Punchers guards KO Lions

(Photo: Mifflin's John Glover IV looks back for instruction from his coach as Kenyon "KJ" Jones prepares to help International defend the post.)

On a frigid day in Columbus, Ohio where the high was expected to be 18 and the low was six degrees, high school basketball was an escape for many athletes including International and Mifflin boys basketball squads.

Despite its 3-6 start, International had a realistic chance of winning four of its previous five games. Outside of a 74-46 stinker against nearby rival Beechcroft on January 5, International's other two losses in its last five games have been by just four and five points.

Mifflin entered the game at 4-7 and winners three straight contests. While International went 1-2 against Whetstone, Centennial and East, Mifflin swept the three teams. The one common theme between Mifflin and International was that all of those games against the same opponents were reasonably close.

On Jan. 16, the two teams did battle on International's home floor to see which was best just one night after the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. When the final buzzer sounded, it was Mifflin that cleverly outlasted International 77-65.

Mifflin junior guard John Glover IV picked apart the younger more inexperienced guards of International, scoring 19 of his 24 points in the second half. His backcourt mate senior Mike Woodyard scored 23 points, doing most of his damage to International in the first half. He scored his first 14 points all in the opening quarter.

Three-point shooting lifted Mifflin and buried International. The visiting Punchers made nine triples, eight in the first three quarters, while International made just one. The only aspect that gave Mifflin any concern was the obstructive International front court of senior Kenyon "KJ" Jones and freshman Pharoahe Zaire. Both players towered over all others standing at 6-9.

Early in the contest the two found each other for baskets as they dominated the paint for much of the night. Jones led all scorers with 36 points, including a 16-point fourth quarter. Zaire was second in scoring for International with 15 points to go along with 12 rebounds in his fourth double-double of the season.

Despite the size advantage, International couldn't get out of its own way with multiple turnovers and lackluster perimeter defense, which has been its biggest problems throughout the season. Both teams had three guards in its rotation throughout the game. Mifflin's top three guards outscored International's 60-12.

International continues its season at home tonight against Marion Franklin, while Mifflin will do battle against Linden-McKinley on Friday.

Men's College Basketball Scores

Jan. 15

Michigan 73, Ohio State 65

Michigan took a 37-28 lead into the half and held on to win by eight against rival Ohio State. The Buckeyes had a miserable night from three-point territory, making just three of 25 attempts. Michigan on the otherhand was an excellent 12-23 for 52.2 percent beyond the arc.

Senior forward Terrance Williams II led the way for Michigan as he was a perfect 5-5 from three. The Clinton, Maryland native scored 18 points which was second best for the Wolverines. Williams is 9-14 from three in his last three games and is shooting a career best 44.9 percent for the season. His shooting has improved drastically as he canned just 25 percent of his triples last year.

Michigan was led by senior forward Olivier Nkamhoua's 20 points. The Helsinki, Finland native is averaging 17.1 points so far this season. Ohio State was led in scoring by Bruce Thornton who scored 19 points. The 6-2 sophomore is averaging 16.8 points but has only scored 16 or more points in two of his last seven contests.

Visiting Ohio State dropped to 12-5 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten, while Michigan is now 7-10 and 2-4 in conference competition.

Princeton 76, Dartmouth 58

Princeton's Matt Allocco shot the lights out on his home court as his 25 points and five assists paced his team to its 14th win of the season. Now at 14-1 and 2-0 in Ivy League play, Princeton is looking like a team to look out for when March Madness arrives. Allocco shot 5-6 from three and 4-4 from the free-throw line as he posted nearly a third of his team's points.

The senior guard from Hilliard, Ohio, began the season scoring at least 20 points in three of his first seven games. This performance was his first time with 20 points or more in his last eight contests. Allocco is having his best career season averaging a career best 13.9 points while shooting a career best 55.1 percent overall, 49.1 percent from three and 88.9 percent from the free-throw line.

Dartmouth was led by Brandon Mitchell-Day's 15 points. The Big Green is 4-11 and 0-2 in the Ivy League.