Boys Basketball: Kropp jumpstarts Olentangy Liberty past Thomas Worthington
Thursday, December 14, 2023
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Olentangy Liberty’s Tyler Kropp works toward the basket while Thomas Worthington’s Nick Zalewski (40) and Eli Hammond (23) defend during the Patriots’ win Dec. 14 at Liberty. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Standing 6-foot-9, Tyler Kropp presents a difficult challenge for an opposing team. So, it was a conscious effort to get the junior post player involved early in the Olentangy Liberty boys basketball team’s game on Dec. 14.
Kropp scored the first four points as the host Patriots raced out to an eight-point lead and cruised to a 69-46 win over Thomas Worthington in non-league play.
“I’m good at finding other people and getting them involved,” Kropp said. “So, if we find me (early), they start to (double team) and my teammates get open. That just makes it so much easier.”
Kropp went for 23 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and two assists with eight in the first quarter with the other four starting a 13-0 run to close the frame with a 23-5 lead.
Olentangy Liberty’s Evan Nelson goes for the ball with Thomas Worthington’s Shaheem Nieves during the Patriots’ win Dec. 14 at Liberty. Photo: John Hulkenberg
“We try to play off of him,” Liberty coach Greg Nossaman said. “If he can score inside, then hopefully (opponents) will double him and then we can inside out and get some of the other guys involved. We don’t have guys that put the ball on the floor and shoot the 3 and create – we have to do it as a team.”
Liberty maintained an 18-point lead when Julian Johnson and Marlo Collins each hit 3s in the final minute with the latter beating the buzzer to help the Cardinals close within 31-19 at the break.
Julian Johnson scored five points during a 7-0 run in the third quarter that helped Thomas close within 10. But the Cardinals couldn’t get any closer.
Kropp scored a pair of baskets and Addy Bailey knocked down a 3-pointer during a 9-0 run that pushed the lead back out.
“Anybody that’s got eyes can tell that’s a damn good team,” Thomas coach Sean Luzader said. “They’ve got point guards and guys that can defend, they’ve got two big dudes (including) an all-star (in Kropp and Parker Von Engelenhoven).”
There are a lot of reasons why Kropp is a challenge for opposing teams.
Olentangy Liberty’s Addy Bailey (right) tries to move around Thomas Worthington’s Julian Johnson during the Patriots’ win Dec. 14 at Liberty. Photo: John Hulkenberg
“First of all, he plays hard (and) you can’t teach attitude and effort,” Luzader said. “He can score it inside, but he can shoot it. He can shoot a fallaway, he can drive it – he’s multidimensional.
“If you put your big guy on him, he steps out and he’s quicker than them and can shoot it over them because he’s already bigger than your big guy. If he goes inside, he’s bigger and tougher than your guy.”
JR Hocutt had 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, Evan Nelson had eight points, five rebounds and three steals for the Patriots.
Bailey added six points and five assists, Van Engelenhoven added seven points and a pair of assists for Liberty, which outrebounded Thomas 35-21 and had 13 steals, forcing 20 turnovers with 10 in the first quarter alone.
“We got off to a good start and then got lackadaisical,” Nossaman said. “We had a tough time passing and catching, which was really weird.”
Julian Johnson finished with 26 points and three steals, Kingston Johnson had five rebounds and Shaheem Nieves had three assists for the Cardinals, who had 11 steals and forced 16 turnovers.
Thomas Worthington’s Julian Johnson works on defense against Olentangy Liberty on Dec. 14 at Liberty. Photo: John Hulkenberg