PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Undefeated Hilliard Bradley (10-1) came into their game against Walnut Ridge (6-2) having only lost ONE game in the last four seasons when scoring over 44 points (the 2017 district final against Upper Arlington being their only loss).

However, when not passing that threshold, they were 5-5 during that same time period. After a four quarter battle, Walnut Ridge came away with a 45-44 win in what became an instant classic as soon as the final buzzer sounded. 

The Scots were able to gain the lead late with some gutsy efforts from their trio of talented seniors. Von Cameron Davis led the team with 14 points and seven rebounds, and Kaveon Ross added 10 points and five boards. Qian Magwood chipped in seven points and three assists. Walnut Ridge will now face undefeated Columbus South on Tuesday.

Hilliard Bradley did not surpass the magic 44 point threshold, and now fall below .500 in the last four seasons when not meeting that mark. Matt Allocco was dominant in the first half, finishing with a game-high 20 points and seven rebounds to go along with five assists. Keaton Norris added 13 points and Tayshaun Mayfield had eight points and seven boards. 

VonCameron Davis (6'5 WF / Walnut Ridge / 2020): One of the leading scorers in central Ohio over the course of his career, Davis now has a complete inside-out offensive arsenal that he uses to completely take over games. If one defender is sent at him, he will bully them inside and use his high-level finishing ability to convert around the rim. If the opposing team packs the paint, he has no hesitation rising up and knocking down threes, which he did at an extremely high rate on Saturday. Though it nearly cost them at times, Davis played with a visible intensity and energy that was a big reason why Walnut Ridge was able to come back from the blows that Hilliard Bradley dealt. While the second half was low-scoring in general, Davis came up with some clutch contested rebounds and defensive stops despite being in foul trouble. The Kent State commit was named game MVP for his performance in leading Walnut Ridge to a statement win over one of the best teams in the state. 

Matt Allocco (6'4 G / Hilliard Bradley / 2020): In Allocco, a Princeton commit, Hilliard Bradley has the absolute perfect player for their defense-oriented scheme that has won him and his Jaguars squad so many games over the last four years. There is arguably no other player in the area with a higher basketball IQ than Allocco, and that, coupled with the fact that he possesses a now filled-out 6-4 frame at the lead guard spot, means that the opposing team will be relentlessly threatened on both ends of the court by him for four quarters. Allocco possesses elite finishing ability, using his handle and every inch of his frame to gain positioning and convert around the rim any time he touches the ball inside 10 feet. While he was shut down in the second half, Allocco proved in his gutsy all-around effort why he is one of the most respected players in the area. 

Kaveon Ross (6'5 PF / Walnut Ridge / 2020): Ross is an athletic 6-5 forward who is constantly active in the paint for the Scots. The senior is a matchup problem for opposing teams alongside Davis, as the two players are both apt at finishing inside, forcing opposing teams to focus much of their attention in the paint, which frees up Walnut Ridge’s outside shooters. While Ross’s outside shot wasn’t connecting, he has shown the ability to stretch his offensive game outside the paint and is an all-around physical threat on both ends. Ross’s late lay-in after sealing off his defender proved to be the deciding basket in the Scot’s huge victory. 

Keaton Norris (5'11 G / Hilliard Bradley / 2021): Norris is a knock-down shooter in every sense of the word, as he is always looking to find open space to get off his outside shot. Norris is constantly active off the ball, as the Hilliard Bradley offense is built for players like him with constant screen-setting and motion on the perimeter. Son of Bradley head coach Brett Norris, Keaton has the green light from outside whenever he can find space and finished with a game-high three made shots from deep. Norris and classmate AJ Mirgon are two high-level shooters that stretch opposing defenses well past the three point line and make Hilliard Bradley’s offense tick. 

Qian Magwood (6'0 PG / Walnut Ridge / 2020): There was a noticeable difference in the play of Walnut Ridge’s defense when Magwood was off the court, a testament to his shutdown perimeter defensive abilities. A high-major defensive back recruit, Magwood’s toughness and lateral quickness is the key to the Scot’s success on the defensive end and it showed in the second half, as Magwood and company held Hilliard Bradley to just 12 second half points. The senior guard chipped in multiple huge outside shots over the course of the game and while he is not a focal point of his team’s offense, his work on the other end is ultimately what made Walnut Ridge able to beat a team of Bradley’s caliber. 

Tayshaun Mayfield (6'0 PF / Hilliard Bradley / 2022): Standing at 6-foot yet possessing one of the most impressive builds of any player in the area, Mayfield was tasked with guarding one of the toughest interior players in the area in Von Cameron Davis and held him to just four points inside. Mayfield is an incredibly smart and efficient player inside, passing out of the post to open teammates and always seemingly being in the right spot for second chance looks. Mayfield simply makes winning plays for this Bradley team and his talents as a high-energy and tough player elevate this Hilliard Bradley team to another level. 

Zion Blevins (6'1 G / Walnut Ridge / 2022): Blevins is a sophomore shooter that made a couple of huge shots in the first half. The 6-1 wing-guard is new to the rotation as of the last few weeks and was called up due to his sharpshooting abilities. Blevins was able to find open space on the perimeter working off of the inside games of Walnut Ridge’s two stout big men, and in a low-scoring affair such as this game the instant offense that he provided was vital. Blevins and junior Leon Douglas provided a needed spark from outside for the Scot’s throughout the game.