NEWARK, Ohio -- The OCC-Capital title has returned to Newark for the third-straight year. In a revenge match against Canal Winchester on Friday, Newark defended home court and dominated the Indians in a game-changing second half, rolling to a 42-33 win.

While Canal had the hot hand early, jumping out to a 5-2 lead through the first two and a half minutes, Newark responded with a 12-0 run that covered nine minutes, leading 14-5 with 4:44 to go in the half.

Canal Winchester responded with an 8-0 run solely from senior Brady Snyder to end the half, trailing 14-13 at the break.

Much like the first half, Canal Winchester struck first after halftime, as a driving score from junior Cole Metzler gave the Indians a 15-14 lead 40 seconds into the third quarter. For three minutes, the teams battled back and forth, with Canal taking a 21-19 lead on a Snyder three with five minutes to go in the quarter.

This was where Newark made its game-changing run.

Holding the Indians to a single bucket from the 5:01 mark of the third quarter until there was 4:29 to go in the game, Newark broke the game open as a hook score from senior Keshawn Heard put the Wildcats up 32-23.

Newark put the finishing touches on its OCC title win with a huge alley oop slam from junior guard Bobby Crenshaw with 1:10 to go that put the Wildcats ahead 39-27.

It was all Heard in the second half, as 14 of his 16 points after halftime helped Newark pull away from Canal Winchester in a monumental win. Heard did it on both ends.

While Canal Winchester got monster production from its junior front court of Bilal Sow and Cole Metzler to the tune of 37 points and 23 rebounds in the first matchup on Jan. 11, Newark completely shut down the Indians' bigs, holding them to seven points and seven rebounds combined on Friday.

Ending the first and third quarters on two 9-0 runs, Newark turned up its defense when it mattered most, defending at an elite level off the ball and not allowing Canal any easy looks for 32 minutes.

The emergence of Heard in the second half was the difference, as the 6-foot-7 senior knocked down two crucial threes and had a trio of tough post scores against good defense. Crenshaw added 11 points for the Wildcats, as the speedy 6-foot junior guard got to the rim at will and showed off his high-level athleticism with the monster alley-oop late in the game.

Sophomore wing Drew Ballinger added eight points on two triples, while junior forward Jaden Woods turned in a tough two-way game with six points (all in the second half), six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Sophomore point guard Kade Bafford may not have lit up the scoring column but was terrific on defense, as his on-ball and off-ball pressure disrupted what Canal Winchester looked to do offensively.

For Canal, Snyder was the only offensive player with a pulse, as he led all scorers with 16 points, five rebounds and three steals. Snyder was smothered with multiple defenders, as Newark hedged every single ball screen, however, Snyder still impressed by knocking down contested jumpers. 

Snyder kept the Indians in the game in the first half with a self-made 8-0 run in the final 4:44 of the second quarter. The senior guard did not make another field goal after his go-ahead three with 5:01 to go in the third quarter.

Outside of Snyder, no other Canal player had more than five points. Senior guard Brennan Cook added five off the bench, while junior post Zach Miles pitched in five as well. The story for Canal offensively was the quiet nights from Metzler and Sow, who were met with multiple defenders and contact all game long. 

Held without any points in the first half, Metzler and Sow scored all seven of their points after halftime. The well dried up for the Indians as Canal converted just two field goals in an eight minute span between the third and fourth quarters.

With its sixth OCC title in seven seasons, Newark will look to keep rolling in the Division I district tournament as the No. 9 Wildcats will host No. 32 Central Crossing on Thursday at 7 p.m.

For Canal Winchester, the No. 10 Indians will have a tough sectional semifinal matchup as it will host No. 18 Dublin Jerome on Feb. 23 at 1 p.m.