Ohio Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic Recap

[SFIND]

By Bryant Billing

COLUMBUS- Some of the best of the state of Ohio were on display in Columbus last Saturday as future stars went head-to-head. It was a typical Ohio Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic at Value City Arena. All in all there were five games, and as always future Ohio State players were the main attraction. B.J Mullens, William Buford, and Jared Sullinger (all Ohio State verbals) were there along with Yancey Gates (Cincinnati), Anthony Hitchens (Akron), Tom Pritchard (Indiana), and Nick Kellogg. Below is a recap of all the games.

Warren Harding 60 Zanesville 58- In the battle of unbeatens Warren Harding's Damian Eargle made the game winner on a put-back as time expired on the clock to give the Raiders (10-0) a 60-58 win in the first game of the day.

Both teams battled back and forth, but Warren Harding went out in front 58-48 with three minutes left in the game and looked like they were going to pull away with it.

The Blue Devils didn't give up though.

Zanesville (11-1) went on a 10-0 run in the next three minutes to tie the game up. Joey Prati made two free-throws with twelve seconds remaining to tie the game. Zanesville defense was tough on the last possession, which forced Desmar Jackson to chuck a shot that was an air ball. But Eargle was on top of it, and he was able to put it back in to keep Warren Harding undefeated.

Jackson led Warren Harding with 21 points, while Sheldon Brogdon added 13 and Damian Eargle added 12. Zanesville was led by Logan Aronhalt's 18 and Joe Prati's 17.

Chillicothe 59 Newark 53- Chillicothe (10-1) had the lead most of the game and in the end went away with a 59-53 win over Newark (10-3).

Anthony Hitchens scored the first eight points of the game to put Chillicothe up 8-0 after three minutes of play. Newark followed that up by going on a 11-3 run to tie the game at 11. Greg Avery broke the tie and with a basket with fifty seconds put Newark up 13-11.

Chillicothe then made the last lead change of the game.

Chillicothe started the second on a 10-0 run that game them a 21-15 lead at with 5:27 left in the second.

Chillicothe kept their distance for the rest of the game, but Newark was too good for them to pull away.

Two back-to-back baskets from Rahlin Watson cut Chillicothe's lead to 51-49 with 1:34 left, but Chillicothe responded with a basket from Ray Chambers as they never lost their lead and went away with the victory.

Hitchens was just too good for Newark. He is quick, but more importantly a very calm ball-handler. He was able to work his way around Newark defenders and take whatever shot he wanted. Hitchens dominated Newark's Cody Dennison all day, who was held to 5 points and fouled out of the game. Dennison couldn't move the ball against Hitchens, while Hitchens dribbled around Dennison.

Individual Stats: Chillicothe- Anthony Hitchens 23; Ray Chambers 17; Caleb Knights 6; Stuart Beverly 4; Ron Smith 4; Seth Dawes 4. Newark- Greg Avery 18; Rahlin Watson 14; Dane Kapp 12; Cody Dennison 5; Taylor Huffman 2.

Toledo Libbey 72 St. Edwards 58- The Toledo Libbey Cowboys battled back from a 6 point first quarter deficit to easily beat St. Edward 72-58 in a game televised on ESPNU.

St. Edward was the one who looked like they would win easily at first.

St. Edward's three-point shooting propelled them out in front early as the Cowboys let St. Edward take all the shots it wanted from beyond the arc. A Frankie Dobbs three-pointer with 4:28 left in the first quarter put St. Edward on top 11-4. St. Edward had a 21-15 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Toledo Libbey slowly worked up a comeback.

The Cowboys' defense toughened up and St. Edward went went cold from the outside. Toledo Libbey then started to feed it to the man few people have been able to guard: William Buford.

A Buford basket cut St. Edwards lead to one at 28-27 with 1:50 left. Brad Sandridge then gave Libbey the lead at halftime with two free-throws with thirty seconds left.

Libbey then put the game away by starting the third on an 11-3 run. Libbey won the fourth quarter 23-16, and that stopped any hope for St. Edward.

