Davidson's Defense, Jerome's Offense Excel in Semifinal Matchups

On a rainy evening in Central Ohio, the boys' regional semi-final games took place. The high-stakes matchups included No. 3 Hilliard Davidson hosting No. 5 Pickerington Central in a Region 3 clash, and No. 2 Dublin Jerome welcoming No. 6 Olentangy Orange in Region 1. Here are the standout players from each game, along with key takeaways from the action.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hilliard Davidson vs. Pickerington Central</h2>   I attended the Hilliard vs. Pickerington game, which started just as the rain stopped, making for nice weather. The first half of the game was back and forth. Davidson would go up by a couple of points, and then Central would bring it to within one. By the end of the first quarter, the score was 4-3. Central used nice transition play to keep it close but was still down by one. At the beginning of the second quarter, both teams settled in on defense, resulting in a lot more physical play. Davidson displayed a methodical offense, moving the ball and getting the look they wanted each time, which resulted in offensive success. They held the ball for much of the game, taking their time and choosing their matchups. Central's defense stood tall in the first half, tipping passes and causing turnovers when they could. By halftime, the score was 10-5, and Davidson was playing with confidence. The second half began with both teams' goalies making great saves, and the defenses limiting scoring opportunities. The Wildcats' faceoff and defensive units proved to be too much, using a 9-2 run in the second half to seal the win. Davidson's team has a chance of making it to the final four this year. Led by a group of skilled and experienced seniors who have faced tough, close losses, they are showing impressive form at the most crucial stage of the season.   Hilliard Davidson will travel to Upper Arlington on Friday, 5/31 for a rematch. The Golden Bears previously beat the Wildcats by one point earlier this season in a close game.    Clifford's presence was felt across the entire field as he seamlessly contributed in transition while also taking on the challenge of guarding the most formidable opponents on defense. The senior's expertise was evident in the execution of his surgical and precise checks, as well as his play on clears.     Wilson was a monster at the faceoff, winning a majority of the draws. If he didn't win it outright, he would relentlessly pursue the ground ball. Additionally, he showcased his offensive prowess by scoring a crucial goal just before the end of the first half. He's known for his physicality and unwavering presence at the X.     Van Voorhis delivered a sensational performance, netting an impressive five goals and, if memory serves me right, providing two assists. Throughout the game, he displayed exceptional agility and footwork in the offensive zone, executing quick and elusive dodges. His focus and excellent vision allowed him to deliver some exceptional assists during the game.     Shaw exhibited remarkable resilience and determination by scoring four impressive goals for his team despite facing early slides and double teams. Throughout the game his relentless work ethic was evident as he continuously drove his team forward. Notably, he scored a goal off the rebound of his own shot, showcasing his unwavering determination and remarkable skill on the field. He did not stop until the whistle was blown.     Buggs was constantly on the move on defense in this game, a highly athletic defender. Whether he was defending the ball or covering players off the ball, he was always prepared to make a play. The defenseman effectively used his feet to keep up with opponents, applying high pressure on their hands with his stick and delivering precise checks.     [player_tooltip player_id='35590' first='Gerald' last='Banks'], another one of Central's athletic defenders, is known for his vigorous lift check and his ability to stay with his guy. He has good awareness and agility, thanks to his athleticism and dedication to strength training. Additionally, he positions himself well off the ball to provide support inside or to slide into defensive positions. A 2025 to watch out for.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dublin Jerome vs. Olentangy Orange</h2>   I watched the film on Jerome vs. Orange, a game that happened earlier in the evening. The Celtics executed the 1-4-1 formation flawlessly, allowing their playmakers to maneuver and either take shots or find open teammates. Despite this, Orange put up a strong challenge in the middle of the field and scored on some crucial early possessions. Throughout the game, the Pioneer's defense faced relentless pressure but managed to make life difficult for their opponents by causing turnovers with aggressive checks and winning races to the end line. What truly caught my attention was Jerome's seamless rotation of players without sacrificing offensive productivity, resulting in several players ending the game with multiple points.   Dublin Jerome will travel to No. 1 Olentangy Liberty this Friday, 5/31 for a rematch. The Patriot's bested the Celtics earlier this season.     Johnson has consistently proven to be a matchup problem due to his great size, making him difficult to stop on sweeps and isolations. He takes great shots around his defender, and uses his body effectively on downhill dodges. He has scored multiple goals by leveraging his body and size in the middle of the field. Once he gets going, he's hard to stop.     Bates, a talented sophomore, showcased remarkable skills on the offensive end. His off-ball movement consistently forced defenders to keep a close watch on him. His proficiency in dodging from X was evident when he executed a stunning goal getting over top GLE and past his defender. Additionally, his passing made him a pivotal playmaker for Jerome's team.     Dean's contributions in this game go beyond what you can see in the statistics. He's a hard worker who is willing to play any position on the field. Not only did he perform well on defense, but he also made an impact on offense by creating opportunities from the low wing and causing trouble inside. He drew a penalty early in the game with a skillful dodge around his defender, prompting a late slide. Dean also scored a sidearm goal from low to high during the match.     In the game, White was unstoppable, scoring three goals in the first half. He executed a great dodge to finish with a low-high shot on a quick sweep. He also scored off feeds, showcasing his quickness and accuracy. He is a deceptive shooter who takes advantage of any space given, playing fierce in transition and on the offensive side of the ball. He is a precision passer and has a great stutter step.     Cramer is a defender with great size and footwork. He is able to move quickly to the ball, break down, and play solid defense. He does not lose track of his man and is quick to recover and help inside off the ball, fills space well. He has strong fundamentals and was able to execute some effective takeaway checks, even winning possessions for his team by being the first to the end line.      Newell's downhill dodges were a display of remarkable speed and swiftness. He has a strong, accurate arm that he showed off late in the game, burying a shot low and close to the near post, an extremely tough shot for the goalie to handle. He has a lot of hustle.

On a rainy evening in Central Ohio, the boys' regional semi-final games took place. The high-stakes matchups included No. 3 Hilliard Davidson hosting No. 5 Pickerington Central in a Region 3 clash, and No. 2 Dublin Jerome welcoming No. 6 Olentangy Orange in Region 1. Here are the standout players from each game, along with key takeaways from the action.