Jaylen Minnett, TH South's talented sophomore, got the game started with some absolutely beautiful passes to junior forward Matt Deady, but on the other end, the small frontline of TH South had no answer on the interior for 6'6 Northern Kentucky signee Brennan Gillis. The lefthanded Gillis was able to get position on the block and turn and score over Deady and 6' Spence Tofaute. Gillis would end the period with nine points, giving Ben Davis a 16-12 lead after a quarter.

 

Jaylen Minnett would hit a pair of three pointers in the second as the lead would go back and forth between the two teams. Gillis continued his strong play on the inside, drawing fouls on drives form the high post area. Fouls began to mount up for the Braves, which cost them as freshman De'Avion Washington and Matt Deady sat out large portions of the first half with foul trouble. DeShon Tate looked to attack, creating opportunities for himself and his Giant teammates. But the lead at half would belong to South, as Jaylen Minnett drove to his right and hit a floater just before the horn to give the Braves a 30-28 advantage.

 

Minnett looked to pick up where he left off before halftime, hitting a runner from a nearly impossible angle and then a pullup three in the first 75 seconds of the quarter. Unfortunately for TH South, those would be the last points for Minnett on the night. The Braves would hold a 40-38 lead when the wheels began to fall off. Ben Davis was able to grab long rebounds and break out in transition with DeShon Tate and Datrion Harper and attack the rim. The Giants would end the quarter on a 10-0 run to lead by eight going into the fourth.

 

Brennan Gillis and Stephon Matthews would join the party too, and the run would eventually reach 17-0 before DeAvion Washington would hit a short jumper in the lane to stop the bleeding. The damage had been done, however, turning a 40-38 South lead into a 55-42 deficit. Tate would cap off an impressive performance with a couple of deep threes to stop any thought of a South comeback, giving the hosts a well earned 70-58 victory

 

TH South  14  16  10  18  -  58

Ben Davis 16  12  20  22  -  70

 

TH South: Jaylen Minnett 16 points (6/11 FGs, 4/9 3Ps), 7 asts; Matt Deady 11 points (5/7 FGs); DeAvion Washington 10 points (4/6 FGs); Conner Shipley 8 points (2/3 3Ps); LaShaun Grady 5 points; Spence Tofaute 5 points; Tre Minnett 3 points

 

Ben Davis: DeShon Tate 19 points (6/8 FGs, 3/5 3Ps, 4/4 FTs), 6 asts; Brennan Gillis 18 points (6/7 FGs, 6/8 FTs), 3 blks; Stephen Matthews 10 points (4/7 FGs); Datrion Harper 10 points; Josh Brewer 5 points; Tylor Shane 5 points; LeShaun Minor 2 points; Jason Solomon 1 point