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http://www.columbussports.com/content/writers/dave_herd/roundball-roundup----mid-season-sensations.shtmlRoundball Roundup -- Mid-Season Sensations
Northland dominates City League and AP state Division I, Upper Arlington sneaking up at 10-0 and No.2 in the AP.
Mid-Week, Mid-State (Games of 1/14) -- Canal Winchester 74, Logan Elm 70 -- This was the big one of the Mid-State League Buckeye Division, and between two schools enjoying a renaissance of a growing sports rivalry. In the end, Canal Winchester (last year's home of 7' Buckeye B.J. Mullens) now 8-2, 5-0 handed Logan Elm (8-1, 4-1) its first defeat of the season, despite a fourth quarter in which Logan Elm tried to close the gap. It was a game largely played behind the arc, as Canal drained 11 treys and Logan Elm 10. Logan Elm had been #2 in Division II in the first AP state poll, and lost despite 28 from Brandon Amann. Canal Winchester got a true team effort, but was led by Aaron Barber's 17. Lakewood 67, Bexley 51 -- Lakewood (9-1, 4-1) won a key MSL Ohio game over Bexley (5-3, 2-3) Tuesday night thanks to a big final quarter comeback and 26 from Ryan Davis. Davis also had 11 rebounds in the important road win that kept the Lions from closing the league lead gap. City League Shorts -- Northland 88, Linden 47 -- Another smooth win for the AP and consensus No. 1 team in Division I statewide, this time at league foe Linden. A 47-19 halftime lead ensured the victory as Jared Sullinger again led the Vikings with 22 points. Marion-Franklin 85, West 65 -- The Red Devils (6-3, 3-2) bounced back from their recent loss to Independence and asserted themselves as a South contender with a commanding 43-24 lead at the break over West. Freshman Center sensation Elijah Macon was the man of the night with 19 points and 10 boards for Marion-Franklin, which had its big weekend matchup with state power Timken cancelled due to ice. Independence 78, Africentric 48 -- The Nubians may be fine when it comes time for the Division IV tournament, but its rough going playing the big league schools week in and week out. Tuesday night was no different as Independence dominated throughout, providing a powerful emphasis behind their recent defeat of Marion-Franklin. All of these teams thought themselves to be chasing the top dog in the South, but were undoubtedly pleased to see the final of Walnut Ridge 54, Eastmoor Academy 53 accomplished with a slow but sure Walnut Ridge second half comeback. The City League North saw a great game with Brookhaven 84, Beechcroft 65. This was quite a big victory for Brookhaven (5-4, 3-2), which had 35 points from Terrance Watkins. Beechcroft (8-1, 4-1) suffered its first loss heading into a big game with Northland. One Two Punch -- AP Division I -- The opening AP state poll for big schools lists Northland (8-0, obvious) and Upper Arlington (10-0, not so obvious) as the top two teams in the state. Both are facing huge games this weekend -- the aforementioned Northland game with Beechcroft and UA's game at OCC Central rival Dublin Coffman.
Saturday Night Specials -- (1/10)--Upper Arlington 59, Hilliard Davidson 33 -- A packed house at Upper Arlington saw the Golden Bears go to 10-0, 6-0 in this OCC Central win over Hilliard Davidson (4-5, 3-4). The UA defense stifled Davidson all night, including two big blocks by rising reserve Jerod Hood (6'10"). Kevin Sullivan's passing, dribbling and shooting skills led the Bears throughout the game, and he ended with 22 points. Brother Brian Sullivan added 17 while Akram Hidmi had 8 inside. Northland 71, Cin. Aiken 45 -- Northland (7-0) continued its dominance last night, this time in the Play by Play Classic at OSU, beating Aiken 71-45. Jared Sullinger had 23 for the Vikings in the win while teammate JD Weatherspoon slammed home 18. Aiken star Chane Behanan, basically the top touted sophomore in the state, had foul trouble and was limited to just 3 points. DeSales 73, Garfield Heights 68 -- Ike Ariguzo paced the Stallions (9-1) with 23 as Nick Goff added 18 in DeSales' impressive comeback win at the Play by Play Classic. Carl Jones had 36 for Garfield Heights, which fell to 8-2. Jones helped Garfield Heights race to a 13-2 initial lead, but missed two late free throws after Adam Griffin of DeSales had sunk his. DeSales