PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Gahanna (11-0) came into their matchup against Linden-McKinley (3-5) with an unblemished record and coming off of two wins this week against Whitehall and Lancaster. While Linden-McKinley kept it within a single digit game late into the second half, star sophomore Sean Jones was able to power the Lions to a 62-46 with a career high 24 point performance. 

Jones led all scorers with his 24 points and also came up with three steals and five rebounds. Junior big Maceo Williams scored in double-digits as well, adding 12 points and six rebounds. 

Linden-McKinley was led by a trio of high-energy wings who were able to mix it up with a very talented and disciplined Gahanna team. Junior Chance Groce had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Junior Shamarion Rogers led the Panthers with 12 points, and sophomore LA Walker added 10 points of his own. 

Sean Jones (5'11 PG / Gahanna / 2022): In a low-scoring affair that was within one possession for a large part of the first half, Jones reentry into the game in the second quarter was the turning point in the game. The standout sophomore is constantly making plays, using his elite athleticism and feel for the game to carve his way through opposing defenses. Jones started the game with a pullup jumper, showcasing his off-the-dribble proficiency and bounce, and his dribble-drive dominance coupled with his now high-level shooting ability is a scary sight for his opposition. Jones is a step ahead of nearly everyone else on the court at all times, possessing unmatched court vision and a first step that allows him to create space on any defender. Jones finished with 24 points, tying a career high, scoring at all three levels and showing why he is one of, if not the, premier prospect in the area in the class of 2022. 

Chance Groce (6'5 WG / Linden-McKinley / 2021): Groce set the tone early on in the game for Linden, playing phenomenal transition defense and making a statement that this would be a defense-dominated affair. The junior contested various Gahanna fast break attempts and came up with multiple blocks. On offense, Groce scrapped his way to 10 points on second chance points and tough looks from just outside the paint. Groce was also incredibly effective on the glass, showing non-stop effort in his hunt for rebounds, especially on offense where he is always a put-back threat with his 6-6 frame. Groce was active for all four quarters, finishing with a double-double in points and rebounds, and will be a key piece to the puzzle for Linden if they want to turn around their fortunes. 

Maceo Williams (6'6 PF / Gahanna / 2021): Williams is a smart and capable post threat for the Lions, using effective positioning and great hands to impact the game on both ends. The junior big man is able to work off of his talented lead guards and find open space around the basket for easy looks, and showcased multiple drop-step post moves that ended in lay-ins. Williams is an intelligent post that runs the floor well and picks his spots create, and is a consistent offensive force with high-level finishing abilities. Williams showcased his potential in the Open Division of the 270 Hoops Fall League and looks like he is taking the next step as a player as a key cog in Gahanna’s undefeated start. 

LA Walker (6'4 WG / Linden-McKinley / 2022): Walker is one of the clear on-court leaders for a Linden team that is playing with just eight players, and brings a constant energy that translates into positive plays for the Panthers. The well-built 6-4 wing mixes things up in the paint on both ends as an effective rebounder and finisher around the basket. Walker also displayed a variety of pull-ups and face-up moves to create space to get off his jumpshot. Walker is a steady force as just a sophomore for Linden and will look to fill out and increase his productivity as the season goes along. 

Javan Simmons (6'6 PF / Gahanna / 2022): Coming off the bench in the stead of Williams over the course of the game, Simmons proved to be just as effective in the paint. The big-bodied 6-6 post deals out punishment to whoever matched up with him in the paint, sealing-off and drop-stepping to create room down low for open looks. Simmons is another pure post scoring option for Gahanna and effectively cleans the glass whenever he is in the game. While he only played alongside Maceo Williams for a few minutes late in the game, we think that both young bigs have the potential to play on the floor together down the line as it may become difficult to keep Simmons off the court. 

Shamarion Rogers (6'4 PF / Linden-McKinley / 2021): The junior wing was a spark plug for the Panthers, bringing energy on both ends of the court and out-efforting the opposite to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Rogers showed toughness in his ability to come up with rebounds over taller players and even took a charge that allowed Linden to keep the game within single digits late in the second half. While Rogers doesn’t necessarily seek out his own shots on offense, he is a capable finisher and ended up leading Linden in scoring.