Oberlin vs. Independence boys basketball: Carmello Williams galvanizes Phoenix for first-round playoff win

Carmello Williams’ mother told him to always stay polished and poised. By doing so, the team will follow. In Oberlin’s home first-round playoff game Feb. 28, the 10th-seeded Phoenix were without their head coach and trailed No. 20 seed Independence at halftime. “If you stay calm, everybody else is going to be calm. You have to be calm during the storm,” Williams said. With a 15-0 run to open the second half, Oberlin stormed back to a commanding 37-29 lead, fueling a 55-50 victory. “We have been having horrible third quarters, in case you did not know. …” Oberlin Interim Coach Phil Payne said. “We tell them all season we have to make that adjustment and find something different. When the third quarter starts, we have to jump on them. Today’s goal was to get three stops. They got three stops and we went on a run.” Oberlin (14-9) will host a Division V Northeast 4 District semifinal. Although coach Kurt Russell was unable to be on the bench, he is expected to return for the game on March 2. Williams led Oberlin with 17 points, grabbing seven rebounds, with four assists, three steals and a pair of blocks. “(Williams) is our hustle leader, vocal leader and athletic leader,” Payne said. “He is gifted athletically, does everything right, comes to every single practice, summer workouts and he has good grades. He is going to college for basketball because he is a gifted kid.” Along with Drew Walter’s six assists, the Phoenix quickly moved the ball around, which opened scoring opportunities. Korrie Freeman (10 points) Jozayah Smith (seven), Walter (eight), Julean Page (four) and A’son Bell (nine) each had their moment to shine to victory. “We have coach (Jordan) Beard, who is an offensive guru,” Payne said. “He dictates our offense. We always preach to move the ball around and make it go left and right. The defense eventually breaks down.” Williams started the night slowly. With two points in the first quarter, Oberlin and Independence traded the lead nine times. As the Mount Union commit got going, the Phoenix stretched a 22-10 lead. “The sky is the limit for him,” Payne said. “I don’t think he has a limit, because he has not cracked his potential yet.” However, Independence (9-14) controlled the boards in the second quarter, 10-3 (35-26 overall rebounding differential). It allowed the Blue Devils to get out in front with a 15-2 run and a 27-24 halftime lead. Oberlin was motivated to win. After defeating Independence, 47-46, in the final seconds, Oberlin felt disrespected that the Blue Devils chose to play at Oberlin in the playoffs. With the win in hand, Oberlin got the last laugh. “(Independence) could have had a home game, but they picked us,” Williams said. “We took that as disrespect and we wanted to show that we can run with anyone. We beat them the first time and we beat them now.”

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Oberlin High School Athletics

OBERLIN VS. INDEPENDENCE BOYS BASKETBALL: CARMELLO WILLIAMS GALVANIZES PHOENIX FOR FIRST-ROUND PLAYOFF WIN

MARK PEREZ-KRYWANY

The Morning Journal | 2/27/2026