5 months ago
GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio — Akron Garfield and Euclid stole nan show Sunday during nan NEO Youth Elite Christmas Classic astatine Garfield Heights High School pinch their double-overtime thriller.
It took 2 buzzer-beaters by nan Rams’ Rayshawn Hamilton and Monty Thompson Jr. successful some overtimes to assistance Garfield to a 73-71 triumph against Euclid. Afterward, they were greeted successful nan locker room by nan hosts from Garfield Heights up of nan Bulldogs’ crippled pinch Glenville.
Both stock nan name, Garfield, and some are successful Division III for OHSAA postseason play.
They could meet successful March, but some put connected shows Sunday during nan five-game showcase. Here are nan standout performances to spell pinch nan highlights successful this post:
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Mekhi Asberry, Euclid
Had Akron Garfield not deed truthful galore clutch shots, it would person been Asberry’s shooting that lifted Euclid (5-3).
The Panthers’ sophomore defender scored 19 points and knocked down 5 3-pointers successful their double-overtime loss. He played disconnected inferior defender Tyree Williamson and 6-foot-8 guardant Kye Owens, who scored 18 points pinch 10 rebounds.
Dereon Barber, Richmond Heights
His older brother, De’Erick, is Ohio’s all-time leader successful assists aft starting 4 years astatine Richmond Heights. Now a sophomore, Dereon follows successful his footsteps arsenic nan Spartans’ starting constituent defender connected a new-look squad for first-year coach Mel Burke Jr.
The younger Barber controlled nan tempo early successful Richmond Heights’ 74-56 triumph against Orange to commencement Sunday’s showcase. He vanished pinch 21 points and 3 assists, including 2 to elder defender Khyell Moreland, who scored 20 points and deed 4 3-pointers. The Spartans (5-5) returned to .500 and bounced backmost from a seven-point nonaccomplishment past week to defending Division III authorities champion Louisville.
Rayshawn Hamilton, Akron Garfield
Hamilton’s 27 points carried nan Rams for overmuch of their thriller vs. Euclid. The 6-4 defender besides grabbed 9 rebounds, arsenic Garfield outmuscled a lengthier Euclid team.
Chris Hill, Lutheran East
Lutheran East hit Warrensville Heights astatine its ain crippled pinch a tenacious defense and speedy passing offense. Hill led nan Falcons (6-0) successful some of those aspects for their 60-38 win, arsenic he dished retired 7 assists pinch 3 steals and 11 points.
Marcus Johnson, Garfield Heights
Mr. Basketball is retired to support his crown this season, and Sunday’s 40-point effort is different summation to nan resume. The Bulldogs’ standout defender and South Carolina perpetrate knocked down 7 3-pointers successful a 74-70 triumph against Glenville. Three of those 3s came successful nan 4th quarter, arsenic nan Bulldogs (4-4) built a 15-point lead.
Johnson scored 17 points successful nan 4th quarter.
Aaron Lewis, Orange
A freshman guard, Lewis came disconnected nan chair to people 22 points successful nan Lions’ nonaccomplishment to Richmond Heights. He is nan nephew of Trey Lewis, who starred astatine Garfield Heights earlier a master profession that now has him playing overseas and astir notably a tally pinch nan Utah Jazz.
Greg Price, Hawken
Hawken (8-1) held disconnected Rhodes’ rally, arsenic 4 of its starting 5 led nan way. Price earned MVP honors from nan Hawks’ 87-80 win, arsenic he scored 24 points and made repeated trips to nan free-throw statement down nan stretch. He besides dished retired 5 assists.
Sophomore defender Ice Taylor scored a game-high 25 points, while Daron Hill added 12 and Charlie Mallett had 10, but Price group nan reside early and took work for his team’s turnovers that led nan Rams backmost into it.
Hawken is playing back-to-back games against Cleveland Senate League teams and has a rematch from past season’s Division IV authorities semifinals coming Sunday against Glenville astatine Euclid for nan Scholastic Play By Play Classic.
Gio Ramos, Glenville
Ramos is simply a newcomer for nan Tarblooders, who made it to past season’s Division IV authorities finals. The inferior steps into nan large guardant spot for a Glenville squad that graduated starring scorer Xavier Vickerstaff and played a domiciled akin to him against nan Bulldogs pinch 14 points and 16 rebounds.
Monty Thompson Jr., Akron Garfield
Thompson, a inferior defender who came disconnected nan chair for coach McNeal Thompson III, is quickly processing a estimation arsenic a clutch shooter.
He made immoderate large shots this summertime astatine nan Midwest Live showcase successful Sandusky and continued Sunday successful 1 of nan Rams’ biggest tests to date. Thompson scored 17 points, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to extremity nan 3rd 4th and his baseline jumper to hit Euclid successful nan 2nd overtime.
Dylan Zeigler, Lutheran East
The sophomore guard, who has large offers including Ohio State, led nan Falcons pinch 20 points successful their revenge crippled against Warrensville Heights aft nan Tigers hit them past twelvemonth astatine this showcase.
