WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- Monday night games are a good opportunity for us to get out and see teams that we may not see again later in the season. For East, that may not be the case for us as the Tigers put together a strong all-around performance in a 71-54 win at Worthington Christian.

Senior guard Mike White led the way for East, as the Tigers forced more than a dozen steals in a game dominated by the road team. Getting off to a 19-13 lead after a quarter of play, East would allow Worthington Christian to creep a little closer, narrowing the deficit to 29-26 at half.

However, in the third quarter East took complete control of the game, outscoring Worthington Christian 20-9 in the period. White had a ton to do with that, pushing the pace and scoring at the rim with athleticism.

With a 49-35 lead going into the fourth, East put the pedal to the floor in the final period, getting out in transition and putting the game away. Improving to 5-1, East continues a hot start to the season as the Tigers are looking to emerge as one of the better teams in Division II this season.

White led all Tigers with 16 points, adding five rebounds, six assists and two steals to his stat line. An athletic 6-foot-3 guard who came over to East from Walnut Ridge, White is having a breakout senior season for the Tigers, averaging 16 points through six games. 

The reigning leading scorer in the City League, senior guard Justin Curtis added 10 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals in a strong overall performance. Curtis' ability to rebound and go was critical, as the 6-foot-4 guard was able to push the tempo and find open teammates in the fast break.

Lelan Johnson, a transfer from DeSales, added nine points, four assists and four steals for East. A quick 6-foot guard who plays with great energy on the defensive end, Johnson is the type of point guard that East has been missing the last few years. Junior guard Armon Mackey added nine points off the bench, while senior guard Deo Gabriel-Pierre added eight points for the Tigers.

For Worthington Christian, the Warriors were never able to take control of Monday's contest. Turnover woes plagued Worthington Christian on the night, as East forced a litany of steals to get its transition game going.

Senior wing Collin Kimbrough had a strong showing despite the loss, finishing with a game-high 21 points. Knocking down three triples, Kimbrough was the only source of consistent offense on multiple levels for Worthington Christian, as the 6-foot-5 senior put in a strong showing off the bench.

Senior forward Kyle Smith was the only other scorer in double figures, adding 12 points and 10 rebounds, while freshman guard Tyler Kindberg and sophomore forward Nakimba Mullins added six points and six rebounds each. 

With the win, East hosts Centennial at home on Tuesday before heading to No. 5 (D2) Linden-McKinley for a tough rivalry game on Friday.

Worthington Christian will look to bounce back on Saturday at Liberty Union.