POWELL, Ohio -- Olentangy Liberty left no doubts from tip to buzzer in Friday's OCC-Central matchup with Upper Arlington. The Patriots dominated every aspect of the game en route to a 55-33 victory over the Golden Bears. 

The game served as more than just your average Friday night battle. It was also a fundraiser for the Natalie Gray Foundation for Pediatric Brain Tumors. Natalie is a middle school student in the Olentangy district who was recently diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor but wants to inspire others in their battles. 

Big names from the Ohio State Buckeyes were on hand for an autograph session, including Zach Harrison, Treyveon Henderson and Steele Chambers. The event included raffles and a halftime shooting contest. The schools came together to show that this game is always about more than basketball. 

Both teams experienced slow offensive starts but then Liberty started rolling. Senior Jordan Rich scored five straight points to kick things off. Junior Addison Marston added back to back buckets and sophomore Gigi Bower drained a three pointer forcing a UA timeout. 

After the timeout, junior Ceylone Brooks made a three to break the scoreless streak for the Golden Bears with 1:15 left in the first. Rich added another basket before senior Alyssa Gest drained a second three for UA. Just before the buzzer, Rich sank another three for the Patriots, giving them a 20-6 lead after the first period.  

Gest opened the second quarter with her second three of the game. Marston, Rich and Bower combined for eight straight points to stretch the Patriot lead to 19. Two free throws by senior Jennifer Green broke the run by Liberty but Bower, Marston and freshman Claire Mikola added six more points. Sophomore Quinn Buttermore connected on two free throws before the end of the half to cut the lead but Upper Arlington trailed 34-13 heading into halftime. 

The Golden Bears returned to the court with a bit more energy in the second half but Liberty’s ball pressure was too much to overcome. Mid quarter, Gest and Brooks combined for nine straight points for UA to pull within 14. Bower and junior Ryan Chapman scored four points for the Patriots to push the lead back to 18. 

Gest’s third three of the quarter cut the lead yet again but a layup by freshman Jetta Brenning extended it back to 17 just before the end of the quarter. With one frame to play, Liberty owned a 46-29 lead.

The fourth started the same as the second, with a Gest three pointer. Senior Taylor Redman answered with a layup followed by one made free throw by Brooks, their last point of the game. The tenacious Patriot defense held the Golden Bears to just four fourth quarter points. Freshman Emily Stackhouse completed a three point play to wrap up a great all around game for Liberty. 

Rich led the victorious Patriots with 15 and Bower added 12. Gest paced Upper Arlington with 20 on six three pointers. 

Let’s take a look at Friday’s top performers.

Jordan Rich (5’10 F / Olentangy Liberty / 2022) - This was the best game we had seen Rich play this season and she played really, really well. The senior showcased her offensive versatility on Friday, scoring from all over the floor. In the first minutes of the game, Rich attacked the basket resulting in free throws and she made a three from the right wing. In the second quarter, she completed an and-one off of a right handed drive and in the fourth, she snagged an offensive rebound and finished strong through contact. She handles the ball smoothly and passes well. She uses her frame to her advantage on the defensive end, disrupting shots and interfering in passing lanes.

Alyssa Gest (5’6 G / Upper Arlington / 2022) - Like Rich, this was the best game we have seen Gest play this season. During UA’s offensive struggle, Gest started knocking down shots. She connected from the right wing in the first quarter and to begin the second. She tactfully used double screens in the third quarter to get herself open and drain another three three pointers. After drawing so much defensive attention, Gest attacked the basket to get to the free throw line. She handled the ball fairly well against Liberty’s tough defense but more importantly, her energy in the second half was contagious for the Golden Bears.