FRANKLIN HEIGHTS VS DUBLIN SCIOTO IRISH

OUR QUEST........CONTINUES

IRISH FANS............

A writer can cringe sometimes when going back and reading what they have written in a previous story! theweguy is no exception. Prior to the first meeting, thewebguy reported on two players from Franklin Heights, Jeff Taylor and Lewis Buzzard. To tell you the truth IRISH fans, thewebguy was one game early on his prediction that Jeff and Lewis would be a formidable foe to face.

Lewis Buzzard came close to single handedly handing the IRISH their first defeat of the season!

The IRISH needed the Barracuda instinct from Rainer Duzan, David McKinley, and Spenser Mooney in the 3rd quarter and then the IRISH called on the "Land Sharks", Lolli and O'Connell to deliver the points needed for the team victory!

Lets talk basketball.....................

Junior Varsity - Franklin Heights vsDublin Scioto


The Junior Varsity had a classic game last night. While the final score did not end up on a winning note for the IRISH, the team played together and were in the game until the waning moments.

The IRISH learned that when you are given free opportunities you take advantage of them! Andy Shoemaker did just that. The 5'8" point guard went in among the trees last night and scored 13 points for the IRISH! Normally, the point guard drives the lane and gets to dish off! Last night, the IRISH were looking for him and Andy delivered!

thewebguy cannot say that for the young Green & White when they went to the foul line. The IRISH shot a dismal 46% from the charity stripe, 7 for 15. The foul shot, is one of the easiest "shots to take," yet, one of the "hardest to make!"

The IRISH had balanced scoring tonight against a good defensive minded Franklin Heights team! thewebguy could see the "fire in the eyes" of the players!

Andy Shoemaker led the IRISH with 13 points. Jason Teimeir followed up with 9 points; Destin Thomas had 8 points while Dylan Coscia followed up with 7 points. Deji Olatoye dropped in 6 points and Jerod Nawrocki added 2 points.

The Junior Varsity team is 2-11 on the year and 1-5 in OCC Capital Division play. The JV's will play an away game against Parkersburg South High School, in Parkersburg, West Virginal, on January 20, 2007. Game time is 5:45 PM.

The final score of the JV game was Franklin Heights 49 and Dublin Scioto 45.

Varsity Game - Franklin Heights vs Dublin Scioto


The Franklin Heights team came out from the opening tip and took their inside game to the IRISH of Dublin Scioto.

The Falcons played the IRISH game of using all 94 feet and 6 inches of the court. Lewis Buzzard scored 7 points and Mike Davis used his speed to motor down the court for another 6 points.

Franklin Heights left the court at the end of the first quarter with a 15-11 lead and a stunned IRISH crowd looked in disbelief that this was not the team they played back in December!

The second quarter found the IRISH fighting and clawing their way back into the game. Kevin Lolli and Austin O'Connell led the offense with four points each in the second quarter. Austin attacked and got his shots five to seven feet from the basket while Kevin was doing the journeyman's work underneath.

The IRISH fought back and forged a tie at 21 with the Falcons. The team and the crowd very hesitant to understand why the game was not going their way like the first meeting. Franklin Heights showed that they were not going to be embarrassed and played an aggressive game of basketball!

The IRISH came out in the third quarter with their starting five but could not get any consistent play and found themselves down by 5 points.

Coach Bisutti made a critical move with about 5 minutes and 46 seconds to go in the 3rd quarter. He made his mass substitution almost two minutes earlier than normal. The coach sensed that he needed a change for the situation that the IRISH were in at the time!

Ann and Nancy Wilson of the band HEART stated:

....."If the real thing don't do the trick, You better make up something quick. You gonna burn it out to the wick. Aren't you, BARRACUDA!"

The five guys that brought the IRISH back into the game and provide the lift were: Spenser Mooney, Rainer Duzan, Bradley McDoughal, David McKinley and Marco StJohn.

This "Fab Five" scored 17 points in 6 straight possessions to give the IRISH the lead 42-40 at the end of the 3rd Quarter.

Duzan and McKinley had two 3-point baskets each while senior Spenser Mooney drained a three pointer along with a beautiful lay up from the side and the IRISH had the momentum.

The IRISH Barracuda truly ambushed the Falcons and brought the IRISH back into the game!

It is important to note that, while, Bradley McDougald and Marco StJohn did not score points, they still played critical roles in rebounding and shot blocking during the 3rd quarter. As thewebguy tells you, those statistics are read and talked about at the next practice and are not in the newspaper scorebox!

It was time for the entrance of the Land Sharks!

The starting five knew that they were in this game due to the play of their teammates in the 3rd Quarter. They had something to prove. Defensively, the IRISH closed down passing lanes, offensively all five of them looked for the open player and consistently took the best shot available.

Michael Eubank is the heart and soul of the IRISH defense. He and the IRISH made every possession the Falcon's had in the fourth quarter a nightmare! The Green & White held the Falcons to eight points in the fourth quarter.

On offense, Ben Ashwill and Kelly Winter looked underneath for Kevin or out on the wing for Austin! Lolli and O'Connell "swirled up the sand" on the floor and each scored nine points as the IRISH pulled away in the fourth quarter for a big OCC Capital Division win!

It seems that tonight the number 17 was as big for the IRISH as it was for the Stevie Nicks song- The Edge of 17! The IRISH were behind by 5 points in the 3rd quarter and the team scored 17 points on six consecutive possessions and the IRISH got 17 points from each of their two big men, O'Connell and Lolli!

The Falcons gave the IRISH "whatfor" tonight! That is, thewebguy lingo for - "what the IRISH are in for" against each league opponent as they march towards the month of February.

The IRISH were led by Austin O'Connell and Kevin Lolli each scored 17 points; Spenser Mooney had 9 points, Rainer Duzan and David McKinley hit 6 points each; Ben Ashwill and Michael Eubank had 4 points; Blair Gorniak scored 2 points and Bradley McDougald had 1 point.

The final score was Dublin Scioto 66 and Franklin Heights 48.

The IRISH are 13 and 0 overall and 6-0 in the OCC - Capital Division.

Dublin Scioto travels to Parkersburg, West Virginia for a rematch with the Parkersburg South Patriots on Saturday, January 20, 2007. The Junior Varsity game time is 5:45 PM and the Varsity will start around 7:30 PM

............Ground Control to the IRISH..........You've really made the grade.......now its time to continue your quest........

You have more to prove and more to lose. Everyone will be gunning for you now that you have more recognition...........how bad do each of you want it?.........what are you willing to do to get the "golden" fleece?

The quest continues.......