Central Ohio Games Of The Week

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">A new year is amongst us and that means that things will start to heat up on the high school basketball landscape. Teams are looking to continuing their winning ways, or in other areas find winning ways. Conference play is starting to heat up, all day events continue and cross county matchups are still in order. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">This week around Central Ohio there will be quite a few good games. Check these out!</span></p> <h3 class="p1"><span class="s1">Friday </span></h3> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>DeSales (7-2) vs. St. Charles (5-3: </b></span><span style="font-size: 1rem; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">DeSales is off to a hot start and looks to be one of the best division ll teams in the area, early in the year. The Stallions recently took a big loss from Newark and will be looking to bounce back this week. Junior </span><span style="color: #ff6600;">Desmond Watson</span><span style="font-size: 1rem; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"> is playing great this season so far, well over 20 points a night.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">St. Charles has had to play Pickerington North and Columbus South, two area powers that both were victorious against St. Charles. Other than that the team in red has basically ran through their schedule. A young team with quite a bit of talent. Well balanced scoring amongst the team with Victor Searls and Chase Walker leading the way. Sophomores <span style="color: #ff6600;">Jared Frey</span> and <span style="color: #ff6600;">Derrick James</span> are both important pieces, too. This matchup should be a good one, the St. Charles bigs will have their hands full in the paint. </span></p> <h3 class="p1"><span class="s1">Saturday </span></h3> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Thomas Worthington (7-2) vs. Africentric (4-3):</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>If you’re a fan of watching big time guard play at any level, especially the high school level, this is one for you. Thomas Worthington has a couple tough losses, but good wins as well such as Cleveland St. Ignatius. Sophomores <span style="color: #ff6600;">Jalen Sullinger</span> and <span style="color: #ff6600;">Isaac Settles</span> are two guards that can really fill it up for the Cardinals and will be in for a battle against the Nubian’s guards. Thomas Worthington could exploit a mismatch with their 6-foot-7 forward <span style="color: #ff6600;">Tyrese Hughey</span>, he will be a tough player to stop against Africentric. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Nubians are 4-3 on the season, but I’m here to tell you they are better than their record. The City League-South has Columbus South and Walnut Ridge at the the top, which two of the three losses come to these two teams for Africentric. Sophomore <span style="color: #ff6600;">Dan Wagner</span> has been the guy for them this season, leading the way with 16 points per game. <span style="color: #ff6600;">Cali Davis</span> and <span style="color: #ff6600;">Eli Burke</span> are other standout prospects that combine for another 20 points a game, the Nubian lineup is very guard heavy. This one could come down to the better role players. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>St. Charles (5-3) vs. Worthington Christian (7-2):</b> Another tough game just a day later, St. Charles will be back at it. If Friday nights game wasn’t enough, Worthington Christian will add to the fire. St Charles will have to slow down senior <span style="color: #ff6600;">Derrick Hardin</span> who is having a solid go around. As well as sophomore <span style="color: #ff6600;">DJ Moore</span>, who creates one of the better backcourts around. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">This could be a high scoring game, with players on both sides that can really score it. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Walnut Ridge (5-2) vs. Hilliard Bradley (8-0):</b> Walnut Ridge recently took a tough loss to Gahanna on a controversial buzzer beater, before that they had won five straight games. This game against Hilliard Bradley is huge for the Scots.<span style="color: #ff6600;"> Von Cameron Davis</span> will lead the way, but will have no easy matchup with <span style="color: #ff6600;">Chris</span> and <span style="color: #ff6600;">Tayshaun Mayfield</span> majority of the time. The key in this one is for guard play to step up for Walnut Ridge, which starts with <span style="color: #ff6600;">Qian Magwood. </span></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Hilliard Bradley is the favorite here and shouldn’t have much of a problem if the three pointer is falling from <span style="color: #ff6600;">Keaton Norris</span> and <span style="color: #ff6600;">AJ Mirgon</span>, their best shooters. <span style="color: #ff6600;">Matt Allocco</span> will be tasked with taking on the athletic Qian Magwood, which is a matchup to watch. If the Jaguars can slow down the Walnut Ridge front court, they will be in good shape to stay undefeated. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Jonathan Alder (5-2) vs. DeSales (7-2): </b></span><span style="font-size: 1rem; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Alder is off to a solid start and another team that could be a player in division ll. Losing to Huntington Prep and Westerville South on the season, Alder is in good position over a month in. The Pioneers rely on good guard play and that’s exactly what they have. <span style="color: #ff6600;">Jack Santa-Emma</span> and <span style="color: #ff6600;">Jackson Izzard</span> combine for over 30 points a game and both can really go.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Henry Walker</span>, a Senior, will be tasked with slowing down the Stallions wing forward <span style="color: #ff6600;">Desmond Watson</span>, a matchup to watch. It’ll be interesting to see how DeSales can counter play the guard play from Jonathan Alder. </span></p>