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Lukas Isaly is perfectly content with the fact that his basketball career is coming to an end soon.
Don't think for a minute, though, that the River graduate doesn't still have a lot to play for.
Though the list of accomplishments from his career at Marietta College is vast and impressive, Isaly and his Pioneer teammates successfully completed the first of what they hope is a six-step process this month that ends with cutting nets down in Fort Wayne, Ind. as the NCAA Division III National Champions.
"The end goal is to win the big one," Isaly said. "There would be no better way to go out than with a championship."
The Pioneers came into Friday's night's first-round game at their home arena against Medaille College fresh off an Ohio Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championship, riding a 23-game winning streak and ranked No. 2 in the Division III national poll.
So, considering those facts, talking about winning a national championship isn't just a pipedream. However, Isaly and his mates know that nothing about their regular-season accomplishments matters at this point.
"There are a lot of great programs in Division III, so making a run isn't going to be easy," Isaly confessed. "We've been really good at taking this season one game at a time and we also believe we have the pieces to bring Marietta it's first men's basketball national championship."
The Pioneers reached the Elite 8 in 2019 before bowing out and then were en route to the national tournament in 2020 when COVID-19 ended the season. The pandemic reared its head again in 2021 as the NCAA didn't sponsor a tournament in Division III, but the Pioneers did claim another OAC title.
Obviously, Isaly has run basically a full gamut of emotions during his career in which he's scored more than 1,000 points and has been named to the All-OAC team on multiple occasions.
"We have five seniors on this team who have a lot of experience playing," Isaly said. "Four of us played significant minutes on that Elite 8 team, so we understand what it takes. But, we also didn't finish the job, so we're well aware of that, too."
Marietta learned first hand about March Madness last weekend on its home court when it had to hold its collective breath as a last-second shot by Mount Union clanged off the rim as the horn sounded, giving the Pioneers the conference title, 63-61. Marietta steamrolled its way through the OAC, winning all 17 league contests.
"Everyone is 0-0 at this point and what you've accomplished doesn't matter," Isaly said. "Every team playing at this point is fighting for its life. No one wants to go home. We realize that one small slip up or getting too comfortable could mean we're the (team) going home."
Isaly is averaging 14.6 points a game and shooting 42% from both in front of and behind the arc.
He was named the Most Valuable Player of the OAC Tournament after leading the Pioneers in scoring in the title game.
"That really caught me off guard when they announced my name," Isaly laughed. "We had multiple guys on our team who could have won that award. It meant a lot to me, especially with the fact that I had so many of my family and friends there."
Whenever the season ends - with or without a net ceremony - Isaly has elected to bypass the additional season of eligibility he could have.
"After playing this (sport) since I was a little kid, I am ready to see where this little bit of my (life) journey ends," Isaly said. "I know I've given it my all in every game I've ever played in. Whether it was at River or at Marietta, I feel truly fortunate to have been able to play this game as long as I have."
Isaly pointed at how many times he's played through injuries as one of the reasons, but also he's taking his last three classes toward his bachelor's degree in land and energy management.
"I've already been applying and talking to some people (about jobs) in the energy field," Isaly said. "I am excited to start to pursue a job and get my foot in the door and start to work my way up."
Isaly, however, did say he will probably have to use many of the lessons he's learned from hoops basically daily, especially early in the job-hunting process.
"Exactly like I had to do here (at Marietta), I have to show (a company) I am capable of doing the job and work hard," Isaly said. "I have to find the right spot where I fit in."
While resumes are going out, Isaly has more work to do on the court, starting this evening against Rochester in the Round of 32.
"In my mind, we're not going to lose," Isaly admitted. "There would be no better way to go out! I can't wait to see how it turns out."
OHIO INDOOR STATE TRACK MEET
Eight area athletes will compete today in the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Indoor State Track and Field championship at SPIRE Institute in Geneva.
Slated to compete are Barnesville's Tyler Jenkins (3200M), St. Clairsville's Karl Kain (pole vault), Colt Westlake (60M HH), Grant Swider (60M HH), Emily Thompson (pole vault), Emma Henry (60M) and Shadyside's Wyatt Reiman (high jump).
Reiman enters tied for the second seed in his event at 6-4.
SETH'S SCOOPS
MARTINS FERRY graduate Dr. David Edwards - a physical therapist in St. Clairsville - has been chosen to visit the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to "volunteer and collaborate" with the medical team at the facility. Dr. Edwards, who earned his doctorate of Physical Therapy from Wheeling Jesuit University, owns and operates Edwards Absolute Kinetics.
THE INAUGURAL Pat Johnson Little Patriots Scholarships will be presented this spring. A former Little Patriots football player and cheerleader will receive $1,500. The scholarship honors Johnson, who is the mother of OVAC Hall of Famer and long-time Little Patriots supporter and coach Daryl "Boogie" Johnson. The scholarship is open to a graduating senior from an Ohio County high school who participated in three years of Little Patriots either as a player or cheerleader. There is no requirement to have played or cheered at the high school level.
DOUG TAYLOR has been named the head football coach at Oak Glen. The former head coach at Madonna takes over for Ted Arneault, who stepped down to pursue a career in public office.