Toledo - Call me a little bit biased, when I entered the gym at Owens Community College in Toledo, I had a good feeling about Arthur Hill's chances against one of Ohio's best, Toledo Libbey.  The state of Ohio may have us in football but they a little behind in basketball.  That theory went out the window rather quickly.  Libbey jumped on Michigan's top team 7-0 right out of the gate.  Of course not having seen Ohio basketball in person this season, I thought maybe I need to re-evaluate my sense of thinking on which state holds the advantage in basketball.  As Lee Corso would say, "Not so fast!".

Arthur Hill took the opening blow from Libbey and responded with a counter attack that sent a message to the hometown team.  Dar Tucker scored Arthur Hill's first bucket, then Omari Humes added back to back baskets.  Dar then nailed a three.  Latreze Mushatt scored and then Humes added another.  Just four minutes after being down 7 zip, the Jacks scored 13 un-answered, to go up by 6.  Libbey broke the run with a Lance Jones basket but then game a glimpse of was yet to come; the high flying act of Dar Tucker.  Dar threw home an incredible jam that got the gym rocking, a gym mind you, that was 95% pro Libbey.  Just when they thought that was a sight, Dar got loose on a breakaway and let a loose a 360.  The dunk almost brought the house down and let Libbey know a little of what they were up against.  Dar added another three before the opening quarter and the Jacks went into the first intermission up by six at 21-15.  Tucker finished the first with 12, Libbey's OSU bound William Buford had 9.  Omari Humes put home 6 for the Jacks. 

Was 2nd quarter was a period of runs.  Dar threw home two more dunks to get things started in the 2nd.  Behind 10, Libbey started to battle back behind Brad Sandridge and Julius Wells, cutting the lead to just 3.  As much as Dar and Humes had dominated the scoring column in the first for the Jacks, it was a total collective effort in quarter 2.  With a three point lead late in the 2nd, Arthur Hill went on a 6-0 run to end the quarter, and go into the break up 42-33.  In consecutive possessions, Antoine Lundy, Tyree Wooten and Maurice Jones all contributed with a bucket a piece.  Both Tucker and Buford led their respective teams with 18.

The third was played to a dead heat but not before Libbey clawed back to within two.  It's no surprise that the whistle blew more on the Jacks then it did for the hometown folks, that's home state advantage.  The calls didn't necessarily go against the Jacks when it was tight, more of when the game started to get away.  I think Arthur Hill set the record for traveling in one game.  At least getting called for it anyway.  It was evident throughout the game that the Jacks were not happy with a few of the calls but sucked it up and got back to basketball.  If there was one oversight in the game, it was the shots that Dar took up and down the court.  A little budge her a bump here and always away from the ball.  Again credit to the Jacks and Dar for not letting it get to them and sticking to their game.  Libbey put together a push in the first half of the third that would get them within 2 points at 49-47.  They had several opportunities to take tie it up and even take the lead but it was the Jack's D that kept the lead and it was the true turning point in the game.  Lundy broke the streak to put the Jacks back up by four.  After a defensive stand, it was then Dar put in an acrobatic 360 bank shot off the glass in traffic.  Then it was Maurice Jones for another 2.  In what might have been a dagger in the heart of Libbey was a Jones three ball as time expired in the 3rd.  The bucket put Arthur Hill up 60-51 after three.  It was again a quarter for the other stars of the game.  Dar and Buford were relatively quiet with 2 and 4 points.  Dar may have had just 2 points but his presence on the defensive end is what helped turn the tide with play on the glass and a few blocks.

The fourth quarter was the superstar show.  Dar and Buford took things to another level in the final period of play.  Dar opened the fourth with a dunk.  Buford answered.  Dar was good on three free throws, Buford added another basket.  The answers then got further and further apart.  Jones added a basket and Dar two more free throws before Buford nailed a three.  By that time however, the Jacks were up by 12 and then the show concluded with two more Dar dunks.  The first a powerful move to the hoop that he put home and was fouled.  The next throwdown showed how spoiled the crowd had become with Dar's earlier showing.  He got loose on another fast break leapt up and gently threw down the bucket.  The crowd actually booed in a playful way, hoping he would conduct some more ShowTime.  He didn't have to, the point had already been made and with only minutes remaining in the game and Arthur Hill up 16, the game had already been one.  Dar added three more points on a three pointer the old fashioned way with a two + a free throw.  With 1:29 left in the game, both teams emptied the benches.  Jonathon Diggins and Terrell Washington added buckets before the final buzzer had sounded.  When all was said and done, the Jacks had finished with a dominating 81-60 win over Libbey.  The Jacks outscored Libbey 21-9 in the final quarter with Dar scoring 14 of those.  Buford scored all nine of Libbey's points.  Dar finished with 34 total, including 9 boards.  Buford had 33 and 9 on the glass.

With the big win, the Jacks showed just how good they can be when they put it all together.  It is yet to be seen if the lone loss of their season was just to a great team that outplayed them on the road or was it an off night for the Jacks, still against a pretty good Flint Southwestern team, no doubt.  It's been a heck of a past 7 days for Arthur Hill with a 18 point win over then #1 ranked and cross-town rival Saginaw High and now this big win over one of Ohio's best.  There is no doubt that this team has what it takes to make it back to the Breslin, however, they must put this kind of effort into each and every game, especially come March.  Arthur Hill fans hope they learned that lesson on January 5th.