A balanced scoring attack and solid free throw shooting led the Olentangy Braves to a 43-24 victory over the Irish freshmen on Thursday.

Nine different Braves scored in the game and they finished 9-12 at the charity stripe. Olentangy led throughout the game and responded to Irish runs with timely baskets.

Neither team was shooting well from the field early. The Irish compounded their shooting woes by turning the ball over.

Jason Tiemeier’s put back got the Irish on the board. A drive and pull-up jumper by Brandon Brown brought the Irish to 6-4 with 2:15 to go in the first quarter. At the end of the quarter, Olentangy led 11-6.
Using the press and active hands on defensive, the Braves converted Irish turnovers into points and a 21-10 lead. A pair of Tiemeier buckets at close range and two free throws by Brown allowed the Irish to close to 23-16 at the half.
The Irish went cold from the field in the third quarter and did not score until Tiemeier powered up a contested basket in transition at 2:24 to stop a 6-0 Olentangy run and cut the lead to 29-18. A put back at 1:49 by Tiemeier cut the led to 29-20.

Despite getting defensive stops the next two times down the floor, the Irish were unable to cut into the lead on the offensive end. A Braves bucket following a loose ball rebound left the score 31-20 heading into the fourth quarter.

Scrambling hard to get back in the game, the Irish were unable to hit their shots in the fourth quarter. The Braves outscored the Irish 12-4 in the fourth quarter and won 43-24.

Tiemeier led the Irish in scoring with 10 points and posted a double-double by grabbing 16 rebounds. Dylan Coscia added 8 points and had five steals. Brown (4) and Jerod Nawrocki (2) rounded out the Irish scoring. Guard Ryan Adams played aggressive defense throughout.

Alex Tracy led the Braves with 10 points. Taylor Hale chipped in 8 points, including 6-6 at the free throw line.

The Irish hit the road next week for a January 31 contest at Westerville North.