COLUMBUS, Ohio --  On a truly strange day in the Columbus City League with two games being cancelled on Tuesday, it ended with a bang as Keshawn Harris got the Independence Sixers (1-1) a tough 71-65 win in a south division battle against Briggs (0-2). 

Harris’ three-point play with around 1:30 left in the final frame gave Independence an edge and they never looked back. Harris finished with a team-high 17 points and added a couple steals, assists and rebounds to round out his evening. 

A back-and-forth battle early on gave way to an early 9-7 lead for the Sixers. Neither team pulled away from the other, with no team having a lead greater than four during the first quarter.

Briggs led after the first quarter 22-20 behind a couple Mauricio Diaz triples and the play of Javion Wiliams. Diaz finished with 15 points and nailed three triples in the game. 

The second quarter was slightly messy, a swift difference from the first as the teams only combined for 26 points after combining for 42 in the first. 

Independence came close to stretching their four point lead but Briggs never allowed that, having a counter punch for everything the Sixers did. 

Behind the leadership and playmaking of Harris as well as transition baskets from Orlando Jones, Independence took a 35-33 lead into the break. Jones finished with 13 points for the game, 11 of those in the first half.  

After intermission, Mr. Williams went right back to work and scored the first two buckets for his team. Jushuan Jackson nailed two baskets, including a three pointer, to open up a 47-40 lead midway through the third quarter. 

A big Devonte Curry three and the continued dominance for Williams allowed the Bruins to end the quarter down only 51-53. 

A big Diaz three gave the Bruins a one-point lead early in the fourth but the Sixers fought back to tie the game at 55. A score by Ibrahima Dia gave Independence a two point lead but the Bruins regained the lead before a Harris basket and free throw gave them a one-point lead with just over one minute on the clock.

A steal and dunk by Dia practically iced it for Independence who closed the game on a 10-2 run for a 71-65 win at home. 

Williams finished with 28 points, a minimum of seven boards, two blocks and at least two steals as well.

Keshawn Harris (6’0 G / Independence / 2021): More impressive than his 17 points was the leadership he displayed from warm-ups. Harris was engaged with his teammates, guiding and encouraging them when needed while getting on them and demanding excellence from them as well. The lefty was patient and allowed the game to come to him in a game where he could have easily forced more action if he wanted. It is no wonder Heildelberg was in the building to see him play. Harris finished in the lane through contact and displayed a good touch around the rim. He added a couple of assists as well, showing good vision and anticipation. This young man was tremendous in every way against the Bruins.

 Orlando Jones ( 6’2 G / Independence / 2021): He was the most consistent offense the Sixers had in the first half, scoring 11 of his 13 total points in the first 16 minutes of the game. Jones was able to leak out and get easy layups in transition all half. His length is intriguing, he got a nice steal that led to another layup by playing the passing lanes and showing nice exceleration. Elsewhere defensively, Jones was solid, played with active hands all night and disrupted what the Bruins offense wanted to do. The long armed Jones also took a big time charge with his team up by two that erased a basket by Briggs and kept the Sixers up.

Javion Williams ( 6’4 W/ Briggs/ 2021): Although he had some early turnovers and did not finish around the rim the way he or his coaches would have liked, Williams was unguardable all night. He never needed to take a three-point shot because no one could stop him from doing what he wanted around the basket. After halftime, he came out like gangbusters, scored 10 in the frame and got his Bruins right back into the game. The senior was a beast on the glass as well, snatching the ball out the air, many times bringing the ball up himself and being trusted to make a play for himself or his teammates on the break. Offensively, this kid is a whole load to handle and someone that the Columbus City League will have a hard time slowing down.