Harvest Prep charge short-circuits stellar season for Utica’s boys

On Feb 26, 2023

CANAL WINCHESTER ― Brody McDaniel hobbled off the floor with a first-quarter ankle injury, but still was able to limp back on and enjoy a memorable last game.

He and Utica’s five other seniors were not ready to see another successful season end, and it might not have, save for a withering 19-0 third-quarter run by host Harvest Prep.

The Redskins trailed by just two at half, fell behind by 21 and rallied back to within 10, but it was not enough against the athletic and skilled Warriors , who advanced to the Division III district semifinals with a 78-62 win Saturday night. Fifth-seeded Prep (17-6) now plays fourth seed Northridge (18-5) at 7 p.m. Monday at Westerville Central.

Trenton Collins scored 21 points in his final Utica game and for the second time this season, McDaniel hit six 3-pointers and scored 18 points. However, the explosive Warriors put four in double figures, including two seniors playing their final game in The Cave at Dennis Court, and the Redskins simply couldn’t keep pace. Prep hit a stellar 30-of-52 from the field for 58 percent, including a blistering 71 percent (17-of-24) over the final two quarters as the Warriors revved up their fast break.

“They started shooting the ball really well, and we started running at them and allowing them to get open,” said Utica coach Brian Radabaugh, whose team completed a second consecutive 15-9 season and had another tournament win. “We played really well in the first half, and were happy with where we were. But I think it took a lot out of us. We were still getting good shots in the second half, but they weren’t falling, and they took advantage.”

The Warriors jumped ahead 15-6 at the start, but Roman Gamble made two foul shots and had a 3-point play, pulling Utica within 15-11. Twice, the Redskins tied it in the second quarter, on a fast break layup by Dylan Yates and Gavin Chinn’s rebound off his own miss. But they could never take the lead. Prep re-built a 28-21 lead, only to see Utica rally again, with Zach Heckman making two free throws, Collins scoring inside and McDaniel knocking down a 3, off a Gamble assist, pulling the visitors within 30-28 at the break.

Collins scored on an offensive rebound as the Redskins were down 32-30 two minutes into the second half, before the flood gates opened. With Utica shooting just 4-of-12 from the floor, Prep started getting runouts and making 3-pointers, including three in a row that helped suddenly open a 51-30 lead before the Redskins scored again, on Collins’ tip in at 1:38 of the third. Utica didn’t quit. Collins had nine quick points ending the third, including a 3-pointer, and McDaniel drilled a pair of 3s in the fourth that chopped the deficit to 55-45. He had two more down the stretch, but the Warriors made 9-of-11 foul shots and hit 7-of-9 from the floor in the fourth.

“I rolled my ankle there in the first quarter,” McDaniel said. “I figured that instead of me sitting there and watching, I was going to get back out there and leave it all on the court. We played them (Prep) as freshman and sophomores, and we were not going to back down from them. They just starting hitting some shots, and we weren’t able to get stops.”

“He sprained it (the ankle) pretty badly there,” Radabaugh said. “We left it up to him whether he would go back in, and he said he was good to go. It was pretty impressive.”

The Warriors have a good mix of experience and youth. Nyelle Shaheed, a 6-foot-5 senior, scored 22 points, and senior point guard Zyaun Hutson added 14. Meanwhile, 6-1 sophomore Brandon Roddy hit for 17 points and 6-4 freshman Ephraim Campbell clicked for 13.

Prep also made an excellent 12-of-15 free throws for 80 percent, while Utica went 15-of-22 for 62 percent. Gamble added 13 points and three assists for the Redskins, who finished 20-of-43 from the floor for 46 percent.

Radabaugh said it was especially hard giving his postgame speech to the seniors.

“This was a special group, and they put Utica basketball back on the map,” he said. “It’s been a two-year process, and they’ve instilled a good tradition. They can leave with their heads held high. Now, the younger kids have seen what it takes.”

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