is considered by many observers to be the top Division II team in the state, as the first AP polls of the year are awaited. Trotwood-Madison 76, Worthington Christian 57 -- The Warriors are still clearly one of the top local Division IV teams, but they met their match at Ohio State Saturday against a powerful Division I team in the Rams (8-0). Worthington Christian remains a respectable 8-2, and last year's state player of the year Brian Hecker scored 29 in the loss. No worries, really, as this one and the game already past with DeSales (with just one to come) will be the main tests for the year as Worthington Christian again seeks to dominate the small school division. If only the Warriors still had Zack Joseph, who transfered to upstart Olentangy Orange and scored 26 in Saturday's loss to Coshocton. North Union 67, Cardington 60 -- A division up in D III, North Union marched forward Saturday on the road to a 9-0 record with a sure and steady win in the MOAC. The boys from Richwood are essentially assured of their first winning season since 1991-92, and are doing so in impressive form. Senior guard Will Shields scored 20 for the Wildcats and Klarke Ransome had 17 with a couple of treys. Other Scores -- Cle. Benedictine 64, Canal Winchester 52; Westerville Central 70, Lakota West 51; Newark 50, Logan 36; Chillicothe 74, Pickerington Central 56; Pickerington North 59, South 49; Elgin 69, Pleasant 57; Canton Timkin at Marion-Franklin -- Postponed due to ice, recheduled for 2/7. This will be a huge challenge for the talented and athletic Red Devils.
Division I Dominance -- (1/9) -- Northland 86, Whetstone 38 -- This was a contest of the tried and true against the upstart underdog in the City League North Friday night, but unfortunately for an improved Whetstone squad the result was not pretty. Northland (6-0) wowed its homecourt fans with a 25-6 first quarter (and a 29-4 third for that matter) as five Vikings placed in double figures. Jared Sullinger (OSU recruit) again led the attack with 24 and JD Weatherspoon (Xavier recruit) put in a dozen. Tanner Furno, Whetstone's star center, could only muster 9 against a tight Northland inside defense. Dublin Scioto 60, Dublin Jerome 53 -- Scioto (9-1, 6-0) rode a 23-7 second quarter and then hung on to win at neighboring Jerome in this OCC Cardinal game. Jerome gave its best with a steady second half comeback but could not erase the big early deficit. David McKinley had 17 for Scioto with 5 from behind the arc. Grove City 89, Pickerington Central 68 -- Center Jon Smith paved the way for Grove City (8-1, 5-1) with 22 points in OCC Ohio play. Pickerington Central fell to 4-4, 3-3 despite racing to a 23-15 initial lead at home. Newark 69, Pickerington North 46 -- The Wildcats also remained strong and even with Grove City in OCC Ohio play by winning on the road at Pickerington North on Friday night. Dane Kopp and Cody Dennison each had 14 for Newark, the defending Division I state champs. Reynoldsburg 52, Gahanna 49 -- Also in the tough OCC Ohio Gahanna (7-3, 3-3) continued its recent swoon against top opponents, falling to Reynoldsburg (6-3, 3-2) at home. Reynoldsburg made its free throws down the stretch and Reggie Walls had 18 in the win. Dublin Coffman 58, Worthington Kilbourne 43 -- A 30-20 halftime was all Coffman (9-1, 5-1) needed to coast to a road win in the OCC Central. Christiane Heine led Coffman once again with 17 points. Other Scores -- Worthington Christian 71, St. Charles 60 -- Brian Hecker had 32 points and 15 boards as Worthington Christian won this Central Catholic League game and moved to 8-1, 2-1. DeSales 53, Hartley 48 -- Also in the CCL, state power DeSales (8-2, 3-0) barely got by a tough Hartley squad that mounted a fierce fourth quarter comeback which fell short. Nick Goff's free throws at the end and 23 points by Nick Kellogg and 15 from Ike Ariguzo bolstered the Stallions. Ready 60, Watterson 56; Marion-Franklin 82, Briggs 74; Eastmoor 44, Africentric 43; Beechcroft 98, linden 65; Brookhaven 76, mifflin 70; Independence 78, South 44; Delaware 53, New Albany 51; Westerville South 68, Olentangy 57; Newark Catholic 62, Bexley 42 --- Newark Catholic is now 9-0, 4-0. Fisher Catholic 57, Grandview 54; Madison Plains 64, Hillsboro 53; Logan Elm 67, Circleville 34; Canal Winchester 55, Hamilton Twp. 41.