HEBRON, Ohio -- After having a few of their games postponed, the Columbus Academy Vikings got their 2020-21 season started out on a high note by going on the road to defeat the Lakewood Lancers by a score of 59-25.

From start to finish in Wednesday's non-league action, the Vikings tenacious defense was a problem for the Lancers. This was evident in the first period, when Lakewood was held scoreless through the first seven minutes of the game. The Vikings held a 10-1 lead at the end of the first frame.

The Vikings started the second quarter on an 8-0 run, which was halted by an and one conversion from Lakewood sophomore Trenton Collins. This run by Columbus Academy led to a halftime lead of 25-5.

After scoring 23 points in Lakewood’s season opener, Collins received a lot of attention from the Columbus Academy defense. Senior Brady Hess got the assignment early and along with the rest of the viking squad managed to hold Collins to seven points on the night.

Junior Kevin Reeves battled through foul trouble in the first half. However, at the start of the third quarter the 6-foot-6 big man made his presence felt, dropping eight of his 13 points in the third quarter.

A huge 25-12 third quarter by the Vikings was the final nail in the coffin for tonight’s game. Four different Vikings players pitched in points to fuel this game sealing quarter.

The Vikings duo of juniors Tanner Compton and Parker Logan were huge sparks on both ends of the floor. Compton was the best player on court, leading all scorers with 16 points, all of which were in the first three frames. Logan was a contributor to the Vikings dominating third quarter run, where he added seven of his 13 points.

The Vikings were impressive from the start. Their team defense and balanced offense should make them a tough matchup every night in the always competitive MSL-Ohio. 

Columbus Academy (1-0) will look to pick up where they left off on Wednesday, when they travel to Centennial for a non-league contest on Dec. 21. With the MSL-Ohio postponing all league games til after the New Year, Columbus Academy has an early advantage on most of the division with a game under its belt already. 

Lakewood (0-2) will look to get their first win of the season, when they enter LCL-Cardinal play on Friday against Newark Catholic (2-1).

Tanner Compton (6’0 PG / Columbus Academy / 2022): The leading returning scorer for the Vikings did not disappoint. He had a solid all around offensive game finishing as the game's leading scorer with an efficient 16 points. The dangerous part of his game is the ability to score from deep, mid range or break you down off the bounce to get to the rim. As this years Vikings team looks to find scoring to replace current Wooster guard Carter Warstler, Compton looks to be capable of filling that role.

Kevin Reeves (6’6 PF / Columbus Academy / 2022): The athletic big man is an intriguing prospect. After sitting out of the majority of the first half due to foul trouble, Reeves exploded in the third. The 6-foot-6 big man would not be denied around the basket. Reeves dominated the glass on the defense end, which triggered the Viking fast break. He has a high motor and was impressive running the floor. He appears to be just scratching the surface of the player we could see later this season. In an area where quality bigs come at a premium, Reeves could be a high priority recruit a year from now.

Brady Hess (6’2 WG / Columbus Academy / 2021): The senior had a tough challenge by having to matchup with Lakewood’s best player Trenton Collins. Hess passed Wednesday’s test by holding Collins to just seven points. It did not go unnoticed that he does a lot for the Viking on both ends of the floor. His strong frame helped him finish around the rim, while Hess is also a very strong rebounder at the guard position. Hess is going to be a valuable leader on this team. Going forward, Hess is going to be tasked with the opponent's best player each and every night. If Hess is as impactful on the defensive end going forward as he was against Lakewood, the Vikings will be in for a successful season.