Basketball Recap: Montael Davis' Big Game Can't Quite Lead Independence over Walnut Ridge

Independence lost against Walnut Ridge back in January and unfortunately they wound up with the same result on Friday. The Independence 76ers took a 62-49 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Walnut Ridge Scots. While losing is never fun, the 76ers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Ohio basketball rankings (they are ranked 721st, while the Scots are ranked 142nd).

Montael Davis

Points (Career)

01/31/25 vs Walnut Ridge	12
01/08/25 @ Walnut Ridge	11
01/25/25 vs Cristo Rey	10
01/17/24 @ Centennial	10
01/16/24 @ Walnut Ridge	10

Independence's loss came despite a true team effort with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Montael Davis, who posted 12 points. Those 12 points gave Davis a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Darren White-Tyler, who scored 11 points.

Deion Samuels was nothing short of spectacular for Walnut Ridge: he went 6 of 12 en route to 17 points in addition to five boards and four steals. The team also got some help courtesy of Lee'Sean Saunders, who went 7 for 11 to rack up 16 points.

Independence's defeat dropped their record down to 3-17. As for Walnut Ridge, they have been performing incredibly well recently as they've won nine of their last ten matchups, which provided a nice bump to their 14-4 record this season.

Independence wasted no time getting back out on the court and has already played their next game, an 82-53 loss against Eastmoor Academy on the 4th. As for Walnut Ridge, they have also already played their next contest, a 72-45 defeat against Olentangy Orange on the 1st.