WORTHINGTON, Ohio -- Saturday marked the beginning of Mid-State League play and there was no bigger matchup than at Worthington Christian between the host Warriors and Grandview Heights.

Two of the most promising Division III teams in the area, Grandview and Worthington Christian battled for 32 minutes, as the experience of the visiting Bobcats made the difference.

Grandview juniors Brian Collier and Luke Lachey dominated in the second half, combining for 30 points after halftime, as the Bobcats took down Worthington Christian, 62-56. 

Momentum shifted in the third quarter with Grandview trailing 42-37 with a little more than a minute to go. After Worthington Christian junior guard Derrick Hardin intercepted a pass at mid court, it seemed as if the Warriors were going to extend its lead even more.

However, Lachey chased down the speedy Hardin, pinning his shot off the glass, then corralling the rebound and firing a full court pass to Grandview senior Manny Day, who scored on the other end, cutting the lead to 42-39.

Lachey's chase-down block sparked a 21-4 run over the next six minutes that ultimately decided the game. The second biggest play in that run came from Collier, who with just a few seconds remaining in the third quarter, knifed his way into the lane, finishing through contact and completing a three-point play which put the Bobcats ahead 45-44 heading into the final frame. 

Collier's big three-point play gave Grandview its first lead at the end of any quarter on Saturday, seeming to quell the momentum that Worthington Christian might've built up going into the final frame.

Despite the loss, Worthington Christian received a big-time performance from freshman guard DJ Moore, who tied Collier with a game-high 21 points. Moore added five assists and four steals, playing an impressive game on both ends against an opponent in Grandview who will challenge for a district title and more this winter. 

Outside of Moore, Hardin added 17 points, 12 of which on four three-point field goals in the first quarter which helped Worthington Christian build a 21-15 lead after the opening period. The Warriors' offense went cold in the second quarter, scoring just four points.

For Grandview, Collier led the way with 21 points, adding a game-high seven assists and two steals. Lachey was a force to be dealt with on the interior, finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists, four blocks and two steals. The athletic 6-foot-6 forward scored 16 of his 18 points after halftime, including nine of Grandview's first 10 points in the third quarter.

Day added 11 points for the Bobcats, making several key hustle plays and giving Grandview an edge on both ends of the floor. 

Off to a 3-0 start on the year, Grandview will look to keep winning in league play against Bexley next Friday, who scored just 21 points in a loss to Whitehall tonight.

For Worthington Christian, the Warriors will look to get back to its winning ways on Monday against Delaware Christian. 

Brian Collier (6'0 PG / Grandview Heights / 2020): Seeing Collier twice last season, one thing is noticeably different about him in 2018-19 - physicality. Collier committed himself to the weight room this offseason and has returned as a stronger player, now capable of getting past opposing defenders and finishing at the rim through contact. Collier, who made his mark in this area as a freshman with his deadly three-point shooting, is now much more than just a shooter. A talented lead guard that makes great decisions, plays great defense and takes great shots, Collier is playing the best basketball of his career, a testament to the work that he's put in. While still knocking down two threes, Collier did most of his damage off the bounce, finishing with both hands at the rim, while also knocking down a few crafty shots in mid and close range. Collier is the straw that stirs the drink for Grandview offensively, however, his defensive performance in shutting down Hardin in the second half might've made the biggest impact, as he greatly slowed down the sharp shooting Worthington Christian junior. With great additions to his skill set, Collier is a true two-way lead guard who can also shoot it as well as anyone in the area. 

DJ Moore (6'2 PG / Worthington Christian / 2022): For the first time in my career, I've now watched back to back games with freshman lead guards who are the best player on teams with plenty of talent. Last night it was Gahanna's Sean Jones, tonight it was Worthington Christian's DJ Moore. Moore is an athletically gifted lead guard with great size who is clearly the best player on the Warriors roster just three games into his career. Moore is a quick ball handler who changes speeds really well, able to keep opposing defenders off balance which helped him finish at the basket off the bounce and draw plenty of fouls. Moore has a quick trigger on his jump shot, as he knocked down a pair of threes off the dribble. The 6-foot-2 freshman plays with a veteran's command of the offense, as he showcased a true feel for the game, zipping accurate passes and rarely making mistakes. In the open floor, Moore is a blur who can turn steals into instant offense. The biggest thing that I like about Moore is his toughness, as he did not back down at any point in Saturday's game, giving Worthington Christian an edge, swagger and confidence that they did not have last season. This kid is ready for big-time basketball right now and is going to have a great career. I was getting some Jack Gibbs vibes on Saturday in watching him perform. 

Luke Lachey (6'6 WF/PF / Grandview Heights / 2020): Lachey is as athletic as any player in his class, as the big 6-foot-6 forward dominated in the second half to help deliver a win. After being held to two points in the first half and struggling to find good looks, Lachey went straight to work in the third quarter, scoring six-straight points around the rim to start the half. All in all, Lachey scored 16 of his 18 points after halftime, dominating on both ends of the floor with his size, length and physicality. Lachey added a game-high seven rebounds, four assists, four blocks and two steals, enforcing around the rim and making it tough for Worthington Christian to score on the interior. While Lachey was more of a raw athlete a season ago, he's added some skill on the perimeter and has improved footwork around the basket. More physically developed, Lachey moves guys around in the paint and can finish through just about any high school defender that he will see. With an NFL bloodline, Lachey is only going to continue to get freakier as an athlete, which will no doubt turn this Grandview team with very few seniors into a buzzsaw next season. However, for right now, the Bobcats are ready to compete for a district title and have the pieces to do it. 

Derrick Hardin (6'1 WG / Worthington Christian / 2020): Dubbed the "breakout year" for people around the program, Hardin's junior season is off to a great start. The 6-foot-1 guard came out guns blazing in the first quarter, knocking down back-to-back-to-back threes to begin the game, helping Worthington Christian build a 12-2 lead in the first few minutes. While Hardin was contained the rest of the way, the junior guard still finished with 17 points, doing what was needed on the perimeter to keep the Warriors in the game. Hardin has a very quick release on his jump shot, as he was mightily effective in transition, as he can catch and shoot as well as anyone in the gym on Saturday. As Hardin continues to gain more confidence and strength, look for him to develop into a late blooming scoring guard capable of big numbers on a consistent basis. 

Tyler Kindberg (6'2 CG / Worthington Christian / 2021): After missing most of his freshman year due to injury, Kindberg is back to 100 percent health and showed flashes of the big upside that he has. A dynamic guard with springs for legs, Kindberg had a solid showing, finishing with seven points and two blocks. The athletic 6-foot-2 guard has good hands and can get to the rim and draw fouls. The next step in Kindberg's development will be to become a reliable outside shooter, which will open up the rest of his game off the bounce. We love the long term potential of this Worthington Christian backcourt with dynamic guys like Kindberg and Moore. 

Manny Day (6'2 F / Grandview Heights / 2019): Day gets a mention here due to the toughness and edge that he played with on Saturday. The emotional leader of this Grandview team, Day scored some big buckets in the second half, seeming to deliver any time Worthington Christian was ready to make a run. Day competed on both ends, adding six rebounds, three assists and two blocks. One of few seniors on the roster, Day will be relied upon to deliver showings like he did tonight in order for Grandview to continue to win tough games against quality opponents.