Losing one of the most accomplished players in program history has brought about a style change for the Dublin Scioto boys basketball team.

Imposing center Clark Crum was a 4-year starter in the paint who earned Division I All-Central District accolades during his storied career. The second all-time leading scorer ever at Scioto, Crum is now a freshman offensive lineman at Virginia Tech.

But his absence has forced Irish coach Tony Bisutti to shift the focus of his club from supremacy in the middle to a more up-tempo approach based on perimeter quickness.

"The big guy is no longer around for us, so we are not going to be centered around what he can do," Bisutti said. "Now we are extending the court a bit more and pressuring a little more on the perimeter."

Although relatively inexperienced, the Irish plan to use reserves off the bench early and often in contests, especially when heated battles take place in the Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division.

"I think that we're zoning in and getting better," Bisutti maintained. "We are counting on a lot of younger guys this year.

"We are much deeper than we have been in the recent past. I don't think we have a standout guy, but we have a couple of guys that can take over the game."

Familiar faces are back after a 14-8 campaign that included a 7-3 mark in the Cardinal Division. The champion was Grove City although realignment now finds the Irish in a league with New Albany, Olentangy Liberty, Franklin Heights, Watkins Memorial and Big Walnut.

The campaign concluded for seventh-seeded Scioto with a 58-53 defeat to Hilliard Davidson in a district semifinal showdown at the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum.

Veterans can be found in the backcourt in 6-1 senior guard Kelly Winter and junior Ben Ashwill (6-0). Others seeking court time are senior Michael Eubank (6-1), and sophomores Bradley McDougald (6-0) and David McKinley (5-7). All of the aforementioned will be asked to dictate the pace.

"We want to spread teams out because we have people that can shoot the ball," Bisutti stated. "Those guys also need to get the basket and they all have that ability."

Senior Austin O'Connell (6-4) is the most explosive forward. He anchors a crew that features seniors Kevin Lolli (6-2) and Spenser Mooney (6-1), junior Blair Gorniak (6-2) and sophomore Rainer Duzan (5-11).

Meanwhile, the post players charged with replacing Crum and his 16.1 points-per-game average are senior Tim Kromer (6-6) and sophomore Marco St. John (6-3).

All must be on point if the Irish are to conquer a new league. Consider New Albany to be one of the favorites.

"There are a lot of unknowns, but I feel that we should be in the mix and contend for the league championship," Bisutti said.

To augment the league slate, Scioto will embark on an ambitious schedule that includes the likes of Worthington Kilbourne, Watterson, St. Charles, Mt. Vernon and Westland, among others.

"We tried to make it pretty diverse," Bisutti said. "I think it is a balanced schedule."

Saturday, the Irish open against visiting Athens at 7:45 p.m.