The Delaware Hayes High School boys basketball team defeated Hilliard Bradley 69-61 last Monday to move into fourth place at 7-5 in the OCC-Capital Division.

While that may not seem a big feat, it is much better than the outlook appeared before the season. After all, the Pacers had just two returning starters and were going to be guided by an interim coach after longtime coach Larry Eberst died in a small aircraft crash last summer.

"People were projecting us to finish as low as seventh in the OCC," interim coach Jordan Blackburn said before the Pacers played New Albany last Friday.

Against Bradley, sophomore point guard Matt Bingaya had 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Junior post player Braxton Coleman added 16 points and seven rebounds.

The Pacers improved to 10-8 overall and solidified either a fourth- or fifth-place finish in the league.

Bingaya and Coleman are in their first seasons in the Delaware program. Grades and a commitment to playing organized basketball kept the two from playing for Hayes. But at the urging of Blackburn and the help of football coach Mike LoParo and athletes like Keith Butts -- who plays football and basketball -- the pair gave basketball a try.

"We told these guys we needed them, and we really thought they could help our team," Blackburn said. "It helps that they are both intelligent and motivated to be successful."

Bingaya is averaging 17.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists. At 6-foot-3, Bingaya's athleticism, leaping ability and will to succeed has made opponents devise defensive game plans to stop him.

"I like to score and dish, like maybe a LeBron James or Jamal Crawford," Bingaya said. "I like to drive like LeBron. I want to be a good teammate and help my team get better any way that I can. I play as hard as I can to do that. The last two years were a struggle for Braxton and me. But now we're out there having fun and working hard to get better."

Blackburn recognized Bingaya's strengths immediately. Although Bingaya had plenty to learn about organized basketball, like man-to-man defense off the ball, Blackburn gave him some freedom and flexibility in the offense.

"He's quicker than most guys his size and much stronger than people who are remotely close to him in terms of quickness," Blackburn said. "So we try to isolate him in the post when opponents put guards on him and then let him go to work in space when they put forwards on him."

Everyone has been impressed with Bingaya's potential.

"I believe Matt has the ability and potential to become one of the best to ever play at Hayes," Blackburn said. "He is already getting attention from several Division I schools. But he has to put in the work. Potential and reality are a long way apart from each other."

Coleman is averaging 9.3 points and 7.6 rebounds. He is among the area leaders in field-goal percentage. Before last Friday, he was 69-for-99 (69.7 percent). Against Bradley, he was 7-for-9 from the floor.

"I knew Matt was (going to be on the team) and I already knew guys in the program, like Keith Butts, Nick (Potter) and (Jacob Bosiokovic)," Coleman said. "They all made me feel comfortable. Coach Blackburn said this would be a good year to be on the team since there were so many (inexperienced players)."

The Pacers have been at their best when Bingaya and Coleman have made strong contributions.