Stagg’s David Ortiz may at all times shoot.
His means to knock down 3-pointers earned him a job on varsity as a sophomore and helped him develop into a priceless sixth man most of final season as a junior. But Ortiz wished to assist his workforce in multiple manner because the senior ahead prepped to be a full-time starter.
“I put in a lot of work in the offseason to be able to do a lot more things,” Ortiz mentioned. “I’m doing a lot more rebounding. I feel like I’m a bigger presence with boxing out and rebounding offensively and defensively.”
Make no mistake, although. Ortiz can nonetheless shoot.
He hit a trio of 3-pointers within the first quarter Wednesday night time to assist host Stagg begin quick on its approach to a 66-34 win over Shepard in a battle of Palos Hills vs. Palos Heights.
Ortiz completed with 14 factors and 6 rebounds for the Chargers (13-5). Connor Williams additionally scored 14 factors, whereas Domas Narcevicius added 12 factors and 7 rebounds.
Jeremiah Storey had eight factors and 7 rebounds to tempo Shepard (4-11). Sophomore Danny McGovern completed with six factors.
Ortiz, whose dad and mom are Chicago Cubs followers however named him after the previous Boston Red Sox slugger, won’t ever be as huge as his namesake. But he’s labored arduous on bulking up and growing toughness to compete for rebounds and play powerful protection inside.
He additionally performs soccer, which helps in that regard.
“The physicality of football is big for me,” he mentioned. “We do a lot of lifting, and then just being on the football field and being a part of that physicality, it transfers over to the basketball court.”
Stagg coach Marty Strus has seen Ortiz flip into far more than only a one-trick pony.
“He’s one of the most guys, if not the most, who has evolved during his time here,” Strus mentioned. “His sophomore 12 months, he got here as much as varsity and it was simply, ‘David, go shoot the ball.’ That’s what he did greatest, and the opposite areas of his recreation had been what he actually wanted to work on.
“Now as a senior, he’s put some weight on, and he’s been big for us with handling pressure. He’s been better as a rebounder. He’s evolved into a more complete player. He’s been huge for us this season.”
Of course, it nonetheless feels good when the 3-pointers are falling the best way they had been for Ortiz in opposition to Shepard.
“Oh yeah,” Ortiz mentioned. “When I hit the early shots like that, I want to get the ball as much as I can after that.”
Stagg constructed a 34-13 halftime lead on its approach to its thirteenth victory, already equaling final season’s win complete.
Senior ahead Yousef Jarad, who scored seven factors off the bench, is worked up concerning the workforce the Chargers have.
“The way we’ve come together as seniors is great,” Jarad mentioned. “There are a variety of us, and everyone knows we’ve one thing particular right here. We all cherish that and we don’t waste alternatives.
“We all have a dying, burning passion for winning. Nobody on this team comes on the court with anything other than a ferocious mindset.”
According to Jarad, Ortiz exemplifies that.
“He’s been tremendous this year,” Jarad mentioned. “Everything on the court docket you possibly can think about — factors, rebounds, assists — he does all of it, whether or not it’s a glamorous factor or not. I can’t say sufficient concerning the man’s means to attain the ball, and he’s simply prepared to do something for the workforce.
“I’ve never seen a single selfish bit of energy come out of him.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com