MOUNT VERNON, Ohio -- There are slow offensive starts, and then there is the start that Heath had Saturday against Marysville. While they ended up scoring 35 points in total to end the game, the Bulldogs had just two points until the five minute mark of the second quarter.

Typically, scoring droughts such as these, especially to begin a game, do not bode well for a team’s odds of keeping a game competitive, and that proposition proved true for Heath as they fell to the Monarchs 57-35.

While Marysville did not light it up offensively to start the game either, they were able to use scoring opportunities from forced turnovers off of their full-court press to push themselves out to a 14-2 lead at the end of the first, led by senior big man Phillip Hughes and his five points that included a three-pointer. The 6-foot 7-inch Hughes used his length and aggressiveness on the offensive end to dominate an inexperienced Heath interior all game.

It would take Heath until nearly halfway through the second quarter to find their second basket of the game, a triple from freshman wing Keylan Williams, and the Bulldogs would play fairly evenly with the Monarchs as they began to consistently break their press and limit the turnovers that plagued them in the first quarter. With that said, Marysville still maintained control in the second quarter and kept ahold of a 28-14 going into the half. Sophomore Jack Christian flashed his incredible all-around game in the first half, stuffing the stat sheet with eight points, five rebounds, and three assists and three steals. Williams would match Christian’s total with eight points going into the half for Heath.

At the start of the half, the Monarchs would keep control and continue their game-plan of feeding Hughes in the paint. The senior was incredibly active in finishing and drawing fouls off of the crafty passing from guards Christian and junior Joey Duke, and finishing the third quarter with 16 points.

While Marysville maintained their lead the entire way without much issue, Heath’s young leaders including Williams, fellow freshman big man Brandon McLaughlin, and sophomore guard Nick Lamar continued to fight and use the fourth quarter as a valuable learning experience, with each of them showing their potential to be building blocks of the Bulldogs’ future. Williams and McLaughlin would add to their productive games, each surpassing the double-digit point threshold in the fourth, and the 6-foot 6 McLaughlin’s case would reach a double-double with rebounds. Lamar used his tight, quick handle and aggressiveness to drop in three acrobatic finishes for the Bulldogs in the fourth; however, the late-game efforts by Heath’s underclassman wouldn’t  do much to tip the overall scale of the game, and Marysville came out on top 57-35.

Heath was lead in scoring and rebounding by the lanky freshman McLaughlin, who went for 13 points, 12 rebounds, and five punishing blocks to boot. Williams added 10 points and three blocks himself, and Lamar finished with six points, all coming in the fourth quarter, with a team-high three assists. This young Bulldog squad falls to 2-4 on the season.

Marysville, a team with a 10-man rotation, spread the wealth with three players finishing in double digits. The Monarchs were led by the senior Hughes with 19, who also tallied two blocks and steals apiece. Christian finished the game with 10 points, eight rebounds, and six assists as well as three steals, and senior Bodie Eberhart would also finish with 10 points along with four rebounds. The junior guard Duke chipped in five points, three assists, and three steals. Marysville climbs over .500 with the win and is now at 4-3 overall.

Phillip Hughes (6’7 PF-C / Marysville / 2019): The senior big man was asked to exploit Heath’s inexperience on the inside with frequent touches in the paint, and he lived up to the billing. Hughes used his physicality to take the ball to the rack all game and force fouls from his defenders, and he converted on the majority of his attempts at the line. Not only did he display his smooth stroke at the charity stripe, but Hughes showed that he was not afraid to shoot the open three and even hit one, a testament to his inside-out offensive game and his ability to play on the perimeter at the next level. Hughes, a Goshen College commit, also showed off his impressive bounce when he caught a down-court lob from one of his guards for an alley-oop finish, and attempted to rise up above his defenders all game while being fouled most of the time. The senior will look to keep his Monarchs squad on the right track and continue being a strong force in the middle for Marysville.

Jack Christian (5’10 WG / Marysville / 2021): Christian is a stocky, athletic guard with a multi-faceted game that makes him a threat to reach double-digits in any given stat category during a game. The junior first flashed his elite spot-up shooting ability in knocking down a pair of first-half threes. He also showed his great court vision in cross-court baseball passes to find his teammates for open shots and leading them into the paint for fouls. The guard is also aggressive on the offensive and defensive boards and uses his positioning to gain rebounds over taller players. Christian, a talented player on the diamond as well as the hardwood, is one of the most productive underclassmen guards in the area and will look to continue his role as a Monarch leader for the rest of his career.

Brandon McLaughlin (6’6 C/ Heath / 2022): McLaughlin is one of the premier post prospects in all of central Ohio in the freshman class, and he showed exactly why on Saturday. Standing at a legit 6-feet 6-inches, McLaughlin was an absolute force in the paint and battled with the much older Hughes all game. He rebounded at a high rate on both ends and showed his extreme confidence on the offensive end in his crafty post moves and athletic finishes in the paint. McLaughin is also a bonafide rim protector and had five blocks, including an impressive backboard pin that showed the full breadth of his abilities. The young and talented big will be one of the most productive bigs in the LCL for years to come, if he isn’t already, and will look to lead his young Heath squad as they continue to gain experience during his freshman year.

Bodie Eberhart (6’3 WF / Marysville / 2019): Eberhart was not at his absolute best Saturday against Heath, but still showed why he is one of the focal points of this Monarchs squad. The senior used his immense athleticism and confidence to attack the rim and finish at a high rate and is an all-around high energy player. Eberhart, a football prospect with offers from schools such as Findlay, has been and will continue to be one of the most important Marysville players over the course of his final season.

Keylan Williams (6’3 / Heath / 2022): McLaughlin’s classmate and fellow starter showed an intriguing offensive game for a freshman, one that Heath is hoping to build around for the next three years. Williams has impressive size for his age and uses it to finish above defenders in the paint, and he is not scared to do so. He also has range and a similar confidence beyond the arc that makes his overall skill set one to be reckoned with by opposing defenses, even as a freshman. Williams will look to continue his strong first season and continue to be an important piece of Heath’s future.