CENTRAL CROSSING, Ohio -- Coming off close wins over Mifflin and Lancaster on the road to begin the season, Central Crossing was faced with a big non-league test against unbeaten Bishop Ready on Tuesday.

Central Crossing proved that its hot start wasn't a fluke, as the Comets (3-0) took an early lead and never trailed again, dispatching the Silver Knights (3-1) in a massive program victory, 45-40.

The win for the Comets marks the first time in program history that Central Crossing basketball is 3-0 to begin the season, as new head coach Brent Cahill has quickly gone to work to change the culture and inspire belief in his players.

That belief was apparent from the opening tip, as Central Crossing went behind 3-0 on Ready's opening possession but wasted no time in taking back the lead. Responding with three threes, two of which from sophomore Luke White, Central Crossing jumped all over Ready with a 12-3 run to create separation.

The Silver Knights responded with a 5-0 run to narrow the deficit to 12-8 heading into the second quarter.

As was the story all night, any time Bishop Ready punched hard, Central Crossing countered harder. The Comets struck back with a highlight-filled second quarter as seniors Sohn McGee and Isaiah Bridges imposed their will physically. The 6-foot-6 Bridges got the crowd off its feet with a thunderous dunk that came out of a fake dribble hand off that fooled the Ready defense.

On the next possession, McGee took a contested rebound and went coast-to-coast, finishing a difficult reverse layup to extend Central Crossing's lead to 20-12 with 3:41 remaining in the half.

Bishop Ready responded with a 7-2 run to end the quarter, as juniors Luke Ruth and Kaleb Schaffer powered the run for the Silver Knights to go into halftime trailing 22-19.

In the second half, Ready had every chance to take the lead in the opening stages of the third quarter. However, Central Crossing junior guard Ethan Alcantara was a spark plug off the bench, dishing off two impressive assists and forcing a big turnover in a run that helped the Comets extend its lead back to eight at 36-28 heading into the final frame.

The fourth quarter looked as if Central Crossing might run away with the game as White buried his fourth three to push the lead to double digits at 39-28 with 7:17 to go.

This was where the wheels began to fall off and it appeared as if Central Crossing was going to do what has been normal for the program in its history - let a win slip away from them.

Bishop Ready employed a full court trap defense which gave the Comets all types of trouble. Ready's pressure held Central Crossing scoreless for more than six minutes in the fourth quarter, however, for as cold as the Comets were, the Silver Knights were even colder.

Failing to convert from the three-point line and losing a few crucial 50-50 balls, Ready could not get any closer than four points. Bridges had two big blocks on a critical fourth quarter possession that seemed to shift momentum back toward Central Crossing.

Senior Anthony Coleman came up with a trio of clutch plays in the final minute that sealed the win. After Bridges' two big blocks, Coleman secured a big rebound and was fouled. On the ensuing possession, Coleman rescued the Comets with a massive 50-50 ball recovery on the sideline, finding Bridges underneath the rim for an easy layup with 48 seconds left that ended the Central Crossing drought and extended the lead back to six points at 41-35.

After Ruth knocked down two free throws to cut the deficit back to four points with 37 seconds remaining, Coleman delivered a beautiful football style down court touchdown pass to McGee, who finished through the foul of Charlie Russell to seemingly put the nail in the coffin and increase the Comets lead to 44-37.

Ready answered with a Schaffer three on the next trip, however, it was too little, too late as Coleman's iced the game with a free throw to knot the final score at 45-40.

As the final buzzer sounded, relief rushed the hearts of all Comet faithful in the gym, as Central Crossing finally did it. Winning a tough game at home and turning away a district title-level opponent, Central Crossing did not do what has been seemingly normal for Southwestern City Schools athletic programs - falter down the stretch. Instead, the Comets took the win and controlled their outcome, which sent an electricity throughout the gym that has not been felt in years.

Cahill never stopped believing in his players, who also never stopped believing, making the critical plays down the stretch to put away Ready and end their unbeaten start to the season at four games. The team-first attitude in the Central Crossing locker room has paid dividends already, as the Comets shared the ball with purpose and found the open looks that helped them win a tough game.

