The reigning Ms. Basketball scored 38 points, while Jackson's Taylor Mikesell scored 30.
JACKSON TWP. On Wednesday afternoon, as Jackson senior Taylor Mikesell was preparing for the biggest (regular season) game of her career, she got a text from a friend named David Lane, who told her, “I’m bringing a surprise guest.”
Lane coaches AAU youth basketball. One of his former players is LeBron “Bronny” James, whose father has been known to attend high school basketball games on his day off.
“People kept telling me he wanted to come watch me play,” Mikesell said.
Boy, did he pick a good night.
With James and his wife, Savannah, sitting in the top left corner of the Jackson High School bleachers, Mikesell and Ohio’s reigning Ms. Basketball, McKinley junior Kierstan Bell, put on a show fit for a King.
In the end, Bell and the Pups were just a little better as McKinley avenged an early season defeat with a 69-57 victory in front of a near-capacity crowd.
“What a great game for him to see,” said Bulldogs coach Pam Davis, who was told 30 minutes before the game that James would be there but didn’t tell her players beforehand. “We had a college row (of coaches), we had an NBA superstar, we had fans from both communities. It was definitely loud and electric.
“They got a show. They definitely got a show.”
The game was fantastic from the start, as both teams proved equal to the pre-game hype. Bell scored 12 points in the first quarter alone to give the Pups a 21-15 lead, but the Polar Bears stayed close throughout even though the game was played at the Pups’ preferred pace.
Although McKinley never trailed in the last three quarters, Jackson got within one, 42-41, on Mikesell’s 3-pointer with 25 seconds left in the third quarter.
But McKinley senior Chamera Young answered with a 3-pointer on the other end and Bell scored McKinley’s first 10 points in the fourth quarter to make it 55-47 with six minutes left.
From there, Jackson was playing uphill. The Polar Bears briefly got within six, 60-54, with 2:20 left thanks to four quick points from Mikesell. But when the Pups missed the front end of a one-and-one, Jackson couldn’t capitalize, turning the ball over, then giving up a three-point play to Bell on the other end with 2:03 left.
From there, the outcome was never really in doubt.
Bell, who finished with 38 points, eight rebounds and five steals, admitted she relished the chance to not only play in front of James but what may be the best atmosphere of her high school career, last year’s state semifinal included.
“State was a big crowd, but it wasn’t as big as that,” said Bell, the No. 4-ranked junior in the country according to ESPN. “When I saw them bring both bleachers out — usually they only bring out one for a girls game — I was like, ‘We’re about to see a big crowd.’
“I didn’t know LeBron was going to be in the stands. (Just before the anthem), people were like, ‘LeBron is here, LeBron is here’ and I was like, ‘Where? Where?’ Looking around, I saw he was here for real but I said, ‘We’ve got to win still.’”
Young added 14 points, Jamee Cauthon had seven points and Jazzy Kramer and Nakyah Terrell each had nine rebounds off the bench for the Bulldogs (16-1, 8-1), who have a two-game lead on the Polar Bears in the Federal League standings with three games left.
“I know that was one of our season goals, to try and get the league championship,” Davis said. “We have three more games to go and we’re not looking past anybody, but we can take a little breath with our cushion and work and fine-tune things for the tournament.”
Mikesell finished with 30 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals for Jackson (15-4, 5-3), who handed McKinley its only loss back on Dec. 20. (Mikesell scored 40 points in that one.) Lauren Scheetz and Naudier Becton each added eight points and Margaux Spencer had nine rebounds for the Polar Bears, who were seeking their first league title since 1978.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our girls,” Jackson coach Anthony Butch said. “They played as hard as they could and left it all on the floor. Taylor had 30, but we had girls across the board making plays and making shots. It really was an entire team effort.”
Added Mikesell, “We gave them everything we had. We’ll see them again.”
Hear that LeBron?
Reach Joe at 330-580-8573 or
joe.scalzo@cantonrep.com
On Twitter: @jscalzoREP