Westerville South 47, Dublin Scioto 29 - Game Recap and Prospect Scouting Report

With Kruz McClure's absence, Wildcats use defense and balanced scoring in team win

WESTERVILLE, OH - The opening night of the postseason can be saddled with added nerves, given the win-or-go-home stakes. It doesn’t make things easier when your star guard is no long available within a day’s notice.

Yet #16 Westerville South, down two starters and most notably junior Kruz McClure, responded well to adversity and handed #32 Dublin Scioto a sound 47-29 defeat, as they advance to the sectional finals against #26 Marysville on Friday.

With McClure sidelined, who is the OCC-Capital player of the year and averages 25 points per game, the Wildcats committed to their defense to gain an advantage over Scioto, a conference foe they previously beat twice by an average margin of 13 in the regular season.

The commitment worked, as the Cats held the Irish to just a single point in the first quarter. Yet their offense wasn’t much better, as they only created a three-point lead.

Scoring picked up some in the second period, as Scioto’s Aaron Foster scored five of his own, but South was able to to gain some steam offensively while holding the Irish to 16-8 halftime deficit.

Westerville South junior Andrew Koroma and sophomore Hassan Kaba combined for 18 points and were notable difference-makers on Tuesday.