PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- While no longer division rivals due to OCC realignment, Gahanna and Pickerington Central squared off in an early-season contest that ended with Gahanna picking up their third win to remain undefeated, defeating the Tigers 65-51.

The Lions set the tone early, led by junior point guard Sean Jones making his first two three-point attempts to put Gahanna up 14-8 after one.   

The game was physical from the start, with both teams making any basket a difficult task.  Gahanna’s senior forward Maceo Williams received contact and went down halfway through the first quarter.  After spending some time warming up behind the bench, Williams returned, but ultimately sat for most of the second half, showing some discomfort walking.

Pickerington Central’s junior guard Josh Harlan took a serious hit under the hoop in the middle of the second quarter, going into the locker room before halftime. He did return to the bench, but was nursing an ice bag on his ankle and did not play.

The Tigers came out aggressive in the second half, but ultimately couldn’t cut the score to a one-possession game.  Gahanna’s balanced scoring attack, led by the trio of Javan Simmons, Jarius Jones and Sean Jones, countered any punch that the Tigers threw. The Lions reached the fourth quarter with a double digit lead and never let the Tigers seriously threaten the outcome. 

Pickerington moves to 1-1 on the season following the loss. The Tigers showed they will be an incredibly challenging team to score on, with a combination of Garner Wallace, Sonny Styles and Devin Royal defending the paint. 

Styles was a machine protecting the rim, recording six blocks to go with his 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and one steal. He also took over lead guard duties with Harlan absent.   

While Harlan should return soon, the Tigers will unfortunately be without senior center Elhadji Thiam for the season due to an arm injury.  Thiam is a 6’7 thin big who runs the floor well for his size and was playing his best basketball leading up to the season. He currently holds two offers from Walsh and NJIT and carries a 4.0 GPA.

Gahanna remains undefeated, extending their record to 3-0.  The Lions have a deep, balanced roster with multiple serious scoring threats. In addition to the balanced attack, Gahanna displayed impressive composure and maturity, not letting the Tigers aggressiveness and overt athleticism bother them. 

The Lions are currently off through the holidays and won’t return to action until New Year’s Eve versus Whitehall.   For Pickerington Central, they have an intriguing non-conference duel against Des Watson and DeSales on December 29.

Javan Simmons (6’7 PF / Gahanna / 2022): The clear cut MVP of the evening. After receiving his first Division I scholarship offer from Toledo two days ago, Simmons played like a prospect that is hungry for more. The 6-foot-7 junior forward displayed an impressive all-around game with minimal mistakes. Scoring a game-high 19 points, Simmons has an old school game to him. He’s disciplined, he’s fundamental and has a beautiful touch for a player his size. What separates Simmons is his aggression. Simmons is a mean player and that’s meant in a good way. The junior likes contact and plays with a constant scowl that shows he doesn’t take plays off. With performances like this, Simmons can be an all-district player this season.

Sean Jones (5’11 PG / Gahanna / 2022): Despite being defended by the insanely athletic 6-foot-5 Garner Wallace for most of the game, Jones still found a way to pour in 15 points and lead the Gahanna offense. Jones made three three-pointers tonight, as he continues to become a lethal threat from beyond the arc. The 5’11 guard has great chemistry with his talented teammates, doing an excellent job of getting everyone involved on the scoring sheet.  Jones also shows leadership by not taking any defensive plays off, moving his feet well and creating steals.  Kudos to the Pickerington Central defense for frustrating Jones more than most teams, but fully stopping him is a near impossible task. We would like to see Jones attack the rim a little more than he did tonight, however, we know he is currently nursing an ankle injury and was still able to lead his team to victory attempting mostly jumpshots.

Jarius Jones (6’5 WG / Gahanna / 2021): The senior wing forward is Gahanna’s biggest x-factor. Jones possesses a solid 6-foot-5 frame and moves well with and without the ball. In addition to possessing a well-rounded game, Jones showcased fantastic effort tonight, consistently crashing the boards and banging with the Tigers physical forwards. He led the Lions with nine rebounds. He’s a talented scorer, putting in 15 points from multiple spots on the court. Jarius’ aggressiveness and athleticism should intrigue scholarship programs.

Sonny Styles (6’4 WF / Pickerington Central / 2023): In a gym filled with multiple scholarship athletes for various sports, Styles still separates himself from the rest, displaying truly elite athleticism. The sophomore wing guard had six blocks against perhaps the most talented team in Central Ohio. There is a very real possibility Styles will notch double digit blocks against a team this season, as the 6-foot-4 multi-sport athlete can jump with anyone.  He also can play offense too, scoring nine points, dishing three assists and taking the lead guard role over when Harlan went out. While Styles is a 5-star recruit in football, he’s a consistent jump shot away from being a top basketball prospect as well.  For now, we’ll enjoy the time we can on the basketball court.

Garner Wallace (6’5 WF / Pickerington Central / 2021): Wallace’s best attribute for the evening was his defense on Sean Jones. Although Jones still found scoring opportunities, Wallace made the star point guard earn every point. Not only did Wallace limit Jones’ penetration into the paint, his long wingspan clogged up usual passing lanes that Jones is so good at finding.  While not a consistent shooter, Wallace is such a crafty athlete that he still finds ways to be a force on offense, scoring 13 points and adding an assist. The Northwestern football-commit is one of the area’s truly unique and exceptional athletes.

Zakai Alexander (6’3 WF / Pickerington Central / 2021): While perhaps not as exhilarating as some of his teammates, Alexander arguably had the best and most productive game out of any Tiger tonight.  The senior guard had 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block and put together a really nice all-around effort. Alexander can provide a really valuable role for the Tigers this season, as he is perhaps the best natural scorer on the team. The senior also showed on-court leadership, talking to and guiding some of his younger, talented teammates. This type of role should not go unnoticed, as the Tigers have a lot of potential with a relatively young roster.