Boys Basketball: Inside duo guides Upper Arlington past Worthington Christian
Monday, December 18, 2023
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
Upper Arlington’s Laken Rex goes up for a short jumper during the Golden Bears’ 66-53 win over Worthington Christian at Capital University Dec. 18. Photo: Kevin Lam
An early injury to one of its top players didn’t derail the Upper Arlington boys basketball team during its matchup against Worthington Christian on Monday in the 5 C’s Classic at Capital University.
The way Laken Rex stepped in to create a dual mountain inside for the Golden Bears proved to be a big reason they came away with a 66-53 victory.
UA has one of the state’s top sophomores in 6-foot-8 forward Alex Smith, who already has three Division I college offers and showed his versatility immediately by opening the game hitting a 3-pointer.
Rex is a 6-7 senior who has been a regular contributor off the bench but saw his minutes increase after junior forward Weston Gregg went down with an ankle injury midway through the first quarter and didn’t return.
In the fourth quarter, Rex scored 13 of his team-high 17 points, including completing a dunk, as the Bears improved to 2-2.
“I thought we played really tough,” Rex said. “Our guards played great. We were on the ball and attacked the press and got it inside. Our attitudes have improved so much this year.”
Worthington Christian, which dropped to 5-2, has another of the area’s top inside players in senior Cedarville-signee Sam Johnson.
Standing at 6-7, Johnson scored seven first-quarter points but picked up his second foul midway through the second quarter as UA opened up a 33-24 halftime lead.
Worthington Christian’s Sam Johnson (left) posts up against Upper Arlington’s Laken Rex during their game at Capital University Dec. 18 in the 5 C’s Classic. Photo: Kevin Lam
In the third period, Johnson had six points, two rebounds and two steals to help the Warriors get as close as 39-35.
“If we play physical, strong and focused, our size can be a problem for people,” UA coach Joe Bills said. “It was definitely an advantage we thought we’d have today, outside of Samuel Johnson. I thought Laken came in and did a great job. He came off the bench with Weston Gregg getting hurt early in the game. Laken’s a senior and he was ready. He stayed focused, and it was next man up. Weston’s another talented young man.”
Bills is in his first season as UA’s coach after heading Fisher Catholic from 2011-13 and then leading DeSales to a 58-41 mark from 2013-17 that included winning a Division II district title in 2016.
He served as an assistant at UA the last six seasons.
According to Smith, Bills has provided passionate leadership for a Bears’ team that opened with a 68-37 win over Mifflin on Dec. 2 before losing its next two.
Smith finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.
“Coming into my freshman year, I was really just a shooter, and I’ve wanted to expand (my game),” Smith said. “I like to say I’ve expanded my game, and it’s helped not just me, but my teammates.
“Our guards are really what did it (against Worthington Christian). They pressured the ball. (Worthington Christian only) had three 3s in the game, and (making 3s is) what they like to do.”
Upper Arlington’s Alex Smith (left) drives against Worthington Christian’s CJ Miller during the Golden Bears’ win at Capital University Dec. 18. Photo: Kevin Lam
Smith hit a 3-pointer with 7:42 remaining to give the Bears a 10-point lead, and Rex scored the game’s next two baskets as Worthington Christian never got within single digits again.
UA is 0-1 in the OCC-Central Division and returns to league play Dec. 22 at Olentangy Liberty, which has another of central Ohio’s top inside players in 6-9 Tyler Kropp.
“We’ve lost to two excellent teams in Hilliard Bradley (56-55 in overtime Dec. 8) and Pickerington North (45-27 on Dec. 15),” Bills said. “Worthington Christian is a very talented team, and we knew we were going to have to play well to compete with them. We’ve played some excellent competition, so we’ve got an early idea of where we are and what we need to improve upon. Hopefully we’re going to continue taking steps to get better because we’ve got another great test Friday heading to Olentangy Liberty.”
Johnson finished with 23 points and nine rebounds and senior guard Jonah Lewis had 18 points for the Warriors, who are 2-0 in the CBL heading into their matchup Dec. 22 at home against Bexley.
Worthington Christian also has a new coach this winter in Quintin Aden, who headed Independence the last four seasons.
“It’s early in the season, so we’re just trying to take it one day at a time and get better,” Aden said. “We’ve got to get better as a team altogether and in playing for each other. We’ve got the skills and we’ve got the talent. We have a little bit different personnel than I had at Independence, and they’re starting to come together. We’re looking better and better every game.
“(Johnson is) like our cheat code. When our execution falls apart, you can get it to him and he works hard and gets us what we need. (Lewis) is another senior captain and senior leader who works hard.”
Worthington Christian’s Jonah Lewis looks to pass in the game with Upper Arlington at Capital University Dec. 18. Photo: Kevin Lam