COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In a rematch of last year's Division II Sectional Finals thriller, Granville looked to avenge their 50-45 loss. On Tuesday night, Granville could not get the revenge they were looking for, although the current version of the rivalry did not disappoint, as Heath defeated the Blue Aces 46-41.

The first quarter went back and forth, forcing multiple different lead changes. Junior Reece Huber got things started for Heath with a big three-point play.

The battle between the big men started early on, as Heath junior Brandon McLauglin and Granville senior Will Skerbetz were trading baskets in the paint from the jump. Granville’s balanced attack was on full display in the opening eight minutes as they took a 13-12 lead.

McLaughlin showed off more of his aggressive side on Tuesday night, leading to 10 points, five rebounds, and three assists in the opening two quarters. He was able to score in a variety of different ways while excelling when pushing the ball off of rebounds, and finding his teammates for open baskets. On the heels of a 12-4 run in the second quarter, Heath went into the half leading 24-17.

Granville started the second half out strong, cutting the Bulldogs lead to just one, but Heath stemmed the tide by rattling off six straight points, led by the all-around play of junior Keylan Williams. The Bulldogs capped off the third quarter with a ferocious dunk by Huber resulting in a 36-27 lead.

Granville turned to their full court press in the fourth quarter, which caused a handful of turnovers. The Blue Aces seemed to thrive on this tempo, leading to an 8-0 run midway through the final quarter.. The relentless attack led by freshman Dante Varrasso, junior Carsyn Crouch, and senior Hayden Welles sparked the comeback.

As part of his co-game-high 18 points, McLaughlin ended Granville’s run and the game with timely free throw shooting, allowing Heath to avoid the revenge bid. As a team, Granville shot 14-of-18 from the charity stripe for the game.

McLaughlin shared the game-high scoring honors with Huber, while also pitching in a game high 10 rebounds and four blocks. Williams also added seven points and four assists.

For Granville, Crouch led the way with a team high 11 points, while Varrasso added nine points.

Both teams are back in action next Tuesday. Heath (1-1) takes on Chaminade-Julienne, while Granville (2-4) hosts Fisher Catholic (1-4).

Dante Varrasso (5’10 PG / Granville / 2024): The freshman guard showed a tremendous all-around game, taking over point guard duties for Granville tonight. Although his perimeter shot was not falling, he found a way to make a big impact on the game. After seeing him in the opener this season, we were impressed by how much more confidence and maturity he plays with. He excelled in the open court during a key fourth quarter run, attacking the rim fearlessly against some of the better athletes in the LCL. Varrasso looks to be one of the premier freshmen in the area as well as an important piece to Granville's success this season.

Brandon McLaughlin (6’8 PF / Heath / 2022): McLaughlin sets the bar pretty high for big men in the LCL, living up to the expectations tonight. The 6-foot-8 junior is an elite rebounder, finishing with a game high 10 boards. He showed the ability to push the ball on the break, bringing the ball up the floor at times. He has great footwork around the basket scoring on a variety of post ups and spin moves in the paint. He had a very high motor tonight, attacking on every touch, while changing or blocking multiple shots on defense. McLaughlin seems to expand his game each time we see him play, which is exciting with some big matchups coming up on the schedule.

Reece Huber (6’0 CG / Heath / 2022): Huber gets better each time we see him. He sets the tempo for Heath on both ends of the floor. The junior is at his best off the bounce and getting to the rim. He is very quick to the basket and consistently finds ways to finish in the paint. His defense probably doesn’t get talked about enough. We have seen him twice this season and he got the call to try to slow down two of the better athletes in the LCL in Gavin Foe (Johnstown) and Carsyn Crouch (Granville). He has been more than up to the task on both occasions. Huber is a very athletic guard, which allows him to guard multiple positions. He also showed off his athleticism by getting a breakaway dunk late in the third quarter.