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Olympus coach Matt Barnes was caught off guard pregame on Friday evening when faculty directors known as him to midcourt so they may rejoice his 25 years as the college’s boys basketball head coach.
Barnes stated he was humbled and honored by the shock celebration, however rapidly deflected the eye again on his gamers — significantly the seven seniors who had been celebrating senior evening.
The vitality created pregame in entrance of the packed Olympus scholar part dressed for that evening’s Sweethearts faculty dance spilled over into the sport.
Sharp-shooting Olympus jumped throughout visiting Brighton, constructing a fast 15-0 lead and by no means letting up because it rolled to the resounding 92-43 victory to cap an ideal Area 6 common season.
“It’s been when a type of years that’s simply been so enjoyable, and to cap it off like this in opposition to Brighton who’s turn out to be a giant rival these final couple years after which to play the best way we performed,” stated Barnes, whose group figures to be the highest seed heading into the 5A state event, which begins subsequent week.
“Hopefully we will end it off the following two weeks, but it surely’s not going to be simple. There’s a whole lot of good groups.”
Extremely, Olympus’ 49-point win over Brighton on Friday wasn’t its largest win of the season, because it beat Weber by 51 factors in a preseason event again in December.
Luke Lowe obtained issues going with two early 3-pointers because the Titans completed with 13 made 3-pointers from seven completely different gamers.
Jack Wistrcill completed with a game-high 31 factors, with Dutch DowDell including 22 factors on 4 3-pointers.
Barnes stated he was very impressed by how his gamers tuned out all of the distractions and had been dialed in from the opening tip.
“Nothing actually rattles them. With all of the senior evening distraction, the dance tonight and my factor, they had been simply locked in and we got here in able to go,” stated Barnes.
A few wake-up calls the earlier two video games definitely helped with that focus. Final week, Olympus narrowly beat East 62-56 in a sport that was a one-possession sport with three minutes remaining.
Then earlier this week, Olympus solely led Skyline by three on the half earlier than it pulled away emphatically and gained 69-38.
Friday’s final result was by no means doubtful, and the group celebrated by chopping down the nets in entrance of a rowdy scholar part.
“It’s powerful to win. I inform the children on a regular basis, ‘It’s onerous to win. Cherish successful, ‘trigger it’s not simple,’” stated Barnes.
Successful is one thing Olympus has carried out a whole lot of throughout Barnes’ tenure, and he’s excited to maintain the custom going, as Friday was under no circumstances a retirement social gathering.
“Twenty 5 years is loopy these days within the enterprise, but it surely’s simply a lot enjoyable and so many nice gamers and nice youngsters,” Barnes stated.
“Olympus is a particular place. I went to high school right here, and to do the issues we’ve carried out and the enjoyable we’ve had, it’s the perfect place round.”