COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In a matchup between teams that rarely play against one another, Linden-McKinley (3-4) used a dominant second quarter to take down West Jefferson (7-2) in non-league action on Saturday, 68-57.

With a distinct size and athleticism advantage, Linden relied on that to dominate the glass in a 16-5 second quarter that helped the Panthers build a 29-15 lead at halftime. 

Linden allowed West Jefferson to get close in the second half, as the Roughriders trimmed the lead to 52-46 with 3:34 to go. Linden held on tight in the final three and a half minutes, closing on a 16-11 run to take home a much-needed win.

Balanced scoring was the name of the game for Linden, as six players scored between eight and 13 points. Senior forward David Brown and sophomore forward Shamarion Rogers each led the way with 13 points, adding a combined 15 rebounds to their stat line. Brown and Rogers did the majority of their damage on the interior, helping Linden dominate the glass and finish strong around the basket.

Sophomore guard Chance Groce played one of his best games yet, adding 11 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Groce's presence calmed Linden down, as he handled the ball with good control and helped the Panthers find high percentage shots in the half court.

The 6-foot-5 Groce also was a point of attack defender for the Panthers, giving Linden a big perimeter defender to shut down West Jefferson on the wing.

Senior forward Caleb Joyce added 10 points and five rebounds, giving Linden a great boost off the bench before fouling out. Freshman guard LB Towns added nine points, while junior guard Quanail Christian was stellar off the bench, pitching in eight points, nine assists and three steals.

Out-rebounding West Jefferson 21-7 in the first half, Linden forced a litany of one-and-done possessions from the Roughriders while closing out hard and switching all screens on the defensive end. Linden put together its best all-around showing of the year, playing smart and composed basketball for long stretches on Saturday. 

For West Jefferson, the Roughriders really struggled against Linden's length, missing quite a few attempts at the rim and failing to get many open looks on the offensive end. Offense came majorly from three players, as senior guard Joe Thompson and senior wing Ben Casey each finished with 18 points, while senior guard Scotty Hunter added 10 points.

With their offense stalling out in the second quarter, West Jefferson got it going in the second half, as Casey and Thompson combined for 30 points after halftime. The Roughriders were not able to get the crucial stops when they needed them, as Linden seemed to answer with a big play each time West Jefferson looked poised to take control.

Going into the new year with a matchup at Gahanna on Wednesday, Linden is looking to stay hot against a high quality opponent. 

West Jefferson, who came in with a six-game winning streak, will look to remain unbeaten in Ohio Heritage Conference play going into January. Look for the Roughriders to be a major player in the Division III district tournament if they can continue to play like they have through the first nine games of the year. 

David Brown (6'6 WF / Linden-McKinley / 2019): Picking up an offer from Sinclair Community College on Saturday, Brown had a great day, as he finished with 13 points, five rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals. Waking up in the second half, Brown played a great final 16 minutes on both ends, powering down a few big dunks, while also serving as a rim protector for the Panthers. Brown is an intriguing athlete with great length and improving confidence, all things that helped Linden on Saturday. With three junior college offers, Brown's stock is rising among area college programs. The 6-foot-6 senior fights hard around the basket, as he finished through contact and showed solid patience in the paint. Brown can defend on the wing and in the post, as well as attack the boards on both ends. 

Joe Thompson (6'3 WG / West Jefferson / 2019): Heating up in the second half, Thompson's knockdown three-point shooting nearly got the Roughridgers back in the game. With great size at 6-foot-3, Thompson was nearly automatic from deep on spot up opportunities, as he didn't need much time or space to get his shot off. Finishing with 18 points, Thompson did most of his damage on three pointers, knocking down four of them. With solid size and enough athleticism to guard on the perimeter, Thompson would be a quality look for Division III programs looking for shooters with length. 

Chance Groce (6'5 WG / Linden-McKinley / 2021): Groce had one of his very best two-way performances, as his presence made a huge impact for the Panthers. Finishing with 11 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks, Groce served as a primary ball handler in the half court, attacking off the dribble and creating opportunities for his teammates with a slew of great passes. Groce did not miss a jump shot on Saturday, knocking down a spot up corner three, a mid-range jumper off a tough step back and another jab step three from the top of the key that was called as an offensive foul. The 6-foot-5 sophomore was a presence around the rim, finishing all but one of his attempts around the basket. Groce has the size and tools to become a lockdown perimeter defender, as he moves very well for his size and is still only 15. With great balance on his pull up jumper and a reliable handle that he uses to get by defenders, Groce is beginning to put the pieces together to reach his sky-high potential. We were impressed with his overall feel and command of the game on Saturday, as he showcased great vision and understanding of time and score in the game. 

Ben Casey (6'3 WG / West Jefferson / 2019): Coming in averaging more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, Casey was highly targeted by Linden, as the Panthers worked hard to limit his chances around the basket. While Casey was bottled up in the first half with just a single point, the senior wing played a great second half, attacking off the bounce and getting to the rim to score 17 of his 18 points after halftime. Casey is a slashing wing with above-average athleticism and toughness. The 6-foot-3 senior added eight rebounds, two assists and a block, as he played with enough confidence and desire to recover from a tough first half. A breakout performer for a Roughrider team that is on the rise, Casey provides West Jeff with reliable scoring off the bounce and a rebounding presence inside. 

Shamarion Rogers (6'3 WF / Linden-McKinley / 2021): Rogers ate up on the boards on Saturday, finishing with 10 rebounds in addition to his 13 points. After getting quality minutes last year as a freshman, Rogers has continued to grow, as his game has expanded to the perimeter, where he knocked down a three in the first half and a timely long distance two in the second half, in addition to his work around the rim. With a lengthy wingspan and good burst, Rogers is still raw, but has some tools that could turn him into one of the better players in the City League within the next few years. 

Gabe Jones (6'0 G / West Jefferson / 2020): Jones came off the bench and had a solid showing for West Jeff. Finishing with seven points and two assists, Jones gave the Roughriders a nice boost on both ends. A quick guard who defended Linden's guards and wings as well as anyone on the perimeter, Jones was ready for Saturday's game and did not back down at any point. Jones knocked down a deep three in which he was fouled in the first half, which gave West Jeff its only lead of the game early on. With quite a few seniors on the roster, look for Jones to take a major step up next season. 

LB Towns (5'3 PG / Linden-McKinley / 2022): It ain't the size of the dog in the fight. For Towns, he doesn't let his height deter him, as he was the best point guard on the floor in Saturday's game. A high IQ guard that has not wasted one minute of his opportunity on varsity, Towns started Saturday's game and was great down the stretch. With a great deal of skill, Towns has a very tight handle, as he can really navigate through traffic and keep a defense on its toes. The 5-foot-3 freshman is very quick and knows how to play. We were impressed with the way he passed on Saturday, as he knew what passes to use in each situation, setting his teammates up with good looks around the basket, while also limiting turnovers. With a high academic profile at one of the state's top schools in Columbus Alternative, Towns (who plays sports at his home school Linden) is a bright kid with a bright future. We are excited to track him for the next few years, as he has the work ethic and mental make up to be very successful. 

Quanail Christian (5'8 PG / Linden-McKinley / 2020): Shifty point guard with blazing speed in the open floor. Christian had his best game of the season, limiting turnovers and giving Linden a great backcourt presence off the bench. Christian came in and made an immediate impact as a distributor and defender, finishing the game with eight points, nine assists and three steals. If Christian can continue to play as efficiently as he did on Saturday and continue to use his quickness in the open floor to make things happen for others, he could really help Linden going forward. The Panthers were at their best when the ball was moving on Saturday and Christian will have a big impact in helping to continue that.