WORTHINGTON, Ohio -- They play four quarters in basketball for a reason. Thomas Worthington needed all four of them to race past Wadsworth on Monday.

Ending the finale of day one of the Stephen Gussler Invitational on a 17-0 run, Thomas Worthington (4-2) dominated Wadsworth (4-2) in the fourth quarter of a 76-64 victory. 

Junior wing Joey Zalewski scored 12 of those 17 points in the run, bullying his way around the rim to power Thomas Worthington. The Cardinals got balanced production from four players who combined for 70 points. Zalewski led with 23, while junior guard Benson Oriental added a career-high 19 points, joined by senior guard Mike Sekyere and junior forward Melvin Omameh, who combined for 28. 

Thomas Worthington needed every bit of production as Wadsworth had the advantage early on thanks to the elite scoring of junior guard Solomon Callaghan. Callaghan had his way with the Cardinals in the first half, going for an extremely efficient 24 points to give the Grizzlies a 44-40 halftime lead.

Wadsworth looked poised to run away with the game in the third quarter, as the entire roster seemed to step up with Callaghan held to a single bucket in the period. Leading 60-50 after three quarters of play, Wadsworth was in complete control of the game until Thomas Worthington woke up in the final frame.

Outscoring the Grizzlies 26-4 in the fourth quarter, Thomas Worthington put its foot firmly on the gas behind the bullish play of Zalewski. With the Cardinals trailing 64-59 with three minutes remaining, Zalewski went on a 12-0 run of his own, putting the Cardinals firmly in the lead, as Wadsworth did not score the rest of the way.

Rolling to a 76-64 victory, Thomas Worthington picked up its fourth win in a row, as the Cardinals are hot after dropping their first two games of the season. The Cardinals feature a roster that primarily did not play varsity last year, as Zalewski was the only player in the rotation who logged minutes in the Cardinals' 2020 district title victory. 

The junior class for the Cardinals is promising, as Zalewski, Oriental and Omameh combined for 57 points and gave Thomas Worthington major production on both ends of the floor. 

Thomas Worthington will look to make it five in a row when they take on St. Charles on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

Wadsworth was fun to watch on Monday, as the Northeast Ohio club has one of the state's best guards in Callaghan. The junior will be a player to keep an eye on going forward, as he will have a great chance to continue to put up major numbers. 

Solomon Callaghan (6'1 hybrid guard / Wadsworth / 2023): If Callaghan played basketball in Central Ohio, there would be a good case for him to be considered the top junior guard prospect in the area. The 6-foot-1 junior guard is that good. He had one of the best scoring performances that we've seen from a hybrid guard all season, as his 29 points were efficient and featured next level shotmaking that will translate in college. The 6-foot-1 guard gets to his spots effectively, as he has one of the prettiest pull up jumpers that we've ever seen. The Wadsworth junior keeps the ball on a string, is a dynamic ball handler, knows how to create separation and is a very talented finisher with either hand. Despite his scoring escapades, Callaghan continued to make the right play on every possession on Monday, throwing next level passes and helping his teammates get open looks. On top of his playmaking ability in the backcourt, Callaghan features a 4.1 GPA and is his class president at Wadsworth. On top of that, we love his Bible verse from the Gospel of Luke in his Twitter bio, a sign of a young man who has a strong foundation and humble head on his shoulders. This is a kid you want in your program!

Joey Zalewski (6'3 SF / Thomas Worthington / 2023): One thing that is never in question with Zalewski is his effort. He has had an elite motor since the first time he touched the floor as a freshman and that helps him to remain consistently productive in every game he plays. Despite a slow start, Zalewski never stopped playing hard and that paid dividends in the fourth quarter when he scored 14 of his team-high 23 points. The 6-foot-3 wing knocked down a three, showed the ability to hit mid-range jumpers and relentlessly finished around the rim. Zalewski stays within himself, doesn't do anything outside of his greatest strengths and is a player that contributes greatly to winning with his toughness, motor and team-first attitude. Every winning team needs a Zalewski on the roster 

Benson Oriental (6'3 SG / Thomas Worthington / 2023): Monday was a breakout party for Oriental, who scored a career-high 19 points and helped power Thomas Worthington to the big win. The 6-foot-3 guard really woke up in the second half, knocking down three triples and showing the ability to score it off the bounce. We love the motor and toughness of Oriental, as he made plays on both ends of the floor and was productive in the most important parts of the game. If Thomas Worthington can get production like this from Oriental on a consistent basis, this is a team that can compete at the top of the OCC-Cardinal once again. 

Melvin Omameh (6'5 hybrid big / Thomas Worthington / 2023): Omameh had his moments on Monday, scoring 15 points and powering Thomas Worthington in the first half to keep the Cardinals within striking distance. While he didn't play for large stretches in the second half, we saw enough from the 6-foot-5 junior to like his upside. Omameh is very lengthy, runs the floor well and showcased good hands and the ability to finish consistently around the rim. Omameh gives Thomas Worthington length and versatility on the defensive end and is another player like Zalewski that sticks to what he does well and contributes to winning basketball. We look forward to watching Omameh develop, as his best basketball is still ahead of him.

Mike Sekyere (6'0 PG / Thomas Worthington / 2022): Sekyere is a player who has been very patient and has waited his turn for four years at Thomas Worthington. With his chance to run the show as a senior, he's done a great job and had another strong game for the Cardinals on Monday. We liked how aggressive Sekyere played on Monday, as he was in attack mode off the bounce and helped make plays for himself and his teammates. The senior is a dynamic ball handler that can get in the lane with consistency and make the correct play. He has very good quickness, can really defend the ball and plays with an energy that elevates others around him. We love watching veteran players who have been patient and blossom as seniors and Sekyere is one of those players. 

Maxx Bosley (6'0 combo guard / Wadsworth / 2024): We absolutely love the toughness of Bosley. The sophomore plays with the feel and confidence of a senior, as he had a strong performance, going for 19 points and leading the Grizzlies with five rebounds. Bosley knocked down three triples, had a handful of tough scores going to the rim and showed the ability to play through contact and exhibit physicality. Wadsworth has a terrific backcourt between Callaghan and Bosley, as the duo combined for 48 points and made countless plays for themselves and others. Keep an eye on this duo in Northeast Ohio for the next season and a half.