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‘Air Conditioner’ piling up rebounds for Knights

Athleticism, will make 6-foot Colletti solid on both ends of the floor.

Greenon High School's Anthony Colletti (front) calls for a timeout after beating Emmanuel Christian's Ryan Mahoney for a loose ball during their nonconference game on Jan. 17. Colletti is averaging 19.9 points and 12.7 rebounds per game for the Knights this season. Staff Photo by Barbara J. Perenic

Barbara J. Perenic/Springfield N/Staff Photographer Greenon High School's Anthony Colletti (front) calls for a timeout after beating Emmanuel Christian's Ryan Mahoney for a loose ball during their nonconference game on Jan. 17. Colletti is averaging 19.9 points and 12.7 rebounds per game for the Knights this season. Staff Photo by Barbara J. Perenic

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By Michael Cooper, Staff Writer 11:01 PM Thursday, January 26, 2012

ENON — Greenon High School coach Tim Lacy calls junior forward Anthony Colletti “the Air Conditioner.”

“I always tease him before the game and ask him if he’s going to cool the gymnasium down,” Lacy said. “Or I’ll ask him if he’s going to let them unplug the air conditioner tonight? He just gets that big smile of his face and says, ‘Don’t worry coach, I’m going to take care of business.’ ”

In his first season at the varsity level, Colletti’s high motor hasn’t stopped running all year.

Despite being 6-foot tall, Colletti is leading the entire Central Buckeye Conference in both scoring (19.9 points per game) and rebounding (12.7 points per game).

“I’ve never seen a 6-footer attack the boards like he does,” Lacy said. “He’s possessed as far as trying to get the ball. You can’t really coach that. It’s something you have to have instinctively.”

Colletti feels like every shot that goes up is a chance to get the rebound and score. He likes to call them “hustle points.”

“I like to get after it,” Colletti said. “With every single shot, I go up like it’s going to be a missed shot and go after it.”

Colletti’s scored in double figures in every game this season, thanks to a quick first-step and a nice shooting touch at the free-throw line (72 percent, 81-for-112).

He’s tallied double figures in rebounds in all but five games, including a season-best 24 rebounds against Northwestern on Jan. 6.

“He makes up for his lack of height by reading the ball and beating people to the ball,” Lacy said. “It’s his sheer will. He’s got an offensive player’s mentality. He just wants to get the ball and score.”

However, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing between Colletti and the program. He didn’t play varsity last season after clashing with Lacy on a lot different issues.

“He spent some time in my doghouse, that’s no secret,” Lacy said.

Over the summer, the coach and player ironed out their differences.

“I’ve really bought into the program and it’s turned out well,” Colletti said.

Lacy said Colletti has matured and has done everything he’s asked of him this season.

“He’s come back this year with the attitude that he’s going to listen and try to do the best of what I need him to do and I commend him for that,” Lacy said.

Colletti has been a key player in the Knights’ turnaround this season. Over the last seven years, Greenon won a total of 20 games and no more than four in any season since 2004. This year, they’re 7-7 and 3-3 in the CBC Mad River Division, winning more games than the previous two seasons combined.

“I don’t think anyone can look at Greenon as a pushover,” Lacy said. “The kids have improved leaps and bounds.”

Especially the “Air Conditioner,” who hasn’t stopped laughing about the nickname.

“It’s fun to joke around about it,” Colletti said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0365, Michael.Cooper@coxinc.com or on Twitter @SNS_Wizard.

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