Africentric 55, Heath 46 - Prospect Scouting Report
NUBIANS TAKE 17-0 START TO ANOTHER DISTRICT FINALS
PICKERINGTON, Ohio - - No strangers to success, the Africentric Nubians (14-9) are headed to another district championship game. After a quick start to the game, the Nubians put it away at the free throw line for a 55-46 win that really wasn’t that close. The most impressive stat for the back-to-back state final four competitors was that they did not allow the Heath Bulldogs (19-6) to shoot a single free throw.
They started the game on a 17-0 run, it only ended when Heath junior guard scored with under one minute remaining in the first quarter to effectively end the frame. Africentric went into the second quarter with a 17-2 advantage of the Bulldogs. The press the Nubians employed did not allow Heath to breathe to start the game while getting everything they wanted in the paint.
Heath began to hit shots in the second quarter, specifically from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs buried five three-pointers in the quarter before halftime, trying to chip away at the 15-point deficit they were facing. Four different players in the white and orange jersey’s drained shots from behind the three-point line. Africentric was still too much on the interior, continuing to score at the rim and adding in some mid range jumpers as well.
Africentric took a 30-19 lead going into the locker room, which is the closest Heath closed the gap to until late in the game. Super athletic sophomore Josh Smith had some impressive dunks that looked demoralizing in the half as well, throwing them down with force and scoring eight of his 10 total points in the first half.
Both offenses could not get going in the quarter after halftime, with neither team cracking 10 points scored in the quarter. Africentric controlled the pace of the entire game, and slowed it down in the third. They manipulated the zone of Heath and ran time off the clock at the same time, getting the shot they wanted on every possession. The Nubians only scored nine points, but allowed seven to the Bulldogs and took a 39-26 lead into the final quarter.
Senior leader Cortez Freeman scored 10 of his game-high 17 points in the fourth quarter, going 6-of-8 at the free throw line once Heath began to foul to stretch the game.
Heath continued to shoot the ball as the quarter progressed, with varying degrees of success, hitting four three’s in their comeback attempt. It was too little too late though, along with Freeman’s six at the stripe, Smith and sophomore wing Rohaun Hardy ripped in two each which didn’t allow for any type of comeback, clinching the 55-46 victory.
Africentric heads to Ohio Dominican to take on Harvest Prep with a chance to keep the ball rolling on the quest to another state final four. This team has been flying under the radar all season long, facing tough competition in preparation for this time of year, do not bet against the Nubians come March.
Below are the top performers from the district semi-final matchup.