GAHANNA, Ohio -- In a game of runs, Gahanna held off a scrappy Linden-McKinley team in the final seconds, 60-57. 

Gahanna (7-2) gave up an 11-point lead in the last four and a half minutes, as Linden (3-5) charged back behind clutch three-point shooting from senior Caleb Joyce and sophomore Chance Groce. As Gahanna struggled to convert at the line, Linden got as close as a point at 58-57 with 24 seconds to go.

While Gahanna split a pair at the line on the next possession, Linden failed to get a good shot off on its next trip, putting the ball back in the Lions' hands. Again splitting a pair at the line, Gahanna gave Linden one more chance to send the game to overtime with 5.5 seconds to go.

Linden once again did not get a good look, as Groce and Joyce did not touch the ball on the last two possessions, despite helping the Panthers get back into the game with the duo's shooting.

Gahanna was led in the game by freshman guard Sean Jones, who went for a game-high 21 points. Jones was a terror in transition, finishing a few very impressive layups at the rim against guys twice his size. 

The Lion offense came almost exclusively from Jones and junior wing Zane Leitwein in the second half, as Leitwein was the only other Gahanna player in double figures with 10 points. Senior guard Elijah Thomas added nine points, nearly all of which in the second quarter. Thomas still found ways to be productive, adding six assists to lead the Lions.

Junior guard Nate Staib added seven points while senior glue guy Travis Whittaker pitched in six points and a few key hustle plays for the Lions. 

Gahanna was dominated by Linden on the glass, as the Panthers held a 31-13 advantage. Despite that, the Lions converted on the offensive end when it mattered most and got the stops it needed to come away with a quality win.

For Linden, Groce and Joyce combined for 35 of the 57 points. The 6-foot-5 sophomore Groce was outstanding in the early going, scoring 10 points in the first half as Linden led 20-8 with 4:48 to go in the second quarter. Giving up a 20-4 run to end the period, Linden went down 28-24 at the half and did not lead again. 

Groce finished the night with 19 points, knocking down a trio of threes and getting into the lane whenever he wanted.

Joyce was terrific off the bench, knocking down three clutch triples in the second half to finish with 16 points. The 6-foot-2 senior is the toughest player on the team and provided great minutes in the second half.

No other player added more than seven points for the Panthers. Senior forward David Brown was held to just three points, but added 13 rebounds and seven assists. 

Linden will look to get back to its winning ways on Friday at home against Mifflin to resume City League action. The Panthers get another tough test on Saturday against Bishop Hartley, who defeated the Panthers in the district semifinals in 2017.

For Gahanna, the Lions will look to keep winning on the road at Lancaster on Friday.

Sean Jones (5'9 PG / Gahanna / 2022): Jones is definitely worth the price of admission, as he contributes a handful of "wow" plays each time out. On Wednesday, he was clearly the best lead guard on the floor, doing it on both ends to lead Gahanna to a win. Jones terrorized Linden in transition, finishing ambidextrously at the rim and showing off ELITE body control. Despite being a few inches under 6-foot, Jones has great burst and lift, as he is able to hang in the air and finish tough attempts at the basket over much taller defenders. On the offensive end, Jones keeps the ball on the string, is a composed ball handler who doesn't make many mistakes and knows how to play within the Lions' patient offense, something that not many young guards have been able to do over the years at Gahanna. Jones has cat-like quickness and instincts on the defensive perimeter and makes it hard for any opposing ball handler, regardless of age or talent level. The five-tool freshman is a consistent three-point shot away from being completely unguardable, but for now has the skills and toughness to lead a team to wins in the tough OCC despite being a first-year player at the high school level. 

Chance Groce (6'5 WG / Linden-McKinley / 2021): In our second viewing of Groce in the last five days, we came away even more impressed on Wednesday. The 6-foot-5 sophomore has come a very long way in his approach to the game and activity level, as he was involved from the very beginning and was pretty efficient for most of the game. Groce started off hot, knocking down two threes and scoring 10 points in the first half. The long wing guard has a quick first step and is able to get into the lane pretty easily and is an efficient finisher when he gets there. The most impressive shot he hit was late in the game, coming off movement and hitting a contested corner three that brought Linden within a point. The next step in Groce's maturation process is to become more alert on the defensive end, where he has the physical tools to develop into a lockdown defender. On the offensive end, Groce has a lot of natural ability and can get a shot off any time he wants, as he showed an ability to get to the rim off the bounce, an ability to knock down pull up mid-range jumpers and an ability to knock down catch and shoot threes. 

Zane Leitwein (6'3 W/F / Gahanna / 2020): Leitwein had a solid second half, scoring eight of his 10 points and playing within Gahanna's offense to get easy looks. Leitwein is a tough wing that plays hard, can knock down shots and has the length and skill to finish at the rim. With Josh Corbin out, Leitwein has filled into a starting role nicely and has played solid ball in the first nine games of the year. 

Caleb Joyce (6'2 WF / Linden-McKinley / 2019): Going for double-figures for the second-straight game, Joyce nearly did enough to lead Linden to a win in the second half. The tough senior came off the bench and scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half. Joyce came up huge shooting the ball, knocking down three timely triples, two of which from deep range. Joyce works hard on the glass and gives Linden a reliable defender on the perimeter and in the post. The 6-foot-2 senior reminds us a bit of former Linden standout Faizon Tucker, as he makes an impact with his toughness and motor which never stop. 

Elijah Thomas (6'1 CG / Gahanna / 2019): Thomas finished with nine points and six assists on Wednesday. For more on Thomas, read our recent report on him here. 

David Brown (6'6 PF / Linden-McKinley / 2019): Brown did not have his greatest scoring night, finishing with three points, but made an impact with 13 rebounds and seven assists. For more on the unsigned senior Brown, read about him from Saturday's game here. 

Tierre Harris (6'4 PF / Linden-McKinley / 2020): We've liked what we've seen from Harris in the last two games, as he fills his role as a hustle player very well, rebounding, boxing out and making shots when he gets them. Harris is one of few players on the Linden roster who doesn't get sped up and should really take a step up going forward as he gains more confidence. 

Travis Whittaker (5'10 PF / Gahanna / 2019): We love Whittaker's motor and toughness, as he came in and gave Gahanna a big boost. Whittaker scored all six of his points in the second half and added two key steals.