STRONG TO THE HOOP — Oak Glen’s Gavin Geisse drives to the hoop past Madonna’s Reno Fuscardo and Luke Wingett during Tuesday’s game. - Andrew Grimm

His Golden Bears did just that, pulling away for an 80-34 victory over the youthful Blue Dons inside the Bears Den Tuesday night.

The victory sends Oak Glen into the new year above the .500 mark at 3-2.

“We played well against a team that we should beat,” Everly said. “They’re very young, their time will come, so we wanted to take care of business and get them while they’re young. We wanted to take care of ourselves, worry about our own game and execute, and I thought we did.

“I told them to take care of business and not take anything for granted, not come out sloppy and execute the things we work on in practice and I thought we did a good job of that. We still have some things to work on, but that’s good, we’ll keep working.

Madonna’s Tyler Dillon jumps against defense from Oak Glen’s Elijah Knisley. - Andrew Grimm

“It’s good to go into the new year above .500.”

Oak Glen had four players reach double figures — two of whom did so coming off the bench — and knocked down nine 3s in the victory.

Gavin Geisse netted 14 points to lead the way, while Mason Kell hit three of the triples to finish with 11. Colt Hissam also tallied three treys and finished with 11 points off the bench, while Tyler Evans came off the bench and also tallied 11.

All told, 10 of 11 players to see the floor for Everly’s team scored, all 10 contributing at least five points.

Oak Glen opened an 18-8 lead after one, then scored 25 points in the second quarter to push the lead to 24 at halftime, then continued to build it the rest of the way to the 46-point victory.

Oak Glen’s Kam Hebron puts up a shot past the Blue Dons Vinny Chiodi and Anthony DeCaria. - Andrew Grimm

For Madonna (1-6), which dressed a lineup of five sophomores, three freshman and a junior, the early season growing pains continued, though they continue to play hard for their veteran coach.

“We’re learning, there are growing pains,” Madonna head coach George Vargo said. “Our kids play hard, they just have to learn the game better. But they keep playing hard and they don’t give up. We start a freshman and four sophomores, so we know we’re going to go through the growing pains. We’ll get better as we go and keep learning and keep growing.

“We’ve seen a lot of improvements from Game 1 to Game 7.”

The Dons were led by 14 points from Reno Fuscardo and eight from Jake Druga.

UP NEXT

Madonna’s Jake Druga drives against Oak Glen’s Gavin Geisse and Will Weekley. - Andrew Grimm

Madonna: Has another tough match up Saturday when it travels to Toronto.

Oak Glen: Has a big game on the road Saturday night at Wellsville.

Oak Glen 80, Madonna 34

M 8-11-11-4 — 34

OG 18-25-18-19 — 80

Below, Oak Glen’s Mason Kell shoots past Madonna’s Vinny Chiodi. - Andrew Grimm

MADONNA (1-6): Wingert 1 1-2 3; Dillon 1 2-2 4; Chiodi 2 0-0 5; Druga 4 0-0 8; Fuscardo 5 4-8 14; Gray 0 0-0 0; Welch 0 0-0 0; Decaria 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 13, 7-12; 34.

OAK GLEN (3-2): Hartung 3 0-0 7; Kell 4 0-0 11; Weekley 2 0-0 4; Willey 3 0-0 6; Geisse 7 0-0 14; Evans 4 2-2 11; Ates 2 0-0 5; Herbock 2 1-2 5; Dawson 3 0-0 6; Hissam 4 0-0 11; Dittman 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 34, 3-5; 80.

3-POINTERS: Madonna 1 (Chiodi); Oak Glen 9 (Kell 3, Hissam 3, Hartung, Evans, Ates).