POWELL, Ohio -- Just one day after the district tournament draw and playoff seeds secured, Olentangy Liberty showed they had much to prove in a 57-49 victory over Hilliard Bradley, which gave the Patriots a crucial victory to stay on top of their OCC Central lead.

The Patriots had to overcome a relatively slow start and rely on their cast of role players before they took firm control in the fourth quarter. Olentangy Liberty's two top scorers, seniors Cooper Davis and Trey Majidzadeh, were held to just three combined points halfway through the third quarter as the Patriots trailed 27-21.

But like many top tier shooters, Davis remained confident and drilled two threes, while junior Jackson Mikola added one in between, in a matter of two minutes as the Patriots took a 30-29 lead. 

Yet the Jaguars continued to counter back, much credit to Cade Norris and his all-around offensive performance, as he recorded four assists and five points in the third quarter to help Hilliard Bradley regain a 37-34 lead headed into the final period.

Bradley's fourth quarter lead would quickly dwindle as Liberty's Majidzadeh, who was held scoreless the first 23 minutes, ignited for ten points in four minutes as he used his excellent brand of strong drives and finishes around the rim.

Meanwhile, the Jaguars offense would mostly stall, as they were outscored by the Patriots 11-2 in the first five minutes of the fourth, capped by a dagger three-pointer from Davis, his fifth of the game. The triple would extend Liberty's lead to eight with just over two minutes to go.  Bradley would never get closer than two possessions as the Patriots hit their foul shots and securely closed out their victory.

While Davis finished with 17 and Majidzadeh scored 12, all but three of those points came in the final 12 minutes of the game. The Patriots therefore received offensive support from junior James Hummell, who provided nine crucial first half points, along with Mikola as he finished with ten.

Yet the Patriots can ultimately credit their excellent team defense as the main key towards Monday night's outcome. While Norris finished with 16 points and four assists, the Patriots made an emphasis to double or even triple team him. Norris is too good of a player to be completely removed from the game, but the swarming defensive effort challenged his jump shooting and certainly prevented him from taking over.

Sophomore Jeb Bischoff scored 12 points for the Jaguars, but only two of those came in the second half. The six foot guard was spectacular in the first half, as he connected on two triples and displayed an effective ability to drive and finish around the rim. However, the Patriots made solid adjustments to limit his touches in the second half.

Both Jaguars senior Peyton Murphy and junior EJ Teah added seven points each of their own, while also making quality contributions on the defensive end.

After they had won ten straight, Hilliard Bradley has now lost three games in a row and has ran into the consistent problem of finishing games. While the Jaguars can count on their effort level, the lack of experience in late game situations have shown to be a challenge. Although Norris is one of the best and most versatile sophomores in the state, between him and Bischoff, the Jaguars have simply struggled to find consistent offensive execution, particularly in the final minutes.

Meanwhile the Patriots have seemed to fully overcome their early 0-5 start to the season and appear to be seasoned vets when it comes to tight moments. In the last 11 games, the Patriots have gone 9-2, with all but one game being decided by single digits. Liberty is now in the driver seat to be the outright winner of the OCC Central, widely considered the best conference in Central Ohio. Not bad for a team that returned just one starter and only two experienced varsity players. Come tournament time, that type of in-season competition and late game experience will make the Patriots a difficult out.

Liberty will look to extend their OCC Central lead as they host Hilliard Davidson on Friday. The Jaguars will be in action Friday as well when they host Olentangy Orange. 

For Monday's Prospect Scouting Report, we'll highlight a few of the game's best grinders, as these three players did more than what was recorded in the stat sheet.

James Hummell (6'1 HG / Olentangy Liberty / 2023) All quality teams have players that can excel in their own role and for Hummell, he provides the Patriots with a splash of versatility, athleticism and a bit of fearlessness. While he may not be as pure of a scorer as his teammates Cooper Davis and Trey Majidzadeh, he's physical and has a knack to generate action around the rim. He's also improved his long-range shooting, as on Monday he connected once from deep. One of the more physically built players for Liberty, Hummell serves as bit of an enforcer as his physicality will be crucial for the Patriots to repeat as District champions. 

Jackson Mikola (6'5 SF / Olentangy Liberty / 2023) A player that is beginning to see more and more action, Mikola perhaps had the best game of his career as he scored a career high ten points. Mikola not only had a productive scoring night which included a nice three-pointer, he also ran the floor well and crashed the glass. While Mikola does not present a strong frame, he's not shy to get involved in the paint and on Monday, he collected two major offensive rebounds. Listed as the tallest player on the Patriots roster out of those that see playing time, Mikola offers some needed length for Liberty. Against Bradley, when Mikola was in the game, the Patriots were a better team. As Mikola gains more game experience and some added strength, we are eager to see Mikola blossom into a consistent contributor.

EJ Teah (5'11 WG / Hilliard Bradley / 2023) It's no secret that not everyone can play in Jaguars coach Brett Norris' system. Norris requires his players to defend and communicate at a high level and avoid mistakes. That standard provides a short leash when there is a lack of any of those items. So to earn not only minutes, but a starting role speaks volumes for a player like Teah in his first varsity season with the Jaguars. On Monday, we saw Teah display a relentless effort, hustling around bodies for offensive boards or to save possessions. The junior also had a career high seven points to go along with his four rebounds. While Teah should continue to improve his ability to consistently score, his athleticism and work ethic will continue to earn him valuable playing time and serve a valuable role for the Jaguars the rest of this season and next.