With three sophomores getting regular playing time, the Dublin Scioto High School boys basketball team occasionally looks a little green.
Coach Tony Bisutti is trying to hasten the development of his younger players.
"You kind of have the theory that if you've played in 30 varsity basketball games over the course of two seasons that's normal for a senior," Bisutti said. "These guys are still sophomores where consistency is concerned. Certainly we have an eye to the future, but we're trying to win games now."
Without back-to-back victories since a 2-0 start, the Irish are trying to become a consistent team as they begin the second half of the OCC-Cardinal Division schedule against visiting Olentangy on Friday.
Scioto dropped to 4-7 overall with last Saturday's 52-40 loss to Walnut Ridge, which outrebounded the Irish 41-14.
The Irish are tied with Dublin Jerome at 2-5 in the league behind Westerville South (7-0), Olentangy Liberty (6-1), Westerville Central (5-2) and Westerville North (4-3) and ahead of Olentangy (1-6) and Marysville (1-6).
"Even though we haven't been consistent, I just feel like between every game each one of us is getting better," sophomore guard Antonio Bisutti said. "For some of us sophomores, we've played in a lot of varsity games, so it's not like we can make a lot of excuses."
Bisutti earned a starting spot last year, and sophomores Josh Ashwill (guard) and Travis Yates (post player) had roles off the bench. Yates has seen his playing time increase after senior post player Jamare Mills left the team last month.
Both Bisutti and Ashwill are averaging about seven points per game.
"As seniors we just try to talk to them and keep a positive attitude," said guard Raneal Ewing, who's averaging about 16 points. "If they start missing shots, we tell them to keep shooting and worry about the next possession."
Olentangy hasn't looked like the team that coach Chris Kelly envisioned before the season, although 6-foot-4 forward Josh Perry has returned from a knee injury.
Scioto won the first matchup 67-41 on Dec. 7.
The Braves, at 4-8 overall, have dropped seven of eight games, including a 78-60 loss to Westerville North last Friday.
"With Perry back, it's not going to be like it was back in December," coach Bisutti said. "We also have a different look in the post position. But they know what we're going to do and it's going to boil down to execution."
The Irish could use a victory ahead of Tuesday's game at Westerville South, which defeated Scioto 65-39 on Dec. 10.
In the last meeting, South used a 13-2 run to open up a 15-point halftime lead. The Wildcats then outscored Scioto 21-6 in the third quarter.
"It's going to take four quarters to be a team like that," Ewing said. "We've got to finish our games and not just two or three quarters."
The schedule doesn't get any easier for Scioto after that. The Irish have home league games with Westerville North on Jan. 28 and Westerville Central on Feb. 4.
"We're at the point where you've got to pull off a win with having those games at home," coach Bisutti said.
AT A GLANCE
Below are the recent results and coming schedules for the Scioto boys and girls basketball teams:
BOYS
*Last Friday - Defeated Marys-ville 61-50. Raneal Ewing scored 24 points.
Last Saturday - Lost to Walnut Ridge 52-40.
*Friday - Home vs. Olentangy. Scioto won 67-41 on Dec. 7.
*Tuesday - At Westerville South. The Wildcats won 65-39 on Dec. 10.
Of note: The Irish are 4-7 overall and 2-5 in the OCC-Cardinal.