HILLIARD, Ohio -- There are four quarters in basketball for a reason. On Tuesday, Groveport Madison turned on the jets in the fourth quarter, nearly matching their entire point total up to that point in a massive road upset win, knocking off Hilliard Bradley 59-53.

The Cruisers scored 29 points in the final frame, holding the Jaguars without a point for a stretch of three and a half minutes that ultimately decided the game. The road win for Groveport is huge for this weekend's Central District tournament draw, as the Cruisers added another signature victory that could help them earn a top 15 seed.

Hilliard Bradley commanded the game for the majority of the contest, leading by as much as 11 points midway through the third quarter. Heading into the fourth leading 37-30, the Jaguars looked primed to grind out the Cruisers, however, Groveport had much different plans.

A scoring streak from senior guard Duane Davis was a spark plug for the Groveport offense, as the Cruisers went on an 11-4 run in the first three minutes of the period. Groveport struck a fatal blow as senior wing Kenyatta Whiteside nailed a three to take a 46-45 lead with 3:15 remaining, a lead that the Cruisers never again relinquished.

Hilliard Bradley's offense went completely silent, as the pressure of Groveport seniors Marlon Elliott Jr. and Markell Holmes really turned the tide. Groveport went on a 9-0 run from the 4:13 mark until there were just 50 seconds left in the game, extending its lead to 52-45 on some clutch free throw shooting from senior guard Abubakar Diallo. 

Hilliard Bradley sophomore Cade Norris was a superstar on Tuesday, powering the Jags offense and keeping his team within striking distance. The sophomore scored five-straight points after Hilliard Bradley's drought, cutting the deficit to 55-53 with 15 seconds to play.

Groveport picked a great time to be strong at the line, knocking down the freebies necessary to escape Hilliard Bradley with a win, something few teams have done over the last five years. 

Davis led Groveport with 20 points, scoring 10-straight in between the third and fourth quarters which gave the Cruisers the momentum they needed to mount their comeback. Diallo was very efficient at the line, knocking down 10-of-12 attempts to finish with 17 points. Whiteside pitched in eight points, while Holmes was strong off the bench with five points and four big steals.

Elliott Jr. was the unsung hero for the Cruisers, as his defensive pressure, intensity and playmaking ability helped Groveport pull off the win. Despite not taking a single shot, Elliott Jr. made winning plays in the second half and was responsible for both assists in the Cruisers' 9-0 run to take over the game. 

With a major snow storm invading Central Ohio, it's likely Groveport will not play again before Sunday's tournament draw. That could really help the Cruisers, as Groveport was slated to host No. 1 Pickerington Central on Friday. 

for Hilliard Bradley, Norris led the way with 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting, adding seven rebounds and six assists. Norris and fellow sophomore Jeb Bischoff powered the bulk of the Bradley offense, combining for 41 points. Bischoff knocked down four threes and finished with 16 points, while no other Jag added more than six points. Bradley has a dynamic sophomore backcourt in Norris and Bischoff, however, they've really struggled to find a consistent third scoring option, which can come back to bite them when their top guys go cold, even for a few minutes, as we saw on Tuesday. 

Tuesday's loss was Bradley's second-straight after falling to rival Hilliard Davidson last Friday. The Jaguars were scheduled to head to Olentangy Liberty, who is also coming off a loss on Tuesday, in OCC-Central play on Friday. It's to be determined if that game will be played or not.

Duane Davis (6'0 SG / Groveport Madison / 2022): We love watching patient players who never gave up on themselves and continued to work hard. Davis is a guy who fits that billing, as he has gone through an extreme growth spurt and went from being severely undersized to a guy who can play with anyone. The senior is a dynamic scorer who is difficult to guard on the perimeter. Davis spent most of his career being a tiny guard, which forced him to learn how to create space for his shot. Now with adequate size, Davis is very hard to stay in front of, as he has the length, quickness and athleticism to score from multiple levels. Davis can really attack off the dribble and is a knockdown shooter that hit back-to-back threes in the fourth quarter to trim the Hilliard Bradley lead. The senior has a great basketball bloodline, being first cousins with 2020 Ohio Mr. Basketball and Kent State sophomore VonCameron Davis. We recommend regional college programs to recruit Duane Davis, as we think his best basketball is still ahead of him due to the rise he has made over the last three years. His scoring ability was critical for Groveport on Tuesday, as he gave them the shot making they needed to overcome a tough Bradley team. 

Cade Norris (6'4 PG / Hilliard Bradley / 2024): Norris is unlike any other top player in the area. Nobody plays the game the way Norris does, as he has an extremely polished and mature game that leads to a high level of production. In the two games that I've scouted Norris this season, he has been the best player on the floor, while leading both teams in points, rebounds and assists. Norris had an efficient 25 points on only 16 shots, just a week after going for 33 points on 17 shots. The sophomore operated primarily out of post up actions, taking advantage of Groveport's smaller-ish guards and making plays for himself and his teammates. You can't speed Norris up, as he will always make the correct play, while having the ability to step up and make difficult shots with a hand in his face. This is a high school player that Division I programs will want to recruit, as he will come in ready to contribute for day one, something we have seen with his older brothers Braden (Loyola Chicago) and Keaton (Wright State). The difference between Cade and his brothers, is that he has elite size at the guard spot and can really dominate the game from inside the three-point line. Norris has an elite mid range game, has an incredible feel for shot selection and can dominate the glass, while being an incredible decision maker in the ball screen game. If you have an offer for a 2024 guard, Norris would be the guy to give it to. 

Abubakar Diallo (5'11 SG / Groveport Madison / 2022): In middle school, Diallo was considered among the best guards in his class. While his high school career hasn't gone as well as one might have expected, the senior had the type of game on Tuesday that reminded us of his middle school days. The senior stepped up in a major way, knocking down 10 free throws and carrying the Cruisers home at the line in the fourth quarter. Diallo is still a dynamic guard that can make plays for himself and others, while having the intensity and aggression that Groveport guards have been known for in recent years. If the Cruisers can get the play they got from Diallo on Tuesday, they can hang with anyone in the area, as great senior guard play can take teams far in the tournament. 

Jeb Bischoff (6'1 SG / Hilliard Bradley / 2024): Bischoff is one of the best pure shooters in the 2024 class. As Hilliard Bradley built their early lead, Bischoff was dialed in from three. The sophomore knocked down four triples, as he is really good at getting open off the ball, setting his feet and knocking down threes off movement. In this era of basketball, it's a huge asset to be a knockdown shooter and that is the strength of Bischoff's game, as he can set his feet and knock down shots as well as anyone in the area. 

Marlon Elliott Jr. (6'1 PG / Groveport Madison / 2022): In an era of selfishness and emphasis on scoring, players like Elliott Jr. are an extreme rarity. The senior guard, who by all accounts, can absolutely fill it up, did not take a single shot on Tuesday but was extremely impactful on both ends of the floor. You will not find a more disruptive point of attack defender in Central Ohio than Elliott Jr. The 6-foot-1 guard is an absolute bull dog who puts extreme pressure on the ball and can make the best ball handlers uncomfortable. The senior went 4-for-4 from the free throw line, had a team-high five assists and contributed two steals that led to points. We love the win-first mentality that Elliott Jr. plays with, as he values his teammates above himself and can always be counted on to make plays that lead to wins.