5 months ago
GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio — Marcus Johnson grew up coming to his father’s vacation hoops showcases astatine Garfield Heights.
He led nan Bulldogs each of nan past 3 seasons astatine nan NEO Youth Elite Christmas Classic and had 1 much to play Sunday arsenic a elder astatine nan school. Johnson, nan state’s reigning Mr. Basketball victor and a South Carolina recruit, put a front connected his vacation performances by scoring 40 points and starring his squad to a 74-70 triumph against Glenville.
“I wanted to spell retired pinch a bang,” Johnson said. “I knew it was my past clip playing my dad’s arena for illustration this. I wanted to springiness it my all.”
His father, Garfield Heights coach Sonny Johnson played a smaller lineup against Glenville. With it, nan Bulldogs matched nan velocity of nan Tarblooders’ speedy guards.
They gave nan hosts each they could grip early successful a back-and-forth game.
The Bulldogs (4-4), who are ranked sixth successful nan cleveland.com Top 25, pulled distant successful nan 4th fourth to return a 15-point lead. Johnson led overmuch of it pinch 3 of his 7 3-pointers successful nan last period. Sophomore defender C.J. Williams added 10 points and recovered Johnson connected 3 of his 3s.
Williams vanished pinch 4 assists and 3 steals successful what he called a “must-win game” aft nan Bulldogs mislaid 3 games astatine nan highly dressed up City of Palms Invitational successful Florida.
“After coming down from Florida aft each those games, it was beautiful reliable for us,” Williams said.
The 3 teams they played had aggregate Division I assemblage recruits, headed to schools specified arsenic Duke and Indiana.
Against Glenville (2-4), which reached past season’s Division IV authorities semifinals, nan Bulldogs overcame a beardown effort by nan Tarblooders’ starting five. Jahi Hobson led them pinch 16 points earlier fouling out. Arvell Nelson Jr. added 15 points, including a 3-pointer astatine nan buzzer for nan last score. Gio Ramos added 14 points and 16 rebounds, while Garry Pritchett Jr. had 14 points earlier leaving pinch a limb wounded successful nan fourth.
Their crippled was 1 of 5 played Sunday astatine Garfield Heights. Here is what other happened:
- A banner twelvemonth for precocious schoolhouse athletes passim NE Ohio: editorialDec. 26, 2025, 5:59a.m.
- Who are nan apical boys hoops players successful nan Class of 2029? Our picks, your votes (poll)Dec. 25, 2025, 8:05a.m.
- Who are nan apical boys hoops players successful nan Class of 2028? Our picks, your votes (poll)Dec. 24, 2025, 8:05a.m.
No. 2 Lutheran East 60, No. 10 Warrensville Heights 38: Sophomore defender Dylan Zeigler scored nan first and past points of nan Falcons’ convincing win, avenging past year’s nonaccomplishment to Warrensville astatine this event.
Zeigler, who vanished pinch 20 points, didn’t hide that.
“They were talking a batch of trash, and we took it disrespectfully,” Zeigler said, “and we took it to them.”
Zeigler knocked down 1 of his 2 3s early to get nan Falcons (6-0) going, and he capped disconnected nan nighttime pinch a slam dunk earlier clip expired.
The Tigers (3-3) hung astir done nan first half. They trailed by only 2 points aft 1 4th and six astatine nan break. Their fierce defense, filled pinch presses and traps, is what Zeigler and his teammates said they expected.
They adjusted accordingly pinch speedy passes to break that defense. Junior constituent defender Chris Hill served arsenic nan maestro pinch 7 assists, including a behind-the-back walk to freshman Bryce Irby for a slam dunk successful transition.
Hill scored 11 points and had 3 steals. Ocho Davis scored 13 points, while Warrensville sewage 8 points disconnected nan chair from Camden Hill.
No. 7 Hawken 87, Rhodes 80: Sophomore defender Ice Taylor scored a game-high 25 points, while elder Greg Price took location MVP honors for his 24 points, which included 9 successful a beardown commencement for nan Hawks (8-1).
They needed it, arsenic Rhodes (4-2) rallied wrong 5 points successful nan 4th quarter. Senior defender Jahavi Dye led nan Rams pinch 20 points. He scored 15 successful nan 4th pinch 3 of his 4 3s successful that last stretch.
Hawken had a 21-point lead successful nan 3rd quarter, but turnovers fueled Rhodes’ comeback attempt.
No. 15 Akron Garfield 73, No. 12 Euclid 71 (2OT): Monty Thompson Jr.’s jump changeable from nan baseline hit nan buzzer successful nan 2nd overtime and lifted nan Rams (8-1), who needed much heroics conscionable to scope that point.
Senior defender Rayshawn Hamilton, who scored a game-high 27 points, forced nan 2nd overtime pinch a buzzer beater connected an over-the-head walk pinch 1.9 seconds near from Avanti Caldwell nether nan opposite-end hoop. Thompson, who scored 17 points disconnected nan bench, besides hit nan third-quarter buzzer pinch a 3-pointer. Thompson deed 3 3s, while Terion Chapman added 14 points and Reggie Edwards pulled down 11 rebounds.
Sophomore defender Mekhi Asberry led nan Panthers (5-3) pinch 19 points, including 5 3s. Kye Owens scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds pinch his 6-foot-8 frame.
Richmond Heights 74, Orange 56: The Spartans (5-5) scored nan first 14 points and maintained a lead of astatine slightest 8 points for nan remainder of their opener astatine Garfield Heights. Sophomore constituent defender Dereon Barber paced Richmond Heights pinch 21 points, while elder defender Khyell Moreland added 20 points, including 4 3-pointers.
Freshman defender Aaron Lewis, nephew of erstwhile Northeast Ohio standout Trey Lewis, scored 22 points to lead nan Lions (2-6) disconnected nan bench. He connected connected 4 3s.
