Ontario racked up their 11th consecutive win by knocking off Bucyrus Friday night for the the Division III Lexington sectional crown. The victory also gave the Warriors their 20th victory of the season, just the third time in school history a team has accomplished that feat. But while the NCC's highest scoring team at 63 ppg has been racking up the points, it may be their defense that has been most impressive.

Ontario has held their last three opponents under 27 points and 10 of their last 11 to 41 or less. The team allowed just 51 combined points in last weeks sectional tournament and players say their recent stingy play has been no coincedence.

"We really put a lot of emphasis on defense." Senior guard Blake Balogh says. "Because defense leads to offense and I think that's what's led to our success."

Senior guard Wyatt Clemens added that, "Coach is always talking about guarding your space, three feet to the right, three feet to the left and to always trust your guys are behind you."

The coach that Clemens refers to is Joe Balogh, now in his 28th season as head coach of the Warriors. And Balogh says that his bunch this year may be the most "tight knit" team on and off the floor that he's ever coached and that it has certainly played into their success. The seniors in particular Balogh says, have been great examples for the younger guys.

"They've provided great leadership from the standpoint that they've brought positive energy to practice." Balogh says. "They're going to leave a legacy here on Ontario basketball that is the energy that should be brought to practice every day."

Cameron West is the only other senior on the Warriors squad right now, with starting forward Mitchell Phelps out for the season with a foot injury. West has done a nice job filling in for Phelps in the starting five, and believes Ontario is much more poised to make a deep tournament run than the team was last year.

"With more experience, we know how to handle the tournament game situation." West says. "I don't think there's more pressure with the 20 wins, we put pressure on ourselves to do what we know we can."

But the pressure will be on West and company Thursday night in their district semi-final date with Firelands Conference champs Western Reserve. The Roughriders ousted Elmore Woodmore in overtime last Tuesday in the sectional semi's, then knocked off Milbury Lake, the team that bounced Ontario from tournament play last year, in the sectional championship game. The last time the Warriors won 20 games in a season, back in 2007-'08, their tournament ended in the district semi-finals, but Blake Balogh doesn't think history will repeat itsself.

Balogh says, "If we play our game and up to our expectations, we're going to win." 

We'll find out Thursday night at 6:15 when the teams tip-off at Willard High School. The game can be heard LIVE on WMFD.com and seen on replay Friday and Saturday evening at 7 p.m.