WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- Opening up OCC-Capital play on Tuesday, Westerville North made a statement quickly in a 46-30 win over Canal Winchester. The Warriors held the visiting Indians without a field goal for the great majority of the first half, as its tight pressure defense and backcourt trio led the way.

Sophomore guard Kayla Curry-Brown set the tone almost instantly with her physical two-way play. With the help of Curry-Brown on both ends of the floor, Westerville North jumped out to a 28-8 halftime lead.

The Warriors maintained that lead the rest of the way, as Curry-Brown, sophomore Emoni Finch and senior Imari Martin kept up the pressure and intensity. Westerville North's team defense was outstanding, as the Warriors made it very difficult for Canal Winchester to find easy looks in the half court. 

Cruising to a 16-point win, Westerville North was never worried on Tuesday in a good win to open the year. Curry-Brown led the way with 18 points and a handful of assists, rebounds, steals and blocks. Finch and Martin each added eight points, while juniors Charia Smith and Alison Rothmann contributed six points a piece. 

For Canal Winchester, no player scored in double-figures or had more than two field goals each. Offense was hard to come by for the Indians as Westerville North had their way for the entire game. 

Kayla Curry-Brown (5'6 PG / Westerville North / 2023): We were blown away with Curry-Brown's performance on Tuesday, as the sophomore lead guard had a tremendous showing. Curry-Brown is a physical athlete who impacted the game at a high level on both ends of the floor. Despite not being the tallest player on the floor, Curry-Brown made an impact as a rebounder and shot blocker, while showing a great ability to get to the basket off the dribble and knock down open shots. She hit three triples, converted two floaters in close range and was a consistent finisher at the rim. The sophomore guard plays with zero fear, is an exceptional athlete that makes opposing guards uncomfortable and is a confident scorer that takes good shots. Curry-Brown has elite defensive instincts, as she was the source of several deflections both on and off the ball. All in all, she's one of the best two-way guards that we've seen this year.

Emoni Finch (5'6 PG / Westerville North / 2023): Showtime! Finch is a talented ball handler with a lot of flash and bravado to her game. We were impressed with the way Finch handles the ball in transition, as she was able to get to the rim when she wanted. A reliable outside shooter as well, Finch is a versatile offensive threat that pairs nicely with Curry-Brown. Finch has great vision and can really pass it in the open floor, as she plays with a high level of confidence and swagger. Finch's ball pressure and defensive intensity certainly frustrated Canal Winchester's guards, as she was a big reason why the Warriors were able to get its transition game going early and often. 

Charia Smith (6'2 C / Westerville North / 2022): One of few juniors with a Division I offer, Smith showed why colleges are so fond of her upside. The 6-foot-2 junior center is oozing with potential, as she was very effective around the rim as finisher and shot blocker. Smith has great mobility for her size, as she can really run the floor and can even grab rebounds and lead the break. She has a good feel for the game, plays with toughness and is not afraid of physicality. We didn't get a chance to see Smith shoot a jumper on Tuesday, however, she showed a smooth stroke at the free-throw line which leads us to believe that she can be a capable floor spacer at the next level in addition to her ability to be an enforcer down low. 

Imari Martin (5'4 G / Westerville North / 2021): Sharp shooting guard who knocked down two threes and converted a layup. Martin is the third part of a quality backcourt trio for Westerville North that will be tough to stop this season. While foul trouble plagued most of her second half, Martin is a confident guard with a sweet shooting stroke that will play a key role on a young Warriors team this winter.