Girls Basketball: Pickerington Central rallies by Reynoldsburg 61-54
Thursday, November 30, 2023
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Pickerington Central’s Berry Wallace shoots over Reynoldsburg’s Sa’Mahn Johnson on Nov. 30 at Reynoldsburg. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Rylee Bess wasn’t particularly happy with her performance in the first half of the Pickerington Central girls basketball team’s season-opening game at Reynoldsburg.
But she didn’t let that get her down. Instead, she helped her team close out a victory over its rival.
The junior guard scored 13 of her 15 points in the fourth quarter to help the Tigers beat the Raiders 61-54 in an OCC-Buckeye Division game on Nov. 30.
“I had a rough first half,” said Bess, who also had four rebounds, a pair of steals and two assists for Central. “I just knew that I had to stay in it (because) my team needed me. No shots were falling (for me and) I was turning the ball over. It was just really frustrating for me. I just tried to keep my head in it and tried to stay calm. Then, in the second half everything fell for me.”
The Tigers trailed by as many as eight points on a couple of occasions in the third quarter.
Mikaila Asamoah had a pair of putbacks late in the third quarter to start a 20-3 run that put the Tigers (1-0, 1-0) up for good.
Pickerington Central’s Rylee Bess puts up a shot while Malaya Collins of host Reynoldsburg defends Nov. 30. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Ameera Jenkins knocked down a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the third to pull Central even at 43.
Berry Wallace knocked down a 3 to open the scoring in the fourth and Rylee Bess got a steal and then knocked down a 3. Later, Bess collected an offensive rebound, dribbled outside where she left alone and knocked down another 3 and all of a sudden, Central was up 54-43.
“It’s such a good rivalry because these kids know each other and they play summer ball against each other,” Central coach Chris Wallace said. “It’s more than just a regular game. It doesn’t matter what the records are. This is a game about runs and withstanding the runs. We have a young group and we’re trying to figure stuff out and these are the types of games that help you figure stuff out.”
Berry Wallace carried the Tigers in the early-going, knocking down all eight of her free throws in the first quarter. She added a 3-pointer late in the quarter to help Central take a 19-11 lead.
But defense helped the Raiders (2-1, 0-1) fight back. They had six steals in the second quarter, led by Malaya Collins’ three, and Aubree Price scored 10 of her team-best 18 points to give Reynoldsburg a 31-29 lead at the break.
Pickerington Central’s Kennady Gordon guards Reynoldsburg’s Malaya Collins on Nov. 30 at Reynoldsburg. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Price and Collins bookended an 8-0 run with a pair of 3s early in the third quarter.
Berry Wallace had 17 points in the first half to help the Tigers build a and finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds and a pair of steals.
“It was about slowing the game down (and) not focusing on how big the moment was,” Berry Wallace said. “We have a lot of new (players on) varsity this year. Bess is experienced as well. Her stepping up at the end and making plays. She has the ability to drive and shoot. So, they have to stop her too.”
Kennady Gordon added six points, four rebounds and three steals, Mikaila Asamoah had six points and six rebounds and Blossom Wallace had four rebounds and three steals for the Tigers.
Sa’Mahn Johnson had 12 points, five assists and four rebounds, Daniya McDonald also had 12 points and added six rebounds, a pair of blocks and two steals and Collins ended up with six points, eight rebounds, five steals and three assists for the Raiders.
“Our press gave us momentum,” Reynoldsburg coach Marshae Dotson said. “We got a lot of deflections and we got some steals. I think where we lost the game is that we just didn’t rebound. We gave up some wide open 3s that weren’t challenged.”
Pickerington Central’s Berry Wallace goes up for a shot against host Reynoldsburg on Nov. 30. Photo: John Hulkenberg