By Austen Miller (’16)

Last year, the boys’ varsity basketball team lost in the second round of the district finals to Centennial after claiming a first round bye. This year that is not the case, as the Aces did not take the first round bye. They could have easily with the record of 16-6 (13-4 in league play), but after last year’s result, Coach Adam Teeters had a different idea in mind.

The Aces were able to fend off a fourth quarter comeback by the River Valley Vikings by their outstanding rebound game. They were in favor of rebounds 33-22, but turnovers are what killed them.

Senior small forward Austin Rush added 26 points and 8 rebounds and senior center Scott Herb had 12 points to lead the Aces to victory. Guards David Cox, Alex Meurer, and Sam Choice are among the best in central Ohio when it comes to perimeter shooting, just as they proved against the Vikings.

“I was confident that we could win,” Rush said. “We can go as far as we want in this tournament if we play together as a team.”

Looking to Saturday, the sixth seeded Aces will host seventh seeded Beechcroft in the second round of the tournament and looking to reach the district semifinals for the first time since 2011. The game will be played Saturday at 7pm at Granville High School.

Having to play eight men deep due to injuries has been a huge obstacle for the Aces. They lost junior Jacob Alexander to a concussion, and junior Peyton Ley to a severe dislocated ankle.

The Aces will be playing eight-men deep this Saturday, just as they did against River Valley.

“I feel as though if we play together as a team then we will be successful. We just have to focus,” Rush said.

Sophomores Will Sharp and Justin Thompson will be put on the spot if worse comes to worse, considering varsity is usually reserved for juniors and seniors.

The adversity that they have faced has been large considering the playing caliber of the players that they have lost. But the team is confident that they can be successful.