Worthington — It had been quite some time since Worthington Kilbourne last triumphed over Thomas Worthington in boys’ basketball—a rivalry marked by its fair share of lopsided victories and thrilling nail-biters. As Thomas Worthington Head Coach Sean Luzader puts it, “In this rivalry, anything can happen.” Saturday’s 2024-25 matchup was no exception, as the Cardinals aimed to continue their dominance over the Wolves.
The opening quarter set the tone for a fiercely competitive contest, with both teams trading blows in a back-and-forth battle. Thomas Worthington’s Nick Zalewski made an immediate impact, tallying eight points in the first eight minutes, while Harrison Gill asserted himself on the boards, creating challenges for Kilbourne. On the Wolves’ side, Zach Wolford and Brylan Brown contributed to the offense to keep their team in the fight. However, the Cardinals’ commanding presence on the glass gave them a slight edge, closing the first quarter with a 16-12 lead.
Despite controlling the boards and minimizing turnovers, Thomas Worthington struggled to convert their opportunities into points. The Cardinals managed just one field goal and a pair of free throws during a challenging second quarter. Meanwhile, Kilbourne capitalized on the offensive lull, seizing momentum with a late 5-0 run fueled by Cal Wolford. The Wolves carried a 24-20 lead into halftime, quieting the home crowd and setting the stage for a wild second half.
Thomas Worthington’s shooting struggles were a theme of discussion for the Cardinals, but Coach Luzader says that they felt good at halftime despite trailing, “They were hitting tough shots that they normally don’t make,” Luzader explained. “We were also missing easy shots that we normally would make, so we still felt good trailing four points.”
The third quarter unfolded with a familiar back-and-forth intensity. The Cardinals fought hard to put up 14 points, as Thomas pushed the tempo and aggressively attacked the paint to create scoring opportunities. Kilbourne countered with 10 points of their own, maintaining a narrow two-point advantage as the game entered its final frame.
In the hallway after the game, Coach Luzader praised senior Julian Johnson as the second-best shooter he’s ever coached at Thomas, trailing only Jalen Sullinger, who recently surpassed 1,000 career points at Kent State. Johnson proved his coach’s words true in the final frame on Saturday against Kilbourne, delivering a clutch performance that showcased his talents.
Sticking to their aggressive tempo, Johnson wasted no time making an impact, launching back-to-back drives to the basket to open the fourth quarter. Kilbourne responded with a three-pointer from Wolford, but Thomas quickly regained momentum. A three-point play by Harrison Gill, followed by another five-point burst from Johnson, shifted the momentum in the Cardinals’ favor, sparking an energized home crowd and giving them the lead.
After Johnson’s scoring burst, it was big man Nick Zalewski who sealed the win for Thomas. Zalewski scored seven of the Cardinals’ final nine points, helping to put the game out of reach. Kilbourne struggled to find their offensive rhythm in the closing minutes, and Thomas held on for a 53-48 victory in yet another thrilling boys basketball Wotown Showdown.
Thomas won the turnover battle 14-11 and dominated in rebounding 25-14, including eight offensive rebounds.
Key Players – Thomas Worthington
Nick Zalewski (18 pts, 6 reb), Julian Johnson (14 pts, 4 reb)
Key Players – Worthington Kilbourne
Zach Wolford (13 pts, 4 reb), Brylan Brown (11 pts, 2 reb), Cal Wolford (9 points)
Next Up
Kilbourne (7-9, 4-4) visits Delware Hayes on Friday, Thomas (7-8, 4-2) hosts Westerville South on Tuesday.
270-315 Sports 
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