Yellow Jackets Win Comfortably in Home Opener Over Christ Chapel Academy

The Osbourn Park bench cheers on the team's hot start in the first quarter versus Christ Chapel Academy. 

(photo via Amber Bonner)

What a difference two days make. Tuesday night saw Osbourn Park fall short on the road at Forest Park with many dejected faces. Fast forward to Thursday night's home opener against Christ Chapel Academy and it was smiles and high fives all around as OP won going away, 80-64. 

The Yellow Jackets immediately took advantage of the home crowd, hitting their first 13 of 16 shots. Sophomore point guard Trey Terrell and senior shooting guard Logan Dwyer led the way, scoring 10 a piece. Osbourn Park ended the first quarter up 32-17. 

Christ Chapel used a bevy of three-pointers to gain ground in the second quarter with an 11-2 run, forcing OP to call a timeout with 3:04 left in the half. The Lions would finish the quarter outscoring the Yellow Jackets 19-10. The visitors would use another stout effort in the third quarter to cut the lead to two with OP up 55-53 beginning the fourth quarter. 

Sophomore point guard Trey Terrell led the team in points (26) and assists (5). 

(photo via Amber Bonner)

While the Lions would look to take the lead for the first time all night, OP held them off with a strong final period, built on an infrastructure of quality shots, free throws, three-pointers and aggressive defense. The Yellow Jackets finished off the visitors 25-10 in the last quarter. Trey Terrell was a key reason why, finishing the game 9-10 from the free throw line. He and junior forward/center Cam Portis were named co-players of the game by the coaching staff.

"We just came out with effort and wanting to bounce back from the last game," said Terrell. "It felt pretty good to have that home crowd energy after starting the season with four away games. Our big men had a lot of rebounds and blocks, and overall were more aggressive tonight."

Cam Portis was a co-player of the game with his first double-double. (photo via Amber Bonner)

Cam Portis would notch his first double-double of the year with 10 points and 10 rebounds (four offensive) while adding a block for good measure. I caught up with the bright-eyed junior.

"It felt great. I felt I underperformed last game and really wanted to work on my rebounding and pull my weight in the game. It meant a lot they were looking for me in the post. We worked on it at practice and I feel we are coming together as a team. It feels great to be back home. I like being on the road when we are seen as the villains, but home games are even better."

Logan Dwyer also was a key to victory, scoring 19 points on 7-9 shooting (3-4 from three-point land). Dwyer also added 2 rebounds, 2 assists and hit both of his free throw attempts. 

OP finished the game 26-46 (56%) and 8-16 from beyond the arc (50%). The team shot 70% at the free throw line (21-30) and had 31 rebounds with 11 on the offensive glass. 

Next up for the 3-2 Yellow Jackets is a road test versus Southern Maryland Christian Academy (0-3) on Saturday at 7 pm. 

For more on the team, visit their website and follow them on Twitter @OPJacketshoops.