NEWARK ― Ty Gilbert earned bragging rights in his final game at Newark’s Jimmy Allen Gymnasium.
And it came against former Wildcats’ teammate Jake Quackenbush, along with future teammate and roommate, and longtime friend Jordan Kaminsky of Heath on April 17.
Not surprisingly, Gilbert sank six 3-pointers for 18 points as his visiting District 11 all-star team shot past Quackenbush and Kaminsky’s home all-stars in a 130-124 shootout where defense was optional.
Quackenbush’s 25-point effort, which included a trio of 3s and dunks, and Kaminsky’s 18 that featured four slams, were not enough to offset the visiting team’s 18 3s and six double-figure scorers. That included 22 points by Licking Valley’s Zane Hancock, all on 2-pointers, and 13 from Utica’s Hunter McKinney.
“He takes all the shots anyway,” Gilbert joked about Quackenbush. “I had never gotten to play with guys like Zane or Cayden (Strasser) of Granville, so that was cool.”
Gilbert and Kaminsky will not only play basketball at Otterbein, they will room together. Gilbert will also play golf for the Cardinals.
“It’s a reunited thing. It goes back to our childhood,” Gilbert said. “We played basketball with each other in elementary school. It’s been a busy week. I’ve also been playing a lot of golf.”
Said Kaminsky: “I’m really excited about playing together again. We’ve always lived in the same neighborhood.”
River Valley’s Chase Smith also buried six 3s and led the winners with 24 points, while Pickerington North’s J.R. Bates added 17 points and Cayden Penha of Fairfield Christian chipped in with 14.
Gilbert’s team led most of the way, including 62-57 at halftime and 89-75 before Quackenbush’s team made a late charge. Twice, they chopped the deficit to 2, before McKinney made a pair of layups and a clinching 3 from the top of the key.
“Coming out here with all these other seniors, it was mostly for fun,” McKinney said. “Getting to play with Division I and Division II players made it special.”
McKinney won’t be playing basketball collegiately, as he begins an apprenticeship to become an electrician. However, he’ll still be playing AAU ball this summer.
“I just have to keep playing,” he said.
Olentangy’s Quentin Page drilled eight 3-pointers and led the losing team with 28 points. Johnstown’s John Eckenrode and Fredericktown’s Gavin Toombs added 14 apiece and Trenton Wells of Mount Vernon scored 13.
GIRLS GAME
Baker, Cermak key
Utica’s Callie Baker and Northridge’s Ruby Cermak have gone head-to-head for years, including the last four in the Licking County League-Cardinal Division.
In the District 11 girls all-star contest, they hit back-to-back late 3s to help their home team stave off the visitors 61-59.
The winners held a 46-44 edge when Baker made a 3 from the left wing. Then, she assisted Cermak on a 3 from the right wing, getting the lead out to 52-44.
“It seems like we’ve been playing against each other for like eight years,” said Baker, who will continue her career at The College of Wooster. “This was really a lot of fun.”
Said Cermak, who will attend COTC and pursue a career in radiology: “After all that time, we finally got to play with each other.”
Her Northridge and District 11 coach, Bill Mitchin, got to finish with another win. He is stepping aside after leading the Vikings to the Division VI district finals and a record number of victories.
“He was always about winning, and so were we,” Cermak said. “We liked it a lot.”
The home team led most of the way, including 30-23 at halftime, before Johnstown post player Lauren Baughman swished a 3 from the left wing, giving the visitors their first lead of the game at 35-34. They went up 42-38, but the winners then went on a 14-2 run.
Marion Pleasant’s Brooklyn Davis was the only player in double figures for the winners with 13 points.
Centerburg’s Kenlee Fairall scored 6 quick points down the stretch as she tried to rally the losing team, and led them with 13 points. Baughman, who made a pair of 3s, and Bloom-Carroll’s Whitney Passen, who hit three beyond the arc, added 12 points each.
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Former, future teammates clash in District 11 all-star basketball
Reporting by Dave Weidig, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
