Win over Graham a long time in the making for Greenon

Before Friday’s victory, Greenon hadn’t beaten Graham since 2002.

Seth Currier (15) of Greenon is guarded by Andrew Williams (34) of Northeastern during Tuesday's basketball game at Greenon on Dec. 6, 2011 Staff Photo by Barbara J. Perenic

Barbara Perenic Seth Currier (15) of Greenon is guarded by Andrew Williams (34) of Northeastern during Tuesday's basketball game at Greenon on Dec. 6, 2011 Staff Photo by Barbara J. Perenic

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By Michael Cooper, Staff Writer 10:56 PM Monday, December 19, 2011

SPRINGFIELD — Last Friday, the Greenon High School boys basketball team did something it hadn’t done in almost a decade — enter the hostile environment at Graham and come away with a win.

The Knights beat Graham 42-39 for their first victory over the seven-time defending Central Buckeye Conference Mad River Division champions in nine seasons, and they did it without injured big man Josh Bannick and four-year starter Josh Pilcher being held scoreless.

“You weren’t going to believe (that could happen),” said Knights coach Tim Lacy.

The Knights hadn’t won at Graham since Dec. 20, 2002. They swept the Falcons that season.

Since that season, they’d gone 0-20 against the powerhouse Falcons, including 0-16 in the regular season and 0-4 in the postseason.

Lacy said the undersized Knights (3-1, 2-0 CBC Mad River Division) believed they could win, giving 100-percent effort to end the losing streak to the Falcons.

“I’d rather have eight good men, than 80 men,” Lacy said. “If you can find eight good men who are going to buy in to what you’re doing, you’re going to have success regardless.”

Lacy said each player is accepting their role. Junior Anthony Colletti is the scorer, averaging 22.8 points per game. Josh Pilcher is the leader on the floor, while players like Cody Carpenter, Brandon McNeil and Seth Currier are doing a great job on the defensive end of the floor.

“They’ve been through so much adversity from the last three years to this year,” Lacy said. “They’ve all bought in and have accepted the fact that they’d have to make sacrifices.”

The Knights host Urbana (3-1, 2-0) at 7:30 tonight in a battle of Mad River Division unbeaten teams. The Hillclimbers beat Greenon by an average of 33 points in two victories last season, but the Knights believe they can compete.

“The kids have confidence,” Lacy said. “They really believe if they do what they have to do, they can play with anyone.”

Lacy said the team will need to maintain its intensity on defense, improve its shooting percentage, stay healthy and give the same effort each game to keep racking up wins. Through four games, however, they’ve already proved they can play.

“Regardless of what happens, you’ve accomplished so much more than what people thought you’d accomplish,” Lacy said.

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