Girls Basketball: Grant, Africentric blow by Reynoldsburg
Saturday, December 16, 2023
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Africentric’s Kamryn Grant (24) drives past Reynoldsburg’s Sanai Jackson during the Nubians’ win at the “Battle in the 614” at Ohio Dominican Dec. 16. Photo: Kevin Rouch
What happens when one team has its best performance of the season while the other has its worst? A blowout.
Kamryn Grant caught fire in the first half and led the Africentric girls basketball team to a lopsided 79-35 win over Reynoldsburg in the Battle in the 614 event on Dec. 16 at Ohio Dominican’s Alumni Hall.
Grant, who missed last season because of knee injury, scored 15 of her 23 points from the middle of the first quarter through the break as Africentric built a 38-16 lead.
She finished with 23 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a pair of blocks to lead the Nubians (6-1).
“I (came) into the season a little bit nervous because of my injury,” Grant said. “It took a couple of games, but I’m getting used to my team again. It’s a great feeling overall – especially with all the hard practices and the work we’ve put in. It just feels good to show what we can do (and) it feels good to win like that.”
Africentric’s Natiah Nelson shoots a free throw during the Nubians’ win over Reynoldsburg at the “Battle in the 614” at Ohio Dominican Dec. 16. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Natiah Nelson led an 11-2 run in the first quarter that gave Africentric control with five points, an assist and a rebound.
Grant scored four points during the initial run, then added five points, three rebounds and an assist during an 11-0 run that bridged the first and second quarters.
Nelson finished with 18 points, five rebounds, three blocks and a pair of assists for the Nubians.
Jeniya Bowers had 14 points and three rebounds and Samairah Thompson added 10 points and five boards for Africentric, which won the rebounding battle 32-22 and had six blocks as a team.
“I know who we can be,” Nubians coach Janicia Anderson said. “Reynoldsburg is a well-coached team (and) those ladies work hard. I can’t say that I’m surprised (by the result) – I’m more just satisfied in the way we played.”
The Raiders (5-3) came in off a 13-point comeback at Dublin Coffman the previous night. No such magic existed against Africentric.
Reynoldsburg’s Sa’Mahn Johnson (5) looks to pass as Africentric’s Ashtan Winfrey (1) and Samairah Thompson defend during the “Battle in the 614” at Ohio Dominican. Photo: Kevin Rouch
It wasn’t magic that was needed according to acting Raiders coach Marshae Dotson.
“No heart,” she said. “We didn’t play with any effort. I don’t care if we had three games in a week – that effort was horrible.”
Aubree Price scored 14 points and added a pair of rebounds, Daniya McDonald had seven points and five boards and Sa’Mahn Johnson had eight assists and four rebounds to go with four points to lead the Raiders.
“We get back to the drawing board and we gotta push harder in practice,” Dotson said. “People are going to be challenged and maybe some rotations will be changed. People gotta step up and people gotta be tough and we were not tough tonight.”