Columbus City League Preview: Linden McKinley
For the first time since Kris Kross made everybody Jump, Dr. Dre Let Me Ride and Rakim and Eric B. told you to Know the Ledge, the Linden McKinley Panthers scratched and clawed their way to a Columbus City League…
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Continue ReadingFor the first time since Kris Kross made everybody Jump, Dr. Dre Let Me Ride and Rakim and Eric B. told you to Know the Ledge, the Linden McKinley Panthers scratched and clawed their way to a Columbus City League championship game. The Panthers wished It Was a Good Day as Ice Cube says but, all 1992 rap song references aside, the south Walnut Ridge Scots got the better of the reps of the north division in Linden’s first appearance in this game since 1992. That prideful school does not want to wait another 28 years to get another chance at the City League Championship, they want it again and they want it this season.
The Panthers took a big blow with the transfer of Chance Groce Chance Groce 6'5" | SF Linden McKinley | 2021 State OH , who was one the best players in Columbus. Groce took his extraordinary talents to Dohn Prep in Cincinnati, Ohio and he will make an impact with that program and his future is very bright.
Sophomore leading scorer for the majority of the season, LA Walker LA Walker 6'5" | SF Linden-McKinley | 2022 State OH should be healthy for the start of the season after missing the end of the season with a foot injury. Walker scored close to 14 points per game and the Panthers missed his ability to make plays down the stretch of the season.
Walker was on a spree to begin the season, scoring double-digits in 10 of the 12 games he played with a 25-point game in the very first game against Dayton Dunbar. The 6-foot-4 Walker showed he can hang with the best-of-the-best up north.
Shamarion Rogers is one of the most underrated players in the Columbus City League as a whole, the young man averaged close to 14 points per game last season.
Rogers can do it all on offense and while playing very good defense against opposing players. The 6’4 young man plays bigger than his size being one of the best rebounders in the Columbus City League north. He has really good instincts as well as a quick jump, reaching his high school potential could be the difference between a disappointing season and a run in the Ohio High School basketball tournament.
With multiple juniors and seniors leading this team, it will be interesting to see how they can finish games. The Panthers finished the regular season with a 13-8 record, but since they defeated both Northland and Beechcroft, they were granted the ability to play in the City League Championship game. This team has been battle tested and can draw on past experiences to pull out close victories in close 4th quarter games.
Linden McKinley made their first Columbus City League Championship game since 1992, they are led back by experience and a duo that can match up with any in the city. To go back-to-back, they can not rely on the rules, they must do it themselves.