In a dominant performance at the Shaker Heights High School Danny Young Classic, the Orange Lions blew past the Beachwood Bison 56-34. 

In an interview after the game, junior Captain Eriq Walker, who plays point guard, shared a message he gave to his teammates after the game.

“I told my teammates to keep their heads up,” Walker said. “We have a lot of young players that haven’t really played at the varsity level yet, and this was the first varsity game for many of [them].” 

The Lions were led by senior standout Alex McCulloch, who converted 57 percent of his shots leading to 18 points and pulled down five rebounds. His steady scoring was matched by all around-around support from his teammate Jaylhin Sheppard, who chipped in nine points, along with seven assists and six rebounds, helping the Lions control the game on multiple levels.

While McColloch and Sheppard set the tone, the win was very much a team effort. Orange dominated the offensive interior, pulling in 14 offensive rebounds. That kind of collective effort is hard to beat. 

From the tip off, Orange looked sharp. The opening quarter featured six points from McCulloch and seven from Sheppard, giving the Lions a 17-12 lead that they never gave up. By halftime, thanks to solid ball movement and timely outside shooting from the Lions, the lead expanded to 28-18.

The Bison tried to fight back. Coming out of the half, Walker, who led the Bison with 15 points, hit a corner three, bringing the score 28-21. 

That spark for Beachwood shortly came to an end though as Orange regained control. The Lions outscored Beachwood 12-7 in the third quarter to carry a 40-28 lead into the final period.

Lacking extra possessions and consistent scoring, the Bison couldn’t mount a comeback.

After the game, Bison shooting guard Malcom Jones gave insight on his team before and during the game.  

“Going into the game we didn’t have energy,” Jones said. “We usually have energy going into games like this, and it’s like we didn’t have energy while we played. Also, our best player fouling out hurt our team a lot.”

In the fourth quarter the Lions pulled away. Dillion Mathur poured in 7 of his 15 total points down the stretch, sealing the 56-34 victory.

With this win, the Lions advance to 2-0 to start their season. Meanwhile the Bison continue to struggle, starting their season 0-2.

For Beachwood it was a tough night, but this is a reminder that rebounding, defense, and disciplined offense matters just as much as shooting. 

After the game, senior Captain Ethan Malek, who plays guard and forward, put the loss into perspective.

“It was the first game of the season,” he said. “It was a really tough loss to a rival, but we did show some improvement from last year. 

“We definitely had some good [moments], but there [were also] some bad [ones] that we saw over the film that we can improve on,” he added.

Malek feels that the game was a reminder of what the team needs to do to improve. 

“If we keep working hard individually, it’s going to show,” he said.  “And after a loss like that, we just have to bounce back and work hard throughout practice and keep getting better.” 

In spite of the tough loss, the Bison feel a lot of potential for the season. 

In a pre-season interview, Malek described a major uplift in team chemistry over last year.

“During optional practices throughout the off-season, a lot of people showed up and put in the effort,” he said. “Last year, our team didn’t have as much of a connection. We’ve done a lot more team bonding this year.” 

Walker also felt that teamwork was stronger.

“The biggest difference from last year to this year is our improved team chemistry,” he said. We’ve learned how to play as a team, and our chemistry continues to get better every day.” 

Head Coach Pete Priola and Assistant Coach Zac Toth also noted the heightened sense of grit among the players. 

“There is way more leadership and communication amongst teammates,” Priola said. 

The team captains reflected on just how crucial their coaches have been. 

“We have a special group of coaches that keep us motivated,” Walker said. 

“Our coaching staff is a little stricter on us this year, and they’re really showing us that they want to win,” Malek said. 

Coach Priola identified the team’s strengths and weaknesses heading into the season.

“Our biggest strength is their ability to execute plays and defensive strategies,” he said. “I think an area for improvement would be working on our depth.”

Walker has worked hard on improving his own skills.

“I’ve been really focused on scoring in different ways and finding ways to create space off the dribble,” he said.

From a team standpoint, their goal is to improve their 3-17 record from last year and to get better as the year progresses. 

Priola is confident in how the team can improve after losses.

“There are always challenges during a season, it’s how [the team] can adapt to those situations that will determine a great deal,” he said

Malek highlighted a key turning point in the pre-season.

“We had a leadership meeting,” he said. “The next day, we had the best practice we’ve ever had. Everyone was so hyped and putting in so much effort. It was an eye-opener for a lot of the players and even the coaches. It showed us that if we put in the effort, we’re going to be good.”

Priola emphasizes the high potential for this team, specifically from junior Emmet Bang, who was injured last year.

“He was out for a lot of last season with a torn labrum, but he’s back now and he’s definitely stepped up,” Malek said. 

Priola is excited, thinking about the future for this team. 

“I feel the ‘team’ aspect has been a wonderful improvement over last year. Leadership has been much improved, and this group has a chance to shock some teams if they all buy in.” 

 At publication the Bison are 0-2 coming off a hard-fought loss against the Cuyahoga Heights Red Wolves on Wednesday, Dec. 11. 

The Bison face Brooklyn for a home game today at 12:15 p.m.