Lee Leads the Way Past New Providence with a Season High 23

The OP Rams Basketball team now sits at 7-2 (5-0 in the UCC Mountain Division) with a 60-51 win against bordering town, New Providence. The boys were able to avenge a double digit loss against Ridge in the SFIC Hoopfest hosted by Roselle Catholic. The problem throughout this game had to be illness for the Rams, as sicknesses sidelined three prominent players in the lineup against NP, including an all junior front of Brandon Lissade, Marcus Johnson, and Will Kostka. That could only mean that several guys on the OP depth chart would have big shoes to fill during this game. The Rams and New Providence were neck and neck throughout the entirety of the first half. Oratory was only able to get to a maximum 8 point lead, before letting New Prov creep back into the game with only a 2 point deficit. The Rams were able to pull away in the third quarter led by a Jack Olohan and Ryan Fay three pointer. Oratory was able to get ahead by a 15 point margin at the end of the third, while moving that lead to 18 with only 4 left to play. Although New Providence was able to creep back into the game, Oratory’s defense was sound and led them to a 60-51 win. Connor Lee led the way with a season high 23 points, the most scored in his rookie season at Oratory. Ryan Fay would just trail behind having 21 points of his own, his 4th 20 point performance on the season. Fay also went for a career high in rebounds with 9, being only one shy for a first career double-double performance. Jack Olohan also played some big minutes for the first time this season. The key to the senior’s play style was staying poised and ready to shoot any shot he was given. Olohan finished with 6 points and really stepped in for the sick Marcus Johnson and Will Kostka. The boys now sit at a 7-2 record, facing another divisional rival in Scotch Plains Fanwood Thursday night.