WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- After a first half that saw only two players score, Westerville South overcame a 12-point deficit and used a suffocating defense to combine with a tremendous performance from senior Drey Carter to bury Hilliard Davidson 63-50 on Monday afternoon.

As the first of two boys games from the Phil Brown Classic held at Otterbein University, the battle of the Wildcats featured a combined 13-1 team record and initially looked as if Hilliard Davidson would be too deep and physical for the hometown South. 

Davidson received contributing efforts from each player that took the floor as seven players recorded points in the first half. Senior Ryan Paris and junior Peyton Frey led the way with eight points a piece and did a good job of controlling the overall offense for Hilliard. 

Meanwhile, South found very little offensive rhythm of their own, as Westerville only recorded one assist and relied on the play-making ability of Carter and put-back opportunities from senior Isaiah Johnson to generate any production.  South was way off on their multiple long range attempts and too frequently had unprovoked turnovers as they trailed 30-18 after the first half.

All that would change relatively quickly at the start of the second half. Westerville South and Hall of Fame coach Ed Calo unleashed his team's brand of an intense, in-your-face defense that quickly overwhelmed Davidson. Turnovers ensued and Hilliard's lead dwindled to five with over two minutes left in the third when Paris would collide with a South player after going for a loose ball.

Up to this point, the IU South Bend commit was the most impactful player for Davidson. Although not necessarily a primary point guard, Paris assumed the role of leading Davidson on both ends and helped create most of their offense with his eight points and two assists. 

Paris would not return and South took advantage.  Hilliard looked exposed as they were careless in their half-court offense with weak passes and they consistently allowed South to strip their ball-handlers dry. 

On the other end, Carter was just heating up. The Wright State commit delivered a masterful offensive performance, as he became nearly unguardable towards his game-high 29 points. Carter also got his teammates involved with a game-high three assists, often times piercing the defense and finding an open teammate on the perimeter.

South received additional scoring efforts from Johnson, who had a majority of his 10 points from the offensive glass and added five rebounds. Senior Reign Winston scored all of his nine points in the second half, as well as junior Jadi Cunningham Jr. who had eight points that included two made triples. 

Westerville would not have made a run without initially getting momentum from the defensive end. Cunningham had a pestering performance against Hilliard's guards, while Johnson and fellow senior Andy Badu were fits for Davidson in the post and off the glass. The two forwards had two blocks and two steals each, along with their combined 11 rebounds. 

Once Paris left the game, Davidson was outscored 28-10. To add to their woes, Frey also struggled with foul trouble, which held back his second half production as he finished with nine points and two assists. 

Seniors Jayden Nervis and Daniel Neidert each had nine points as well. The duo were the most capable scorers while Paris and Frey were limited in the second half. Junior Cole Carter had eight points. 

Hilliard Davidson (6-2) will look to get back on the winning path as they travel again to Westerville on Thursday, but will take on Westerville Central. The hopeful speedy return of Paris will make a significant difference for a Davidson team that partakes in a competitive OCC-Central division.

Westerville South (8-0) remains undefeated and will have some time off before they play against Canal Winchester for an OCC-Capital conference game on January 7.

For more on Monday's top performers, scroll to the Prospect Scouting Report below.

Drey Carter (6'8 WF / Westerville South / 2022) - The future Wright State Raider may have delivered his best performance of the early season on Monday. Carter was an offensive delight as his 29 points came in all flavors. The 6-foot-8 wing showed a soft touch and was near automatic from mid-range and the post. Carter connected on two triples while also aggressively attacking the Hilliard Davidson defense towards his 12 free throw attempts. No matter what the Davidson defense threw at him, Carter was hardly phased. Beyond his excellent scoring ability, Carter was the best passer for South and would consistently find an open man off the dribble. Perhaps most impressive of all was Carter's leadership and not letting the early team offensive woes hold him back from sparking South's comeback. The senior worked especially hard all offseason to become a complete player and Monday's performance showed just how complete of a player Carter has become.

Andy Badu (6'5 F / Westerville South / 2022) While Carter deservedly will receive much attention for his electric offensive performance, Badu was undoubtedly the next most impactful player on the court Monday. While Badu had five points, which included a momentous tough and-one finish, Badu made his biggest impact through his relentless energy. The 6-foot-5 delivered a top-notch effort on the offensive glass, securing multiple second-chance opportunities as he would fly to the ball from all angles of the court. Defensively, Badu's length caused Davidson frustrations, in particular with his two second-half swats. It was fitting that Badu put in a selfless effort and made winning plays on the Otterbein University floor, as the senior would make an impact for Division III programs that value prospects that understand, embrace and excel at their roles.

Daniel Neidert (6'3 SF / Hilliard Davidson / 2022) - On a team that has multiple scoring options, Neidert stood out as Hilliard's most consistent shooter. The combo wing connected on three triples Monday, as he showed a nice ability to stay balanced on his shots from deep. Neidert played well within the offense and added two assists. At 6-foot-3, Neidert offers nice size and helps fill out a talented Davidson starting rotation. When Jared Frey transferred from Davidson to ISA in the off-season, that left a deep-shooting void that Hilliard would need to overcome. With performances that we saw from Neidert today, he could help replace that missing scoring element.