PATASKALA, Ohio -- Opening up Licking County League play on Wednesday, Licking Valley knocked off Licking Heights on the road, 49-44.

After an 8-8 gridlock after a quarter of play, Licking Valley broke through in the second quarter, as three-straight three pointers by junior guard Carson Conley spearheaded a 20-15 surge in the period that ultimately decided the game. Conley scored 13 of the Panthers' 20 points in the second quarter, giving Licking Valley great momentum going into halftime. 

The visiting Panthers held tough throughout, never allowing Licking Heights to take a lead in the second half. The host Hornets really struggled to find any sort of offensive consistency, going long stretches with empty possessions and failing to get sophomore forward Tyrese Hughey involved. 

Conley led the way with 18 points, but played a great two-way game, putting great pressure on opposing ball handlers and helping Licking Valley put together a solid 32-minute showing. Outside of Conley, senior center William Schneider added eight points off the bench while senior guard Caleb Thomas added eight points as well. 

Licking Valley did a tremendous job of moving without the ball, as the patience of the Panthers paid dividends, often resulting in back door cuts for easy scores. Defending and boxing out as a team, Licking Valley put together the type of performance needed to take down a talented Licking Heights team.

For the Hornets, junior guard Markeece Brown led all scorers with 14 points. Hughey had a solid showing despite limited touches, finishing with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Senior guard Jacob Righter added nine points and seven rebounds, but was plagued with foul trouble, fouling out late in the game.

With the win, Licking Valley is off to a 2-0 start on the year and will be a tough out for anyone in the LCL. With a floor general like Conley leading the way and a cast of teammates who play for one another, Licking Valley could be a team on the rise in Division II.

For Licking Heights, the Hornets suffer another frustrating loss. While uber talented, Licking Heights struggled with chemistry and overall feel on the offensive end. Giving up way too many easy points on the other end of the floor, Licking Heights has a ways to improve if it wants to compete at the top of the LCL.

Carson Conley (6'1 PG / Licking Valley / 2020): Seeing Conley for the first time since July, it was refreshing to watch the Licking Valley junior. A floor general who goes hard on both ends, Conley was the best guard in the gym on Wednesday, finishing with 18 points, three rebounds and two steals. Conley moves his feet well and can stay with most high school ball handlers, as he didn't allow much penetration off the dribble. Knocking down three big triples in the second quarter, Conley hit all of those shots off the catch, breaking the 1-3-1 zone that Licking Heights was trying to establish. The best player on the Licking Valley roster, Conley will have the offense run through him this season. With continued showings like Wednesday's, Conley and the Panthers could be a surprise contender in the LCL.

Tyrese Hughey (6'7 PF / Licking Heights / 2021): Hughey has an intriguing build and at 6-foot-7 has the athletic tools to be a sure fire Division I guy in a few years. When he was involved in the offense, Hughey was effective, scoring nine of his 13 points in the first half. Hughey has a reliable righty hook shot that he uses around the paint, while the lengthy sophomore also made an impact crashing the boards, using his long arms and high-level lift to sky for rebounds on both ends. Hughey moves his feet well on the perimeter for his size and has the foot speed and athleticism to finish fluidly in transition. A big-time student with plenty of basketball upside, Hughey is one of the most intriguing prospects anywhere in the area. As Hughey is most effective from eight feet and in, we would like to see him force his hand a little more and demand the ball in the post. When Hughey had paint touches on Wednesday, he either scored, got a good look or was fouled. 

William Schneider (6'7 C / Licking Valley / 2019): Despite fouling out early in the fourth quarter, Schneider had a solid showing off the bench. The lanky 6-foot-7 senior had a few tough scores through contact on the block and rebounded well in and out of his area. With decent hands and toughness, Schneider could be worth a look for Division III programs looking for size at this point in the recruiting cycle. 

Markeece Brown (6'2 CG / Licking Heights / 2020): Brown has special athletic gifts and can really turn it on, however, Wednesday's showing was a bit frustrating. Going into isolation mode for a lot of the game, Brown struggled to find good looks on the offensive end. Despite that, he led his team with 14 points, getting into the lane for a few impressive above the rim scores. In order for Licking Heights to play to their potential, they will need to incorporate more ball movement and action away from the ball, which will begin with Brown in the backcourt. The Hornets have the pieces to win the conference, but it won't happen with iso ball the rest of the way.