Howard outlasts City Life

(Photo: Howard's Ty'Sean Grice prepares for a first half free throw.)

We've all heard this quote in some kind of way.

"It is not how you start the race or where you are during the race, it is how you cross the finish line that will matter," is attributed to Robert D. Hales, a very successful businessman and religious leader.

On January 23, in Columbus, Ohio, those words proved to be true. After a rather easy 50-26 win on Jan. 17 by Howard over Schiller, it looked like Howard might steamroll through the Columbus Recreation and Parks' 18U Division. When Howard takes the court, every team and their parents notice. The most noticeable players are high school sophomore Pharoahe Zaire, who stands around six-foot-nine and 340 pounds and eighth grader Xander Jackson who is six-foot-four. Along with them is a strong cast of guards that would start on every other team in the league.

Once the second game of the season took place, City Life decided it was going to give all it had to end Howard's day with a loss. City Life had a heartbreaking loss the previous week to Lazelle Woods. After leading most of the game, Lazelle Woods scratched and clawed and gutted out a narrow win.

Like Lazelle Woods, Howard started out slow against City Life. Two of its top players during the first game of the season, Pharoahe Zaire and Sidy Balde had a less than desirable opening half against City Life. The Howard guards fed Zaire the ball early and he had three misses, two turnovers to go along with one assist in his first six times touching the ball. Balde struggled to score as well missing his first six shots as well.

City Life defended like their lives depended on it throughout the game. Thankfully, for Howard, it was able to rely on a deep roster. This week Ty'Sean Grice carried the load offensively as the team found its way. While Zaire and Balde struggled to score, everything went right for Grice. After missing his first shot he made his next three baskets, two of which rolled around the rim in dramatic fashion before circling through the net.

With Grice it wasn't just about scoring as he had three assists as well. The first was to his brother DiAngelo who confidently nailed a ten-foot floater in the first half. The last two proved to be more pivotal in the game.

Remember, we started this by talking about how it is important to finish strong, right?

About midway through the second half, Ty'Sean Grice penetrated through the defense which assumed he was trying to score. Instead he kept his head up and eyes open and found Pharoahe Zaire barreling down the lane. Zaire scored a layup which gave him six points at that moment.

(Photo: Sidy Balde scored two go ahead baskets for Howard in the second half.)

With 6:45 to play in the game Grice found Sidy Balde who nailed his first shot of the game which came from the midrange. That shot gave Howard a 31-30 lead. City Life hit one of two free throws on its next possession to tie things back up, 31-31. Howard came back and yet another Grice brother got in on the action as Sysco found Balde who drove to score on back-to-back possessions.

While Balde's baskets helped give Howard a late 33-32 lead, after another City Life free-throw, it was still anybody's game.

With just under two minutes to play, Pharoahe Zaire who'd been on the bench was inserted and called on to make an impact. With 58 seconds to play, Zaire was fouled while trying to score as his team clung on to a one-point lead. The big man had missed two free-throws earlier in the game and at that point had only made two of his first seven attempts of the season. City Life appeared pretty confident that he'd miss at least one.

Zaire, who prides himself on being a reliable free-throw shooter, channeled greats like Steph Curry, Mark Price and Rick Barry. The center hit both shots, all net, giving his team a 35-32 lead. The game by no means was over, due to City Life's love affair and ability to hit the three-point shot, which it had done very well in the first half.

(Photo: Pharoahe Zaire scores one of his team leading 12 points.)

The next possession a City Life shooter launched a three as Zaire ran out contest the shot. He missed. Howard got the ball back and Zaire made a good move in the post but missed the shot. Xander Jackson was alert and used his long frame to pulled down the offensive rebound. He missed his put-back, but Zaire was right there to rebound it and score making it 37-32 with 47 seconds to play.

On the next defensive possession, Zaire blocked a driving City Life forward. The Grice brothers along with Ke'Marquez Green used their grit to lock down City Life as Howard got the ball back. The fellas decided to get another basket as Zaire was fed the ball one last time. The 16-year-old giant made another impressive move which ended in two more points. He scored six of his 12 points in the final 58 seconds of the game as Howard won 39-32.

Despite their struggles, Pharoahe Zaire and Sidy Balde fought through a tough start and blazed through the finish line. Most importantly, their teammates continued believe in them and gave them chances to help deliver the win.

Howard is now 2-0 and will face 0-2 Far East next Thursday at the Willis Athletic Complex.

Northland off to a strong start

(Photo: Nehemiah McMorris, shot by: @flicksbysalt on Instagram)

The Northland Vikings are 11-3 and are on a five-game win streak. They've outscored their last three opponents 213-103. The Vikings are sharing the spotlight this season. In a win 72-55 win over neighborhood rival Beechcroft on Jan. 10, Nehemiah McMorris scored 29 points. In the following 60-43 victory over Linden-McKinley, Jaden Shoultz tallied 24 points. Just three days later Northland topped International 73-14, led by Vandell Slade's 16 points.

Tonight, Northland will host Whetstone in Columbus City League high school basketball action.

Centennial girls power through competition

(Photo: Kennedy Houston soars over a defender. Shot by @roncammedit on Instagram)

Centennial High School girls hoops program has gone from rags to riches. From 2021-2023, most teams in the Columbus City League expected wins when it faced Centennial. Those days are long gone. Kennedy and Kayla Houston along with post star Aza Corbett lead a feisty bunch of young women that have gone 27-4 over the past two seasons. So far they're 10-1 and unbeaten in the Columbus City League.

On Jan. 17, Centennial stopped Beechcroft 72-29 as Kayla Houston scored 22 points to go along with nine rebounds, four assists, four steals and a block. Her little sister Kennedy followed up with 19 points, nine steals and eight assists and Corbett had 15 points and 17 rebounds.

The Stars are living up to their nickname. They take on Mifflin tonight on the road.

Watch out for Jayden McClain

(Jayden McClain, shot by: @_nickkeith on Instagram)

Every time you pass by Florence, Kentucky on Interstate 75/Interstate 71, you can see a sign that reads, "Florence Y'all," on a gigantic water tower. Well next big thing you all are going to see in Florence is a 6-foot-5 eighth grade young woman named Jayden McClain. Kentucky is a state that permits middle schoolers to play high school athletics. She's currently the starting center for Ryle High School.

McClain is averaging 9.5 points and 8.5 rebounds after her first 14 games this season. She is also blocking 2.9 shots per game. McClain is also making noise on social media with an Instagram following of 15,400 plus. Be on the lookout for this future star.