DUBLIN, Ohio -- The Hilliard Davidson Wildcats traveled to a packed Rock Arena to face the Dublin Coffman Shamrocks. Emotions were high in Friday night’s game as the two schools have been rivals for decades. 

Dublin Coffman used 40 combined points from junior Dominiq Penn and senior Luke Bartemes to roll to a 73-57 win over the visiting Wildcats.

Coffman jumped out an early nine point lead in the first quarter, as Bartemes hit some big threes early that helped them gain momentum. Davidson’s star forward Jacob Drees picked up two fouls early on some questionable calls that kept him off the floor for a decent chunk of the first half, giving the Rocks the edge inside.

Davidson was able to cut Coffman’s lead to as little as six points in the fourth quarter, but a late game run by the Rocks put Davidson out of the game.

Davidson is led by a large senior class and will only improve once starting junior center Gage Keys returns to the lineup. 

Coffman is showing that they have the potential to make a run at not only a regional championship, but a state championship. Led by Penn and featuring one of the best supporting casts in the area, the Rocks will be a force come March. 

Dominiq Penn (6’0 PG / Dublin Coffman / 2020): For most players, a stat line of 21 points and 10 assists would be considered a phenomenal game, however Penn put up these numbers on a night where he was average at best. The lightning quick guard caught a number of Wildcat defenders off balance with his quick handle over the course of the game. Despite not hitting his shots early, Penn was still able to showcase his ability to score at all three levels of the game. Dom has been playing out of his mind this year, proving to be one of, if not the best point guard in the state. 

Jacob Drees (6’7 WF / Hilliard Davidson /2019): Drees is a lengthy forward that recently signed with Division II Cedarville. The 6-foot-7 forward is Davidson’s primary ball handler and he also has the ability to dominate the paint. Drees’ high basketball IQ makes him one of the best forwards in the area. The senior was able to somewhat control the pace of the game while he was on the floor, being very effective on the offensive glass picking up a plethora of rebounds and converting some of them into second chance points. He finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds. 

Luke Bartemes (6’4 WF / Dublin Coffman / 2019): Bartemes is a tough, physical presence that the Coffman team can rely on. With his ability to finish off tough plays, score through contact, he is both an offensive and defensive threat. The 6-foot-4 wing also possesses a smooth outside jumper, in Friday night’s contest he showcased this with five three pointers made. Bartemes had the play of the game in which he blew by a defender and threw down a ferocious dunk. The Lincoln Memorial commit is looking to have a breakout year. If Bartemes continues to play at the level that he is playing right now, Coffman will have a serious shot to win a regional title. The senior finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, and two steals on the night.  

Derek Van Vlerah (6’6 WG / Dublin Coffman / 2019): Van Vlerah is a shifty and lengthy  wing that uses both his speed and height to his advantage on both ends of the floor. The 6-foot-6 wing hustled after loose balls and worked hard to get open shots for himself and his teammates. The senior was all over the floor on the defensive end during Friday’s game, blocking three shots and picking up two steals on the night. Van Vlerah has the tools to be an absolute lockdown wing defender at the next level. 

Ethan Royer ( 6’3 WG / Hilliard Davidson / 2019): Royer plays a big leadership role on the team, the heart and sole of Davidson’s defense was able to guard Penn fairly well throughout parts of the game. The senior was a floor general for the Wildcats for a large portion of the game. Despite facing a deficit, Royer stayed composed throughout the course of the game, finishing with six points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal.  

Grant Yeater (6’1 G / Dublin Coffman / 2019): The senior guard had a great game for the Rocks on Friday. Yeater finished with 13 points making little to no mistakes. Yeater was a breakout player in the 270 Hoops Fall League Open Division, racking up Co-MVP honors. The senior Yeater will play a major role in Coffman’s backcourt this year.