Week 6's Top Five Games

We hope you’re enjoying a few days off for the New Year. Come Thursday, basketball is back in full-swing, though, and these are the top games:   <h3 style="text-align: center;">Reynoldsburg (7-2) at Pickerington North (6-1), Jan. 4 at 7:30PM</h3> Along with Pickerington Central, Hilliard Bradley, and Dublin Coffman, these two are looking like potential threats in the Division I Central Ohio Regional Tournament. A rivalry win on Friday would go a long way in establishing more confidence and momentum for either team. Both teams are athletic and quick, but Reynoldsburg has more collective length and size. Their wings and forwards — <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/ben-fort/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Fort</a>, Sean Moore, and <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/sahmi-willoughby/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sahmi Willoughby</a> — all stand about 6’4”. Pick North’s size comes from their two leading scorers <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/jack-sawyer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jack Sawyer</a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/hunter-shedenhelm/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hunter Shedenhelm</a>, but their collection of ball-handlers are relatively short. However, all season, Sawyer’s ability to get his own shot around the basket has neutralized any of those issues. Other prospects: <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/chris-scott/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Scott</a> (PN), <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/idris-lawrence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Idris Lawrence</a> (PN), <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/casey-george/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Casey George</a> (PN), <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/josiah-mobley/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Josiah Mobley</a> (Rey), Cooper Davis (Rey) Our pick: Pickerington North   <h3 style="text-align: center;">Warrensville Heights (5-2) at Lutheran East (4-3), Jan. 4 at 7:30PM</h3> The winner of this game becomes the favorite to represent Northeast Ohio in the Division III State Tournament. Coming into the season, Lutheran East was our favorite, but Warrensville’s early season résumé includes a win over Cleveland Central Catholic and a 5-2 record. Meanwhile, Lutheran East’s greatest accomplishment through seven games are narrow losses to Ignatius (seven points), Cleveland Heights (four points), and Lorain (eight points). Either way, someone is leaving Friday with a signature win. Lutheran East has the athleticism and personnel to make <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/brandon-rush/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brandon Rush</a> work for his points. The Fairleigh Dickinson commit will likely be defended by <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/ej-farmer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EJ Farmer</a>, but quick double teams and help-side rim-protection from <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/nehemiah-benson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nehemiah Benson</a> should be part of the plan. Other prospects: <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/ramelle-arnold/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ramelle Arnold</a> (WH), Aundray Farmer (WH), <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/dayvon-adams/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dayvon Adams</a> (LUE), <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/tj-blevins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TJ Blevins</a> (LUE), <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/colin-albert/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Colin Albert</a> (LUE), <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/sirr-hughes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sirr Hughes</a> (LUE) Our pick: Lutheran East   <h3 style="text-align: center;">Chaminade Julienne (7-1) at Bishop Fenwick (6-2), Jan. 4 at 7:30PM</h3> Despite both teams suffering a loss against Bishop Hartley last weekend, CJ and Fenwick remain the top two GCL-CoEd teams at this point of the season. Premier seniors lead either team: <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/milton-gage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Milton Gage</a> (CJ) and <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/cj-napier/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CJ Napier</a> (Fenwick). Gage and the Eagles will get out in transition more than their counterparts. The 5’11” guard can dictate tempo with on-ball defense. Gage also grabs 5.0 rebounds a night, which can lead to quick scoring opportunities. Napier, a 6’4” wing, has a game catered for the half-court. The lefty can hit from outside or drive for creative finishes and the old school jump stop reverse pivot kick-out. This Dayton-area matchup also features a sophomore forward matchup between Fenwick’s 6’8” <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/aj-braun/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AJ Braun</a> and CJ’s 6’6” Dan Nauseef. Braun has a lot of potential as a guy who can score inside and outside. He’s currently averaging 14.2 PPG and 8.7 RPG after a strong summer with Cincinnati Royals - Blue. Our pick: Chaminade Julienne   <h3 style="text-align: center;">Walnut Ridge (7-1) vs. Hilliard Bradley (7-0) at Africentric, Jan. 5 at 6:15PM</h3> Bradley is once again one of the most physical and disciplined teams in Ohio who benefit from some very heady guard play. But Walnut Ridge might be catching the undefeated Jaguars at exactly the right time. <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/jack-pugh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jack Pugh</a> — a 6’5” sophomore with the perfect combination of physical tools to matchup with WR’s <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/voncameron-davis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VonCameron Davis</a> — hasn’t played in the last couple games. They’ve remained unbeaten without him, but their average point differential has diminished. Even so, Bradley’s frontcourt of <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/chris-mayfield/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Mayfield</a> and Zach Hummel should fare relatively well against Davis and <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/kaveon-ross/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kaveon Ross</a>. Bradley’s true advantage, though, will come from their trio of guards — <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/matt-allocco/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt Allocco</a>, <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/aj-mirgon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AJ Mirgon</a>, and <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/keaton-norris/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Keaton Norris</a>. Other prospects: <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/qian-magwood/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Qian Magwood</a> (WR) Our pick: Bradley   <h3 style="text-align: center;">Game of the Week: St. Vincent-St. Mary (6-2) vs. Lorain (8-0) at Elyria Catholic, Jan. 6 at 3:30PM</h3> Capping off what might be the best week of basketball to date is an absolute doozy at the Play-By-Play Classic between STVM and Lorain. Both made it to states last season and they could be on crash course to face one another now that the Irish are a Division I team. STVM is the first team Lorain has played who can match their combination of athleticism, size, and experience. Nonetheless, expect <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/devon-grant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Devon Grant</a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/taevon-pierre-louis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Taevon Pierre-Louis</a> to get theirs, no matter how well <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/seth-wilson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Seth Wilson</a>, <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/lunden-mcday/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lunden McDay</a>, and <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/malaki-branham/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Malaki Branham</a> play defensively. Lorain’s top two are just that good off the dribble. Meanwhile, STVM will need an efficient game from sophomore point guard Seth Wilson, a volume scorer who always seems to find opportunities from deep. Otherwise, <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/chris-painter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Painter</a> would need to get hot to provide backcourt scoring, which he’s more than capable of. Other prospects: <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/darrius-cone/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Darius Cone</a> (STVM), <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/keyshawn-jones/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Keyshawn Jones</a> (STVM), <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/isaiah-ingol/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Isaiah Ingol</a> (STVM), <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/marcus-johnson-1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marcus Johnson</a> (STVM), <a href="https://prephoops.com/ohio-player/jordan-jackson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jordan Jackson</a> (Lorain) Our pick: Lorain