WORTHINGTON, Ohio – The McDonald’s Summer League reached the home stretch of its 24th season Tuesday with 18 teams playing their sixth of nine scheduled division round games at Thomas Worthington High School.

Every current member and many former members of the Ohio State men’s basketball team is participating in the league, along with high school and college players from around the Midwest. In prior years, the league has included NBA players such as Jim Jackson, Nick Van Exel, and Michael Redd.

“Everybody comes out and enjoys themselves,” said Bill McKenney, a 14-year veteran referee in the Worthington league. “The competition is good, the players are excellent and we all have fun together.”

In an early game in the Wolves division, 5-time League champions Andrew’s Insurance Agency defeated New Covenant Believers’ Church 74-71. OSU senior forward Matt Sylvester led Andrew’s with 20 points, former Dayton Flyer Ryan Perryman scored 19, and former OSU point guard Brandon-Fuss Cheatham had 10. Also playing for Andrew’s was OSU sophomore forward Matt Terwilliger, who had 2 points.

Delano Thomas of Shawnee State was NCBC’s leading scorer with 25 points, followed by the 24 put in by Adrian Stockman, the brother of former Buckeye guard Tony Stockman.

Also in the Wolves division, Buckeye Corner recovered from an early 10-point deficit to defeat Berwick Party House 95-93. Buckeye Corner was led by incoming OSU guard Ron Lewis with 31 points and OSU senior guard J.J. Sullinger with 23. The two entertained the crowd throughout the game with fast-paced ball movement and alley-oop jams.

“My teammates were finding me, and I was knocking the shots down,” Sullinger said. “This league is definitely benefiting (OSU) as a team.”

With no standard team uniform, Sullinger played the game wearing a practice jersey from Arkansas, his former school.

“It’s just a little retro thing,” he said. “I never have a chance to wear it playing at Ohio State so it gives me an opportunity to put on the old colors, kinda like Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed.”

Lewis previously played at Bowling Green, but sat out last year because of NCAA transfer-eligibility rules. Lewis was known for wearing sharp suits on the sideline, but said he is ready to get back to action.

“I don’t wanna see that suit again,” he said. “I’m ready to get into the Big Ten and see what it’s like. I’ve been in the (Mid-American Conference) for two years so I’m ready to step up to the next level and make my mark.”

The Berwick Party House team was mainly comprised of players from Cedarville University. Dustin Pfeiffer of Findlay led the team in scoring with 24 points.

The highlight of the 9 p.m. games came when Union Savings Bank defeated Safe Auto 83-81 in overtime. Safe Auto forced overtime by erasing a 10-point halftime deficit and was led in scoring by Columbus State’s Chad Younger with 24 points.

Union Savings Bank has four players who will play for OSU next season, as well as Buckeye legend Scoonie Penn, who piloted the 1999 Final Four team. They were led in scoring by incoming junior college transfer Sylvester Mayes with 25 points, followed by Terence Dials’ 24. Freshman recruit Brayden Bell scored 11 points, Je’Kel Foster had 10 and Penn added 8.

Penn had praise for the new Buckeyes.

“They’re gonna help this program out a great deal,” he said. “(Mayes) is a little more polished because he went to junior college so he understands a little bit more.”

Mayes said he enjoys playing with his new teammates and is working on various elements of his game.

“(I’m) lifting weights, getting a little better mid-range, and working on the corner,” he said. “I wish the season was going on right now.”

Summer League action continues tonight at Worthington Kilbourne High School with nine games, including Andrew’s Insurance taking on Mitchell-McKinney Supply Company at 9 p.m. Mitchell-McKinney features former Buckeyes Shun Jenkins and Shaun Smith. Admission and parking are free to the public.