OLEAN — Even with a few practices under his team’s belt and with some prominent faces making their return to the floor, when Olean boys basketball coach Tim Kolasinski was asked what he believes his team is capable of this season, his response was, “I don’t even know my team yet.”
Sure, returners Mykel Rivera, Joe Mest and Adrian Bohdanowycz make things a little easier, but the roster all but completely flipped around them. New faces with different skill sets and experience levels filled in around the veteran trio. There was simply too much still to figure out at the time to even consider where the ceiling could be.
But now, behind a hard-fought 42-39 CCAA Div. I victory over a previously undefeated Dunkirk side, Kolasinski is starting to get a better idea as to the identity of his squad.
“I think it’s coming into focus,” Kolasinski said. “I think roles are still being defined, but I think the bigger picture is starting to come into focus. That was the fifth game of the season, that’s the first quarter (of the season) for high school basketball. So, looking at it from that standpoint, … we’re definitely starting to see what I think this team should be.”
The Marauders had rattled off three wins to start their season, defeating Salamanca on the road in their first league game of the season. Through about a quarter against the Huskies, it looked as though they were set to cruise their way to a second consecutive league win.
However, thanks to a steadfast defensive effort, Olean managed to string some turnovers together and force some contested shots, giving them a significant foothold in the game.
The strong second quarter put the Huskies within three points at the intermission and with momentum carrying over out of the locker room, they took a lead late in the third. For the rest of the time it was a war of attrition. Whichever broke down first was going to find themselves on the losing end of the tight affair.
Much to Kolasinski’s delight, it was his team that held on.
“It’s huge, because there were stretches in that game where both teams struggled,” Kolasinski said. “We regained that lead late and for a team, early in the season, you don’t want something to wipe it out at the end. When they got the ball back with us up (two points), that’s not something we’ve practiced a whole lot. To see guys lock in, make a great defensive play, force the turnover, and then handle the ball. That’s big. It tells me a lot about the guys.”
Olean’s Adrian Bohdanowycz (13) avoids contact while driving through the lane against Dunkirk. (Spencer Bates)
When the lights were at their brightest, up stepped the tried-and-true Rivera who hit his only 3-pointer of the game and drained a pivotal free throw in the final quarter. But, fully taking advantage of his first true opportunity on the year, was one of the new faces. Connor Hogle scored a team-high 17 points for the hosts and it was his pivotal layup that gave the Huskies the lead they would not relinquish.
“It was really nice for Connor to have the production he had, because this is the first real opportunity that he’s had this season,” Kolasinski said. “Seeing what he did today, and seeing the potential that he’s displayed, I think he’s just going to get more and more comfortable. With that comfort he’s just going to have more and more success. It’s just good to see him have (his effort) pay off.”
A big piece of the puzzle for Olean down the stretch was its effectiveness on the offensive side of the floor. Its defense was able to get them back into the game, but it was how well it picked apart Dunkirk’s zone defense that applied the pressure.
“We try to simplify the game as much as possible,” Kolasinski said. “I thought we did a good job when we calmed down, moved the ball on the perimeter and tried to get the ball into the high post to make some plays from there. The key was getting the ball to the baseline, in that low post area. … Connor was really big. He was very instrumental in all that.”
But put aside all the nitty gritty details. For Kolasinski, a grand majority of his team’s victory over Dunkirk came down to the heart his team played with. Bohdanowycz, embodying that effort, repeatedly threw himself down the lane, drawing a number of calls. His teammates followed suit. The Huskies bared their teeth, fought until the end, and were not bogged down by the occasional mistake.
“I think guys see where their strong suits are offensively, and that’s what they started looking for,” Kolasinski said. “For instance, for Adrian, (taking the ball to the basket) is a strong suit of his. Something we have been really stressing lately is that we want to play the game inside-out. So, whether it’s Adrian driving it, or we’re throwing it inside to the high post to Taylor (Teachman) or whoever, they play with a lot of heart. Obviously nobody ever plays a perfect game, but they just keep playing and playing, and they don’t seem to be phased by any of the potential errors.”
That, in essence, is the identity of the Huskies at the moment. A team that is technically sound on both ends of the court and puts their heart into each play. And while the full picture of what this team can be is still defogging for Kolasinski, he is happy with promise being shown.
Olean will suit up next on Dec. 27 in the Joe DeCerbo Showcase at Allegany-Limestone. It’s first of two games at the event will be against Bradford at 7:45 p.m.
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AT OLEAN
Dunkirk (39)
Tell 7 4-7 19, McCall 2 3-8 7, Kenner 3 0-2 6, Chaverez 2 0-0 4, Rodriguez 1 0-0 3. Totals: 15 7-17 39
Olean (42)
Hogle 7 3-3 17, Teachman 5 1-2 11, Rivera 3 1-2 8, Bohdanowycz 1 2-6 4, Mest 0 2-6 2, Ruggles 0 0-2 0. Totals: 16 9-21 42
Dunk. 18 26 35 39
OL 10 23 33 42
Three-point goals: Dunk. 2 (Tell, Rodriguez), OL 1 (Rivera); Total fouls: Dunk. 19, OL 16; Fouled out: Bohdanowycz (OL).
