POWELL, Ohio -- In arguably the toughest division of the OCC, Olentangy Liberty gained some needed ground in the Central standings and defeated Hilliard Davidson 64-60.

The contest was evenly matched from the start, but it was a 10-point first quarter effort from Liberty’s senior Ty Foster that gave the Patriots an early four point lead after the first.

Davidson would respond thanks to junior Jayden Nervis, who came off the bench, but scored two offensive rebound putbacks, along with active play on the defensive glass and forced turnovers.

Liberty scored on a final second inbound pass from senior Henry Hinkle to fellow senior Andrew Wade that gave the Patriots a one-point halftime lead and momentum that carried into the third.

That’s when Hinkle took over for the Patriots. After having a relatively quiet first half, the three-year starter connected on three triples, en route to a 13 point quarter, as Liberty appeared to take control and extended their lead to as many as 14.

Davidson would keep the game in reach as Nervis connected on all three of his three point attempts in the quarter.

Nervis’ scoring production, along with 11 points from senior Jayden Humphrey, was desperately needed as Davidson’s leading scorer, junior Jared Frey, was limited to just four points after three quarters.

Frey spent most of the night in battle with Liberty’s Cooper Davis, as the two evenly-sized juniors spent most of the game guarding one another. Davis played tremendous defense on Frey, who holds three offers from the Mid-American Conference, and limited the sharp-shooter to two made field goal attempts in the game.

For Frey, he struggled to get into any consistent rhythm not only due to Davis’ defense, but also by flirting with early foul trouble. While Frey did not have much success from the field, the junior should be credited for drawing fouls and making all of his eight free throws.

Six of those attempts happened in the fourth quarter, which helped Davidson climb back and threaten the Liberty’s lead.

The Wildcats outscored the Patriots 20-13 and got within two points, but Liberty was able to finish at the free throw line and secured the late victory.

After starting the season with three consecutive wins, the Wildcats have now dropped three straight and fall 1-2 in the OCC-Central. Their next game is currently scheduled against Upper Arlington on Friday.

Liberty now improves to 6-2 and gets its much needed first victory in the OCC-Central. They also will play their next game against division-rival Upper Arlington on Tuesday.

Henry Hinkle (6'0 PG / Olentangy Liberty / 2021): When it’s all said and done, Hinkle may go down as one of the best guards to come through the Liberty program. A three-year starter dating back to the Patriots’ 2019 regional championship team, Hinkle is having the type of the senior season you’d expect. Once he got going in the second half, he was unstoppable. The senior point guard is a gifted all-around offensive player. He is deadly from deep, has crafty handles, is unselfish and a tool kit of moves to maneuver and finish in the lane. Scouts should know how good Hinkle is by now. He is absolutely deserving of D2 offers and if he were to choose the D3 route, Hinkle has the ability to be an instant impact.

Jayden Nervis (6'6 WG / Hilliard Davidson / 2022): We are still getting to know Nervis, as the junior recently moved in from North Carolina. Yet if Nervis continues to put in performances like he did tonight, he’ll be a familiar name to Central Ohio hoops fans soon enough. Nervis was the offensive spark that kept the Wildcats in the game. He made a great impact underneath the boards, finishing offensive putbacks and leading his team with seven rebounds overall. Nervis has an explosive vertical, as tonight he grabbed rebounds high above the rim and showed off an emphatic slam in the fourth quarter. The six-foot-five wing has range too, as he drained three pull-up triples while contested. Nervis has the body, size and athleticism that translates to the college level. Low and mid-major DI scouts should take notice.

Ty Foster (6'2 WG / Olentangy Liberty / 2021): Mr. Energy tonight, Foster brought a motor from start to finish that capped off a 20-point evening. The senior guard was electric in the first quarter, scoring 10 points. He showed accuracy from deep too, connecting on three threes. Foster’s energy carried over to the defensive side, as he notched a steal, a block and was overall disruptive to the Wildcats offense. The Patriots will continue to depend on Foster for his energy, but also his ability to score and be a threat from all spots on the court.

Jayden Humphrey (6'1 PG / Hilliard Davidson / 2021): The senior point guard made significant contributions for the Wildcats tonight, most notably his three three-pointers, and finished with 11 points total. Humphrey played a nice, composed game and did some positive things defensively, challenging Hinkle. The Wildcats have a good mix of wings and forwards. If Humphrey can help distribute the ball, and shoot effectively from deep, he’ll be a nice added threat for his team.

Andrew Wade (6'5 WF / Olentangy Liberty / 2021): Another impact senior for the Patriots, Wade was the best player on the boards for the Patriots. Grabbing eight rebounds, Wade has a long wingspan that allows him to challenge the glass. While we didn’t see a lot of scoring from him tonight, Wade has nice vision and passes well out of the post, an effective tool for a Liberty team with multiple shooting threats. Wade has a solid six-foot-six frame and would be a great contributor for most DIII programs.