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Reynoldsburg 58, Gahanna 53 - Prospect Scouting Report

By Zach Fleer, 12/07/18, 10:30PM EST

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Reynoldsburg used a 30-16 game-ending run to take down Gahanna on Friday

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio -- In a game of extreme runs, Reynoldsburg struck the final blow in taking down Gahanna in impressive fashion, 58-53.

Despite starting out down 20-11 and trailing 37-30 late in the third quarter, Reynoldsburg never panicked, as senior wing Ben Fort provided big buckets when the Raiders needed them.

Going into the fourth quarter trailing 38-37, Reynoldsburg was in for a dog fight. Fort struck the first blow in the final frame, as an acrobatic finish in transition put the Raiders up 39-38. From that point forward, Gahanna never led again, despite tying the game on multiple occasions.

After Gahanna tied the game at 49 with 1:31 remaining, Fort struck once again, driving baseline and giving Reynoldsburg the lead right back. 

Gahanna failed to score on the next possession, leading to a ballsy three from Reynoldsburg junior Nick Wallace, which hit nothing but net, putting the Raiders up 54-49 with 44 seconds to go.

Gahanna did not get any closer than three from that point forward, falling to Reynoldsburg in a thriller. The Raiders ended the game on a 30-14, locking down on the defensive perimeter and relying on several key plays from Fort and the supporting cast. 

For Reynoldsburg, Fort led the way with 18 points, adding six rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Fort scored all of his 18 points in the last 17 minutes of the game, with his first field goal coming with 55 seconds to go in the first half. Junior wing Sean Moore added 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists while senior Sahmi Willoughby rounded out the Raider trio in double figures with 10 points.

Wallace added nine key points, none bigger than the three he hit to ice the contest. 

For Gahanna, freshman sensation Sean Jones led the way with 16 points. On a night where Gahanna struggled to find consistent offense, Jones delivered more than anyone, scoring 10 of his 16 after halftime.

Senior guard Elijah Thomas was the only other Lion in double figures, finishing with 15 points. Junior wing Zane Leitwein was the only other Gahanna player to score more than four points, finishing with seven. 

Reynoldsburg improves to 2-0 and will look to keep rolling on Monday at home vs. Watkins Memorial. Gahanna will look to rebound on Saturday in a tough matchup against Logan at home. 


Ben Fort (6'5 WG / Reynoldsburg / 2019): As Fort continues to break out of his shell, he is showing more and more why he's a Division I prospect on the wing. Friday's showing was important, as Reynoldsburg needed all 18 of his points to take down a tough Gahanna team. Fort did it by knocking down two threes, getting to the rim at will and finishing through contact when he got there. The 6-foot-5 Fort has a quick first step, can get by anyone and has great burst off one foot. The senior wing has a quick release on his jump shot and has big-game scoring potential. He attacked the glass harder in the second half, adding five of his six rebounds after the break. Fort has great potential as a lockdown defender, as he used his length to block three shots on Friday. Look for Fort to continue to blossom this season as he is adding more and more to his game, while showcasing his wide range of talents on a consistent basis for the first time in his career.  

Sean Jones (5'10 PG / Gahanna / 2022): If you haven't seen Jones yet, clear your schedule for Saturday and see him against Logan. The 5-foot-10 freshman is the most advanced guard that we've ever seen at this stage, as he put together a solid performance on both ends of the floor. Jones finished with 16 points, getting into the lane any time he wanted and finishing a few tough scores through contact. Jones is already an elite on-ball defender, as his quickness, ability to change direction and explosion help him stay in front of any ball handler that he goes up against. If Jones played football, he would be a five-star cornerback with the defensive instincts that he has. Jones hit a big three in the second half which cut the lead to two, however the Lions were not able to get any closer. Jones will have to continue to work on his outside shooting, which is really the only part in his game that isn't up to speed yet, however, he has all the other tools that make him one of the nation's elite freshman guards. Jones' IQ and feel are very good for his age, as he is not fazed despite playing against older players every night. From what we saw on Friday, Gahanna might just have to run its offense through Jones until Josh Corbin is able to come back from injury. 

Sean Moore (6'4 WG / Reynoldsburg / 2020): Moore is the leading breakout player of the year so far through the first week of the season in the OCC-Ohio, as he put together another impressive showing on Friday. Scoring the first five points for Reynoldsburg in the game, Moore finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Moore's frame, athleticism and play style is similar to Fort's, as he is another wiry wing guard that can handle, pass and finish at the rim. While Fort is a better shooter at this stage, Moore has the potential to develop into a reliable outside threat, which will really take his game to the next level. As Moore continues to get more experience under his belt, look for him to develop into one of the very best wings in the 2020 class. 

Elijah Thomas (6'2 CG / Gahanna / 2019): Gahanna's most confident scorer, Thomas had his moments on Friday in a 15-point performance. Hitting a step back three to start the game, Thomas did not connect from deep the rest of the game, but was able to score it from mid-range and in a few times the rest of the way. We would like to see Thomas affect the game in other ways outside of scoring, as Gahanna will need him to step up even more with Corbin out. When Thomas is in a rhythm, he's one of the more productive scorers in the area. In order for Gahanna to compete at the top of the OCC-Ohio, the Lions will need Thomas and Jones to be on the top of their games the rest of the way. 

Nick Wallace (6'0 G / Reynoldsburg / 2020): Wallace had one of his better games, coming on strong in the second half to help the Raiders secure the win. Wallace is a gritty player who gives great effort on both ends. The junior can make shots from mid-range and three, evident by the big triple he hit to ice the game. After seeing important minutes off the bench last year as a sophomore, Wallace has evolved into a full-time starter and will need to continue to provide consistent secondary scoring for this Raiders team to compete against the bullies in the OCC-Ohio. 

Sahmi Willoughby (6'4 PF / Reynoldsburg / 2019): Willoughby has become arguably the top priority Division III recruit in the area, as he was watched by a handful of programs on Friday. The 6-foot-4 senior is a late bloomer who affects the game with his motor and toughness. Providing several key hustle plays on Friday, Willoughby played his role and gave Reynoldsburg what they needed to win. Finishing with 10 points, 10 rebounds and two assists, Willoughby played a role similar to that of Tristan Thompson with the LeBron-led Cavs, as he competed on the glass and gave Reynoldsburg second chances. Willoughby can finish strong through contact and will compete on each play. While he is a bit undersized at the power forward position, Willoughbly is an impressive athlete with length, explosion and improving strength.

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