Dublin Scioto 68Cincinnati St. Xavier
49
Dublin Scioto rises to taller
challenge
Thursday,
March 19, 2009 7:23 AM
THE COLUMBUS
DISPATCH
JAMES D. DeCAMP Dispatch
Deji Olatoye of Dublin Scioto is forced to
adjust his shot in the third quarter because of strong defensive pressure from
St. Xavier's Luke Massa. Like most of St. Xavier's roster, Massa is taller than
6 feet 3.
The sight of
Cincinnati St. Xavier's roster, with eight players between 6 feet 3 and 6-10,
must have been daunting to many in the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum last night for
a Division I regional semifinal against Dublin Scioto.
Not intimidated, however, were
Scioto's players, who showed in a 68-49 rout of St. Xavier that a sleek package
of quickness, strength and athleticism can trump height, at least on this
evening.
The Irish, allowing just 44
points per game, established the tone on defense in the first two minutes.
Tyler Harrell, earning a rare start, rejected a layup by Bombers' 6-7 center
Erik Stenger on the opening possession. St. Xavier then threw the ball away
after a fruitless, shot-less 55-second sequence. Finally, 5-9 guard David
McKinley took a charge in the lane.
"We know we're not the
tallest team out there most nights, but coach really stresses physicalness and
he won't accept excuses if we get beat to the hole," Scioto guard Bradley
McDougald said. "We had a lot of respect for that team coming in, and we
knew they had a lot of good players, but we know if we play our game, we can
hold our own against anybody."
That Scioto did, gradually
pushing its lead into double figures just after halftime and never relenting.
The Irish led by as many as 25 before clearing the bench.
"We've had a tendency to let
up in some games with a big lead," Scioto coach Tony Bisutti said,
"but tonight our guys smelled blood."
After a career-high 29 points in
a 68-52 district championship victory over defending state champion Newark,
McDougald -- who averaged just 14 points in the regular season -- had 21 points
and six rebounds against a St. Xavier team that made the state tournament in
2008.
"Bradley's coming up big
right when we need him to," Bisutti said. "I told him that there's no
reason he can't be the Greg Avery of 2009 … the kind of guy who can pick up a
team and carry it on his back."
McDougald, who has signed to play
football at Kansas, didn't do it by himself. McKinley made five three-pointers
and scored 17 points. Six other players contributed in subtle ways.
"Our guys really did a good
job working it around," McKinley said. "They came out packing it in
with a zone and we rotated it enough until we found the open man, and tonight
it was me."
Bisutti said, "Right now,
the way we're playing offense, you've got to pick your poison sometimes."
After posting its first regional
win ever, Scioto (24-1) advances to play the winner of tonight's Grove
City-Northland semifinal at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
"The thing I like most about
this team is that we've got the ability to get it done different ways,"
Bisutti said. "We can play a diverse game. We coach physical basketball,
so our height isn't that big of an issue. Floor space is the most important
aspect."
Stenger had 19 points and nine
rebounds to lead junior-laden St. Xavier (14-10), which had 18 turnovers and
was outscored 17-3 at the foul line.