Before the season, the Lions were confident they could compete with their MBC counterparts.
“We did expect that this year, just because of the guys we had coming back (six letterwinners, including four starters),” head coach Danny Moore said. “That was our goal from the start. It was one of those goals that you put on the board, but you understand it takes every league game to get there.”
The Lions travel to Dayton Christian today, Feb. 16, at 7:30 p.m., host Xenia Christian on Thursday then travel to Middletown Christian on Feb. 22.
Dayton Christian is in third place, so the Lions will have to earn that MBC title.
The Lions, as they’ve done all season, will rely on their stingy defense to close out the season. They allow 50.1 points per game, lowest in the seven-team MBC.
Top defenders include Jason Reep on the perimeter, and Bennie King and Joel Elliott under the basket. Reep, a 6-foot guard, always draws the other team’s top scorer. King, a 6-foot forward, lives under the rim and averages 7.5 rebounds per game. Elliott, a 6-3 forward, averages 4.9 rebounds, and Reep 4.6.
“We crash five because I don’t like to give up an offensive rebound at all,” Moore said. “All five guys are in getting the boards, which seems to be the difference in these last three weeks.”
That would be when the Lions began a six-game winning streak (which was snapped Saturday in a loss to Miami East). Following a 63-47 loss to Yellow Springs on Jan. 19, the Lions made a few changes and put the focus back on their defense.
Since then, the Lions are giving up 45 points per game.
“The guys have just worked hard at being a better ‘one shot, control, get a stop’ kind of team,” Moore said.
About the Author