With tonight’s 65-42 win over North Olmsted, for the 2nd straight season, the Lakewood Rangers Boys Basketball team won Cleveland West Conference championship, finishing 12-2. It might be a cliché, but this one tracks–these guys are Resilient Rangers.

Things were bleak before Winter break. On December 16th the Rangers lost to Westlake by 30 points and followed that up three days later with a 16-point loss to Normandy. After two lopsided losses, standing at at 1-2, a winning season looked unlikely, let alone a title. But the Rangers have a tradition of winning, and had other ideas.

After defeating Valley Forge and Bay, Lakewood faced Westlake on January 16th in what turned out to be the game of the season. The Rangers prevailed in a close battle, 52-44, then walloped Rocky River 50-34, and never looked back, avenging their earlier loss to Normandy 53-40.

Essentially, the remaining obstacle to a championship was a February 17th visit to 3rd place Buckeye, a tough place to play. The Bucks handed the Rangers their only league loss last year, and are always up for the Lakewood games. After a close first half, the Rangers put their foot down, quieted their loud student section, and won going away, 59-36. The remaining task was checked off tonight, when the Rangers dispatched the Eagles

Tonight, the starters—Riley Verderber, Rory Chanter, KaVontah Swain, LaMar Wilson and Nathan Bruwer—all played well, and they were instrumental in the Ranger success this year. But five strong starters alone won’t win a title, and each key reserve–Joey Dolan, Jackson Comer, Harper Carroll and Liam McGann–had signature games and moments, without which a title would be out of reach.

Westlake finished 11-3—a loss to them flips the script—and the story you are reading would be about “trying hard, and coming up just short.” Including the Demon game, Lakewood needed to win their last ten to take the title. Over the past two seasons, the Rangers are 23-3 in the CWC. That’s a testament to Coach Cammock, his staff and a talented, hard-working Ranger squad.

In front of our amazing Cheer Squad and loyal student section, the Lakewood Rangers made history tonight. Winning a league title is a great test—without consistency and persistence–the ability to take a punch a get up and fight all the harder—first place would be of the question.

Since my high school days, I have been blessed to be in attendance at every conference clinching game (1974, 2014, 2018, 2025 and 2026). Every player lived in Lakewood, and the vast majority were K-12 Lakewood City School students. This hyper local nature is increasingly rare and very special.

The CWC Champion Lakewood Rangers are one team, from one town.

Long Live Lakewood