PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- When asked last week if there would ever be a scenario where he would choose college basketball over college football, Pickerington North super sophomore Jack Sawyer wasn't shy in his response. 

"The only time I think about it is if Duke came, or Michigan or Ohio State or Michigan State in basketball, then I might consider it" the five-star defensive end said on the Central Ohio Hoops Report.

If Sawyer keeps playing like he did on Friday in Pickerington North's 65-55 upset win over previously undefeated Pickerington Central, that might just become a reality for the 6-foot-6 man child. 

Going for 28 points and 12 rebounds, Sawyer thoroughly dominated the 12-0 Tigers, scoring from all over the floor and giving North the edge it needed to roll to the upset win.

Leading for all but 30 seconds on Friday, North began the game with elite energy. Holding Central scoreless for the final 4:30 of the first quarter, North went on a 9-0 run to end the period, building a 14-5 lead at the buzzer.

It was here where Sawyer was just getting started. Scoring eight of North's 10 points to begin the second quarter, Sawyer's dominance helped the Panthers build a 24-9 advantage with 4:15 remaining in the half. 

Central climbed back with an 8-2 run to end the half, however, the damage had already been done with North holding a 26-17 advantage. Sawyer provided 15 points in the period, finishing two three-point plays and knocking down a pair of threes.

North opened the second half with stellar energy again, however Central climbed back behind its swarming full court defense. Forcing a five second call with a minute to go in the period, Central looked to be in business trailing 36-30 with the ball under its own basket.

The opposite happened as Sawyer helped spark a 10-2 run, ending with a back-breaking three-point play from sophomore guard Idris Lawrence that extended the North lead to 46-32 with 5:40 remaining. 

While Central tried to get back into the game with turnovers and late three-point shooting, North just wanted it more on Friday, as Sawyer put the finishing touches on the win with two game-ending free throws to give the Panthers an emphatic 65-55 victory. 

After dropping a head-scratching 67-44 loss to Logan on Tuesday, North looked like an entirely different team on Friday. While the Panthers may have been caught looking ahead earlier in the week, North came out with more toughness, grit and desire on the road.

Sawyer was a one-man wrecking crew, going for 28 dominant points in a highly efficient showing, as Central had no answer for him. Knocking down two triples, finishing two three-point plays and knocking down 10-of-11 free throw attempts, Sawyer played a flawless game. Also leading the game with 12 rebounds, Sawyer cleaned up the defensive glass and was not shy to talk his talk to the nearby Central student section - which he did often.

Joey Bosa with a Jumpshot©  was not alone on Friday, however. Junior guard Chris Scott played his best game of the season, finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. When Sawyer wasn't owning the glass, it was Scott, as the big-time wide receiver helped the Panthers get plenty of second-chance points, in addition to a few crucial scores at the rim early on in the game.

Coming off the bench for seven points and four assists, Lawrence played an outstanding game despite several turnovers. Able to split double teams and get into the lane, the sophomore Lawrence reinforced North's toughness on the perimeter. One of our favorite guards in the 2021 class, Lawrence provided great two-way minutes on Friday. 

Outside of its trio, North used a deep rotation in the win, as seniors Adrien Clarke and Jaylon Baylor played extended minutes. Clarke had a hot start to the game and added four rebounds, while Baylor played an excellent second half. Serving as the Panthers' energy guy, Baylor was pesky on the defensive perimeter while grabbing two offensive rebounds despite being the smallest player on the floor.

Struggling to find his shot on Friday, junior Hunter Shedenhelm turned it up on the defensive end, helping hold star Central guard Javohn Garcia to just three field goals. 

Garcia led the Tigers with 20 points, 14 of which from the free-throw line, where he lived at on Friday. With less weapons on the perimeter, Central struggled to score in the half court, as North dared them to shoot and packed the paint. This created fewer driving lanes for Garcia, who was often met with two to three defenders any time he went to the basket. 

Sophomore wing Garner Wallace was the only other Tiger in double figures, as he finished with 14 points, eight of which in the final few minutes. 

Making just five threes on the night, Central could not get into a rhythm when the game slowed down. In its first stiff challenge since losing seniors Jay Rodgers and Sam Towns due to transfer ineligibility, the Tigers were also without senior center Coleton Landis, who missed Friday's game with an ankle injury. The lack of experience and depth certainly played a role, as the rest of its rotation combined for 21 total points. 

With nine games remaining, Central has plenty of time to figure it out and get accustomed to its new roster. The Tigers won't have much time to lick its wounds, as Central heads to Dayton on Monday to take on state powerhouse Trotwood-Madison at Flyin' to the Hoop.

For North, the Panthers will head to Groveport on Tuesday before taking on Gahanna and Olentangy Liberty to end the weekend. With matchups against five ranked teams in its last eight games, North will be battle-tested by the time the district tournament rolls around.

With an impressive road win at Central under its belt, North will be a tough out for anyone when the Panthers are playing through Sawyer like they did on Friday. In an area that has been dominated by upperclassmen talent in the last decade, Sawyer has established himself as a top three player in Central Ohio regardless of class.

Dominating a Central team stocked full of length and athleticism, Sawyer was the best player on the floor in the biggest win for North since its first and only district title in 2017.