IRISH VISIT BROOKHAVEN FOR LAST NON-LEAGUE GAME

Scioto will visit tradition-rich Brookhaven on February 18 in a game that both teams hope will be a good tune-up for the upcoming district tournament.

Until last season, these teams had met only twice in tournament play. The Bearcats visited Dublin and snapped Scioto’s 18 game winning streak with an impressive 57-49 win.

In that game the Irish took a 26-25 lead into the locker room at the half, but Brookhaven took control in the third quarter with a stifling zone defense and patient offense. They outscored the Irish 12-2 in the quarter and took a 37-28 lead into the final stanza.

The teams met again in the District Final and Scioto once again had a one point lead heading into the locker room at the half. They turned the tables on the Bearcats and extended a 23-22 lead to 33-26 heading into the fourth quarter. Brookhaven tried to play catch-up, but the Irish made almost all their free throws down the stretch in pulling away for a 61-44 victory. It marked their first ever victory over Brookhaven in three tournament appearances and the school’s first boys basketball district championship.

Brookhaven stands 11-7 thus far this season, but the Bearcats have played a competitive non-league schedule that has included Dayton Dunbar, Sylvania Southview and Canton McKinley. They are in the tough Columbus City League North and have already faced #1 ranked Northland and a very good Beechcroft team twice.

There are a couple of familiar faces leading Brookhaven into this contest. Senior guard Terrence Watkins is scoring in bunches – recording several games with 30 or more points. He scored a team high 13 points in last year’s district final. He is joined by fluid 6-8 post Craig Sealey – a solid scorer around the basket with good hands who is also a strong post defender.

Irish fans can expect a hostile environment for this one as Brookhaven’s gym is relatively small and will include many City League fans taking in a game between two of the better Division I programs in central Ohio.

Scioto comes into the game with an overall 17-1 record and has already clinched an outright Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division title with a 13-0 league slate.

The JV game is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity will follow at around 7 p.m.