LEWIS CENTER, Ohio -- When all was said and done, Olentangy Orange head coach Anthony Calo could breathe again. At the sound of the final horn, the Pioneers (7-1, 2-1) came out, defeating Westerville South (4-2, 2-2) 57-54. Junior guard Bryson Lane led the Pioneers with 15 points, including multiple key free throws down the stretch to help his team try and keep pace in the Buckeye division.

The win was a big one for the Pioneers and it gave Calo a win that’s long been in the making – his first win over his famed father, Ed. A sigh of relief comes with the win for Anthony, because the duel on the sidelines with his dad is over, for now.

“I’m just glad this is out of the way,” Calo said.

The Pioneers (7-1, 2-1 OCC-Buckeye) got off to a quick start with a pair of threes from junior guard Luke Ballinger, and two buckets from Lane. Senior Jordan Shelton also chip in put the Pioneers up 10-5 at the end of the first period.

Both offenses would come alive in the second quarter, and after trailing 19-12 early on in the frame, they would cut the lead to 21-20 midway through. Orange would push the margin back to five at 29-24 going into halftime, but the Wildcats would continue to fight back, especially in the early part of the third quarter.

Orange’s cold spell in the second half came at the worst possible time, and Westerville South’s ability to force turnovers and convert at the other end helped the Wildcats regain the lead.

All in all, the 14-0 run would pave way to Westerville South’s 44-41 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Junior guard Nik Brannon would tie the game up with a three to open the scoring in the fourth quarter, and junior wing Jack Neer’s three-point play would give the Pioneers the lead once again. With their backs to the wall, the Pioneer backcourt got to work as big man Jalen Bethel recorded 10 rebounds in the fourth quarter alone.

“(Jalen) means a lot to this team,” Calo said. “He gives us a lot.”

Orange would play the free throw game late, and thanks to Lane’s ability to hit them down the stretch, the Pioneers were able to survive with a key win. They move on to a pre-Christmas Saturday night contest with St. Charles that has become a mainstay the past few years, while Westerville South will actually play that same Cardinals team on Dec. 28.