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State of the City League: New Year Edition

By Mark Francis Jr., 01/03/22, 12:30PM EST

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A look at the City League heading into 2022

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Welcome to the State of the City League! This week I will look at the basketball played over the holiday break, along with who stood out and any major performances from players across the most passionate league in Central Ohio, while also looking ahead to the biggest games of the upcoming week and recognizing what teams are primed for a run in the tournament. Without any further ado, here is your look at the Columbus City League throughout the holiday season: 

North Division

With Centennial, East and Whetstone taking the holiday season to relax, the City League north’s power players were outside with varying results. Northland ended their 2021 on a down note because of a 60-45 loss (12/21) to Dublin Coffman. The loss snaps their four game winning streak and sends them to 4-3 to start 2022. DeAngelo Mitchell continued his solid play, leading the Vikings with 13 points in the game. 

Mifflin took down Whitehall on 12/21 by a score of 45-43 then fell to Independence on 12/28 in double overtime 56-54 to drop them to 2-5 heading into 2022. 

International snapped their three game skid after a 62-47 win over Madison Christian (12/28) and putting them over .500 at 4-3 entering 2022. The Lions were spurred by the efforts of sophomore Kenyon Jones who led them with 26 points, junior Sam Whitaker III who scored 18 and junior Jujuan McLester who pitched in 17 points in the winning effort. 

The most active team in the City League, Linden-McKinley, played and split two games over the break. The Panthers played two games at Thomas Worthington in back-to-back days, first on 12/27 as they defeated Heath 54-49. Senior dynamo LA Walker scored 21 and his fellow senior LB Towns Jr. dropped 15 in the victory. On 12/28, they dropped a hard fought game against Olentangy Orange by a score of 66-56. After going down in a scary way, LB Towns Jr. scored 23 points while LA Walker was held to under 20 points for only the second time this season, scoring 15 against the Pioneers. 

Beechcroft continued their offense hot streak, scoring 90 points for the second time this season, beating Independence 92-62. The Cougars enter 2022 at 5-1, winning five straight games while only scoring under 80 points one time. 

South Division

Eastmoor Academy’s game against Bishop Hartley was canceled, putting them with Walnut Ridge and Marion Franklin as the only City League south teams that did not play over the holiday break.

The Warriors will dribble into 2022 with only one loss, standing at 5-1, which is the least amount of losses in the south. They still have two match-ups with the Africentric Nubians on their plate, as well as a trip to rival Walnut Ridge before their City League Championship game dreams are reached.

Africentric played an extremely talented Huntington (WV) team very tough at Ironton on 12/21, despite coming up short by a score of 61-51. The Nubians played very well on defense but came up short, junior Dailyn Swain led them in scoring with 23 points. 

Before the loss to Beechcroft, the Independence 76ers beat Mifflin 56-54 in a team oriented, double overtime victory. Senior Christian Byrd led the team with 11 points while senior Kevon Jackson added 10 points. The Sixers go into the year at 5-4 with two losses in the City League South. 

Briggs took down Westland on 12/18 by a score of 62-44, behind the 32 points of senior sniper Devonte Curry. Then, on 12/29, Curry outdid himself and scored 35 points in a 60-54 loss to Columbus Academy.

The westside City League counterparts West High School notched their first win of the season to open 2022, a 55-51 win over Cristo Rey. Freshman Kahdon Johnson scored 14 points but senior Andre Smith led the team with 21 points. 

South suffered consecutive losses, first on 12/30 at Grove City, 47-35. Sophomore Lajames Washington led the Bulldogs with 14 points. The Bulldogs then lost to Parkersburg South (WV) on the first day of the new year, 79-54. The Bulldogs start 2022 with a 5-4 record, boasting a big win over Eastmoor Academy. 

Upcoming This Week

Linden has a very fun week of basketball ahead of them, the battle tested Panthers take to the road on Tuesday to take on Northland then they will host division leading Beechcroft in what could be the game of the year up north. 

Also on Tuesday, Walnut Ridge visits South for what will be a physical battle in the South division. Then on Friday South travels to Independence for a game that is likely to be a banger. 

Saturday will boast a multitude of games being played at Africentric. A total of five City League teams will be in action, taking on out of conference teams. Northland-Olentangy Orange, Walnut Ridge- New Albany, Eastmoor Academy-Pickerington North, Beechcroft-Hilliard Bradley, and Africentric-Dublin Coffman are all set to do battle on January 8th.

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