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5 Keys: Olentangy Orange heads into New Year unbeaten after big win at Newark

By Zach Fleer, 12/29/22, 8:15PM EST

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Olentangy Orange senior Jordan Edwards is one of the elite playmakers in Ohio

NEWARK, Ohio -- Every great team must pass the Newark test. The Jimmy Allen Gymnasium is one of the toughest places to play in Ohio, and an essential litmus test for teams who want to be great.

Olentangy Orange wants to be great and they proved it in a 50-45 victory on the road on Thursday to win the Newark Holiday Classic.

This game was tightly contested all the way throughout, as Newark played its signature tough defense and patient motion offense. Orange held a 15-13 lead after the first quarter.

Newark dominated the second quarter, keeping Orange in the half court and shutting down any driving lanes, which forced the Pioneers to take contested threes, none of which they hit in the period. With an offensive attack carried by juniors Ethan Stare and Steele Meister, with additional contributions from senior Grant Burkholder, Newark went into halftime holding a 22-19 advantage.

The Wildcats started the third quarter hot, extending its lead to 30-23 early in the period. Orange raced back, as seniors Jordan Edwards and Elias Lewis put the Pioneers on their shoulders, to go on a 10-2 run to take a 33-32 lead late in the third. Newark struck back with a bucket from Stare to regain the lead heading into the final frame with a 34-33 lead.

The first minute of the fourth quarter determined the game, as Orange went on a crucial 7-0 run, turning its full court pressure into transition offense to lead 40-34 with 6:43 remaining.

Newark cut the deficit back to four points a few times, but was not able to get any closer, as the veteran Pioneers did not panic, taking care of the ball, scoring open buckets and hitting clutch free throws.

Orange kept its foot on the gas and cruised to a 50-45 victory. The Pioneers are now 10-0, becoming the first team in the area with double-digit wins. Orange has the area's strongest strength of record and will be a force going forward, even without senior guard Mike McCollum, who likely won't return until closer to February.

The scoring was extremely balanced for Orange, with Edwards, Lewis, senior Nick Chapman and sophomore Devin Brown each scoring 11 points, while the other two scorers had three points each.

For Newark, Stare was the leading scorer with 17 points, having a strong showing on both ends of the floor. Meister added 11 points while Burkholder chipped in 10.

The Wildcats fall to 7-3, with two of those losses coming to the top two Division I teams in the area in Orange and Pickerington Central.

1. Senior grit: Jordan Edwards played the entire fourth quarter with four fouls, continuing his physical brand of basketball without picking up that crucial fifth foul that would've sent him out of the game. Edwards, Lewis and Chapman were extremely solid in all aspects for Orange, as this senior group is laser-focused and committed to one another. 

2. 11.11.11.11: We have never covered a game where four players on a team all scored 11 points in a win. Orange's offense was balanced and it seemed as if the Pioneers' top scorers took turns attacking offensively. Orange plays high quality basketball and will be a force for any team to deal with.

3. Out and running: Orange is at their best when they're moving full speed and taking advantage of early transition offense. When Newark forced them into difficult half court contested shots, the Orange offense sputtered. With a dynamic ball handler like Edwards leading the show, Orange will want to get into a rhythm and get moving in big games later in the season. The second half was the difference maker, as its full court pressure helped Orange take advantage of mismatches in transition where the Pioneers punished Newark. 

4. Executing in winning time: The best teams know how to close out tough opponents late in games. Average teams would've fallen apart in the late stages of Thursday's game, as Newark intensified its pressure and relied on its always raucous crowd to try to get back into the game. Orange was never rattled and made the plays they needed to make to secure the victory. 

5. Diversified offense: Orange is not a one trick pony. The Pioneers can attack in waves, as they have three-point shooting, athleticism, dynamic guards and interior toughness. They lack a true low post presence in their primary rotation, but that does not stop them from attacking the rim. We love the fact that they have more than one or two guys that can take over a game. That type of reliable offense will help them down the stretch when its time to win important games against equally talented opponents. 

MVP: Jordan Edwards (Olentangy Orange senior)

Top Scorer: Ethan Stare (Newark junior, 17 points)

Hustle Player of the Game: Ethan Stare

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