Marysville’s Jacob Ranker (22) battles for possession of the basketball during Tuesday evening’s 80-61 loss to Westerville North.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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Marysville High School boys basketball coach Ryan Grose had high praise for Westerville North after the Warriors defeated his Monarchs, 80-61, during an Ohio Capital Conference cross-over game on Tuesday.
“I told the guys that’s a more talented team than we’ve played all season,” he said. “I would put Westerville North’s talent up there with Upper Arlington (the No. 1 team in the AP state Division I poll).”
The Warriors, who improved to 10-2 on the season, used the long ball and took advantage of numerous MHS turnovers to secure the victory.
North connected on 11 three-pointers, with seven of them coming from Julius Brown, the game’s high scorer with 28 points.
The opening quarter was an indication of how the Warriors would test the Monarchs.
MHS (5-6) began the game in a man-to-man defense, only to see the visitors pound the ball inside for baskets.
The Monarchs (who will host Hilliard Davidson on Friday) shifted to a zone to try and keep the Warriors from penetrating the paint.
That’s when North upped its long-ball antics.
The Monarchs went to a 3-2 zone in an effort to pressure the ball on the perimeter.
The Warriors did a nice job of rotating the ball and were still able to connect on a number of trifectas.
Brown swished a couple of long-range bombs during the opening period, but the Monarchs kept up the fight.
It was the team’s effort that pleased Grose the most.
“The guys gave a great effort and that’s all I can ask,” he said.
A basket from Noah VanVoorhis pushed North out to a 16-9 lead.
The Monarchs, though, rallied by taking advantage of several empty possessions from the Warriors.
A traditional three-point play by freshman Jack Christian gave MHS an 18-16 lead with 1:21 left in the opening quarter.
A basket by North’s Charles Perkins knotted the game at 18 by the end of the period.
A pair of free throws from Philip Hughes pulled Marysville to within 22-20 early during the ensuing set.
Back-to-back trifectas from Jeremiah Keane, however, pushed Westerville out to a 28-20 lead.
That was the story of the remainder of the game.
The Monarchs at times were able to stay within striking distance, only to have critical turnovers and accurate Warrior shots widen the gap.
“Westerville North is very good at pressuring the basketball,” said Grose. “We have to learn how to attack that pressure and take care of the ball.”
A pair of buckets from Bodie Eberhart and another shot by Christian narrowed the margin to 29-28.
Brown and Christian then swapped three-pointers, keeping North’s lead at one.
The Warriors, though, ended the quarter with a quick 7-0 burst and took a 39-31 lead at halftime.
Brown began the third quarter with another trifecta, pushing North out to a 42-31 lead.
Marysville was able to whittle the spread down to less than double digits on charity tosses from Hughes and another Eberhart basket.
Brown gathered in a couple of long offensive rebounds and tallied points as the visitors stretched their lead to 53-39.
Baskets from Grant Colopy, Christian and Marshall Francisco kept Marysville within 10 – 55-45 – by the end of the quarter.
That 10-point margin was as close as the Monarchs were able to get the rest of the way.
A dunk from Philip Alson pushed the lead to 64-49 and Marysville was never able make another dent into the margin.
Westerville North
Brown 10-1-28, Alson 7-5-19, Keene 5-0-13, Voorhies 3-1-8, Char. Perkins 2-0-4, Chac. Perkins 1-0-2, Afryie 1-0-2, Ledford 1-0-2, Harvey 1-0-2, Collier 0-0-0, Alexander 0-0-0. Totals 31-7-80.
Three-point goals: Brown 7, Keene 3, Voorhies 1.
Marysville
Christian 4-3-12, Eberhart 5-0-11, Francisco 4-0-8, Ranker 3-2-8, Hughes 2-4-8, Colopy 3-0-7, Karnes 1-1-3, Schaeffer 1-0-2, Siefring 1-0-2, Mills 0-0-0, Duke 0-0-0. Totals 24-10-61.
Three-point goals: Christian 1, Eberhart 1, Colopy 1.
Marysville’s jayvees lost, 58-48.
Garrett Taylor led the Jr. Monarchs with 16 points.
Evan Brown scored 10 during the MHS freshman team’s 65-51 triumph.
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