GROVEPORT, Ohio -- Olentangy's start on Saturday's non-conference matchup at Groveport was a lot like the Braves' snow-filled drive on the way down --- slow.

Falling behind 16-12 after a quarter of play, Olentangy quickly heat up, outscoring Groveport 47-25 the rest of the way to cruise to a 59-41 victory. 

Sean Marks was the key in the game, as the Olentangy senior led all scorers with 24 points and six assists. Marks brought a small collection of Groveport students to their feet with an impressive behind-the-back finish in transition that officially put the game out of reach.

The active hands of Olentangy's defense made a huge difference, as the Braves forced 14 steals and made nearly every possession tough for Groveport. Senior guard Luke Riedel and sophomore Tavian James were especially solid on the defensive end, causing havoc and helping Olentangy get out into transition.

Outside of Marks, senior guard Noah Gossett, Riedel and junior forward Austin Brown all finished with eight points. Olentangy put together a great team performance on Saturday, as eight different players scored on the night.

For Groveport, no Cruiser was in double figures, as senior guard Nakhi Taylor led all players with nine points. Taylor got off to a hot start, playing a great two-way game against a tough Olentangy team. Junior guard Elijah Monroe continued a strong season with eight points while senior guard Javon Miller knocked down two second half threes to finish with six points. 

With the win, Olentangy is off until next Friday when the Braves will head to Westerville South in OCC-Buckeye action. A day later, Olentangy will travel to historic Hoosier Gym to take on Centennial in Indiana. 

For Groveport, the Cruisers have a winnable league game at Franklin Heights next Friday before heading to St. Charles to round out the weekend. 

Sean Marks (5'10 PG / Olentangy / 2019): After Marks' impressive behind the back finish in transition, Groveport's students were making goat noises at the Olentangy senior. Now only sitting 10 points away from being the school's all-time leading scorer, Marks might just be the 'goat' of Olentangy basketball. Finishing with 24 points, four rebounds, six assists and three steals, Marks controlled the game on both ends, as the senior guard kept the ball on a string, got to the line at will and hit a couple impressive shots off the dribble that not many guys in the area can make. We love the strength and toughness of Marks' game, as he knows how to use his body to finish through defenders and draw fouls. Marks has a great ability to create space and can really see the floor on the move. The Ohio Dominican signee is one of the best passers in the area and an underrated defender that doesn't make anything easy for opponents. We've said it before and will say it again - ODU got a steal in the Olentangy senior. 

Luke Riedel (6'1 WG / Olentangy / 2019): Seeing Riedel twice in the last eight days, we are big fans of the senior's game. A physical and athletic guard that plays with a great motor, Riedel was back to his usual self on Saturday as he made plays all over the floor and gave Olentangy another layer to its offense. Finishing with eight points, three assists and four steals, Riedel played an excellent two-way game and helped set the tone for the Braves' physical and active defense. 

Nakhi Taylor (6'1 PG / Groveport / 2019): Taylor was off to an excellent start on Saturday, scoring six of Groveport's 16 points in the opening quarter. While Taylor only scored three points the rest of the way, he still led his team in scoring and played an impressive game. Taylor is a quality on-ball defender that can really move laterally and is a tough scorer on the other end. As Groveport replaced a ton of experience from last year, Taylor is the veteran on the squad and is having a solid senior year. 

Javon Miller (6'3 CG / Groveport / 2019): After watching Miller's breakout opening game earlier this year, it was nice to see the senior again on Saturday. Miller is a knockdown shooter from distance that plays with great motor and toughness. The 6-foot-3 senior knocked down two healthy looking threes and made plays off the ball for the Cruisers. Leading Groveport with five rebounds, Miller showed off his solid athleticism and wingspan. Look for Miller to continue to attract Division III and NAIA attention. Won't find many better all-around kids than Miller. 

Noah Gossett (6'3 WG / Olentangy / 2019): The 6-foot-3 senior is a big wing who can knock down shots as well as anyone in the area. Gossett has never seen a shot he doesn't like, as he isn't shy about pulling up from way deep. Gossett would be a great look for Division III programs looking for a guy who can absolutely stroke it and space the floor. When Marks and Gossett are rolling, Olentangy is tough to stop as the Braves have a great deal of firepower from all over the floor.