Ooltewah boys’ basketball coach Jesse Nayadley knew coming into the season that before the big things could happen — such as competing for district and region championships — his team was going to have to focus on the little things.
Replacing nine seniors from last season’s 22-11 Owls made that an even more daunting task, as did completely rearranging the identity of a team — from one that used a size advantage to overwhelm most foes to an unselfish, run-and-gun style team.
The results have been pretty solid. The Owls, who defeated Bradley Central, 85-66, in the District 5-AAA tournament semifinals Saturday, are 20-8 and finished second in the regular season. Four starters average double figures, and senior point guard Josh Lloyd is close.
“We have more options and can do more,” Nayadley said. “If I had to comment on last year, we had to rely on being bigger than our opponent. We got offensive rebounds and scored off that, but this year we dictate how we play to our opponents. We won a lot of games last season, but this year we’re harder to guard.”
The transformation also caused the two returning players — seniors Tyler Whitman and Lloyd — to alter their roles from a year ago. Whitman went from a role player to the Owls’ leading scorer at 16.1 points per game, while Lloyd, who was a scorer two years prior, averages 5.7 assists.
“Last year we had a lot of seniors, so I was able to play a role,” Whitman said. “But this year, I’ve had to step up because we have so many younger guys and become a scorer.”
The two have been influential in helping the newer players get acclimated to varsity action.
“Coach told me I needed to lead by example,” Lloyd said. “I’ve had to step into that role. It’s hard sometimes playing with younger guys, but I feel they can mature; they are maturing and learning what we have to do to win.”
The Owls had four district losses by a total of 18 points, so learning to close out games has been a concern. Ooltewah led regular-season district champion Cleveland by seven points late before falling.
“The only way to beat a team is to beat them,” Lloyd said. “We can’t worry about what a referee is calling; we just have to play through. We’ve had some really tough losses, but we’re learning how to put our foot on their throat and finish games.”
Said Nayadley: “This year’s team and last year’s are two totally different teams. This year, the guys are a little more hands-on, and I do think we have a lot more potential in the end.”