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District Champs: Olentangy Orange takes down Delaware Hayes for first district title

By Mark Francis, 03/04/23, 1:00PM EST

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Pioneers outpace Hayes in second half and never look back

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The jam packed day of basketball at Ohio Dominican on Saturday started with an experienced Olentangy Orange team squaring off with Delaware Hayes.

While the game was a four-point contest at halftime, Orange used a second half offensive explosion to run away from the Pacers
with a 54-39 victory and the right to be called district champions for the first time in school history.

The action got going quickly as Orange jumped out to a 7-2 lead early in the opening quarter.

Delaware Hayes' outstanding junior Jesse Burris was ready to respond though, cutting that lead to 9-6 midway through the first quarter.

As time was winding down in the opening frame, Burris tied the game at 11.

After a steal and layup from Orange senior point guard Jordan Edwards with less than two seconds on the clock, the Pioneers took a 13-11 lead into the second.

After a small lull to open the second, Burris hit a shot to break the ice and tie the game at 13.

One-third of the talented senior trio for Olentangy Orange, Elias Lewis came right back with a mid range jumper to pull back ahead by two.

After a brief one-point lead, Delaware Hayes called a timeout down 17-16 with 3:36 left in the half.

Olentangy Orange and their trio of Edwards, Mikey McCollum and Lewis sent the Pioneers into the locker with all the momentum on their side as they helped guide their team to
a 24-20 halftime lead.

After the break, Lewis kicked off a huge second half for the Pioneers with a three-pointer to give Orange a 27-20 lead early in the third quarter.

Burris split a pair of free throws and McCollum took advantage by draining another three for a 30-21 lead with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter.
The Pacers fought back as Burris took a charge while they were down 32-25 in the third, but that was as close as Delaware Hayes got because Levi Davis came back and knocked in a three to go up by 10.

From there on out, Olentangy Orange did not look back and did not let Hayes get back to within eight points the rest of the game.

McCollum took a charge with 11 seconds remaining in the third quarter, up by 10, and let out his emotions as his team looked poised to close out the game and win a district championship.

The final quarter was more of the same, as Edwards started the quarter with a fast break layup to go up 41-29.

McCollum and Edwards took turns making fast break layups as the lead stretched to 47-35 for the Pioneers. Olentangy Orange finished by only allowing 10 total fourth quarter points, and just six points before the 2:37 mark of the frame.

Burris led Delaware Hayes, and all scorers, with 21 points. Hezekiah Russell added seven, Jake Lowman pitched in six and freshman Chase Griggs had five to round out the scoring for the Pacers.

Olentangy Orange was led in scoring by Edwards who had 14, followed by Lewis with 13 and McCollum with 12. Devin Brown added nine, while both Davis and Dylan Joy both had three as well.

The Pioneers punched their ticket to the regional semi-finals with a
54-39 win in the district championship game.

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