St. Edward was unable to penetrate the entire game, and they could not defend a physical William Buford (OSU verbal). The did jump out in front early by their success from beyond the arc, but Libbey made adjustments and kept them contained for the rest of the game. Still, St. Edward finished with 10 three-pointers to 8 field goals.

Buford owned Tom Pritchard (Indiana verbal) all game. Pritchard was pushed around by Buford, and had many shots slapped back in his face. He finished with 9 points and fouled out of the game.

Individual Stats: Toledo Libbey- William Buford 26; Julius Wells 18; Brad Sandridge 17; Rodney Everage 5; Lance Jones 3; Brad Burton 3. St. Edward- Conor Tilow 22; Tom Pritchard 9; Andre Evans 9; Mike Harnett 8; Frankie Dobbs 5; Justin Staples 2; Elias Dergham 2.

Columbus Northland 62 St. Fransis DeSales 40- Northland jumped out to a ten point lead in the first four minutes and never looked back as Jared Sullinger and company easily beat St. Fransis DeSales 62-40.

This one was never close.

A Jared Sullinger basket with 3:00 left in the first quarter put Northland up 13-3. Northland had a 14-7 lead at the end of one.

James Weatherspoon sealed the deal early with a dunk that had the crowd on it's feet (his first of many) with 1:30 left in the second that put Northland up 29-16.

DeSales closed the gap to ten in the third quarter because Northland became a bit too flashy and tried dunking too much, but they out-scored Northland 18-6 in the final quarter which put to rest any hope DeSales had.

This game was not a thriller. The game itself took just a little over an hour, as little fouling occurred. In the end Northland was just too physical for DeSales underneath. Sean Hobbs could do nothing to stop Jared Sullinger or James Weatherspoon, even though he was much taller. Nick Kellogg led DeSales with 14 points. He has a lot of potential in him. He has a really nice shot.

Individual Stats: DeSales- Nick Goff 13; Nick Kellogg 14; Adam Griffin 6; Sean Hobbs 4; Ike Ariguzo 3. Northland- Jared Sullinger 24; James Weatherspoon 12; Devon Moore 11; Dimonde Hale 7; Ian Nixon 5; Javon Cornley 2; Charled Edgerton 1.

Cincinnati Withrow 58 Canal Winchester 57- Yancey Gates became the hero and tipped in a shot with two seconds left to give Withrow a 58-57 win in front of an ESPNU crowd.

Withrow jumped out in front early.

Withrow had a 12-6 lead with 5:33 left in the first quarter. Canal Winchester battled back, though, and was down four at the end of the first quarter.

Canal Winchester then took control.

An Aaron Gilbert three-pointer with three minutes left in the second put Canal Winchester up 30-27. Two Remon Nelson free-throws with two seconds left put Winchester up 35-32 up at the end of the first half.

Winchester then started the third on a 6-2 run and had a 41-35 lead with 3:55 left. They controlled the rest of the quarter as held down Withrow's Yancey Gates.

But then Withrow came back.

Two Anthony McBride free-throws with 6:12 left in the fourth brought Withrow within 47-46. The game then went back and forth as no team took the lead. Yancey Gates then tied it up with forty five seconds left at 56-56. Winchester then made a free-throw to put them up 57-56.

But then Gates saved the day.

Troy Long threw up a shot and Gates, Mullens, and a host of others fought over it under the Withrow basket. In the end Gates tipped it in with two seconds left, and Withrow went away with a 58-57 win.

This was a very good game and a fitting was to end the Ohio Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic. Winchester was unable to put away Withrow in the third, missing a golden opportunity. Mullens was just unable to hold down Gates that long. Winchester did look really bare after Mullens.

Gates is the real deal. He was able to hang with Mullens all day, and finished with 23 points to his 16. He has a nice shot and some range on him. He also impresses me for Withrow was Troy Long. He is quick and can hit the shots from beyond the arc.

Individual Stats: Canal Winchester- B.J. Mullens 16; Remon Nelson 20; Darian Cartharn 8; Jarmond Woodley 5; Aaron Gilbert 5. Withrow- Yancey Gates 23; Troy Long 14; Anthony McBride 11; Ryan Maupin 4; Josh Reid 3; Chris Grimes 2.