Thursday, March 16, 2023
By Scott Hennen
shennen@cbussports.com

Nyelle Shaheed thought this high school basketball gig was a piece of cake.

As a freshman in 2020, he was starting for a Harvest Prep boys basketball team fresh off a Division III state championship and knocking on the door for another trip to a state semifinal.

However, as noted by the 2020 reference, it’s obvious where this story is headed.

The Warriors defeated Chillicothe Zane Trace in a Division III regional semifinal 58-46 only to have their regional final game against Proctorville Fairland postponed and later canceled along with the remainder of the season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s kind of like déjà vu because this was supposed to happen my freshman year until COVID ended it,” Shaheed said. “I just wanted to be here so bad. I just want to be able to win a state championship.”

Shaheed and the Warriors (21-6) will get their chance, making their first state semifinal appearance since 2019 when they suit up against third-ranked Cleveland Heights Lutheran East (20-5) at 2 p.m. March 18 at the University of Dayton. The final will be at 5:15 p.m. March 19 against top-ranked Ottawa-Glandorf (24-3) or seventh-ranked Africentric (23-5) at UD.

Unranked Harvest Prep battled their way through a regular-season gauntlet and a rugged Division III postseason slate to reach a state semifinal. The Warriors knocked off top-seeded Worthington Christian 61-44 on March 2 in a district championship at Capital.

Then they disposed of New Madison Tri-Village 54-45 on March 8 in a regional semifinal at Kettering Alter, and ninth-ranked Camden Preble Shawnee 59-46 in the final March 11 at Alter.

“(The players) remind me that we have been very disrespected,” coach David Dennis said. “We have been the underdog to everyone. No one has given us a chance at all, and rightly so. They don’t know what we have been through. They don’t know how hard we have worked. But we’ll be ready.”

The Warriors have faced some heavy hitters including the likes of defending Division III state champion Cincinnati Taft, defending Division IV state champion Richmond Heights, Division II state semifinalist Dayton Chaminade-Julienne and Division I regional semifinalist Westerville South to prepare for the postseason.

“We played Cincinnati Taft (63-50 loss Nov. 25) in that (season-opening) game and then played Richmond Heights (75-59 loss Nov. 26) the next day, that’s tough,” Dennis said. “It’s good that we did that though because that’s what the state tournament is going to be like on Saturday and Sunday. We did that with hopes of preparing them for what’s to come. Hopefully it pays off.

“We played Dayton Chaminade-Julienne (60-56 on Dec. 27) and Westerville South (65-62 loss Dec. 20) and Northland (62-53 loss Jan. 21) loss. You put all of that together, and we have been battle-tested.”

Shaheed, a 6-foot-5 senior wing, averages 15.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals to lead Harvest Prep. Junior Brandon Roddy, a 6-1 point guard, gets the offense in motion with 11.8 points, 4.5 assists and 2.6 steals.

“For me, I’m coming in focusing on what we do,” Roddy said. “We have been playing well as a team and if we keep doing that we should do great.

“A lot of the kids on our team can score and a lot of them can pass and rebound. We all have our roles on the team and we have to keep doing them.”

Senior guard Zyaun Hutson scores 12.1 per game with 2.4 assists, and 2.6 steals, and junior guard Adonus Abrams adds 9.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 3.8 steals.

Hutson said the team has balance but its defense is a difference-maker.

“Coach has been stressing defense and discipline,” Hutson said. “Defense wins championships. If we don’t let them score, we feel like we can get a bucket any time we need it.

“I would describe our defense as ‘nasty.’ It’s fast, physical, and we don’t take anything. We all have this mentality that my man can’t score. If you have five people with that mindset, it’s hard for other people to score.”

Like most teams, the Warriors have become a family as they have embraced the high points and endured the adversities. However, they get one more week together to practice, stay positive and enjoy the ride.

“We have to embrace the moment and not let an opportunity slip through our hands,” Hutson said. “I’m having fun with it while it’s still here but we have a job at hand. Right now we’re focused on a state championship.”

Shaheed echoed that sentiment.

“It’s kind of like I’m going to miss them but I’m enjoying the moment,” he said. “Our goal right now is to win a ring. Who else would I want to do it with than my guys? Right now we want to go hard every day in practice and make it to (the championship) Sunday.”

Dennis said the Warriors need to take advantage of their time in the spotlight.

“We have been together day in and day out,” he said. “There have been the good times, the bad, the blood, the tears, the celebration. This year is their time. It’s time to enjoy it.

“It’s hard to get there. We have spent so much time with them. It’s remarkable. I want this more for them than anything. There is nothing like winning and going to a state final four. Win or lose, we’re one of the best, and that’s something to be proud of.”