Kent Roosevelt’s Tyrel Ellington holds his follow through after releasing the game-winning 3-pointer on Friday.
Special to Portage Sports

By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

BOYS BASKETBALL

KENT ROOSEVELT 55, HIGHLAND 53

Tyrel Ellington hit the game-winning 3-pointer from the top of the key, then a defensive stand in the game’s closing seconds gave the Rough Riders a thrilling victory over Highland on Friday in Kent.

Ellington’s heroics were set up by him getting a rebound off a missed free throw and were the last of his team-high 15 points.

And most important.

“With us coming off of a tough loss Tuesday against a very good Copley team, we bounced back the perfect way,” first-year Kent Roosevelt head coach Curtis Black said. “We played our best four quarters of basketball, everyone contributed and our guys left it all on the floor.

“The trust we have in our guys, as a staff, showed true in moments like tonight with Tyrel not hesitating to take and make the big shot.”

Jeremiah Lepp also scored in double-digits for the Riders with 12 points.

GARFIELD 55, CHAMPION 35

The G-Men won a lopsided Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference game over the Flashes, with sophomore Preston Gedeon leading the way with a game-high 24 points.

Gedeon buried three 3s, as did senior Jackson Sommer, who finished with 12 points.

Carter Bates also reached double figures with 10 points.

The Flashes led 15-13 after the first quarter, but then the Garfield defense kicked in and held Champion to single-digit quarter outputs the rest of the way.

Garfield led 2-422 at halftime, the began to pull away with a 13-4 third quarter.

Champion was led in scoring by Hunter Haines, who finished with eight points.