WORTHINGTON, Ohio -- In a battle of two top Division II contenders, Linden-McKinley (6-3) overcame Heath (4-2) behind a big performance from senior LA Walker, 54-49.

Heath had the advantage early on, jumping out to a 15-8 first quarter lead and stalling out the Linden-McKinley half court offense. The length of the Bulldogs caused problems for large stretches in the game, as seniors Brandon McLaughlin and Reece Huber were terrific on both ends of the floor.

The Panthers got things rolling in the second quarter thanks to Walker, as the 6-foot-5 senior guard scored 12 of the Linden's 20 first half points.

Heading into halftime trailing 24-20, Linden took all eight minutes of the third quarter to take the lead, as senior LB Towns secured an offensive rebound and a nailed a floater to give the Panthers a 38-36 lead heading into the final frame.

In the fourth, Linden relied on the scoring of Towns to extend its lead, as the senior scored five-straight to give the Panthers a 45-42 lead with 4:03 to play.

Heath was never able to get any closer, as the Bulldogs could not stop the Panthers offensive attack of Walker, Towns and sophomore Philip Towns. The trio for Linden combined for 46 of the Panthers' 54 points, scoring the majority of which after halftime after Walker carried the team in the opening half.

Linden-McKinley was led by 21 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and three steals from Walker. The senior has been an absolute stud for the Panthers, carrying them through some of the toughest games this season. With wins over Heath and DeSales now, Linden-McKinley has a great resume heading into the new year.

LB Towns added 15 points, while Philip Towns pitched in 10. Junior guard Chris Towns was a spark plug off the bench, adding four points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals.

While only scoring two points, the energy and toughness of senior Victor Harvison was apparent for Linden, as he had seven rebounds and a monster block.

For Heath, Huber led all Bulldog scorers with 18 points. The athletic senior guard made plays on both ends all night. McLaughlin added 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a block. The 6-foot-8 Malone signee is a terrific low post player who was difficult to contain all night.

Linden-McKinley will look to keep rolling on Tuesday when they take on Olentangy Orange at Thomas Worthington. Heath will look to get back in the win column when they face Wadsworth on Tuesday in the same location.

LA Walker (6'5 SG / Linden-McKinley / 2022): The 6-foot-5 senior has been a flat out scorer for four years for the Panthers. That was apparent once again on Monday as he willed Linden-McKinley to a major win against a top contender in Division II. The senior is a natural scorer who did an outstanding job on both ends of the floor, handling a lot of the ball handling duties for the Panthers while defending the 6-foot-8 McLaughlin for the entire game. Walker can put the ball on the floor and get by defenders, while he is a strong finisher that can score through contact. He didn't make many, if any, jumpers on Monday but that didn't stop him from scoring in bunches. He knew when he needed to attack and when to get others involved, which helped the Panthers close the game and notch a big win. The leading scorer in the City League, Walker would be a great look for college programs needing size, talent and toughness on the perimeter.

Brandon McLaughlin (6'8 hybrid big / Heath / 2022): McLaughlin is a modern big in that he can handle the ball, stretch the floor, switch onto guards and score it from the inside out. The senior has been a stud for four years for Heath, powering the Bulldogs to great heights in the Licking County League and putting up impressive numbers along the way. That was the case again on Monday, as he had 17 points, scoring in a variety of ways and using his imposing size to punish Linden on the interior. McLaughlin is a difficult cover that not many teams have a matchup for, as he will be a big piece in what could be a district title champion team for Heath. 

LB Towns Jr. (5'8 PG / Linden-McKinley / 2022): Taking a hard fall on a layup attempt on Linden's first possession, Towns Jr. missed most of the first quarter but came back and made a huge impact for the Panthers. His game on Monday was a microcosm for the entire Linden season, as Towns missed time early in the year and Linden struggled. However, since his return, it's been all business for the Panthers as Towns Jr. sets the tone with his toughness, energy, leadership and two-way playmaking ability. There are not many quicker players in the entire area than Towns, as he has mouse-like quickness and can navigate through traffic with ease. It takes great guards to win big in March and Linden has them in both Towns and Walker, as the Panthers will have a great chance to win their first district title since 2005 this season. 

Reece Huber (6'3 SG / Heath / 2022): Huber is one of the most athletic guards anywhere in the area, as he can rise up with the best of them. Huber led Heath with 18 points, getting to the rim and finishing, while showing the ability to score in the mid-range. The senior is an aggressive offensive player who has never lacked for toughness. We have enjoyed watching his progression over the last three years, as he has turned into a legitimate guard prospect that college programs should consider recruiting. It's hard to find the explosiveness that Huber offers at the guard spot.