Boys HS Basketball: Pickerington North Tops Olentangy Liberty, Thanks To Keene, Alston

By Logan Kelleher

The game started off close. But it only stayed that way for a few minutes, as Pickerington North jumped out to double-digit lead. Llwyatt Hofer made a free throw to cut the deficit to single digits, with a 21-12 score at the end of the first.

Jeremiah Keene, for Pickerington North, started with 8 of his 22 points tonight in the first quarter, and Dan McFarland led Liberty with 4 points, which would end up being the only points he scored for the night, reaching that amount in fouls as well by the end of the night with 4.

The second quarter was underway, and Pickerington North held on to their lead the whole way through, but Mitchell Kershner made an early quarter three to cut it to six. Then, Tyrell Collier scored the next five points to put it back into double digits. Philip Alston contributed with eight points in the quarter, but two threes by Nick Nakasian and Henry Hinkle for Liberty cut the lead to six again.

The lead went right back to Pickerington North though, with two Alston baskets in a row, coming off of Julian Malone assists. Malone would finish with six assists in the game. Hofer scored to make it 34-26, but then Noah Voorhies made his second basket of the game to put it back into double digits.

The game stayed in favor of Pickerington North, as Keene and Alston combined for 20 of the final 34 points, and for Liberty, Nick Nakasian scored 12 of his 17 for the night in the second half.

The scoreboard at the end of the game showed a final score of 70-56, as Pickerington North got a solid road victory.

Scoring for each team was as follows:

Olentangy Liberty – Nick Nakasian, 17; Llwyatt Hofer and Henry Hinkle, 8; Mitchell Kershner, 7; Jack Metzger and Joey Thatcher, 5; Dan McFarland, 4; Mitchell Okuley, 2.

Pickerington North – Jeremiah Keene, 22; Philip Alston, 14; Julius Brown, 9; Julian Malone, 7; Noah Voorhies and Charles Perkins, 6; Tyrell Collier, 5; Chase Perkins, 1.