HEATH, Ohio -- One of the most consistently impressive teams in the area this season has been Heath (15-0), who came into their game against Licking Heights (6-9) looking to remain one of only three teams in the area without a loss alongside North Union and Gahanna.

Opposing teams have thrown every possible look their way in order to end their magical regular season run, and their matchup against Licking Heights was no different, as the Hornets fired away and shot themselves into an early lead. However, Heath stayed the course and found a way to stay undefeated when the final buzzer sounded, coming away with a hard-fought 71-64 home victory. 

Licking Heights made it be known early that they were there to play, and came out of the gate firing on all cylinders on both ends of the court. Junior Jaivon Miller, one of the top scorers in the LCL, hit two early threes to give the Hornets the lead, and the stingy trap defense that he and his teammates deployed gave Heath fits throughout the opening period. After a third three by Miller and a buzzer-beating triple from the corner by senior Josh Righter, Licking Heights found themselves leading the undefeated Bulldogs 21-13 at the end of the first. 

Heath’s young core, led by sophomore Brandon McLaughlin, began to climb back in the second quarter and ultimately took the lead. After a 6-1 run to start the period by Heath, the two teams traded buckets until McLaughlin converted on one of his many tough looks from the paint to give the Bulldogs the lead.

Heath extended their lead to six at one point late in the half, but four straight points including a buzzer-beating jumper by junior Dennis Gilmore-Holley pulled the score to a 30-28 Bulldogs advantage going into the break. 

McLaughlin continued his excellent offensive play as the second half opened, and it appeared as though Heath would pull away for good. Two threes by McLaughlin, including one with just over a minute left in the third, put his team up nine points and swung the momentum entirely in the Bulldogs favor.

However, two straight buckets by the Hornets that included a controversial bank-in buzzer beater by junior Lionel Moses Jr. made it a two possession game at 49-43 going into the final quarter. 

More scoring by McLaughlin, including a smooth pull-up jumper from mid range, gave Heath their first double-digit lead of the game early on in the fourth, but a spark off the bench in the form of sophomore Dante Collier gave Licking Heights two quick buckets and made it a game once again.

The Hornets drew within four points on a put-back by senior Chancellor Burns with just over four minutes in regulation, but a three by junior Nick Lamar allowed Heath to stretch the lead back out to seven. Heath grew their lead again past double-digits, and while some high-level late-game scoring by Jaivon Miller made it a two possession game with under a minute left, Heath’s clutch free-throw shooting allowed them to close out the game without much of a threat by Licking Heights.  

Despite coming away with a loss, Licking Heights displayed major toughness and flashed the team’s emerging talent as they rotated 11 players, many of them juniors or underclassmen, and found a way to hang with the undefeated Bulldogs. Jaivon Miller continued his breakout junior season with 22 points and showed the ability to score efficiently from the perimeter and in driving to the hoop. Junior

Dinero Warner added 10 points, and junior Dennis Gilmore-Holley chipped in nine. Licking Heights will host Licking Valley on Friday with a 7:30 tip.

Star sophomore big man Brandon McLaughlin took the game into his own hands at various points and showed exactly why he is one of the most promising post prospects in the class of 2022 once again. McLaughlin dropped a 27-point double-double with rebounds, scoring at every level and making it look easy. Nick Lamar added 12 points, and sophomore Keylan Williams had nine. Heath will travel to Granville on Friday in a huge league matchup and will look to move to 16-0 on the year. 

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