Freshman TJ Crumble shines in Lutheran East victory over Harvest Prep
Lutheran East (20-5) and Harvest Prep (21-6) met in the OHSAA semifinal round of the 2023 basketball tournament. From the opening tip, both teams were eager to gain an advantage and showcase their skills.
Harvest Prep's Brandon Roddy made his presence known early on, scoring their first seven points of the game with a combination of layups and a three-pointer. Lutheran East's Ronald Taylor responded with a three-pointer to put Lutheran East on the board, but Roddy continued with his hot hand, knocking down another three-pointer to give Harvest Prep a 10-5 lead.
Lutheran East's freshman TJ Crumble would not be outdone. Crumble kicked off his impressive performance, crashing the glass and getting multiple putbacks to keep his team in the game. Senior guard Cody Head also showed up early, hitting a crucial three-pointer to tie the game at 10-10.
Harvest Prep's London Foggie hit a three-pointer to put his team up 15-12 at the end of the first quarter, but Lutheran East began to take control in the second quarter. Crumble continued to dominate, scoring six straight points to give his team a 17-16 lead.
Crumble's strong play sparked an 11-0 run for Lutheran East, which included a fast-break dunk by Head and a big block by Crumble that he turned into a layup. The team went into halftime with a solid 29-20 lead.
In the second half, Lutheran East continued to pull ahead, outscoring Harvest Prep 19-6 in the third quarter alone. Crumble led the way, attacking the basket and finishing with a game-high 23 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Head also had an impressive showing (13 points, 3 Slam dunks), using his athleticism to throw down a windmill dunk and knock down crucial free throws.
Despite Harvest Prep's best efforts to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter, Lutheran East's resilience and tenacity enabled them to secure a decisive 65-44 victory. One of the keys to their success was their outstanding rebounding skills, as they outrebounded Harvest Prep by a 38-13 margin, McCulloch pulled down 12 of those boards. Additionally, Lutheran East dominated in the paint, scoring an impressive 48 points compared to Harvest Prep's mere 18. Roddy played a standout game for Harvest Prep, finishing with 17 points and 3 assists, while Hutson contributed 11 points. With this win, Lutheran East has secured their spot in the championship game and their teamwork and skill were truly on display for all to see.