Grove City — On Monday night, the Grove City Greyhounds took to their home court for the first time this season, hosting the West Cowboys in front of an energetic crowd. Energized by a lively student section, the Greyhounds embraced the momentum only a home court can provide.
Jacob Saxton wasted no time setting the tone, sinking a three-pointer early to ignite the crowd. The Greyhounds jumped out to a quick lead, but the West Cowboys responded with physical play in the paint and dominance on the boards. Ez’Juan Schofield capped the first quarter for the Cowboys with a buzzer-beating three-pointer, tying the game at 15-all and setting the stage for an intense battle.
Saxton, who sparked Grove City’s strong start, continued to impress throughout the game, earning high praise from Head Coach Eric Sexton. “He has gone straight from middle school to the fire, and he’s been our leading scorer in every game so far,” Sexton said. “Asking him to share the ball, score, and be a leader on the floor—he is something special.”
The second quarter flew by with clean, fast-paced play as both teams battled relentlessly, trading points like prizefighters. Neither side could pull away, but Grove City edged ahead with a 32-27 halftime lead. Saxton led the charge with 11 points, supported by Demetri Adado’s eight, keeping the Greyhounds just a step ahead.
Throughout the night, tension grew between West’s players and Grove City’s vocal student section, adding an extra layer of intensity to the matchup. As the third quarter unfolded, the Greyhounds found their rhythm. Fueled by their crowd and capitalizing on West’s mistakes, they surged ahead with an impressive run.
Demetri Adado dominated the third quarter, battling through contact in the paint and controlling the boards. His gritty performance powered the Greyhounds to a commanding 56-43 lead by the end of the quarter. With momentum fully on their side, a blowout seemed imminent.
But as the fourth quarter began, Grove City’s youthful roster showed its inexperience. Energized by their supporters, the West Cowboys regained momentum, quieting the Greyhounds’ crowd and mounting a determined comeback. Reflecting on the challenge, Coach Sexton said, “We have a bunch of young guys, only one that has ever played varsity basketball before. For our freshmen and sophomores to handle this test is good for us.”
Suddenly, the Greyhounds found themselves on the defensive, scrambling to hold off the surging Cowboys. Yet, despite West’s valiant effort, their comeback fell short. Grove City emerged victorious in a hard-fought 69-63 win. Demetri Adado led all scorers with nearly 30 points, while Jacob Saxton added 22. Together, they accounted for over 70% of the Greyhounds’ offense, securing a thrilling first home-court victory and setting a promising tone for the season ahead.
Reflecting on Demetri Adado’s standout performance, Coach Eric Sexton had high praise for his senior leader. “Tonight, he showed the things that he does well. He takes the ball through traffic, to the rim, and scores,” Sexton said. “He came through in crucial times tonight.”
Despite the shrinking lead and a tense finish, Sexton remained optimistic about his team’s performance. “West is just like their coach—they never give up,” he noted. “All of these mistakes are things that can be fixed, and this was a good test for us.”
Grove City (2-2, 0-1) hosts Westerville Central on Friday in Ohio Capital Conference action.
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