Boys Basketball: All things clicking for Olentangy Orange in win over Dublin Coffman
Friday, December 22, 2023
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Olentangy Orange’s Levi Davis (3) battles with Dublin Coffman’s Colin McClure (2) for a rebound on Dec. 22 at Orange. Photo: John Hulkenberg
There are nights where almost everything goes your way and there are nights where everything seemingly goes against you.
Most things went the way of Olentangy Orange in a 69-40 win over Dublin Coffman in an OCC-Central Division game on Dec. 22 in Lewis Center.
Levi Davis has an explanation for why things went so well for the Pioneers (6-0, 2-0).
“It starts in the film room,” said Davis, a sophomore guard who had 14 points, six assists and five rebounds. “We do a lot of research on a team – going over their tendencies; going over what their offense is like. Then, it’s just about executing it. I thought we did a really great job of scouting them and figuring out what’s going to work best for us.”
Five different players scored as Orange raced out to a 17-2 lead in the first quarter.
The Pioneers rely on that kind of balance normally. They also rely on ball movement and selflessness. Orange had 16 assists on 30 made field goals and outrebounded the Shamrocks (3-3, 0-2) 30-14.
Olentangy Orange’s Treyton Schroeder (right) defends Dublin Coffman’s Colin McClure on Dec. 22 at Orange. Photo: John Hulkenberg
“We worked for it all week,” said junior forward Devin Brown, who had 13 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. “We knew they were going to be the best team we’ve played yet. It was good to come out with a big win.
“Coach (Anthony Calo said) we can’t let (Coffman) get hot. If we shut down their strengths, then what else can they do.”
Dylan Joy also had 14 points and added three rebounds and Keegan Knupp added 11 points, four rebounds and a pair of steals.
Just as impressively, the Pioneers held the Rocks without a field goal from the first possession of the game to the first possession of the second quarter and held Colin McClure to one field goal and four points. Gabe Schmidt and James Orfila led Coffman with seven points apiece.
“We set a really high standard and tonight we didn’t live up to that standard,” Coffman coach Adam Banks said. “It starts with me as a coach and the leader of the team. I’ve got to do a better job of having us prepared and that goes down the totem pole.”
Olentangy Orange’s Devin Brown drives to the basket against Dublin Coffman on Dec. 22 at Orange. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Orfila provided one of the Rocks’ few highlights when he was fouled connecting on a 3-pointer with 3 seconds remaining in the first half. He converted a free throw to make it a four-point play.
But Davis countered with a runner in the lane at the buzzer to give the Pioneers a 38-15 lead at the break.
It would be easy to expect a dip in talent after Orange graduated seven players off last year’s team that won the program’s first district championship. It was those guys that set the standard for the habits of this current team.
“Mikey (McCollum), Elias (Lewis), Jordan (Edwards) and our four other seniors with them were an unbelievable group of seniors,” Calo said. “We’re forever grateful to them because they were very hard-working, prepared their tails off, but were also very talented.
“Our current guys got to see what success should look like and it was modeled for them and now they’re modeling it for the younger guys.”
Brown, Joy and Davis were all role players. Now, they’re leading a new group that’s developed some of the same habits as last year’s seniors.
“I feel like last year with the culture that they set and instilled in the younger players – plus our j.v. team went 20-0 – I had a really confident take on how we were going to do this season,” Davis said. “I’m just excited to keep it going.”
Olentangy Orange coach Anthony Calo communicates during the host Pioneers’ win over Dublin Coffman on Dec. 22 at Orange. Photo: John Hulkenberg