Jason Morrow:
Future150 National Editor/ Midwest Recruiting. Covering high and middle school basketball. OH,IN and IL.
DUBLIN, OH (Future150) -- Well, if that was any indication of how the 2014-15 season will go, those in Central Ohio may want to buckle up for a wild ride.
Hilliard Bradley led by as many as 17 in the first half, but two key second-half runs by Dublin Jerome, capped off by Seve Stavroff's game-clinching free-throws with :0.5 left gave the Celtics a 56-55 victory on Tuesday night. Stavroff had 8 of his team-high 17 points in the second-half comeback that saw Jerome (2-0, 1-0) erase a 35-22 halftime deficit.
The Celtics retook the lead in the closing seconds after a long-range three from freshman Braden Norris with just over eight seconds remaining in the game. Norris was an effective distributor on the night, dishing out five assists to go with his eight points and three rebounds.
Norris was not the only freshman for Hilliard Bradley (1-1, 0-1) that was impressive, albeit in the loss. Forward Isaiah Speelman was a big part of the early 22-8 run to start the game for the Jaguars, scoring 10 his team-high 17 points in the opening two quarters. Speelman's presence around the rim is a much needed addition for Bradley.
Speelman and the Jaguars pushed the lead to 29-12 late in the first half, but the Celtics never quit fighting. Led by three juniors in Stavroff, guard Mason Baich and forward Colton Irion, Dublin Jerome would go on an 8-2 run to open the second half. Baich was key all night offensively, but he was instrumental in that run by using his defense, sticking his hand in the passing lane for multiple steals. Baich finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, five steals and a block.
Jerome took the lead for the first time in the game at the 5:05 mark, thanks to senior Alex Cline's three. That was Cline's only field goal in the game, but he did pull in four rebounds as well. Baich would help expand the lead to three just a possession later.
The win pushes the Celtics to 2-0 on the year, 1-0 in OCC-Cardinal play while Bradley falls to 1-1, 0-1 in league play.
Hilliard Bradley: 18 17 13 7 - 55
Dublin Jerome: 8 14 18 16 - 56
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