High school boys basketball: Olympus sinks 3s, sinks West

With the way Olympus was knocking down 3-pointers Tuesday night, the undefeated West Panthers realistically never had a chance.

In a showdown between Region 6's two elite teams, the Titans' vast array of outside shooters put on clinic with 12 3-pointers in a dominating 78-60 victory over visiting West, one of only three remaining undefeated boys basketball teams in the entire state heading into Tuesday's games.

"We're shooting the ball a lot better as a team overall," said Olympus coach Matt Barnes. "The thing that's so special about this team is they can all shoot it. You've got to guard all the guys on the perimeter."

Olympus had six different players drain at least one 3-pointer in a game the Titans never trailed after Nicholas Paulos' buzzer-beating trey to end the first quarter.

West kept it close in the second quarter, even leveling the score at 26-26 a few minutes before halftime, but it simply couldn't keep up with Olympus' hot shooters.

Connor Brady led the Titans with 21 points, while Corbin Green chipped in with 20 points on four 3-pointers.

"We were really fired up. We just came into this game and knew we needed it for the region," said Brady. "These are the games you work for."

Olympus improves to 5-0 in Region 6 with the victory, with West falling to 4-1 in league play.

When these teams meet again at West High School later this season, the Panthers might need to rethink their defensive approach. West is one of the most athletic teams in the entire state, featuring several big-time shot blockers in Chris Barnes and Ricardo Saldana. The duo, along with several other West players, are quick to collapse into the paint at the first sign of dribble penetration.

Olympus used that aggressiveness to its advantage.

"They're so tough defensively, you have to take advantage of what they give you," said Barnes.

Most of Olympus' 3-pointers were the result of kick-out passes from its penetrating guards, not to mention patience passing it around the perimeter.

"We are starting to shoot it better, and when we shoot it like that we're pretty tough," said Barnes.

With Olympus leading by 12 late in the third quarter, West's typical quick-strike offense forced a few turnovers and went on a 6-0 run closing to 49-43 with 1:31 remaining in the quarter. The Panthers, however, went seven straight possessions without another point as the Titans pulled away for good.

Tyrell Corbin led West with 21 points as his team finished the game shooting a respectable 25 of 56 from the field. Olympus countered by making 26-of-41 field goals.

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com