Some days the basket can be as large as a dumpster. Then there are times, like the Olentangy boys experienced Friday, when the lid is shut so tight you would need a Brink's truck to blast through it.

The Braves were ice cold from the field in the first half, and visiting Dublin Scioto used that to its advantage in a 66-51 Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division victory.

"We just never got untracked," Olentangy coach Chris Kelly said. "All the little things added up and it was one of those nights."

The IRISH (1-0, 1-0 OCC Cardinal) had an extra week of preparation for this game, and coach Tony Bisutti put it to good use.

He laid down the law to his team, asking them to remember what it felt like when they lost a 35-26 decision to the Braves last season. Dublin Scioto which had won 12 straight over Olentangy at that point, turned the ball over on six of their last 15 possessions and gave up 10 unanswered points.

That was a point of embarrassment.

"We have made it a point when we had games like that of challenging them when we come back to that place, and we have always responded to that challenge," Bisutti said. "They say your team takes your personality, and I let them know about it. It was one of those games that kind of sticks wit you a bit."

Clark Crum had a game-high 16 points and 14 rebounds for the IRISH, who had an extra week of preparation for their season opener.

It was the fifth time in seven career games that Crum has scored in double figures. The 6-foot-7 senior center, who will play college football for Virginia Tech next year, is averaging 13 points against the Braves.

Kelly Winter added 11 points, four rebounds and four assists, while Kevin Lolli finished with 10 points, five rebounds and three steals for the winners.

Olentangy guard, Nathan Balch, had a team-high 13 points and made three 3-pointers.

The Braves (1-1, 0-1) were 19 for 43 from the field (44.1%), but missed 12 of their first 18 shots in the contest. Olentangy couldn't even hit at the free throw line when the IRISH were in foul trouble. The Braves were just 5 for 17 (29.4%) and were never able to get in any offensive sync.

Meanwhile, Dublin Scioto did the job at both ends. The IRISH forced 19 turnovers, allowed just one shot at the defensive end more often than not and dominated the glass, getting numerous second chance looks.

"We felt that we had to extend hard and make smart help decisions on who we were and were not going to help on," Bisutti said. "We talked about extending the perimeter because we did not feel like they had a real post presence."

Senior Billy Hite, the Braves only true center with experience at 6-5, had just three points and grabbed four rebounds.

Dublin Scioto had a slim 7-5 advantage with 4:10 remaining in the first quarter, but exploded for a 15 point run over the next 5:28 to take a commanding 22-5 advantage.

Kelly Winter, a junior guard, tallied seven of his 11 points in the run.

"He is a perfect example of great things that happen to kids who work hard," Bisutti said. "Kelly is a great kid. He was a little tentative last year as a sophomore. But he is a year older and a year smarter."

This is certainly one loss that Olentangy wants to put behind them quickly.

"We played as bad as we could play," Kelly said. "The guys know that. They are not happy and I am not happy, but we basically said that we would move on and get better.