The scoring was balanced for Central Crossing, as McGee, Bridges and White all finished with 12 points - coming in critical moments in the game. McGee was terrific in all areas of the game, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing off four assists, while holding Schaffer in check for the majority of the second half.

For Bishop Ready, Schaffer led all scorers with 14 points. Ruth added 13 points, while no other Silver Knight had much consistent success in the game. The Silver Knights really struggled to shoot from the perimeter, as Central Crossing did a great job limiting quality looks on the interior.

Central Crossing will get the biggest test of its early season when Pickerington Central comes to town on Friday. The Tigers are rolling with momentum after running away from rival Pickerington North 77-60 on Tuesday.

For Ready, the Silver Knights won't play again for another 10 days when they host DeSales in a tough Central Catholic League showdown on Dec. 17.

Sohn McGee (6'5 PG / Central Crossing / 2022): McGee is one of the very best unsigned seniors in Central Ohio. The 6-foot-5 senior is a legitimate lead guard who can run a team on both ends of the floor. McGee was the best player in Tuesday's game, controlling both ends and giving Central Crossing next-level plays that the program has not had in over a decade. We loved the way McGee orchestrated the Comet offense, finding open shooters and making high quality reads that helped Central Crossing play with a smooth rhythm. McGee is a high level rebounder at the guard spot, can defend every position on the floor in high school and is an athletic finisher that can take the top off a defense. We might've been most impressed with McGee's defensive performance, as he defended the talented Schaffer for the majority of the game and held him well below his average to begin the season. For scholarship programs looking for a big guard with a high IQ, even higher work ethic and untapped potential, McGee is a guy you should target. With McGee, Central Crossing feels like they can win any game they play in, the mark of a player who can be an impact guy in college. 

Isaiah Bridges (6'6 PF / Central Crossing / 2022): While McGee was the difference maker on the perimeter, Bridges was the alpha male on the interior. Playing with a high motor for the entire game, Bridges made a massive impact around the rim, as he provided the Comets with physical scoring down low. The 6-foot-6 senior has a big frame, is an intriguing athlete who can run the floor and knock down a mid-range jumper. Bridges seemed to inspire confidence in his teammates with his second quarter dominance, as his big dunk, tough interior buckets and near-poster slam in transition gave the Comets big momentum. Bridges is certainly worth a look for college programs needing size and athleticism in a kid who hasn't come close to hitting his ceiling. After evaluating him last year, we said that Bridges needed to play with a consistent motor and toughness, and he certainly answered the bell and because of that, Central Crossing is 3-0. 

Kaleb Schaffer (6'5 SF / Bishop Ready / 2023): Schaffer had one of the best summers of any player in the 2023 class, dominating his way through the AAU season with Ohio United. He has carried that over to the high school season, as he had two games of 20+ points to begin the 2021-22 campaign. While he was held below his average on Tuesday, Schaffer was still impressive with his ability to score from inside out. Coming into high school as a bruising post player who could score a bucket on the block, Schaffer has greatly improved his perimeter game and is a legitimate wing forward prospect that can drill threes at a consistent rate. What we love most about Schaffer is his toughness, as he will not back down from any matchup and will give you consistent effort in any setting. This is a guy that regional programs will not want to sleep on, as he will help you win games at the next level. In the meantime, look for Schaffer and this Ready group to have a chance to win the CCL and a district title in Division III.

Luke Ruth (6'1 hybrid guard / Bishop Ready / 2021): Much like Schaffer, Ruth enjoyed a breakout AAU season with Ohio United and has developed into one of the better guards in his class. Ruth was the most consistent player for Ready across four quarters last night, giving the Silver Knights a huge boost with his two-way play. Ruth was a pest on the defensive perimeter, forcing a handful of steals and getting Ready going in transition. The best part of Ruth's game right now is his ability to score at the rim, as he can really elevate and finish. While he can score it, Ruth can also make plays for others, as we were really impressed with his ability to pass in transition over the summer and saw flashes of that on Tuesday. Ruth and Schaffer, along with Russell, lead a 2023 class that is impressive for the Silver Knights.