HOBAN STARTING TO FIND RHYTHM

By Ty Bartell

AKRON OH- In a momentous evening, the Archbishop Hoban Knights celebrated their 2023 state championship banner ceremony and capped it off with a hard-fought victory over the Centerville Elks, securing a 60-56 win.

The first quarter saw Hoban establish an early lead, outscoring the Elks 21-15. However, Centerville mounted a comeback in the second quarter, posting a 20-10 run to take a 35-31 lead over the Knights at halftime.

The third quarter witnessed a defensive battle, with Hoban turning the tide by outscoring Centerville 9-2. Heading into the final quarter, the Knights held a narrow 40-37 lead. Both teams intensified their offensive efforts in the fourth quarter, but Hoban managed to edge out Centerville 20-19, securing the victory with a final score of 60-56.

Jonas Nicholas earned the Player of the Game title for Hoban, leading the scoring with 24 points. Kenny Scott contributed 13 points, while freshman John Johnson added 8 points to the Knights’ cause.
For Centerville, Jonathan Powell led the Elks with 18 points, followed by Baboucarr Njie with 12 points, and Eli Greenburg contributing 8 points.

Looking ahead, Hoban (5-4) will gear up for the battle of Akron as they host the Akron St. Vincent & St. Mary’s Fighting Irish (3-5) on Friday, January 5th, with a 7 p.m. tip-off. Meanwhile, Centerville (5-3) aims to bounce back as they face the Wayne Warriors (5-3) on Tuesday, January 2nd. Basketball enthusiasts can stay updated on Hoban’s season with live games, scores, stats, stories, and more on YSN.