Beavercreek’s dream season in high gear

It’s reality now, though, after all-around win over Morgan-led Boro.

Beavercreek (33) Jalen Camper goes up for a shot against a Springboro defender Tuesday at Beavercreek High School.

Charles Caperton/Contributed photo Beavercreek (33) Jalen Camper goes up for a shot against a Springboro defender Tuesday at Beavercreek High School.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Charles Caperton/Contributed photo

ENLARGE PHOTO

High school sports results for May 26
5/26/12
Wayne boys win team track title
5/25/12
Bellbrook tennis duo advances to semifinals
5/25/12
Jefferson grad takes lessons from Miami Heat cousin
5/25/12
T-Bolts excited for state debut
5/25/12
> More high school headlines

11:36 PM Tuesday, January 24, 2012

BEAVERCREEK — Another all-around contributing effort. Another quality win. And another reason for Beavercreek’s boys basketball team to collectively pinch itself.

Living the high school dream season? You bet.

Whoops; check that.

“This is better than a dream,” corrected Beavers junior Jalen Camper. “It’s reality.”

They were this season’s early feel-good story, the team that couldn’t shoot straight and couldn’t win. After Tuesday night’s impressive 63-56 defeat of visiting Springboro, Beavercreek is now the team to beat.

It was a matchup of No. 1 (Boro) vs. No. 2 in the Dayton Daily News Division I rankings, and it lived up to its billing. It also might not be the last time these Greater Western Ohio Conference powers play. For that to happen, both teams would have to advance several games into the postseason. That’s a good possibility, because each will likely earn a high seed, if not 1-2.

That’s a stark contrast from recent seasons when Wayne and Trotwood-Madison ruled the GWOC and area D-I postseason.

Junior center Maverick Morgan, 6 feet 10, was a big reason why Springboro was No. 1. He had 23 points and four blocks. That probably was enough to convince University of Illinois coach Bruce Weber that the trip was worth it.

It’s becoming the norm for head coaches and college assistants to check out Springboro games. Morgan is the next big thing to emerge from area boys basketball.

“He’s a big-time coach,” Morgan said. “Having him here was a big deal. That was so cool.”

But Boro didn’t go to its big man enough, often settling for long jumpers. And the Panthers weren’t hitting.

“We got away from what we really wanted to do,” said Panthers coach Troy Holtrey.

Now, Boro (11-3) has dropped two of three games.

In contrast, Beavercreek (11-2) was better than ever. Rather than a go-to down-low force, the Beavers legitimately go five deep offensively.

On Tuesday it was Kyle Rader coming up with clutch backdoor layups and a deep-ball threat. He hit all three of his treys to match Morgan with 23 points.

“This means a lot,” the junior said.

“Even when somebody doesn’t play well, somebody else steps up and has a great game and we just keep on winning.”

Camper, also a junior, was nearly perfect from the floor.

He added 18 points and staked the Beavers to an early second-half lead that they wouldn’t give up.

Super sophomore sub Airius Moore added 14 points, including nine in the deciding fourth quarter.

Yet another sophomore, 6-4 Tyler Reasoner, gets a big assist for constantly moving Morgan away from scoring position.

That all added up to yet another reason for the Beavers to celebrate.

Well, maybe.

“We come in here after every game after we beat another good team and I say, ‘All right, we’re officially OK,’ ” Creek coach John Ahrns said among his assistants.

“I’m still a guy who coached the 2-19 team. To be where we’re at now just two years later, yeah, livin’ the dream. It’s probably the best way to put it. We lived the nightmare, now we’re livin’ the dream.”

Share this article