Perhaps it's just a coincidence, but the season's first winter storm rolled into central Ohio during the second half of the freshman game at Olentangy last night at almost the same time that the Irish went cold from the field and free throw line. The result was a 35-29 loss to the Braves.

The Irish arrived in Lewis Center under cloudy skies and cool temperatures to face an Olentangy team that beat Dublin Coffman 47-42 in its home opener last Saturday. By the time the team boarded the bus back toward Dublin, almost two inches of snow was on the ground.

The weather conditions were a reminder of a second half performance in which the Irish were 2-9 at the free throw line and committed 12 turnovers. In addition, Scioto missed its first 10 shots of the fourth quarter.

At the end of the first quarter, the Braves led 8-6 and maintained it with a 19-17 lead at the half. Olentangy stretched the lead to four points at 28-24 at the end of the third quarter.

Stepping up the rebounding and defensive pressure, the Irish were able to create three consecutive good scoring opportunities to start the fourth quarter. However, they were unable to convert them into points.

Scioto committed seven turnovers in the fourth quarter, which gave Olentangy a chance to build a 32-26 lead despite their own shooting and turnover woes.

Still, the Irish put themselves in position to make a final run at the Braves when Bradley McDougald rattled home a three pointer from the right wing with just under 1:30 to go in the game. The shot cut the Irish deficit to 32-29.

Olentangy forward Alex Tracy drove right to the bucket in transition, however, to give the Braves a 34-29 lead.

The Irish missed a shot on the offensive end and a held ball following the rebound scramble resulted in Olentangy possession. At this point, the Irish had to foul and eventually sent Braves' shooting guard Mitchell Gerber to the line. He made one free throw for the final margin.

Tracy led all scorers with 13 points. Gerber added 10, including a trifecta of three point shots.

In his first action of the season, McDougald led the Irish with 8 points. He added four steals and two assists.

Marco St. John scored five for the Irish, including a traditional three-point play following an offensive rebound. Other Irish players in the scoring column were: Jason Tiemeier (4), Rainer Duzan (4), Brandon Brown (3), David McKinley (3), and Dylan Coscia (2). Playing, but not scoring were: Ryan Adams, Mike Henderson, Nate Innis, Jerod Nawrocki and Rahim Wasim.

Duzan had three assists. McKinley had 2 assists and 2 steals. Tiemeier took a charge in the third quarter.

The Irish are back in action at home on Saturday morning against OCC Cardinal Division foe Westerville Central.

They hit the road for a crosstown game versus Coffman on December 13 and close the pre-winter break portion of the schedule at home against Grove City in another Cardinal Division match-up on December 15.