Boys Basketball: New-look Pioneers edge Warriors, continue hot start
Thursday, December 28, 2023
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
Olentangy Orange’s Devin Brown (5) looks to make a move against Westerville North’s Eyon Robinson (21) during the Pioneers’ road win Dec. 28. Photo: Kevin Lam
With five players off of last year’s 20-0 junior varsity team moving into prominent roles this winter, the Olentangy Orange boys basketball team entered this season believing it wouldn’t necessarily take a step back following its best season in program history.
The Pioneers’ strong start backed that up, but they still were lacking a close win over an area power – until now.
After winning each of its first six games by 20, Orange traveled Thursday to Westerville North and came away with a 59-54 victory and what could be considered its young group’s signature win.
“I feel like we’ve embraced last year’s group, and we know how hard we have to work to get to where we were last year,” 6-foot-5 junior forward Devin Brown said. “We really just have been working hard, we all love each other and we played together growing up.”
Brown was an occasional starter last season when the Pioneers went 24-4 and were Division I regional runners-up, but he’s taken on a prominent role as an inside presence following the loss of a seven-member senior class. Among the group Orange lost were three college freshmen in Mikey McCollum (Hillsdale), Elias Lewis (Walsh) and Jordan Edwards (Ashland).
Dylan Joy, who was a key contributor last season, averages 13 points to lead a balanced unit.
He and Carson Cutler, who played j.v. last year, are the only key seniors for Orange, which improved to 7-0.
Against North, the Pioneers fell behind 9-2 and Brown exited midway through the first quarter after landing wrong on his left ankle wrong, but both situations proved to be temporary.
Olentangy Orange’s Dylan Joy tries to drive around Westerville North’s Micah Young during the Pioneers’ win at North Dec. 28. Photo: Kevin Lam
Brown returned a short time later.
The Warriors got a 3-pointer from Tai Perkins just before the first-period buzzer to take a 16-12 lead, but the Pioneers responded with a 17-2 run and led 31-25 by halftime.
During the first half, Brown hit a 3-pointer and had 13 points. Treyton Schroeder also made a 3 for the Pioneers, who held North junior guard Micah Young to no points in the first half and eight for the game.
“We competed really well,” Orange coach Anthony Calo said. “I really believe in this team. We lost seven seniors, including three scholarship players, and this group is really determined. We believe in each other, too, and that this isn’t a rebuilding year.
“We’ve got to do a better job of valuing the basketball. We had five turnovers in that third quarter and Westerville North did a really good job of pressuring the ball, and we were a little flustered. We need to get downhill and make the right read, which we’re very capable of. We got a little tight with the ball instead of getting into play-making mode.”
Orange built a 36-27 lead with 5:50 to go in the third quarter on a basket by junior wing player Keegan Knupp, but Perkins had seven points and both Young and 6-5 junior backup forward Nolan Fedak had four points in the third as the Warriors got back to within 46-42 head into the final period.
“We started to turn them over a little bit (in the third period) and got some easy baskets,” said North coach Shan Trusley, whose team dropped to 6-2. “In the fourth quarter, we took some risks, and looking back at it, it cost us. The kids were just being aggressive because they wanted the ball back and to get that extra possession.
Westerville North’s Tai Perkins (left), who led all scorers with 18 points, shoots over Olentangy Orange’s Keegan Knupp during the Warriors’ home game Dec. 28. Photo: Kevin Lam
“The kids are really reflective and understand what we need to work on to get to where we want to be. … We wanted to challenge our kids (with a difficult schedule) and our kids are proving that they’re pretty good.”
In the final period, Joy hit a 3-pointer to give Orange a 53-46 lead with 5:33 remaining. The Pioneers led by at least five for the game’s remainder until North freshman Tyson Perkins scored with 8.4 seconds left to cut it to 57-54. Sophomore guard Levi Davis hit a pair of free throws with 6.5 to go to seal the win.
Tai Perkins finished with 18 points and Fedak added 10 for the Warriors, whose next game is Jan. 5 when they return to OCC-Capital Division action at Big Walnut.
“Our kids are really resilient,” Trusley said. “It’s a really good group and you’re going to get the ultimate effort. We’ll be all right. … (Fedak) played really well. He missed the entire year last year as a sophomore with a broken foot. He adds to us the ability to score around the basket.”
Brown finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, Davis scored 14 points and Knupp added 13 for the Pioneers, who close the 2023 portion of their schedule Dec. 30 at home against Westerville Central.
“Our plan was to box out, get rebounds and keep them off the glass,” Knupp said. “This was our first really big game, so we decided we wanted to come out and show what we’re all about, and we did that. In the first quarter, we were kind of rushing, but we settled down and it was good from there. We lost seven seniors (from last season), but we feel like nobody’s left and everybody’s stayed connected.”
Westerville North’s Nolan Fedak takes the jump shot during the Warriors’ home game against Olentangy Orange Dec. 28. Photo: Kevin Lam