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Restoring Order: Dorsey's big night helps Northland fend off Beechcroft

By Zach Fleer, 01/30/19, 9:30AM EST

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Rob Dorsey and Northland now control their own destiny in the City League North


Rob Dorsey

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Order has been restored. Roughly a year removed from not winning at least a share of the City League North division title since 2006, Northland refused to drop a fourth-straight game to Beechcroft at home on Tuesday.

Behind a career-high 25 points from freshman Rob Dorsey, Northland used a major second quarter to power a tightly contested 73-70 victory over the defending City League champion Cougars.

Trailing 20-16 after a quarter of play, Northland (12-4, 9-2) seemed frustrated on both ends against a Beechcroft (12-4, 9-2) team that punished them in transition. Senior guard N'Keeley Elmore took matters into his own hands, scoring the first nine points of the second quarter for the Vikings to help Northland take a 25-24 lead with 5:29 remaining in the half.

From there, Dorsey took over, helping the Vikings lead by as many as eight points in the quarter. Getting 31 combined points from Elmore and Dorsey, Northland took a 42-35 lead into halftime. 

The first half felt like a heavyweight battle between two advanced freshmen, as Beechcroft's young point guard Jaylen Simmons paced the Cougars with 12 points in the first half, while Dorsey had 14 for the Vikings. 

In the second half, Beechcroft came out guns blazing, as a big block from senior post Na'elle Simmons led to a transition score from junior Davon Wooden that cut the Northland lead to 44-42 with 5:06 to go in the third.

With what felt like a million fouls called in the third quarter, Northland took advantage and got to the line at will. Going on a 13-3 run over the next four minutes, Northland opened up its biggest lead of the game at 57-45 with 1:15 to go in the period. 

Beechcroft responded to end the period, going on a 5-0 run to trail 57-50 heading into the final frame. 

Going nearly three minutes without a bucket to begin the fourth quarter, Northland was in desperate need of a bucket. This was where Dorsey stepped up once again, knocking down a crucial corner three to put the Vikings up 60-52 with 5:11 to play. 

In what became a free-throw shooting contest, Beechcroft forced tough shots and turnovers from the Vikings, coupled with clutch shooting at the charity stripe to cut the deficit to 64-61 with 2:34 remaining. 

Dorsey came up clutch again, knocking down two big free throws to put Northland up 67-61 with two minutes remaining.

Beechcroft used its length and aggression on the offensive glass for a handful of key putbacks that cut the deficit to two points at 69-67 with just under a minute to go.

Northland turned the ball back over moments later, giving Beechcroft a chance to tie or take the lead. Unfortunately for the Cougars, the turnover bug came back to bite them, as Northland junior guard Devan White forced a steal with 30 seconds remaining to put the ball back in the hands of the Vikings.

Northland wasn't much better on the next possession, as White turned the ball back over and put Wooden on the line for Beechcroft in a two-point game with 19 seconds remaining.

Wooden knocked down one of two, cutting the lead to 69-68. Going to none other than the freshman Dorsey, Northland relied on the young floor general to close the game out.

Calmly knocking down the two biggest free throws of his career, Dorsey extended the lead to three points at 71-68 with 16 ticks on the clock. 

White fouled out moments later and put Jaylen Simmons on the line, as the Cougars' stud freshman hit two at the line to cut the lead back to a single point at 71-70 with 14.1 seconds to go. 

While Dorsey wasn't available on the final possession, the Vikings' lone senior Elmore was. Closing the game at the free-throw line, Elmore hit two clutch free throws with 9.8 seconds remaining, putting Northland back up three at 73-70. 

Getting two chances at a game-tying three, Beechcroft was not able to convert as Northland won its first game against the Cougars in two years. 

Snapping a 10-game winning streak for Beechcroft, Northland now controls its own destiny in the City League North. If the Vikings can go unbeaten in its last three league games, Northland will have a chance to win its first City League championship since 2016.

Holding the tie breaker over Beechcroft since the Cougars represented the North division more recently than Northland, the Vikings fall on the side of a unique rule that hasn't worked for them in the past due to its thorough dominance. 

Leading the way for Northland was Dorsey with 25 points. The 5-foot-9 freshman was a terror around the rim, as he constantly got by defenders and finished near the basket. Scoring nine key points in the fourth quarter, Dorsey hit the type of shots that were needed to put down a tough Beechcroft team.

