BY PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y.– James Guzielek didn’t need a fiery halftime speech. The Greece Odyssey boys basketball coach showed his team the facts.
Guzielek’s Leopards comprehended the message.
Five scored in double figures, and Odyssey came from behind to beat Greece Olympia, 64-54 in Monroe County Division IV action, Thursday night.
Trailing at halftime, Darren Davidson factored in Odyssey’s first four buckets coming out of the locker room, and the Leopards took a lead they did not surrender.
“I’m really proud of Darren Davidson,” Guzielek said of the senior forward who missed five games earlier in the season with an ankle injury. “He had a great game today.”
Davidson knotted the game at 30 when he grabbed a pass from teammate Aric Williams and finished underneath. Next trip down the floor, Davidson returned the favor, set up Williams for two of his 11 points and a 32-30 Odyssey lead.
One possession later, DJ Billings led Davidson for two underneath. Davidson capped the spurt with a drive from the wing and finish in the lane.
Travon Harper feeds Darren Davidson for two of his team-high 15 points. @ODYbball pic.twitter.com/DO9PEWhSgj
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 5, 2018
“He’s gaining confidence now,” Guzielek noted. “He’s finally finding his groove. The guys are finding him in the spots where he’s able to score which is getting him out on those wings. He doesn’t look very strong, but he plays strong going to the basket. He gets himself in good positions.”
More importantly, Davidson followed the script.
After falling behind 11-1 to start the game and still trailing by double digits at 22-12, Guzielek knew the solution was a simple as adjusting the point of attack.
“We were 0-for-16 from behind the 3-point line,” Guzielek said his team’s statistics from the first half. “I thought we had some good opportunities. Not bad looks, but we just couldn’t make any.
“After we showed them the shot chart at halftime and where all the circles (indicating missed shots) were, that kinda sunk in. The last thing I did was I held up the shot chart in the huddle and it made it very apparent where the circles and where we need to go in the second half.”
Aric Williams at the buzzer to end the third quarter. @ODYbball pic.twitter.com/7n0MBnF5ma
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 5, 2018
Davidson and Williams combined for 12 points in the paint as Odyssey outscored Olympia, 20-9 in the third quarter.
“Down double digits right away, it certainly was not how we planned on starting,” Guzielek stated. “But to come back shows our toughness and our grit. They’re a really, really tough team. Things like that don’t rattle them.”
Williams pushed Odyssey’s advantage to double digits at 50-39 when the 6-foot-2, 210-pound forward converted converted a rebound and putback on the first possession of the fourth quarter.
Travon Harper took charge from there connecting on five of six free throws in the fourth stanza. The Leopards connected on eight of 10 free throws in the quarter and 18 of 25 overall for the contest.
“They work really hard at practice on their foul shooting. It shows in games.The guys are really stepping up with that confidence. They’re going to go and make those shots.”
Davidson finished with 15 points to go with eight rebounds.
Williams grabbed 10 boards to complete the double-double.
Harper had 14 points and six assists. DJ Billings added 12 points, and Jaden Hartsfield had 10. Ray Colbert chipped in two points.
“That’s really when we’re at our best,” Guzielek said of the five scorers with points or more. “We area a balanced team. We don’t have that one guy who stands out. That’s what really makes us a tough scout, too sometimes.”
The win was the third straight for Odyssey (7-3).
Jeff Jung, Jr. registered his second straight double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. The junior guard/forward matched a season-high with 32 points and 12 rebounds in the Spartans 84-69 win over Brighton, Wednesday night. Jung is averaging 15.2 points per game.
Rah’Qual Avant paced Olympia with 16 points and three steals. William Green, Jr. had 15 points to go with six blocks.
It’s storming outside. William Green, Jr. brings the JELLY inside.???????? pic.twitter.com/BIJc3lfWXz
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 5, 2018
Trevari Sharpton-Clark and Wesley Elmore, Jr. added four apiece for the Spartans. SamuelWright IV chipped in two points. Kris Perez had one.
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