High school boys basketball: Olympus rolls over Murray in battle between deep-rooted coaches

Olympus’s Anthony Olsen goes to the ring towards Murray’s Drake Auclaire face off in a highschool boys basketball sport in Murray on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022.

Spenser Heaps, Deseret Information

Olympus coach Matt Barnes and Murray’s Jason Workman every have a protracted historical past at their respective faculties. They graduated from their respective faculties and now have been a part of the basketball applications for over 30 years.

In that point, they’ve additionally develop into good mates and, after all, at all times requested their groups to compete exhausting once they performed one another. This season can be particular as a result of every have their youngest sons on the court docket on the identical time.

However Tuesday night time’s match stood out for one more motive.

Dutch Dowdell scored 23 factors and Jack Wistrcill had 22, however each coaches pointed at Olympus’ passing abilities and offensive endurance to be the important thing a part of the Titans’ 64-46 win in a Area 6 sport.

Jordan Barnes added 11 factors as Olympus constructed a 25-point lead within the third quarter after which held on to enhance its report to 12-1 general and keep on high (2-0) of the area standings. Murray fell to 8-6 and 1-1.

“I used to be more than happy for about 80% of the sport, and any time we get a win at Murray, I really feel higher,” stated Barnes.

Olympus was by no means threatened. The Titans by no means trailed and appeared comfy taking a 32-16 lead by halftime. They then went on a 9-0 run to begin the second half and elevated the margin to 25 factors.

Barnes stated he solely felt uncomfortable within the remaining quarter when the Spartans elevated their defensive strain and compelled the vast majority of Olympus’ 13 turnovers. Chudi Anosike additionally acquired the house crowd concerned with 19 factors, and Workman’s son, Jaxson, nailed three consecutive 3-pointers.

It was too little, too late and, after all, too uncommon for the Spartans, who Workman feels are nonetheless bettering and might nonetheless make a run on the area crown if the workforce matures and shut video games go their approach.

“We acquired pissed off once we couldn’t discover our shot, so we’d usually find yourself taking a tricky one,” stated coach Workman. “For the primary half, they (the Titans) performed like a state-championship workforce. They did no matter they wished.

“I actually felt like we might match up with them,” he added. “Now we have some dimension and athleticism, however they do all of the little issues properly.”

Wistrcill and Dowdell did most every thing properly. Wistrcill, a 6-foot-8 senior middle, had 15 of his factors within the first half and confirmed a singular capacity to attain with each arms. Dowdell, a 6-5 sophomore, acquired sizzling later, and continued his household’s custom of correct 3-point taking pictures, nailing 4-5 from past the arc.

Jordan Barnes, a 6-3 sophomore, scored in double figures for the ten^th time already this yr. He was constant, making 5 of 9 pictures, and aggressive (4 fouls in a comparatively clear sport). He additionally had 4 rebounds as Olympus loved a 38-15 benefit in that division.

“That they had three children who might find yourself being DI (school) gamers,” stated Workman. “All of them performed properly they usually acquired their pictures in locations the place they knew they might make them.”