HIRAM, OH- The varsity boys game two at Hiram College Pryce Gymnasium got underway shortly after 5:00 PM. It was a marquee matchup of two of the top boys teams in Portage County. The 11-0 Red Devils were fresh off of a win over Berkshire while the 9-3 G-MEN looked to bounce back from a tough loss at Labrae. The game also featured the County's top two scorers in Preston Gedeon of Garfield and Dekota Johnson of Crestwood. The Red Devils used a big 2nd quarter run to propel them to a 77-42 win.
It was a packed house on both sides to see this anticipated rivalry matchup. Garfield got off to a fast start after an Aidan Hill three and Cade Rock score inside to take a 5-0 lead.
Steve Lincoln would get a three right back for Crestwood to get them rolling.
After a pair of Preston Gedeon free throws for Garfield, Crestwood would score five straight after a Bryce Giel three to take a 9-7 lead. After trailing 12-8, the G-MEN would score the final four points to tie it up at 12 after one.
Garfield outscored Crestwood 6-3 to start the 2nd capped off by a Devin Bates score inside to take an 18-15 lead.
That would be the last points of the half for the G-MEN. Dekota Johnson and Steve Lincoln took over as they led a 15-0 run to close the half with 10 of them coming from Johnson.
That 15-0 run propelled the Red Devils to a 30-18 lead at the half after outscoring Garfield 18-6 in the 2nd. Johnson led all scorers with 13 points and a pair of three's. Lincoln chipped in 11 with a trio of three's. Gedeon had 8 for the G-MEN.
Dekota Johnson opened the third quarter scoring with a three ball making it an 18-0 run going back to quarter two putting Crestwood up 33-18.
Preston Gedeon would score four straight to cut the deficit back to single digits at 33-24.
Another Johnson three a few minutes later followed by a Brody Durham turnaround jumper put the Red Devils up 43-28.
Garfield scored four straight to cut it back to 11 before Crestwood outscored them 10-2 to close the 3rd quarter with a 53-34 lead.
There was no letup to start the 4th as six straight points for Crestwood opened the lead up to 59-34. The final two points came as a result of two free throws from Johnson after Gedeon was assessed a technical foul. Garfield would not get any closer than 24 points the rest of the way as Crestwood cruised to a 77-42 win. It was an ugly 4th for the G-MEN who were issued three technical fouls and a player ejection.
Dekota Johnson had a star performance with 29 points and four three's. Steve Lincoln chipped in with 14 and Brody Durham 13 including three straight three's in the 4th quarter.
Preston Gedeon was tops for Garfield with 17 points.
Crestwood looks to preserve their undefeated streak on Tuesday when they host West Geauga while the G-MEN will look to right the ship at home versus Champion that same night.
Postgame interviews with Dekota Johnson and head coach Josh Jakacki.