GAHANNA, Ohio -- After losing the first matchup of the season to Worthington Christian on a buzzer beater, Columbus Academy came into Friday's MSL-Ohio rivalry matchup with revenge on its mind. Add in the festivities of senior night, a packed house and a rowdy student section and the Vikings had everything rolling their favor.

A big night from senior big man Kevin Reeves helped the Vikings roll over the Warriors, as Columbus Academy (14-5, 7-4) jumped out early and never looked back, defeating Worthington Christian (11-9, 6-6), 61-43. 

Reeves was the star all night long. The senior dominated around the basket and was a defensive Swiss Army Knife, neutralizing anything Worthington Christian wanted to do on the interior. The senior led all scorers with 19 points and was a force on the glass as a dominant rebounder.

Seniors Tanner Compton, Carter James and Johnny Hill combined for 27 points, while freshman guard Theo Falkenhaim had a strong game with eight points. 

Columbus Academy has won seven of their last eight games and will look to keep rolling on Saturday at home against Western Reserve. The sixth-seeded Vikings will be a major player in the Division III district tournament and will open up their postseason on Weds. Feb. 23 against International. 

Worthington Christian struggled to put the ball in the basket, as sophomore Jonah Lewis was the only player to finish above six points, leading all Warrior scorers with 12.

The Warriors will look to bounce back on Tuesday against Briggs before opening up their tournament season on Sat. Feb. 26 against the winner of No. 10 Northmor and No. 14 West Jefferson. 

Kevin Reeves (6'8 C / Columbus Academy / 2022): Reeves is one of the very best big men in Central Ohio. He goes under the radar because he does not play in a more heavily covered conference, however, this young man can absolutely go. Anything you need Reeves to do, he can and will do it. The senior has an enormous wingspan and can run the floor like a guard. His background in cross country helps him to play the entire game with elite energy, as he beat the defense down the floor on a handful of possessions. Reeves has greatly improved his touch around the rim, has gotten stronger and become an absolute force when he gets paint touches. Signed to Division III Bowdoin College in Maine, Reeves will have a successful college career, as it is hard to find bigs with his length, athleticism, mobility and durability. He still has things to accomplish before college, as we feel he is enough of a game wrecker to help Columbus Academy make a run to the district finals. More important than anything he could ever do on the court, Reeves is an excellent young man who went out of his way to thank us for coming to the game last night. We were most impressed with him this past fall when he passed up an opportunity to play in a big basketball showcase of ours in order to meet with his tutor. That commitment to overall excellence is why this young man is going to be a major success in life. 

Jonah Lewis (6'0 hybrid guard / Worthington Christian / 2024): Simply put, Lewis is a bucket. The sophomore guard is Worthington Christian's best offensive player, as he has a smooth game with the ball in his hands and really knows how to get to his spots and score. Lewis was a three-level scorer on Friday, but did an outstanding job making shots off the bounce. Nothing fazes this kid, as he plays through contact, is not scared of pressure defense and has the confidence to take the big shots. Lewis is in the midst of a hot streak, scoring 73 points in his last five games. Keep an eye on Lewis, as he has a chance to put up special numbers the next two seasons. 

Tanner Compton (6'0 SG / Columbus Academy / 2022): Compton has been a consistent producer for the last few years for the Vikings and that was the case once again on Friday. We love the motor that Compton has, as he gives 110 percent on every possession and is a very confident scorer that does not lack for toughness. Compton puts pressure on a defense with how hard he plays, as he is always looking to attack and create for himself and others. Quality senior guard play is the mark of a great team and Columbus Academy will have a chance to win any game it plays with a talent like Compton in the backcourt. 

Theo Falkenhaim (5'8 PG / Columbus Academy / 2025): This kid has stones. We love his toughness and competitive spirit. Falkenhaim runs the point for the duration of the game for Columbus Academy and does not make mistakes, an impressive feat for a young player. Falkenhaim has great quickness, is a strong finisher and a confident shooter from distance. We look forward to watching him develop, as he will have a chance to have a great career for Columbus Academy with the minutes he's receiving already as a freshman on a senior-laden team. 

Sam Johnson (6'6 hybrid big / Worthington Christian / 2024): Johnson did not have the most productive game in a tough matchup against the senior Reeves, however, we love the upside that the sophomore has. Johnson is a physical forward with an excellent frame and an impressive skill set. Like many young bigs, Johnson goes through the typical ups and downs that we have come to expect over the years, however, we think he could be a dominant player as an upperclassman. As Johnson continues to fill out and add more strength and skill to his game, this is a player that will be highly recruited with the value he can bring as a scorer, defender and rebounder. More than anything, we love Johnson's faith foundation and character, as he is a great young man with a bright future, which is why we are so confident in him going forward. 

Yiling Hu (6'3 SF / Columbus Academy / 2023): I love what I do because I get to go to places that most other media sources wouldn't consider going. And many times, I see things in players that others in my position might not notice. Hu is a kid that I think has some upside, as he has great length and showed the ability to make perimeter shots on Friday. Having lengthy floor spacers is a premium luxury and Columbus Academy has that in Hu. He has a natural skill set and could be a sleeper next year as Columbus Academy graduates a ton of production and will need its non-seniors to step up and fill the void.