[OSUBasketballJunkie]

link

12/3/05

NCH trio outmuscles Tigers

The already fearsome trio of O.J. Mayo, Bill Walker and Keenan Ellis, who as sophomores led North College Hill to the Division III Ohio state championship last season, opened their junior seasons Friday with an 89-38 trouncing of Withrow at Fairfield High School.

None of the three are much taller than a year ago at 6-5, 6-6 and 6-11, respectively, how much more height do they need? but their presence on the court seemed to loom even larger, particularly at the defensive end.

"They just outmanned us. Look at their bodies they've been in the weight room, you can tell," said Withrow coach Steve Gentry.

"We've matured a lot, and they're still maturing," said NCH coach Jamie Mahaffey. "They are still 17 and 18-year-old kids. People look at them and don't realize they're kids, not NBA players."

Mayo again led all scorers with 26 points and racked up double-figures in assists as well. Walker had 14 points and Ellis 7 points, but NCH also got a strong contribution out of 6-5 senior forward Andre Evans, who was the second-leading scorer with 17 points.

The game was the season opener for both teams, and the debut of NCH's beefed-up non-conference schedule with big schools.

Withrow is ranked No. 7 in the Enquirer's Division I preseason coaches poll. NCH is No. 1 in the Division II-IV poll, and No. 6 nationally in USA Today's poll.

Withrow fell behind almost immediately and then suffered repeated lapses on the way to a 51-22 halftime deficit.

When NCH was pressuring the ball with its trapping defense, the game resembled a high school version of a PlayStation game. Mayo opened the game with a steal and a dunk, and the Trojans had three more before the end of the first quarter.

"It feels like we're pretty much the same players this year," Mayo said. "But our focus this year is to be a true team. It's not 'O.J. and the Trojans' or 'Bill and the Trojans.' "

Said Mahaffey: "Winning state was kind of a relief for these guys I think it's letting us be more focused as a team. Everyone knows their role, and no one is out there on the margin, doing their own thing."

"They probably have the best two players in the state (in Mayo and Walker)," Gentry said. "But the beat goes on for us. I think I found some players I know I can count on. We're going to have to shorten our bench. This was really a learning experience for us."

Withrow (0-1) - J. Howard 1 5 7, McCullar 1 0 2, Hisle 1 1 3, Frazier 1 0 2, G. Howard 4 2 11, Turney 1 0 2, McBride 0 2 2, Maupin 0 6 6, Bland 1 1 3. Totals: 10 17 38.
North College Hill (1-0) - Evans 7 3 17, Leary 1 0 3, Glover 2 3 8, Walker 5 4 14, Mayo 9 6 26, Ellis 3 1 7, Butler 2 0 5, Davis 4 1 9. Totals: 33 18 89.

Withrow121079-38NCH24272117-89
3-point goals:W G. Howard; NCH Leary, Mayo 2, Butler.