Tuesday Across the Buckeye State, Vol. 2

<p>Everything you need to know about what happened on Tuesday, both in terms of player and team performances:</p> <h4 style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Contender v Contender<br /> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">A matchup of two teams who could realistically make a regional final</span></strong></em></h4> <p><strong>COLUMBUS SOUTH (64) at WALNUT RIDGE (71):</strong> After Walnut Ridge's consecutive wins over then-undefeated Columbus South and Bradley, the question must be asked: Is Walnut Ridge the best team in Columbus?</p> <p>The Scots lost to Gahanna — who is still undefeated — on a buzzer-beater at the Coaches for a Cure Classic. We were at that game. It was about as evenly matched as it gets.</p> <p>It would be difficult to justify ranking Walnut Ridge over Gahanna given the head-to-head data point. But these two most recent wins from the Scots are very promising and speak to their potential to represent Columbus in the Division I state tournament. </p> <p>Their trio of senior prospects — <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/voncameron-davis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">VonCameron Davis</a>, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/qian-magwood/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Qian Magwood</a>, and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kaveon-ross/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kaveon Ross</a> — combined for 45 points. </p> <p><em>Records: South 11-1, Walnut Ridge 7-2. Information courtesy <a href="https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20200107/boys-basketball--walnut-ridge-hands-south-its-first-loss" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Dispatch</a>'s Steve Blackledge and <a href="https://www.270hoops.com/game/show/27304867?subseason=656856&amp;referrer=5427167">270 Hoops.</a></em></p> <p><strong>WORTHINGTON CHRISTIAN (51) at BUCKEYE VALLEY (55):</strong> Buckeye Valley sophomore 6-foot-2 shooting guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dylan-thompson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dylan Thompson's</a> ascension continued in their win over Division III contender Worthington Christian. Thompson keyed a 24-12 first quarter for the Barons. He scored 19 points while senior teammate Dylan Herbert added 11. </p> <p>Thompson nailed three triples in the first quarter. He's a 3-and-D prospect who can really sit down and stay in front. Worthington Christian sophomore <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dj-moore/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">DJ Moore</a> led the Warriors with 17 points. </p> <p><em>Records: Worthington Christian 8-3, Buckeye Valley 8-1. Information courtesy <a href="https://www.delgazette.com/sports/81149/fast-start-sends-barons-over-warriors" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Delaware Gazette reporter Ben Stroup.</a></em></p> <p><strong>AIKEN (68) at CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN (58):</strong> Aiken jumped out to a 29-12 first-quarter lead thanks to a huge opening frame from sophomore guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/robbie-cass/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Robbie Cass</a>. He ended the game with 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting and five assists. Aiken played an efficient game with team shooting splits of 49-47-77. </p> <p><em>Records: Aiken 10-1, Cincinnati Christian 5-5. Information courtesy <a href="https://twitter.com/Corey_Albertson/status/1214711641553735681" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Corey Alberton</a> and <a href="http://www.cmacstats.com/bkGameStats.aspx?gameid=337996" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the official Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference website.</a></em></p> <p><strong>OAK HILLS (53) at LAKOTA EAST (46):</strong> Oak Hills handed Lakota East their first in-state loss of the season. Oak Hills is now the only undefeated GMC team in conference play at 6-0. Guards <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kelen-dietrich/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kelen Dietrich</a> and Austin Dennis topped 20 points for Oak Hills. </p> <p><em>Records: Oak Hills 8-2, Lakota East 9-2. Information courtesy the <a href="http://www.gmcsports.com/bkGameStats.aspx?gameid=342447" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">official Greater Miami Conference website.</a></em></p> <h4 style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Upsets</strong></em></h4> <p><strong>MENTOR (67) at SOLON (70):</strong> Solon sophomore 6-foot-4 wing <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sam-marbury/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sam Marbury</a> scored 23 as Solon upended Mentor.</p> <p>Marbury is a high-upside prospect with an intriguing blend of size, growth potential, and ball skills. The Cardinals — ranked No. 8 in our initial set of Division I OHSAA Power Rankings — fall to 4-4 despite 29 points from Kent State football recruit Luke Floriea.</p> <p><em>Records: Mentor 4-4, Solon 6-3. <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/highschoolsports/2020/01/no-21-solon-upsets-no-7-mentor-avon-lake-takes-down-lakewood-tuesdays-boys-basketball-roundup.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Information courtesy Cleveland.com reporter Matt Goul.</a></em></p> <p><strong>TURPIN (47) at KINGS (55):</strong> Turpin has lost back-to-back games after being perfect through their first nine. They shot 32 percent from the field. Kings enjoyed a balanced offensive effort with eight different players scoring.</p> <p><em>Records: Turpin 9-2, Kings 3-6. <a href="http://eccsports.com/bkGameStats.aspx?gameid=340034" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Information courtesy the official Eastern Cincinnati Conference website.</a></em></p> <p><strong>STIVERS (66) at OAKWOOD (90):</strong> Goodness, this one wasn't even close. Oakwood rocked Stivers, our No. 5 team in Division III. </p> <p>Denison signee <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/darren-rubin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Darren Rubin</a> went for 38 points and eight rebounds. When he's making shots — which happens often for the school's all-time scoring leader — watching Rubin is one of the best fan experiences in Ohio. Check the<em> Bonus Sports</em> video below for Rubin highlights from Tuesday.</p> <p><em>Records: Stivers 6-4, Oakwood 7-4. <a href="http://www.swblsports.com/bkGameStats.aspx?gameid=340749" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Information courtesy the official Southwestern Buckeye League website.</a></em></p> <p>https://www.instagram.com/p/B7D_dMTFrKF/</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4 style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Nightly Notables</strong></em></h4> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.cmacstats.com/bkGameStats.aspx?gameid=338150" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wyoming 6-foot-4 wing Isaiah Walker, a Division I recruit, went for 33 points and 15 rebounds against Western Hills!</a> Oh, and Cincinnati football commit Evan Prater? Just 27 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.Yeeeeeesh!</li> <li>Toledo Christian — our No. 4 team in Division IV — is really good. They've defeated Hiland already. And their junior 6-foot-1 point guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cole-mcwhinnie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cole McWhinnie</a> is a major reason for their success. He makes the right play consistently and shoots it at an elite level. <a href="https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/high-school/2020/01/07/high-school-boys-basketball-toledo-christian-southview-maumee-valley/stories/20200108078" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tuesday, he went for 32 points and 10 assists in their 50-point win over Northwood.</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cleveland.com/highschoolsports/2020/01/no-21-solon-upsets-no-7-mentor-avon-lake-takes-down-lakewood-tuesdays-boys-basketball-roundup.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Copley freshmen tandem Khoi Thurman and Amire Robinson scored 18 and 16 respectively in their 60-50 win over Highland.</a> </li> <li><a href="https://www.cleveland.com/highschoolsports/2020/01/no-21-solon-upsets-no-7-mentor-avon-lake-takes-down-lakewood-tuesdays-boys-basketball-roundup.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sophomore 6-foot-5 faceup forward Jack Kenneally had a 30-point outburst for Holy Name, as they cruised past Bay 101-68.</a> Kenneally has a promising skill-set to go with a powerful frame.</li> </ul> <h4> </h4> <h4 style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Recruiting Headlines</strong></em></h4> <p>https://twitter.com/PrepHoopsOH/status/1215325114453168129</p>