WHITEHALL, Ohio -- Any time you can put a team in an early hole, you have to like your chances going forward at home. On Wednesday, Whitehall (5-3, 3-0) put Grandview (7-2, 2-1) in a massive crater, racing out to a 30-2 lead through the game's first 12 minutes in a 49-33 victory.

Holding the Bobcats without a field goal until 3:36 in the second quarter, Whitehall set the tone early defensively behind scrappy guards Taylon Cofer and Martez Johnson. Cofer in particular set the table early, scoring all 11 of his points in the first half, including buzzer beating field goals at the end of the first two quarters.

While Grandview would fight back behind the play of sophomore sensation Luke Lachey, the Bobcats could not overcome Wednesday's early deficit. Cutting the Whitehall lead to 39-25 going into the fourth quarter, Grandview did not get any closer for the final eight minutes, suffering its first division loss of the season.

Whitehall was paced by senior guard Reiko Bagley, who finished with 20 points. Bagley got off to a hot start in the first half, knocking down three pull-up triples in a 15-point showing. Cofer added 11 points, four rebounds and three steals, putting pressure on Grandview's guards on both ends and making plays behind dynamic ball handling. The development of Cofer's play as a primary ball handler and facilitator will be key for Whitehall, as the Rams have a high powered offense and high energy wing defenders that will be tough to stop in the Mid-State League. 

No other Whitehall player would add more than five points on Wednesday, however, senior center Tyjaun Childers had a dominant rebounding performance, adding 13 boards to his four points. The key to Childers' night was staying clean in the first half, as the 6-foot-7 post did not get into the foul trouble that he has been accustomed to this season.

For Grandview, Lachey led a spirited charge in the second half, finishing with 13 points and 13 rebounds. An intriguing 6-foot-6 wing forward with plenty of athleticism, the Ohio State football legacy showed flashes of being a potential Division I recruit on the hardwood several times on Wednesday. Lachey gave Grandview much needed momentum late in the second quarter when he picked off a pass near half court, resulting in a thunderous slam on a Whitehall defender.

Junior guard Manny Day added 10 points while sophomore guard Brian Collier added eight points in a night where he and the rest of the Bobcat offense got off to an extremely slow start. 

With the win, Whitehall is alone at the top at 3-0 in MSL league play. The Rams will get back into action on Saturday at league opponent Worthington Christian. 

For Grandview, the Bobcats will have to rebound quickly as a trip to undefeated Columbus Academy awaits on Saturday. With a strong group of teams in the top half of the MSL-Ohio division, Whitehall looks like the strongest thus far in the season.