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Olentangy Orange 66, Olentangy 65 - Prospect Scouting Report

By Zach Fleer, 01/04/19, 10:15PM EST

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Orange seniors Nik Brannon and Luke Ballinger helped power the Pioneers over Olentangy

LEWIS CENTER, Ohio -- In one of the better rivalries in the OCC, Olentangy Orange (7-3) went on the road and knocked off Olentangy (4-4), as junior Ryan Cutler sank one of two free throws with 3.5 seconds to go to power the Pioneers to a 66-65 win.

In a game dictated by three-point shooting, great guard play and senior leadership, the momentum swayed back and forth for 32 minutes. Each team came out firing early, combining for 39 points in an entertaining first quarter that featured six three-pointers and only three fouls.

The dust settled in the second quarter, as Olentangy held the visiting Pioneers to seven points, closing the first half on a 12-2 run to lead 31-27 at the break. 

Orange was not denied coming out of the locker room, as senior forward Nik Brannon scored 10 of his 14 points in the third quarter, fueling a 25-point quarter that gave the Pioneers a 52-48 lead heading into the final frame.

In the fourth quarter, Orange looked to be pulling away as the Pioneers led 61-55 with 4:21 to go. This was where Olentangy made its run behind star senior Sean Marks. The Ohio Dominican signee sparked a 7-0 run that culminated in a rim running finish from senior Caleb Steele, which put the Braves ahead 62-61 with 2:29 to go.

Orange broke the scoreless streak out of a timeout, as senior guard Luke Ballinger drove hard right for a tough layup that gave the lead back to the Pioneers. Forcing an Olentangy miss on the next possession, Orange went to senior guard Bryson Lane, who knocked down a mid-range jumper to extend the lead to 65-62.

Moments later, Olentangy senior guard Noah Gossett pulled up from James Harden range, burying a contested triple from 24 feet to tie things at 65 with 1:06 to go.

From this point forward, Orange held possession, opting for the final shot with the game knotted. Playing keep away for 63 seconds, the Pioneers struck gold, as Lane, who picked up his dribble and appeared to be in no man's land, found Cutler on a high IQ backdoor cut. Cutler's dive to the basket resulted in a highly contested foul on Steele, who many in the crowd felt got a clean block.

Cutler calmly knocked down the first of two free throws, as Orange knocked the ball out of bounds and forced Olentangy to go the length of the court with 1.4 seconds to go and facing a 66-65 deficit. The Braves missed a long heave at the buzzer, sending the Pioneers back to Orange Township with a win. 

For Orange, every starter scored at least nine points, led by Brannon's 14 and Ballinger's 14. The 6-foot-5 Brannon added nine rebounds, four assists and a block, coming alive in a momentum-changing third quarter that helped Orange build its lead.

Ballinger came out the gates hot, scoring nine points in the opening quarter, while delivering in an important spot late in the game. Cutler pitched in 12 points in addition to five rebounds, while Lane added 11 points and six assists, delivering with a few tough contested jumpers.

Sophomore guard Andre Irvin knocked down two threes and finished with nine points, taking some pressure off Lane. 

For Olentangy, Marks was outstanding, finishing with 18 points and seven assists. The 5-foot-10 floor general consistently made tough shots but was even more impressive as a passer, finding open teammates with difficult passes. 

Senior guard Luke Riedel pitched in 14 points, 12 of which in the first half. Gossett added 11 points on a trio of three-point field goals, with no triple more impressive than the one he hit from deep to tie the game. Steeled pitched in seven points, all of which in the second half. 

With the win, Orange improves to 7-3 with a 3-1 mark in league play. The Pioneers will travel to Hilliard Davidson on Tuesday for an intriguing non-league matchup.

For Olentangy, the Braves fall to 4-4, losing four of its last five games after a 3-0 start. The path of the Braves does not get any easier, as Olentangy will hit the road and play Upper Arlington, Olentangy Liberty and Groveport next week.


