Sectional Rounds Top Players – Columbus

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This past week the 2023-24 OHSAA Boy's Basketball Tournament started and the sectional semis and final games were this week. This past week I went to Dublin Scioto vs Westerville South as the Wildcats won, 47-29. Then on Friday night, I went to a much-anticipated game that the City League wanted to see all season, Walnut Ridge vs Northland. The Scots came up with the win 60-52. This article will cover the top players from this week of Sectionals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1222376"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Not many guards in this state that you would want on your team in the playoffs than Aekins, he showed why on Friday night. He was great all game long and he was the difference in the game. He was not scared of the moment and seized it. He ran the show and controlled the offense for Walnut all game. They consistently got good shots and had a good rhythm to their offense because of Aekins putting them in a good position and making the right passes. He never held the ball too long and read the defense great. He scored a good amount but he stood out offensively by running the Scots offense. This kid put on a defensive clinic. One of the better defensive performances I have seen this year. His on-ball pressure was phenomenal. He guarded Northland's guards and put them in clamps. His lateral quickness is the best I've seen, he is simply always in front of you and applying pressure. He forces you to get the ball out of your hands because you can't do anything with it when he is guarding you. He had a defensive focus because he did it all game. Picked up full court and applied incredible pressure, all game long. Great performance from Aekins last night. u003ca href=u0022https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/Dom-Aekens-2nd2.jpgu0022u003eu003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-2366733 alignrightu0022 src=u0022https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/Dom-Aekens-2nd2.jpg?w=300u0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022200u0022 /u003eu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1984820"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Lucas played huge for Walnut Ridge last night but specifically in the second half. He was solid and hit a couple of shots in the first half but he very closely won the game in the second half himself. He hit big shot after big shot for Walnut Ridge. He caught fire from beyond the arc in the 3rd quarter which gave the Scots a commanding lead when Northland got close. In the fourth quarter, he did a lot of damage inside the paint. One of the biggest plays of the game is him taking a charge against Northland's biggest player and giving him his 5th foul early in the 4th. Once this happened, the dynamic of the game changed. Lucas turned into the bully in the paint. He was getting multiple rebounds and put-back buckets. He was playing hard and competed all game long. He wanted to win this game and played an essential role in the second half for the win. u003ca href=u0022https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/Marquse-Lewis-2nd.jpgu0022u003eu003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-2366735 alignrightu0022 src=u0022https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/Marquse-Lewis-2nd.jpg?w=300u0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022200u0022 /u003eu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1503915"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"McMorris played one of the better games I've seen from him this season. He was a difference in the game for most of it because of his size and length. He was able to get the ball at points others on the floor couldn't. Northland was feeding him early and often in the paint when McMorris was in and it worked. He got the ball and made quick strong moves. He was finishing well in the paint. He had a very impressive drive and reverse baseline finish. Once he fouled out the dynamic of the game changed. u003ca href=u0022https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/Nehiam-McMorris-2nd.jpgu0022u003eu003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-2366740 alignrightu0022 src=u0022https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/Nehiam-McMorris-2nd.jpg?w=300u0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022200u0022 /u003eu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2113258"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Shoultz has some serious potential. He can do it all on the floor and shows some flashes of being special. He hit some tough shots. He is a long player that can guard multiple positions due to his athleticism as well. I am a big fan of Shoultz's game and he had a very impressive sophomore season. He is a name to watch during the AAU season. u003ca href=u0022https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/Jaden-Shoultz-2nd.jpgu0022u003eu003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-2366744 alignrightu0022 src=u0022https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/Jaden-Shoultz-2nd.jpg?w=300u0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022200u0022 /u003eu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e3635959e10"} /-->