Pickerington Central 67, Harvest Prep 61
Tigers overcome a double-digit deficit in the second half led by a standout performance from Landon Evans
PICKERINGTON, OH - Three years removed from a state title and two years from a state runner-up, Pickerington Central is in a bit of a rebuild. As they headed into Tuesday night’s game against Harvest Prep with a .500 record and no senior starters, the home team Tigers erased a ten point second-half deficit and picked up their signature win of the season with a 67-61 defeat of small-school powerhouse Harvest Prep.
The Warriors were in control for most of the game. An 11-3 run to spark the third quarter, where senior guard Brandon Roddy scored nine himself during that stretch, put the Warriors ahead 46-36 with five minutes left in the period. A timeout from Pickerington Central head coach Eric Krueger proved to be timely, as the Tigers responded with an 11-1 run of their own and cut the Warriors lead to just two headed into the final period.
In a game where it felt like there was a lid on the bucket for the Tigers, as short-range opportunities seemed to spin around the rim, a corner was turned as Central got hot at the right moment. An Ayden Snyder three at the four minute mark tied the game at 53, followed by a triple from junior Ryan Donovan that gave the Tigers their first lead since late in the first quarter.
Three free throws from Prep tied the contest again, but Donovan responded with another triple, his fourth of the night. Snyder, also a junior, would hit another three himself around the one minute mark, as the two-possession lead in the final seconds were too much for the Warriors to overcome.
“We’ve had some ups and downs as a young and inexperienced group with some tough losses early in the year, as we are trying to learn how to win,” Krueger said after the game. “The biggest thing for us is to continue to fight, battle and play basketball the way we are supposed to play. We came knocking on the door and overcame adversity. We’re starting to show signs of growing up and that’s exciting with a young team.”
The young team is undoubtedly led by their superstar sophomore, 6’4 guard Landon Evans, who posted the ridiculous stat line of 17 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and four steals. But perhaps his most impressive feat of the evening? He was credited with an assist on all four of the Tigers’ threes in the final period.
