COLUMBUS, Ohio -- This is familiar territory for Pickerington Central. In the Tigers' second No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup of the season, Pickerington Central once again comes in as the underdog in the rankings.

The last time the Tigers squared off with a top-ranked team, Pickerington Central handed Westerville South its first home loss in three years back in early January. One month later, undefeated Newark heads to town ranked atop the area and No. 2 in the state.

Former league foes in the OCC-Ohio, Newark and Pickerington Central have a long history dating back many years. The two powerhouse programs have pumped out college-ready talent over the years, while possessing two of the four Division I state titles won by Central Ohio teams in the last 10 years. 

On Saturday, Pickerington Central hosts the Wildcats in a matchup that could eventually be a regional final. At 18-0, Newark has been on fire this season, defeating all but two opponents by more than 10 points. Newark has done it with excellent teamwork, chemistry and precision, as the Wildcats execute at a high level, a testament to its band of seniors that have played together since fourth grade.

Opposing them is a young group of Tigers at Pickerington Central who are handling extremely high expectations with grace. Losing just one game to an in-state opponent, Pickerington Central has been elite for most of the season. The "Primetime Tigers" always show up for the big games, but have struggled to focus this season in games against lesser-talented opponents, losing to New Albany and struggling to put away Lancaster and Westerville Central.

Pickerington Central will not have to worry about lack of focus on Saturday, as this No. 1 vs. No. 2 battle is as anticipated as any game this season. All tickets for the game have been sold, reaching capacity before noon on Saturday. This game is expected to be so highly attended that Pickerington Central sold tickets online all week, a fairly innovative practice that not many schools, if any, are doing. 

Let's take a look at some keys to Saturday's mega contest.

Last week in a matchup with Kaleb Wesson, BJ Duling more than held his own, going for 22 points and leading Newark to a big win over Westerville South. This Saturday, Duling gets a challenge in the 6-foot-11 Sterling Manley, who is ranked just one spot ahead of the Kent State signee in the 2017 class. While Wesson and Manley have received most of the hype and accolades of the area's seniors, Duling has been arguably the most productive. A former wing at New Albany who had a tendency to shoot too many perimeter jump shots and not always play engaged, Duling has made a complete 180 degree transformation since transferring to Newark before his junior season. Becoming a dominant presence around the rim who can score on the biggest of defenders, Duling has been rock solid in taking ownership of the Newark program. The heart and soul of this Newark team, Duling has his tallest challenge on hand with the lengthy Manley, who will be expected to defend Duling on Saturday.

For Manley, Saturday's game is yet another proving ground of the North Carolina signee. Since signing with the Tar Heels, the light has been shone on Manley to produce, as many are looking to see if he is as good as Roy Williams believes. For the most part, Manley has proven that, giving Pickerington Central a reliable presence underneath that alters the game on both ends of the floor. On Saturday, the 6-foot-11 post will be tasked with shutting down Duling, a task that is easier said than done. The matchup between these two will dictate the direction of this game, and if Duling can get some early scores against Manley, look for Newark to pick up some steam and momentum. 

Big Game JF. The nickname that I have given Jeremiah Francis has been well deserved this winter. Rising to the occasion in every big game for the Tigers, Francis has been dynamite as a sophomore, giving Pickerington Central a steady backcourt presence that rarely gets rattled, while turning into as high of an IQ guard as they come in high school. Not to mention, Francis is also a physical specimen and difficult matchup at 6-foot-2. Look for Francis to get jiggy in his home gym on Saturday, as the atmosphere at Pickerington Central is expected to raucous. If Francis is hitting perimeter shots on Saturday, watch out. When he starts doing that, Pickerington Central is extremely difficult to stop. 

Newark is a collective bunch of upperclassmen (for the most part) that buy in to their roles, play the game the right way, and rise to the occasion. On Saturday, those role players will be looked upon to produce, as Newark will need a balanced offensive attack to take down a talented Pickerington Central team. Guys like senior guard Kobe Long-Weber, senior forward Justin Carter, senior wing Jakim Murphy and sophomore big KeShawn Heard will be expected to knock down shots and maintain Newark's tight defensive presence on the perimeter. Outside of Duling, who can be expected to give you 20 points and 10 rebounds on any given night, Newark is a win by committee team that gets production from a host of different sources. In order to take down this Pickerington Central titan, Newark will need yet another balanced effort. The x-factor, however, could be with junior wing JT Shumate, who has been Newark's second-leading scorer all season. A heady player who knocks down big shots, hustles for every 50/50 ball, and can really defend, Shumate could be the guy at the end to win it for Newark. 

Newark has yet to face a team this season with the length and range of Pickerington Central. While the Wildcats have good wins on the road at Dayton Dunbar (by 29 points) and on a neutral site against Westerville South, Newark hasn't played a team with the athleticism of Pickerington Central. On Saturday, watch for the Tigers' length to make a difference and disrupt Newark offensively. On the wing, juniors Jahvon Blevins and Adrian Nelson are rangy types that hover all over the floor. Two terrifying players in transition, if these two can step it up on Saturday, look for Pickerington Central to have a good chance to win. An x-factor for the Tigers on Saturday could be with junior forward Juan Elmore. A terrific defender who can body up bigger players and guard smaller wings on the perimeter, Elmore does it all for Pickerington Central. A player who rebounds like a grown man and can finish through contact underneath, watch for Elmore's role to play a big factor for the Tigers on Saturday. 

Newark

Kobe Long-Weber, Sr. PG - 5'10

Hunter Dennison, Sr. G - 6'0

JT Shumate, Jr. SF - 6'6

Justin Carter, Sr. SF - 6'3

BJ Duling, Sr. F, 6'7

Pickerington Central

Jeremiah Francis, So. PG - 6'2

Jahvon Blevins, Jr. SF - 6'5

Adrian Nelson, Jr. SF - 6'6

Juan Elmore, Jr. PF - 6'4

Sterling Manley, Sr. C - 6'11