By BRUCE HEFFLINGER

hefflinger@crescent-news.com

Prior to this season the boys basketball program at Defiance High School had not had a team finish with a winning record since the 1998-99 season, with just one winning campaign in the past 13 years.

But the 2007-08 team has shot that down - literally.

Behind the senior trio of Jordan Mack, Bryn Lehman and Steve Riedel, the Bulldogs are 11-5 this year and stand just one game back in the race for the Western Buckeye League title, something DHS has won on just one occassion (1982-83 season) since the current head coach helped Defiance to consecutive WBL titles his junior and senior years.

"All four seniors have had a hand in getting us to the point of improving the way we have over the last four years," DHS coach Kirk Lehman said of his three captains, along with the other senior on the roster Justin Riley. "They've worked extremely hard. At different times they've gone through some struggles but they've fought their way through it. A lot of our success is because of our senior leadership."

Mack, Lehman and Riedel have combined to make an impressive 104 3-balls to date, with all making 40 percent of their long-range shots or better.

"We put in a lot of time in the summer," explained Riedel, who leads the squad at 42.9 percent on 3-pointers and also tops the team in foul shooting.

It didn't just happen over night.

"When we were younger we didn't create a lot of bad habits," said Mack, who is first on the team in treys made (42) and attempted (99). "We went to a lot of camps and we practiced, practiced, practiced."

Their coach knows how much that practice has helped.

"As skill-oriented as shooting is, it takes time," the DHS mentor said of becoming a standout shooter. "If you followed them around over the summer you'd see all of them putting in extra time shooting. The reason for their success shooting is because they've put in the time."

But to have a winning record takes more than the ability to shoot.

"Shooting's the easiest part of the game for all three of us," noted the younger Lehman, who leads the team in assists and is second in scoring, 3-point shots made and free-throw percentage. "What we've been able to do is pick up the other parts of our game."

The biggest is defense, as area the Bulldogs have stood out this year permitting just 43.4 points per game.

"My junior year I was in the game for offense," said the 6-0 Riedel, who leads the Bulldogs in rebounding in addition to his shooting prowess. "But I've tried to work on my defense more and now I have the ability to guard different style players."

Mack is often assigned to guard the top perimeter threat of the opponent.

"I've worked hard on my defense," the 5-9 senior said. "It helps that we've all played together so long. We feel comfortable in what everyone is doing and not scared to make mistakes."

After a standout playing career at DHS, the elder Lehman spent time coaching at Rossford and Tinora before coming back home in 2002. It's taken some time to learn a new system.

"This is dad's second full group to go through the program since he became coach," Bryn said. "We know the stystem and we know how to play defense. One of the big reasons for our success is we've bought into the system."

Lehman and Riedel both saw varsity action as sophomores while Mack joined in a year later.

"I was nervous every game when I first played varsity but this year I'm more comfortable and more relaxed," Riedel admitted.

It wasn't easy that sophomore season, one in which the Bulldogs finished with just a 3-18 mark. That improved to 7-15 a year later.

"Early on we were thrown into the fire," the 5-8 Lehman said. "It's even tougher playing as a sophomore when you're a guard and constantly handling the ball. But while it was tough at first, that experience is paying off."

Staying calm is one thing easier to do as a senior than a sophomore.

"You have to let the game come to you," Mack explained. "Don't play too quick, only when you have to."

The younger Lehman has noticed a difference.

"When I first started playing varsity I was thinking too much," he said. "I learned you have to calm down. The game has slowed downed since then for me and I make better decisions."

It's helped particularly late in games, a time the Bulldogs have excelled of late. Consecutive games with Patrick Henry, Kenton and Archbold came down to the end and all resulted in Defiance victories.

"We've been in so many close games, now we know how to win tight games," the younger Lehman said.

Belief is a part of it.

"Everyone is a lot more confident," Mack noted. "And we're not worried about who gets the shot at the end."

At Patrick Henry, Riedel produced 15 points in the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs pulled away from a solid PH squad. In a 64-59 win over Kenton, Lehman made two 3-balls to help break a 51-51 deadlock late in the fourth quarter. A night later, Mack hit four 3-pointers in the second half including one in the closing seconds to send the game into overtime and the Bulldogs went on to knock off state-ranked Archbold.

"All three are competitors," their head coach said. "All three are different. Bryn is more of a vocal leader, Jordan is one of the hardest workers I've ever had and leads by example and Steve is kind of a combination of the other two."

But the success on the court can also be attributed to off the court.

"The biggest thing they bring for the younger guys to see is a friendship," said the veteran DHS coach. "I know I've never had a team get along any better. They do a lot of things together outside of basketball.

"If you go into the locker room after a practice you'll find JV and varsity guys communicating. It's helped us stay together. Everyone just likes being around each other."

That isn't always easy when one of the players is the son of the head coach.

"It's been a pleasure to have the opportunity to coach Bryn, but it's not the easiest thing to do," pointed out Lehman. "And if you think coaching a son is tough, try playing for your dad. But he's handled himself well on and off the court.

"Being the son of the coach and coming back to where your dad had some success and where your uncles were successful isn't easy but he's handled it well."

Enough to help the Bulldogs to their first winning record in nine years.

"We've been as low as you can go so this is huge to have a winning record," said the younger Lehman, who plays point guard most of the time. "But it's not surprising to us, it was just a matter of going out and getting it done."

His coach admitted to thinking this might be the year the program turned the corner.

"I saw how much this senior class has put into it," explained Lehman, a 1978 DHS graduate. "There's a huge difference between attendance and activity. We had a lot come to open gyms for workouts but they came to work out and improve their games. When you do that you get a good sense that things will pay off sooner than later."

It makes things a pleasure to watch for both dad and coach.

"These guys don't care who gets the credit, they just want to win basketball games," Lehman said. "I was lucky enough that when I played high school basketball I enjoyed a special team camaraderie. Then I went to college at OU (Ohio University) and we had no camaraderie and no togetherness.

"Seeing that special camaraderie with this group is something I'll always remember. They just enjoy winning and competing."