Friday Games to Watch
The top game in the area on Friday is at Newark as the Wildcats host Pickerington Central. We explore all the top games in Central Ohio tonight here.
Big game season is upon us as league title races are already taking shape and major consequence matchups are on deck tonight. Let’s take a look at the top games to watch in Central Ohio on Friday night.
#4 (D1) Pickerington Central (5-0) at #3 (D1) Newark (4-0)
The game of the night is at Jim Allen Gymnasium. A battle for rights to first place in the OCC-Buckeye is on the line. When these teams get together, you can almost guarantee a high-level game. Newark has won the last four meetings, sweeping the season series the last two years. Devin Royal played in the last game that Pickerington Central won against the Wildcats, to show you how long it’s been. However, this year’s Pickerington Central team is better than the teams of the last two seasons which will make for an even better matchup. If you want to see an elite wing matchup, Newark’s Jake Quackenbush and Pickerington Central’s Landon Evans is as good as it’ll get. The winner of this game will have first place in the division and if Groveport happens to win at Reynoldsburg tonight, they’ll be alone at the top.
#10 (D1) Groveport Madison (3-1) at #2 (D1) Reynoldsburg (4-1)
The other top game in the OCC-Buckeye pits two defending district champions and teams that made their deepest runs in recent memory a year ago with potential first place implications on the line. Groveport Madison and Reynoldsburg is an underrated rivalry and should figure to be one of the most entertaining games of the night. Both teams have deep rosters with size, athleticism and experience. Groveport was boosted with the arrival of senior forward Marcus Hemphill from Bishop Hartley, which gives this Cruisers team an element they didn’t expect to have in this matchup just a few weeks ago. Reynoldsburg is in a position once again to win the OCC and make a run to the state tournament and they’ll need to defend home court to make that a reality tonight. The matchup of Hemphill and Reynoldsburg senior and Ohio signee Jordie Bowens will be worth the price of admission, as well as the sophomore guard matchup of Groveport’s Jordan Wagner and Reynoldsburg’s Mekhi Roddy. Talent galore in this game.
#5 (D3) Walnut Ridge (3-3) at #1 (D5) Africentric (4-0)
First place in the City League South is on the line at Africentric tonight as the Nubians host rival Walnut Ridge. Last season Africentric swept the season series while Walnut Ridge did the same in the 2023-24 season. If that trend continues, then Walnut Ridge would be the team to come out on top tonight. This game is especially important for the race for the City League south title with how the tie breaker is set up. Africentric played in the title game last year, while Walnut Ridge hasn’t since 2021 (when they were defeated by Africentric but the Nubians had COVID and couldn’t play in the game), which gives the Scots the tie-breaker advantage. If you want to see a City League game tonight, this is the one to go see. Each team is led by seniors who also star on the gridiron with Africentric’s Josh Smith (Cincinnati signee) and Derron Grey Jr. (Bowling Green signee), and Walnut Ridge’s Marquis Lucas.
