Preston Crabtree, North Union’s leading scorer, follows through on a shot in this file photo. The Wildcats are ranked fifth in this week’s Associated Press Division III state poll. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
They are still unbeaten and climbing.
The Wildcats of North Union stand at 16-0 going into the final stretch of the 2019-20 boys basketball regular season.
That record (which includes an 8-0 mark in the Central Buckeye Conference Mad River Division) has propelled NU skyward in the Association Press state poll.
North Union moved up to No. 5 in the Division III list that was released today.
It is the highest state ranking for a Union County-area boys basketball squad in recent memory.
It is also the highest ranking for a North Union hoop team since the 1989-90 campaign.
That year, North Union’s girls were ranked No. 1 for a time in the D-III poll.
It was also the same season in which the Lady Cats advanced to the state Final Four at The Ohio State University’s St. John Arena.
NU’s jump of three spots in the rankings followed its 62-59 victory over New Carlisle Tecumseh and a 67-53 triumph over Indian Lake last week.
North Union is two games ahead of Indian Lake (6-2) in the divisional standings.
The Wildcats are led in scoring by Preston Crabtree, who is averaging 14.7 points per game.
Harley Day and Connor Terrill are also in double figures with identical averages of 10.6.
North Union opened the season in early December with a 49-46 victory over long-time nemesis Marion Pleasant.
The Wildcats haven’t stopped since, with the victory over Indian Lake as their most recent conquest.
NU is outscoring opponents an average of 62-49, but the games have not all been easy.
Along with the season-opening three-point triumph over Pleasant, the Wildcats defeated Northeastern 60-58, downed London 39-38 and toppled Tecumseh by the recent three-point margin.
The Wildcats have two Mad River Division contests left on the schedule.
They will travel to Benjamin Logan on Friday and to Graham on Friday, Feb. 14.
NU will host Ridgemont this evening in a non-conference contest.
North Union will also host Triad in a non-conference game on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Those games will conclude the regular season.
The tournament drawings for boys hoop squads will be held on Sunday.