In a backcourt dominated game, Elmore added 21 points and four assists for Northland. The 5-foot-10 guard sparked a 26-15 second quarter for the Vikings which ultimately proved to be the difference. Only scoring four points in the second half, Elmore was clutch at the free-throw line when it mattered most.

White added eight points before fouling out while junior center Isaiah Ingle had another encouraging performance, finishing with four points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. Ingle's shot blocking ability and length at 6-foot-9 made a major difference, as he was a tough matchup for Beechcroft's Na'elle Simmons. 

Stud sophomore Makhale Massey had an uncharacteristic night, finishing with just six points, as he seemed to force the issue on the offensive end. Sophomore forward Jason Foster had another solid showing, adding five points and six rebounds as the Vikings' power forward. 


Jaylen Simmons

For Beechcroft, Wooden came off the bench and had another tough showing with 23 points, eight rebounds and three assists. The 6-foot guard put constant pressure on Northland's defense, getting out in transition and providing eight quick points in the first half before taking over the second half. 

Wooden and Jaylen Simmons were both terrific, as Simmons finished with 16 points. Scoring the first seven points for Beechcroft, Simmons showed off a great mid-range pull up game.

Na'elle Simmons added 15 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, heating up in the second half after being held to four points in the first two quarters. Simmons' overall activity level continued to improve, as he had a few monster blocks in the fourth quarter to nearly lead Beechcroft to a come from behind win.

Senior wings Jovaughn Hill and James Delaney each added six points on a pair of threes, while no other Beechcroft player added more than two points. Knocking down just one three in the second half, Beechcroft struggled to find consistent offense outside of free throws and put backs. 

In order to win a North division title, Northland will have to win out, as the Vikings will host East on Friday. The Vikings then will head to Mifflin next Tuesday before ending the regular season against Centennial on Feb. 8, who handed the Vikings a loss two weeks ago.

For Beechcroft, the Cougars still have a ton to play for. A district title contender in Division II, the Cougars have six games left on the schedule to improve its resume in a quest for a second-straight district title. 


Rob Dorsey (5'9 PG / Northland / 2022): While Dorsey was a standout at both The Intro and 270 Hoops Fall League, he had yet to play as well as he did on Tuesday, especially considering the circumstances. With Northland facing a win or go home situation in the City League North, Dorsey stepped up in a major, major way. Going for 25 points off the bench, Dorsey provided a huge spark for Northland, helping the Viking backcourt dominate the second quarter to establish a 42-35 advantage at halftime.

Dorsey is a highly composed guard with a shifty handle. The 5-foot-9 freshman plays with mature pace, makes great decisions with the ball and is very good at changing speeds and keeping defenders off balance. We enjoy watching him operate off the bounce, as he can finish as well as any freshman at the rim, while also having the ability to stop on a dime and hit the pull-up jumper. A knockdown free throw shooter that closed the game for the Vikings by going 6-for-6 in the fourth quarter, Dorsey looks like the next great guard to come through the Northland program. 

It's not often that you can go to a freshman in a high stakes game like Tuesday's and feel a calm sense of relaxation, but that was exactly what happened when Dorsey was on the floor. The freshman went 8-for-8 at the line, had several off the bounce scores at the rim and knocked down a crucial corner three. We came away very impressed with Dorsey in one-on-one situations where he has a knack for getting his shoulder by defenders and putting them on his back for finishes. With the amount of skill that the freshman has, the future is certainly bright for Dorsey. 

Jaylen Simmons (5'10 PG / Beechcroft / 2022): Simmons vs. Dorsey may turn into an Ali vs. Frazier type rivalry over the next three years. While the freshmen guards were teammates a year ago for the Arts Impact City championship team, they are now on opposite sides of the best rivalry that the City League North has to offer.

In the first matchup, Simmons was the star, knocking down seven threes and scoring 25 points to lead the Cougars over Northland. On Tuesday, Dorsey was the one scoring 25 points and getting the win, however, Simmons was on fire to start off the game.

Scoring the first seven points for Beechcroft, Simmons showcased an impressive pull-up jumper in the pick and roll game, as he used excellent screens set by his cousin Na'elle Simmons to create separation for his jumper. Jaylen Simmons is another mature ball handler that doesn't seem too small for any situation, as he applied constant pressure on Tuesday en route to 16 points. Simmons is one of the best shooters in the freshman class and has an advanced feel in the half court.

