OPENING NIGHT - A BIG SUCCESS
IRISH FANS............
Finally, opening night. This day is still much like the old Heinz Ketchup commercial where Carly Simon sings her big hit, "ANTICIPATION"....for it truly did make thewebguy "wait" all week long when many other teams had already had their opening night!
Three points prior to starting my story on tonight's games.....
First, to the Junior Varsity, I ask them to, like the band Argent sang- HOLD YOUR HEAD UP-HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH.
Second, to the Athens Bulldog Varsity team, commend them for continuing the fight and as REO Speedwagon sang, Ridin' The Storm Out, waitin' for the thaw out...IRISH FANS it did not come!
Third, to the IRISH Varsity squad, it is said that the definition of luck is when preparation meets opportunity! You showed every bit of preparation and took advantage of the opportunity handed to you last night. As the ALAN PARSON PROJECT sang, "Where Do We Go From Here?" Thewebguy will answer that in a few minutes!
P. S. do you think you can get some of these great songs on the pre-game warm-up?
Lets talk basketball.....................
Junior Varsity - Athens vs Dublin Scioto
This was the opening game for Coach Mike Moler and for many of the IRISH sophomores. Unfortunately, it was not the best game to watch! Let's count it as first game jitters because as thewebguy watched, he saw many things that he liked and the things he did not like, Coach Moler probably saw them minutes before and will correct them in the coming weeks!
Let's build a bridge and "get over": 1) Too many turnovers; 2)Too many fouls; 3)Lack of ball control.
Let's talk about what the young IRISH team can build upon...........
Dylan Coscia proved to be the main weapon of the IRISH tonight. He needs more floor time to direct the team and the team can help by setting more picks and quicker cuts to the basket.
Rahim Wasim came off the bench and by my count led the team in rebounding. Several of those were of the offensive variety that helped the team stay as close as they did. IRISH fans never underestimate the value of what a good rebounder brings to the team. Remember the offensive player who took the shot missed it and Rahim has given his team another opportunity!
Brandon Brown and Jason Tiemeier hit the boards well also. Brandon played ok on offense. He looked a little frazzled at first, thewebguy can chalk that up to first game jitters. Brandon you can play the game, go out and play!
Thewebguy did not get to see much of Jason on the floor due to foul trouble but the big man will come into his own this year! Look for him and Rahim to become the "Chairmen Of The Boards."
Andrew Shoemaker and Matt Martin played the point guard position. Both are new to Scioto as Andrew is a transfer student and Matt was on call up from the Freshman team. Both of these young men have an opportunity to lead this team on the floor. Their height does not lead them to getting many points but they can draw the defense away from the bigger guys.
Dylan Coscia led the IRISH with 11 points, Matt Martin and Rahim Wasim followed up with 5 each and Brandon Brown chipped in 4 points.
The final score of the JUNIOR VARSITY game was Athens 37 and Dublin Scioto 25.
Varsity Game - Athens vs Dublin Scioto
Thewebguy had watched all the scrimmages the IRISH played in pre-season. He was impressed with several things about this team: 1)the running ability of this team; 2) unselfishness of this team and 3) the teamwork!
The starting five of the IRISH: Ben Ashwill, Michael Eubank, Kevin Lolli, Austin O'Connell and Kelly Winter played possessed on both sides of the court. Not to be outdone, the "second five" of Marco StJohn, Spenser Mooney, Bradley McDougald; Rainer Duzan and David McKinley did not lose any fire power or speed!
Tony Bisutti unleashed a very balanced offense and defense team against the ATHEN BULLDOGS. The starting five scored 45 points while the second group of five scored 41 points. The entire team forced an unofficial tally of 36 turnovers! IRISH fans you may sit up in the ZUTTI ZONE but Coach BISUTTI had his players ZONED to play the entire court and the entire four quarters! If you were not there you missed a wail of a game!
Michael Eubank got the IRISH started by scoring the first points of the season on a lay up. The IRISH were off and running as Lolli and Winter added two points each and the ATHENS coach was forced to take a time out as his team fell behind 6-0.
The onslaught continued as the IRISH played hard, hustled and ran the running offense and defense to almost perfection.
Bradley McDougald came into the game with the second "five" and led the team with five points in the first quarter. Six other players chipped in as the IRISH took a 22-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw the IRISH continue the running. The Bulldogs, however, settled down and got some wind under their feet scored 13 points to the IRISH 18 points.
Kevin Lolli started the scoring for the IRISH under the basket and led the team for the quarter as he matched his first quarter scoring with another 5 points.
Spenser Mooney hit a three pointer for the IRISH. The IRISH left the floor at half time with a 40-15 lead!
Thewebguy supposes that a coaches first worry with a 25 point lead is how his team will respond in the second half. The IRISH did not let their coach down! They continued the intensity on both sides of the court!
The IRISH had balanced scoring from it players as they continued to force turnovers and scored 25 points in the third quarter while giving up 8 points to the Bulldogs!
The fourth quarter saw Blair Gorniak grab an offensive rebound and put it in for the first points of the 4th quarter while Spenser Mooney continued hot shooting from the 3 point arc! Spenser hit two from the outside while seven other IRISH players scored 2 points each.
David McKinley and Tim Kromer added points in the fourth quarter to get every IRISH player in the score column! Tim Kromer also had by thewebguys count 4 rebounds for the evening! A very good first game for the new senior!
The IRISH opponent next Friday night will not be easy and will be a much taller team to deal with! Thus, thewebguy is calling for all fans to come and enjoy the team as we travel to Franklin Heights! Thewebguy wants to see a A GREEN OUT! Wear your 'ZUTTI ZONE Shirt and let's support the IRISH! Students can obtain a 'ZUTTI ZONE shirt at the School Store.
Final comments to the Varsity Squad..........Where Do We Go From Here? No, not "In Search of The Lost Chord" (The Moody Blues) but to Franklin Heights in search of our first OCC Capital Division Crown
The Scioto scoring was led by Kevin Lolli with 17 points; Bradley McDougald with 14 points; Spenser Mooney with 11 points; Austin O'Connell added 10 points; Michael Eubank had 8 points; Marco StJohn 7 points; Kelly Winter 6 points;Ben Ashwill 4 points; Rainer Duzan 3 points; Tim Kromer and David McKinley had 2 points each. A very balanced scoring attack.
The final score was Dublin Scioto 86 and Athens 29.
Dublin Scioto plays Franklin Heights away on FRIDAY, December 8, 2006. Junior Varsity game time is 6:00 PM while the Varsity will start around 7:30 PM
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