LUCAS — They went from creating havoc as little kids at their brothers' AAU practice to being the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the 45th News Journal All-Star Classic.
But the story of Willard's Mad Dawson and Lucas' Logan Toms's friendship is deeper than that. It is a bond created by basketball, cemented by the game and will be everlasting because of a shared passion for the sport that helped them both become legendary players in their schools' history.
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Logan's older brother, Riley Gossom, and Max's older brother, Micah, played on the same travel basketball team together so naturally, when big brothers had practice, little brothers had to go, too. And when little brothers go to practice, the first thing they do is head straight to the ball rack and chuck up shots at the side baskets. And more often than not, a stray ball would roll on the court while the team was practicing causing a break in the action and a scolding yell at the boys who lost track of the ball and ensuing giggles as they ran away from trouble.
"That was where we started being friends," Dawson said. "As we got older, our dads figured we could start our own AAU team with us and Logan's older brother Corbin. I have played with Logan until I was a junior in high school and he has become one of my best friends."
Dawson, the No. 1 pick in this year's NJ Classic draft, averaged north of 25 points per game for the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division champion Willard Flashes. He ended his career with an amazing 1,849 points which is third most in Willard history behind Nick Dials's 2,180 and Jimmy Langhurt's 2,199. He is headed to Ashland University next year to play for the Eagles.
Toms, the No. 2 overall pick in the NJ Classic draft, averaged 16-plus points and finished with four Mid-Buckeye Conference championships as part of a stretch of six consecutive titles. He finished with more than 1,400 points for his career.
They were both in constant contact throughout the year as Toms was chasing the school scoring record and Dawson was leading his team to a league championship and a state ranking in Division II.
"We stay in touch especially during basketball season because we spend our off days watching each other play," Toms said. "We end up playing each other every year and it is always a fun game. Max will always be my friend no matter where we end up."
And they both had the same wish of teaming up one last time for the NJ Classic on Friday night, but they were just too good. As North coach, Shelby's Greg Gallaway, picked Dawson first overall, South coach, Mansfield Christian's Cary Craner, snatched up Toms at No. 2. So, they will have to settle for playing against each other.
"It will be fun to play against him and not have to worry about a scouting report or anything like that," Dawson said. "It will be fun. We know each other's game so well because we have been practicing together and playing with and against each other for a long time."
So long that Toms knows exactly who he would have taken No. 1 in the draft if it were up to him and it wouldn't be himself.
"It is really cool to be 1 and 2," Toms said. "I am lucky enough to play in the game and I am excited for it. Max would easily be my No. 1 pick if I were coaching. You just cannot stop him and he is one of the smartest basketball players I have ever known. He just doesn't miss."
And Dawson feels the same about Toms. He knows that if it came down to the end of a close game in the NJ Classic that is not exactly known for defense, he is going to have to pull out all the stops to make sure Toms doesn't send him home with a loss.
"I will try to pick him up a few times just to see if I can get in his head a little bit," Dawson said. "I am sure he will do the same."
Either way, the two scoring titans will enjoy playing basketball one final time together much like the way it all started as little kids.
jfurr@gannett.com
740-244-9934
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If you go
When: March 29
Where: Lexington High School
What: News Journal All-Star Classic Alumni Game at 6 p.m. and 45th News Journal All-Star Classic North-South charity basketball game at 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $5 per ticket.
How to get tickets: Tickets are currently on sale at Catalyst Life Services locates at 270 Sterkel Boulevard in Mansfield. Cash, card and check will be accepted Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. and Friday 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Tickets will remain on sale there until the day of the game.
You can also purchase tickets during the all-star practices on March 26 and 27 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. and March 28 from 5 p.m.-6 p.m. Practices are open to the public and will be held at Lexington High School. This will be a cash or check-only option.
And finally, you can purchase your tickets at the door the night of the game. Tickets are $5 apiece.
Why: 100% of the proceeds from the 45th News Journal All-Star Classic will be donated to Catalyst Life Services and will benefit the Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Crisis Services department. Over the last 44 years, the News Journal had donated nearly one million dollars.
For any questions, please contact Mansfield News Journal Sports Reporter Jake Furr via email at jfurr@gannett.com or via text at 740-244-9934.
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