COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ranked as the No. 1 Division III team in the state with Central Ohio's top scoring offense, Harvest Prep had one last challenge before wrapping up the regular season.

Hosting MOAC champion Pleasant (18-4) on Saturday, Harvest Prep (22-0) battled back from a 42-33 third quarter deficit to take down the Spartans, 66-56.

Ending the game on a 33-14 run, Harvest Prep used its suffocating pressure to get into transition to wrap up the regular season at 22-0. 

Saturday's game was a series of runs as Pleasant jumped out to an early 14-4 lead in the first quarter. The above-the-rim play of junior forward Ethan Warner set the tone early for Pleasant, as the 6-foot-6 wing had six points and seven rebounds in the opening quarter.

However, Harvest Prep was not deterred, as the Warriors came back hard with a 10-2 run to end the quarter. Despite that, Pleasant still held a 16-14 advantage after one.

In the second quarter, both teams battled back and forth for the first half of the period. Pleasant then went on a 7-0 run as back-to-back buckets from Warner put the Spartans up 27-20 with 2:26 to go in the half.

Much like the first quarter, Harvest Prep saved its fury for the end of the period, outscoring Pleasant 9-4 the rest of the way, as a steal and score from junior guard Brandon Beavers brought the Warriors to a 31-29 deficit heading into the break.

Holding Harvest Prep to its lowest point total of any half this season, Pleasant played about as well as possible in the first 16 minutes. Winning the rebounding margin and operating patiently on offense, Pleasant relied on 13 points and nine rebounds from Warner to take the lead.

While it seemed as if Harvest Prep had all momentum, Pleasant quickly took control of the second half. Going on an 11-2 run in the first three minutes of the period, Pleasant led by as much as nine points as a layup from Gage Williams put the Spartans up 42-33 with 5:06 to go in the third. 

Harvest Prep quickly called a timeout and the Warriors seemed to regroup in an instant. Back-to-back threes from Beavers and senior guard Sean Peterson helped Harvest Prep cut the deficit to 42-39 in less than a minute. 

After scoring four points in the first half, sophomore point guard CJ Anthony would just be getting started. Knocking down two free throws to cut the deficit to a single point, Anthony scored or assisted on Harvest Prep's next six points, as the Warriors took a 47-43 lead into the fourth quarter.

After losing control of Saturday's game, Pleasant battled hard in the fourth quarter, getting as close as 47-45 with 7:36 remaining. However, Anthony's control of the game and strong transition scoring put great pressure on Pleasant. The Warriors' applied great pressure on the perimeter behind Anthony and Beavers, turning tight defense into instant offense.

Pleasant again cut the lead to two at 49-47 with 6:33 remaining, but Harvest Prep's other CJ would make a major play. Securing a strong offensive rebound, CJ Penha finished tough through contact, as his three-point play put the Warriors ahead 52-47 and nearly ripped the roof off the gym with 5:53 to go.

Executing in the half court and in transition for the rest of the way, Harvest Prep did not let Pleasant get any closer than four points for the remainder of the game. Knocking down free throws in the final minute, Anthony put the finishing touches on Saturday's win with two final charity stripe tries to send Harvest Prep into the Division III district tournament undefeated.

Overcoming a disciplined Pleasant team that played Harvest Prep as tough as anyone this season, the Warriors showed flashes of why they are considered the top team in the state in D3.

Anthony led the team with 19 points off the bench, as his ability to finish tough through contact in transition was key on Saturday. The 6-foot guard is as physical as they come at the point guard spot and plays both ends with great energy and leadership. 

Penha had a strong outing, finishing with 16 points and 13 rebounds. One of the most aggressive finishers in the area, Penha had several good moments in a tough matchup with Warner. The Taylor University signee is the emotional leader of this Harvest Prep team as he gives the Warriors an edge they do not have when he is off the floor.

Beavers played a solid game on both ends of the floor, adding 13 points and making his mark on the defensive perimeter. The ability of Beavers to defend without fouling on the wing put tremendous pressure on Pleasant's guards on Saturday.

Senior forward Isaiah Cumberland was terrific in his role on Saturday, adding eight points, seven rebounds and two blocks. An athletic 6-foot-6 wing forward who can really rebound, Cumberland is the ideal front court mate for Penha and is a big reason why this Harvest Prep team will be tough to slow down.

With the win, Harvest Prep completes a perfect regular season and heads into the district tournament as the top seed in Division III. Harvest Prep and Pleasant could match up again in the district semifinals, as the Spartans will be looking for revenge.

For Pleasant, Warner was an absolute monster for 32 minutes on both ends of the floor. Dominating a long and athletic Harvest Prep front line, Warner finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks. An athletic 6-foot-6 forward who dunked on a Harvest Prep defender and stuffed Penha a few times near the rim, Warner was the game-changing matchup that allowed Pleasant to take a sizable second half lead against a Harvest Prep team that is not used to being behind.

Guard Nick Kimmel added 11 points, knocking down three triples and showing a solid ability to knock down shots when given space. Forwards Jason Joehlin and Williams each played a solid game, adding eight points a piece, with Williams grabbing down six rebounds and Joehlin dishing out four assists.

Pleasant, who wrapped up its first MOAC championship since 2013 earlier in the week, will host Amanda-Clearcreek to open the district tournament on Feb. 26.

Two wins will give Pleasant another shot at Harvest Prep in the district semifinals. After all, the Spartans held Harvest Prep to its lowest scoring output of the season and limited the Warriors to 25 points below its insane average of 91 points per game.