Nik Brannon (6'5 WF / Olentangy Orange / 2019): An intriguing senior with length and ball skills, Brannon put it all together in the second half on Friday. Going for 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a block, Brannon showed off the arsenal of tools he has, knocking down a three in each corner, while finishing at a higher percentage at the rim in the second half. Brannon can rim run, can knock down spot up threes, competes on the glass and can contest shots at the rim. While Brannon still needs to get stronger to finish at a higher level at the rim, he has enough tools, size and athleticism to play at the Division III level. 

Sean Marks (5'10 PG / Olentangy / 2019): Some guys just have the 'it factor,' and Marks is one of those guys. A senior guard who plays with the confidence and feel of a college upperclassman, Marks had a terrific performance on Friday. The 5-foot-10 guard is as good as they come at creating separation off the dribble, as he knocked down a trio of tough step back shots, two of which coming from three and one from the mid-range area along the baseline. Marks does a great job of using his body to seal off defenders, as he is very strong and compact and can finish against height. The Olentangy senior is a three-level scorer that can make shots off the bounce, off movement and especially on spot ups. Marks can be used both on and off the ball, as he is an efficient handler, passer, shooter and playmaker. We were really impressed with Marks' control of the offense, vision and passing ability, as he put it all on display against a tough opponent. Signed to Division II Ohio Dominican, Marks is going to come in with a chip on his shoulder and an undeniable work ethic that will turn him into a great college player. 

Luke Ballinger (6'0 WG / Olentangy Orange / 2019): On the way up to the game, we spoke with a college coach who said that Ballinger "shoots the piss out of it." That proved to be evident early, as Ballinger knocked down two healthy threes and finished a three-point play to score nine of his 14 points in the opening period. The senior guard is a below the rim finisher that competes on both ends. Ballinger has really improved off the bounce, as he finished a few tough drives at the rim, two of which resulting in three-point plays. Ballinger is a definite Division III prospect with knockdown shooting ability from all over. 

Luke Riedel (6'1 WG / Olentangy / 2019): Riedel had a great first half, scoring 12 of his 14 points. The 6-foot-1 guard hit a catch and shoot three from the left wing, converted driving layups with each hand and helped take the pressure off Marks to begin the game. Riedel added three assists, showing off a range of skills on the offensive end. 

Bryson Lane (5'9 PG / Olentangy Orange / 2019): Lane is a full blown competitor, as he has been a go-to guy for the Pioneers for the last two plus seasons. The Ohio Wesleyan commit was money in the second half, scoring nine of his 11 points in important spots in the game. When Orange needed a big shot, Lane seemed to deliver, as the 5-foot-9 guard did most of his work off the dribble, hitting two mid-range jumpers and one three from the top of the key. Lane is a crafty handler who can get by defenders and make smart passes. The senior doesn't get sped up and makes good decisions, evident on Orange's last possession, where he turned a high pressure situation into the game-winning free throws. 

Noah Gossett (6'3 WF / Olentangy / 2019): Touted as one of the better shooters in the area, Gossett proved it in spurts on Friday, as he scored nine of his 11 points on three-point shots. The 6-foot-3 senior has unlimited range and plenty of confidence, as he is a great option for Marks on the drive, as Gossett's floor spacing ability helps open up the lane. Gossett was the Braves' top rebounder on the night, adding six boards to his stat line. 

Ryan Cutler (6'3 WF / Olentangy Orange / 2020): Cutler had a solid all-around game, finishing with 12 points and the game-winning free throw. The lanky junior added five rebounds, a block and a steal to his line, remaining engaged on both ends and hitting a three-point field goal. Cutler solidifies the starting lineup, as Orange operates with three guards and two wings in Cutler and Brannon, which has helped give the Pioneers much-needed versatility. Look for Cutler to really step up as a senior next winter as Orange will rely on him to produce. 

Andre Irvin (5'7 PG / Olentangy Orange / 2021): Irvin keeps the ball on a string and has a package of dribble moves that he uses to get into the lane. While Irvin is still adjusting to finishing over height, the 5-foot-7 sophomore does not lack for confidence, as he hit two key threes in the third quarter that helped spark the 25-point outburst. Irvin is a tireless worker that is going to continue to get better and could be due for a breakout season next winter as a junior. 

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