Basketball
Irish boys head into postseason with more focus
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 2:35 PM
By SCOTT GERFEN
ThisWeek Contributor
By Adam Cairns/ThisWeek
For the nine seniors on the
A year ago, the Irish won the program's first district title with a 61-44 decision over Brookhaven. The celebration might have lingered in a 55-49 loss to Westerville South in a regional semifinal.
"It was pretty disappointing, and I don't think we had a very good week of practice," senior David McKinley said.
"I think we were just excited to win that first district championship. I think this year we know that we can't let up on any team even if they're an underdog."
Second-seeded
The Irish clinched the OCC-Cardinal Division championship outright last Friday with a 54-35 win over visiting Dublin Jerome to improve to 17-1 overall and 13-0 in the league.
"Three-peats don't grow on trees, obviously," coach Tony Bisutti said. "Our guys are happy, but they know we have other goals ahead of us. League championships are certainly exciting and it would be great for this group of seniors to go out undefeated with a win Friday."
When the two teams met Jan. 16, Scioto outscored the Monarchs 21-0 in the first quarter before ending up with a 69-31 win.
Top-seeded Northland and its roster of college prospects has gotten a lot of attention, but the Irish have been getting it done with defense in holding opponents to a little more than 40 points per game. Only four have reached 50.
"Defense has been our best attribute all season," McKinley said. "We know when to pick our spots and get out into the passing lanes and get steals. We seniors have played together for so long, I think that's why we really get the team defense concept."
Bisutti, who has been with the program since the school opened in 1995, said this might be his best defensive team. His approach has been somewhat different this season.
"You've got to be smart about things," said Bisutti, whose team was ninth in the state poll. "With this team and being a veteran team it's been about keeping their interest. That's been a priority for us. We might give them a day off here and there or grind it out, and I think that's been key for us."
•The girls team finished its run through the OCC-Cardinal at 14-0 after last Friday's 62-39 win at Jerome.
Scioto finished ahead of Westerville South (11-3), Jerome (9-5), Olentangy Liberty (8-6), Westerville North (5-9), Olentangy (5-9), Marysville (3-11) and Westerville Central (1-13).
The third-seeded Irish were 19-1 overall before last Wednesday's opening-round Division I district tournament game against Worthington Kilbourne.
The winner faces Groveport at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday at Westerville Central.
Below are the recent results and coming schedules for the Scioto boys and girls basketball teams: BOYS *Last Friday -- Defeated