Really effective in P&R, Simmons makes the correct decisions and really knows how to set up defenders for his pull-up jumper, which he hit four times, twice over significant length. While his older brother Jelani Simmons is a 6-foot-5 freshman wing guard at Youngstown State, Jaylen Simmons is more skilled than Jelani was as a high school freshman. Even if Jaylen never gets to Jelani's size, he is a tough lead guard who can pass, dribble and shoot, while having the toughness that his father and Beechcroft coach Humphrey Simmons instills in his players. 

N'Keeley Elmore (5'10 PG / Northland / 2019): The lone senior in Northland's rotation, a ton is expected of Elmore. While he put the team on his back in the early stages of the year, Elmore is receiving more and more contribution from the Vikings' cast of talented underclassmen. That was evident on Tuesday as Dorsey carried the offensive load with 25 points, however Elmore was excellent in spurts.

The biggest run that the senior Elmore had was in the early stages of the second quarter where he helped turn a 20-16 deficit into a 42-35 halftime lead. Scoring the first nine points of the second quarter, Elmore attacked aggressively off the dribble, scoring at the rim, converting at the line and knocking down a three to end the first half with 17 points.

While he was held to zero field goals and four points on free throws in the second half, Elmore was still excellent on the defensive end of the floor, where he sat down on defense and disrupted Beechcroft as a point of attack defender. An excellent kid with a great attitude, ingrained toughness and leadership and a will to win that is unlike most others in the City League, Elmore is a coach's dream. We think he will be a steal for whichever college program lands him. 

Despite being 5-foot-10, Elmore has great burst and can elevate to finish at the rim against length and contact. The biggest area for growth is perimeter shooting, however, Elmore has continued to improve in that regard and is more complete as a player than he's ever been. 

Davon Wooden (6'0 CG / Beechcroft / 2020): A breakout junior in the City League, Wooden had one of his best performances on the road Tuesday. Finishing with 23 points, eight rebounds and three assists off the bench, Wooden was spectacular in his role as a downhill ball handler who refused to be denied in getting to the rim.

With broad shoulders and a thick frame, Wooden bullies smaller defenders on the drive where he has the burst to finish at the rim. Wooden has quick feet, can change direction and is a terror on the perimeter as a defender who applies constant pressure. We really like Wooden's toughness and motor, as he played in attack mode for every minute he was on the floor. 

After scoring eight-straight points in the first quarter to help Beechcroft take a lead, Wooden led the Cougars with 15 of his 23 points in the second half. The 6-foot guard can play on and off the ball, but is very effective as a transition ball handler that has a knack for getting to the rim. 

Isaiah Ingle (6'9 C / Northland / 2020): No player has been more important in Northland's five-game winning streak than Ingle, who continues to get better with every viewing we have of him. In a prime time matchup with 6-foot-7 Beechcroft senior Na'elle Simmons, Ingle held his own and then some. While he fouled out in the fourth quarter and sat most of the second half due to foul trouble, Ingle was outstanding in the first half as a lengthy glass eater who disrupted every shot near him.

Any time Beechcroft tried to score inside on Ingle, he either swatted the shot into oblivion or at least affected it. Cleaning up the defensive glass, Ingle battled inside with Simmons, not giving up any ground and rarely being moved off his spots. With a very long wingspan and added strength from a year ago, Ingle is improving by the game and becomes more intriguing the more we see him. 

The biggest change that we've seen from Ingle is his motor and confidence. Playing through contact, Ingle is beginning to finish at a higher rate around the basket, while also showing flashes of a potential righty hook shot that could be very difficult to defend. If Ingle can get some post work in the offseason and come back as a stronger, more skilled version of his current shot altering self, he will have a chance to get his college paid for this time next year. 

With broad shoulders and a frame that he can add muscle mass to, Ingle is a very intriguing post who may just be the best prospect at the center position in the 2020 class in Central Ohio. 

Na'elle Simmons (6'7 PF / Beechcroft / 2019): In one of the better viewings that I've had of Simmons, I came away impressed with his motor, toughness and activity level on Tuesday. Finishing with 15 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, Simmons had a great second half and nearly knocked down enough clutch free throws to seal the game for Beechcroft.

With a Division II offer from Central State, Simmons was watched by Walsh on Tuesday and should continue to receive attention from schools at that level. The 6-foot-7 Simmons has broad shoulders, quick feet and above average athleticism, which helped him sky for a monster two hand block on a dunk attempt in the second half.

The veteran on this Beechcroft team, Simmons has stepped up his production and is a double-double machine at this stage. The 6-foot-7 post is a better version of himself as a senior, as his confidence and motor are both better than ever before. Simmons showed better touch in the post and at the free throw line, two things that will help him continue to elevate as a prospect. 

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