Vikings reach Section III finals
SYRACUSE – Otselic Valley head boys’ basketball coach, Dave Loomis, is due for an unscheduled haircut.
The longtime OV mentor guided his boys to their first Section III Class D-2 championship since 2001 upending Lyme Saturday, 59-54, at Manley Field House.
It was the 10th win in 11 games for the Vikings (16-7), who face state-ranked New York Mills Tuesday at an undetermined neutral site for the overall Class D title.
“At the start of the season, most of the kids shave their heads, and just seems that they like that idea,” Loomis said. “They asked me, ‘coach, why don’t you shave your head?’ I told them, you win the D-2s, and you can shave it for me.”
Otselic Valley led throughout the game and by as many as 11 points in the second half. Greg Evans hit four three-pointers and is 15-for-30 over his last three games. He has drained 5-of-6 free throws in the final quarter to help seal the victory.
Evans finished with 10 rebounds to go with his 17 points, Taylor Duell matched those 17 points and grabbed 10 boards, and Shawn Hillman posted his first double-double this season scoring 14 points and snagging 10 rebounds.
“Lyme had a real good kid (Josh Wilson), and we figured if we could hold him below his average and rebound well, we’d be okay,” Loomis said. “We did a nice job on the boards, and on defense, and that is what made the difference for us. They also had a couple good perimeter shooters, and we were able to keep the pressure on them and limit their outside opportunities.”
The Vikes went through a stretch in late-December where they lost three straight games and had trouble putting points on the board. Entering January, the club brought in a .500 record, and Loomis admitted any type of championship was the furthest thing from his mind. “We had a few close games early on, and instead of coming together, we came apart,” he said. “Lately we’ve done things we have had to do to win games instead of things to lose. We’ve matured as a team and have been able to maintain intensity throughout the game.”
OV: Chris Olin, 0; Taylor Duell, 7 3-6-17; David Cerasani, 1 1-2-3; Shawn Hillman, 6 1-2-14; Greg Evans, 4 5-6-17 ; Eric Wentworth, 1 0-0-2; Justin Shapley, 0; Waltz, 0; Rasmussen, 0; Brown, 0; Williams, 0; Robert Guyer, 3 0-0-6; Wood, 0; Meigs, 0. Totals: 22 10-16-59
Lyme: Putnam, 2 0-0-4; Backus, 2 0-0-5; Larry Walker, 2 2-2-6; Allen, 1 0-0-3; J. Walker, 0 2-2-2; Justin Day, 6 0-3-12; Josh Wilson, 8 1-5-18; Jared Wilson, 1 2-2-4. Totals: 22 7-14-54.
Lyme 15 6 15 18
Ova 14 14 19 12
Team fouls: (L) 18, (OV) 14. Three-point goals: (OV) Evans 4, Hillman, (L) Josh Wilson, Backus, Allen.
The longtime OV mentor guided his boys to their first Section III Class D-2 championship since 2001 upending Lyme Saturday, 59-54, at Manley Field House.
It was the 10th win in 11 games for the Vikings (16-7), who face state-ranked New York Mills Tuesday at an undetermined neutral site for the overall Class D title.
“At the start of the season, most of the kids shave their heads, and just seems that they like that idea,” Loomis said. “They asked me, ‘coach, why don’t you shave your head?’ I told them, you win the D-2s, and you can shave it for me.”
Otselic Valley led throughout the game and by as many as 11 points in the second half. Greg Evans hit four three-pointers and is 15-for-30 over his last three games. He has drained 5-of-6 free throws in the final quarter to help seal the victory.
Evans finished with 10 rebounds to go with his 17 points, Taylor Duell matched those 17 points and grabbed 10 boards, and Shawn Hillman posted his first double-double this season scoring 14 points and snagging 10 rebounds.
“Lyme had a real good kid (Josh Wilson), and we figured if we could hold him below his average and rebound well, we’d be okay,” Loomis said. “We did a nice job on the boards, and on defense, and that is what made the difference for us. They also had a couple good perimeter shooters, and we were able to keep the pressure on them and limit their outside opportunities.”
The Vikes went through a stretch in late-December where they lost three straight games and had trouble putting points on the board. Entering January, the club brought in a .500 record, and Loomis admitted any type of championship was the furthest thing from his mind. “We had a few close games early on, and instead of coming together, we came apart,” he said. “Lately we’ve done things we have had to do to win games instead of things to lose. We’ve matured as a team and have been able to maintain intensity throughout the game.”
OV: Chris Olin, 0; Taylor Duell, 7 3-6-17; David Cerasani, 1 1-2-3; Shawn Hillman, 6 1-2-14; Greg Evans, 4 5-6-17 ; Eric Wentworth, 1 0-0-2; Justin Shapley, 0; Waltz, 0; Rasmussen, 0; Brown, 0; Williams, 0; Robert Guyer, 3 0-0-6; Wood, 0; Meigs, 0. Totals: 22 10-16-59
Lyme: Putnam, 2 0-0-4; Backus, 2 0-0-5; Larry Walker, 2 2-2-6; Allen, 1 0-0-3; J. Walker, 0 2-2-2; Justin Day, 6 0-3-12; Josh Wilson, 8 1-5-18; Jared Wilson, 1 2-2-4. Totals: 22 7-14-54.
Lyme 15 6 15 18
Ova 14 14 19 12
Team fouls: (L) 18, (OV) 14. Three-point goals: (OV) Evans 4, Hillman, (L) Josh Wilson, Backus, Allen.
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