaron White (Strongsville) vs. Lakewood

24 – Trey Lewis (Garfield Heights) vs. Elyria

24 – Devin Swidecki (Elyria) vs. Lakewood

23 – Pete Nelson (Lakewood) vs. Garfield Heights

22 – Aaron White (Strongsville) vs. Medina

21 – Ray Hamilton (Strongsville) vs. Lakewood

20 – Colin Bradley (Medina) vs. Strongsville

20 – Jermaine Davis (Garfield Heights) vs. Lakewood

20 – Tony Farmer (Garfield Heights) vs. Medina

20 – Pat Forsythe (Brunswick) vs. Lakewood

20 – Gurjeet Gill (Strongsville) vs. Medina

19 – Jay Andreani (Lakewood) vs. Elyria
19 – Kenny Kaminski (Medina) vs. Elyria

19 – Trey Lewis (Garfield Heights) vs. Lakewood

19 – Trey Lewis (Garfield Heights) vs. Brunswick

 

RIVER DIVISION

4-0 / Stow (8-1)

3-1 / Brush (8-3)

3-1 / Solon (4-7)

2-2 / Cuyahoga Falls (3-6)

0-4 / Hudson (2-7)

0-4 / Twinsburg (2-6)

 

HIGH SCORING GAMES (recent performances in bold)

30 – Curtis Oakley Jr. (Brush) vs. Solon

23 – Cory Asbury (Cuyahoga Falls) vs. Hudson

22 – Chris Cromity (Solon) vs. Hudson

22 – A.J. Edwards (Twinsburg) vs. Solon (2OT)

22 – Curtis Oakley Jr. (Brush) vs. Hudson

20 – Kyle Scelza (Stow) vs. Cuyahoga Falls

17 – Curtis Oakley Jr. (Brush) vs. Twinsburg

17 – Liam O’Brien (Solon) vs. Cuyahoga Falls

16 – Zack Brandy (Hudson) vs. Brush

16 – Chris Cromity (Solon) vs. Twinsburg (2OT)

16 – A.J. Edwards (Twinsburg) vs. Stow

16 – Kyle Scelza (Stow) vs. Brush

16 – David Walker (Stow) vs. Twinsburg

15 – Ryan Yurkschatt (Stow) vs. Brush

14 – Nick Southworth (Twinsburg) vs. Stow

 

LAKE DIVISION

4-0 / North Royalton (10-2)

3-1 / Mayfield (6-3)

2-2 / Nordonia (7-4)

2-2 / Normandy (4-4)

1-3 / Valley Forge (3-7)

0-4 / Parma (0-8)

 

HIGH SCORING GAMES (recent performances in bold)

28 – Ned Tomic (North Royalton) vs. Valley Forge

27 – Ned Tomic (North Royalton) vs. Normandy

25 – Nick Ho (Valley Forge) vs. Parma

24 – Nick Ho (Valley Forge) vs. Nordonia

20 – Nick Ho (Valley Forge) vs. Normandy

20 – Jared Ruffin (Nordonia) vs. Valley Forge

19 – Nick Ho (Valley Forge) vs. North Royalton

18 – Dylan Seitz (Normandy) vs. Mayfield

17 – Nick Robertson (Nordonia) vs. Mayfield

17 – Jared Ruffin (Nordonia) vs. Parma

16 – Nate Cathcart (Parma) vs. Nordonia

16 – Drew Teller (Mayfield) vs. Parma

15 – Andrej Markovic (North Royalton) vs. Mayfield

15 – Anthony Russo (Mayfield) vs. Nordonia

15 – Shiloh Taylor (Parma) vs. Valley Forge

15 – Ned Tomic (North Royalton) vs. Nordonia