COLUMBUS, Ohio -- For the first time this season, we have two players highlighting our stars of the night article.

While Beechcroft senior JJ Simmons dropped 30 in a blowout win over International last night, Cardington senior Nate Hickman also poured in a 30 ball in a tough loss to Danville.

A four-year starter for Beechcroft, we are prone to seeing Simmons put up big scoring nights like he did last night. The senior guard has a natural knack for putting the ball in the bucket as he can hit shots from all three levels both off of the dribble and off of the catch.

Beechcroft has a real shot to repeat as City League champions this year and a lot of it will have to do with the performance of Simmons. If he can continue to put up big scoring nights like he did last night alongside ​​​​​​​Amani Lyles, the Cougars will be a tough team for anyone in the City North to take down.

Hickman, on the other hand, is a player we are not very familiar with. The 6-foot-2 senior, who also plays quarterback for the Cardington football team, is a well-rounded athlete who continues to put up impressive numbers.

While his team has not had the hottest start to the season, we are excited to track Hickman and Cardington the rest of the way as a 30 point game warrants some type of attention.

Knocking down five threes in the loss and also going for 13 points in the final quarter, Hickman did all he could to try to power Cardington to a league win last night, however it simply was not enough.

There were a handful of other big time performances around the area last night as well, so let's take a look at some of them below.

Jesse Burris (6'4 WG / Delaware Hayes / 2024): In yet another dominant performance on Friday night, Burris dropped 29 points to lead Delaware Hayes to a big win over Worthington Kilbourne at home. The 6-foot-4 sophomore has had a terrific start to the season as he is an extremely tough guard with his combination of size, skill and shooting ability. Burris can do anything that you ask of him at 6-foot-4 as the junior is a three level scorer who can also really pass the ball and affect the game on the defensive end with his length. One of the best 2024 prospects in the state, it is only a matter of time before the offers start rolling in for Burris.

Connor Beck (6'3 WG / Delaware Christian / 2022): His second big time game in a row, Beck led Delaware Christian to a close win over Liberty Christian last night in a 25 point outing just a week after dropping 29 in a road win over Northside Christian. After scoring just three points in the first quarter, Beck exploded for 15 points in the second frame to help Delaware Christian head into halftime with the lead. The senior guard hit five three's in the contest, went 5-for-7 at the free throw line and helped lead his squad to a league win down the stretch. Another MOCAL player who has been putting up great numbers this season, we are excited to see what Beck can do the rest of the season.

Derrick James (5'9 PG / Canal Winchester / 2022): James did what he does last night, tallying his second 25+ point game of the season as he dropped 26 in Canal Winchester's road win over Dublin Scioto. One of the craftiest guards you will find anywhere in the area, James is a nightmare to stay in front of as his combination of quickness and elite handle allow him to get seemingly wherever he wants to off the dribble. James has Canal Winchester sitting at 3-1 in his first season of the program and will need to continue to deliver big time performances like he did last night in order to help his squad in the OCC-Capital race.

• Micah Fisher (6'2 G / Tree of Life / 2023): 25 points in a 52-46 win over Granville Christian
• Jackson Smith (6'0 G / Teays Valley / 2022): 25 points in a 64-44 win over Amanda-Clearcreek
• Ajay Sheldon (6'1 PG / Dublin Coffman / 2022): 24 points in a 51-46 win over Olentangy Orange
• Shane Knepp (5'11 G / East Knox / 2022): 24 points in a 45-37 win over Northmor
• Jerry Saunders (6'1 G / Pickerington North / 2022): 23 points in a 71-20 win over Westland
• Braydan Taylor (6'2 WG / Grove City Christian / 2023): 23 points in a 76-57 win over Miller