There came a point last season when Austin O'Connell began to believe basketball was no longer any fun.
Losing had a lot to do with that and it began to weigh on his performance as a starter for the Dublin Scioto High School boys basketball team.
Soon, he found himself in coach Tony Bisutti's doghouse and no longer had his spot in the starting lineup.
"I flat out told him he was a liability last year," Bisutti said. "There were just too many issues in the end, and he kind of got into a funk. But I told him this summer that I could see things going his way."
The 6-foot-4 senior has taken those words of encouragement to heart.
O'Connell's role this season has been an important one as a post player and leading scorer who before a game last Saturday against visiting Linden-McKinley was averaging about 12 points a game.
His function in Scioto's up-tempo offense and pressure defense has been one reason why the Irish remained unbeaten at 6-0 before last Wednesday and 3-0 in the OCC-Capital Division following the 85-36 victory on Dec. 19 over Watkins Memorial.
He scored nine of his season-high 20 points in the first quarter.
"We're just really having a lot of fun this year," O'Connell said. "We're running and scoring a lot of points and that's how we've always played since middle school. I think I'm just more relaxed this year and maybe it's because I realize this is probably my last year of organized basketball."
What the Irish do is partly geared around O'Connell's abilities.
Offensively, he can go inside and can shoot from the perimeter and bigger players seem to have a difficult time guarding him.
His play also has allowed guards Kelly Winter and Ben Ashwill to get inside, and coaches have found ways to highlight his strengths in certain situations.
"A lot of our high-post stuff goes through Austin," Winter said. "He can shoot it and take it on the dribble. He's got great ball skills for a big man. He's actually a relief for Ben and me when we get in trouble. In our scheme, he's just a great five-man for us."
What has impressed Bisutti the most about O'Connell's time on the floor is his improved effort at the defensive end.
"If you'll notice he's been very disruptive," Bisutti said. "He kicks a lot of balls, and I think he set a school record in our opening game for steals. In our press, he's pretty good back there cat-and-mousing and waiting for the rest of them."
Ask O'Connell about his defense and he begins to laugh. He likes to credit his teammates for making him look good.
"They're just pressuring the ball and causing bad passes and I'm kind of benefiting from them when (opponents) throw the ball away," he said.
"I don't really like playing defense too much and I think I might be getting away with a lot this year, but don't tell coach 'B' that."
It's that type of humor that also gives O'Connell the edge as the team jokester.
"In school, he's kind of quiet, but when he gets around his friends he's a lot of fun," Winter said. "He and Spencer (Mooney) together are a real comedy act."
O'Connell wouldn't have it any other way.
"We like to joke around and we're winning right now so it's great to be having fun, again," he said.
Scioto Girls Basketball
By the time the girls team faces Hilliard Davidson on Friday, 10 days will have passed since its last game -- a 66-41 victory over host Watkins Memorial on Dec. 19.
Coach Todd Hardesty postponed a game last Friday against visiting Independence following the death of senior forward Emma Culp's father who had been battling cancer.
"That family has been in and out of Scioto with their four kids," he said. "The impact is really community-wide, and we're going to do all we can to support them."
Scioto remained undefeated at 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the OCC-Capital.
Davidson dropped to 1-7 following a 55-52 loss to Mount Vernon on Dec. 21.
"Carmen Reynolds is there go-to player, and we'll certainly have to know where she is on the floor," Hardesty said.
"I don't think that have a lot of firepower, but Kathy's (Lindsey) a great coach and they always play us tough."
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