Gahanna looks like an Ohio state hoops contender

One of the biggest shocks of the boys basketball postseason last March happened when Lincoln (Gahanna) blew out the state's No. 1-ranked team, Northland (Columbus), 71-45 in a Division I regional championship game.

The Lions, fresh off their first state semifinal berth but with an almost entirely new cast, don't appear to have taken a step back so far this winter. With a 61-41 victory last Wednesday over previously unbeaten North (Pickerington), Lincoln is off to a 6-0 start. The Lions have outscored their opponents by an average of 30.3 points.

"We have a very deep, experienced and cohesive senior class," Lions coach Tony Staib said. "They've done a great job helping the program be at the level we're at and they want to make their mark their senior year. They feel very motivated. Last season's tournament run has really elevated our program to the next level, and we have very high expectations."

Gahanna has a talented senior guard in Ohio University signee Stevie Taylor to lead the way. One of only two returnees from a year ago when the Lions went 26-1, Taylor is averaging 18.3 points.

Taylor leads a nine-member senior class that also includes guards Jordan Martin and Jamel Morris and forward Trey Warr, a transfer from Reynoldsburg.

Against North (Pickerington), Taylor turned two steals into five points over the final 10 seconds of the third quarter to give the Lions a 47-35 lead. Gahanna then stretched the advantage to as much as 21.

"With me going to (Ohio University), I've learned what a good shot is," Taylor said. "You have to take the good with the bad, but I've known ever since my sophomore year that this would be my time this year."

PREPPERS BASKETBALL COACH RESIGNS
According to several news organizations including the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Chris Osolin has resigned as basketball coach at all-boys University School (Hunting Valley).

Osolin guided the Preppers to a 19-4 finish last season that included a Division II district runner-up finish. University School (Hunting Valley) went 14-0 in its first season in the Premier Athletic Conference last season and is off to a 3-0 start this winter. Terry Lipford, a director at the school, has taken over as interim coach.

GARFIELD HEIGHTS OFF TO PERFECT START
The Garfield Heights boys basketball team bombed St. Peter Chanel (Bedford), a Division IV state semifinalist last season, 79-57 last Tuesday to improve to 5-0.
With Jermaine Davis (6-foot-9, 270 pounds) and Mike McQueen (6-7, 265) leading the way, the Bulldogs went on a 15-2 spurt to lead 39-26 by halftime. Senior guard Trey Lewis finished with 20 points and eight assists and 6-6 guard Tony Farmer contributed 19 points and 14 rebounds.


HOOPS EVENT RETURNS TO PICKERINGTON
The host Pickerington North girls basketball team will look to defend its championship at the KeyBank Holiday Classic from Tuesday through Thursday.

This marks the 25th year that Dave Butcher, who led Pickerington to six state championships before the district split into two schools for the 2003-04 school year, has put together an eight-team tournament between Christmas and New Year's.

One team back in the field after finishing fifth at the KeyBank Classic is Chaminade Julienne (Dayton), which went on to reach a Division II state semifinal last year.

The host Panthers beat Louisville (Ky.) DuPont Manual 56-46 for the title last year to win the title at their home tournament for the first time since 2003.

The other teams in the field are Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls), Blackman (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), Marion County (Lebanon, Ky.), Pittsburg Mount Lebanon, Twinsburg and Warrensville Heights.

TOP PERFORMERS
* Matthew Bingaya, Delaware boys basketball: The junior guard scored 29 points, including making three 3-pointers, to lead his team to a 63-34 victory over Big Walnut (Sunbury) last Tuesday. The Pacers improved to 6-1 with the victory.

* Mary McDonnell, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin (Chardon) girls basketball: McDonnell finished with 18 rebounds and 10 blocked shots in addition to scoring 11 points to lead her team to a 51-25 victory over Our Lady of the Elms (Akron) last Tuesday.

* Evan Payne, Walsh Jesuit boys basketball: During a 60-51 victory over Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy on Dec. 23, the junior guard finished with 36 points including four 3-pointers. He also added six rebounds and three assists.

COMING THIS WEEK
* Brecksville Holiday Tournament, wrestling: The 50th annual event will begin Wednesday and conclude with finals from 6:30-10 p.m. Thursday. There are expected to be seven returning individual state champions, three returning state runners-up and 54 total state placers at the event, which will have 45 teams in attendance including defending Division I state champion Wadsworth and defending Division III state champion Monroeville. Wadsworth has won the last three Brecksville titles.

* Watterson Classic, girls basketball: The Bishop Watterson (Columbus) girls basketball team will be host to eight games Tuesday and Wednesday at the Watterson Classic. At 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Bishop Ready (Columbus) will face Mother of Mercy (Cincinnati) in a matchup of distinguished coaches. While Ready coach Joe Lang won his 400th game last January, Mother of Mercy coach Mary Jo Huismann won her 600th career game earlier this season. Other teams at the event are expected to include Dublin Jerome (Dublin), Upper Arlington (Columbus), Magnificat (Rocky River), Hilliard Darby (Hilliard) and Mercyhurst Prep (Erie, Pa.).

GRANT TO COMMIT IN JANUARY
According to a report in the Akron Beacon Journal, St. Vincent-St.Mary (Akron) defensive back Doran Grant will announce his college decision during the Under Armour All-America Football Game which will air at 7 p.m. on Jan. 5 on ESPN.

Grant, who is considered by many to be the top 2011 recruit in Ohio, is expected to select Ohio State or Michigan State.

Although Grant raved to the Beacon Journal about Ohio State's facilities, his father, Ted Jones, played for Michigan State in the early 1980s.

MORE RECRUITING NEWS
According to ScoutingOhio.com, Lima Central Catholic junior Michael Tyler O'Connor has received a scholarship offer from Toledo. A 6-foot-3, 208-pounder who also previously received an offer from Bowling Green, O'Connor finished 141-for-231 for 2,516 yards passing with 27 touchdowns and rushed for 470 yards and 13 scores at quarterback. He also averaged 43.7 yards per punt, made three field goals and was 52-for-56 on extra-point attempts while earning first-team all-state at punter. Lima Central Catholic lost to Youngstown Ursuline 51-36 in a Division V state semifinal to finish with a 12-2 record. … Central (Pickerington) senior defensive back Tamani Carter is sifting through offers from six Division I schools. Although Arizona, Iowa and Stanford are at the top of his choice list after each offered him during the past football season, he said he likely won't decide until mid-January. … Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls) senior defensive end Reed Remington has been offered a scholarship by Holy Cross, according to several news outlets including the Beacon Journal. He also has offers from Bucknell and Wayne State.

BRIEFLY
The host Shaker Heights boys basketball team beat St. Ignatius (Cleveland) 72-56 in the opening game of the Bob Wonson Classic last Tuesday. The Raiders got 13 points from Brett Thomas and 11 from Terry Rozier. The event is named after the school's former boys basketball coach, who died in March of 2009.

Jarrod Ulrey covers Central and Northern Ohio for MaxPreps.com. He covers prep sports for ThisWeekSPORTS.com and can be reached at julrey@thisweeknews.com.