Both Our Lady of the Sacred Heart boys' basketball coach Mike Rodriguez and standout senior Jim Orie knew this season would be a crucial one for the Chargers.

They just didn't know that losing eight seniors from last season's 17-6 team that advanced to the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Class A tournament before a loss to Serra Catholic would be the least of their concerns.

"He was our only returning starter and he knew we would be young," said Rodriguez, who is in his second season as the Chargers' coach. "We didn't know that we would lose a couple of seniors because of academic ineligibility, and that some other players would have to step up."

Orie, a 6-foot-3 guard, has lived up to his end of the deal. He is averaging 28.2 points per game, almost half of the 59.5 points that the Chargers (9-8 overall, 4-3 in Section 4-A) are averaging per game.

"We're starting Jimmy, a junior, a sophomore and two freshmen," Rodriguez said. "The thing he's done is uplift the younger guys and be encouraging. He doesn't complain, and he's facing new challenges every night. He's had to face a box-and-one and triangle and two.

"He expects it every night, and he comes to play. He gives it his all, and the young kids seem to feed off him and are getting better as a result. And we've done it without our own gym."

The Chargers have played their home games this season at Northgate High School, Robert Morris University's Gus Krop Gym and Holy Trinity grade school in Robinson while their gym is being refurbished.

"Every night we've been in a different gym," Rodriguez said. "We've been road warriors, and Jimmy's never complained. A lot of teams play physical and bump him around. But he keeps on working. He plays 32 minutes, and I'd like to be able to give him a rest here and there."

As a junior, Orie, a Beaver resident, was able to sneak up on some teams and finished the season averaging 24 points per game.

It hasn't been so easy this year.

"No one knew about me last year," he said. "Now, they know who I am."

Rodriguez said the game that turned the Chargers' season around was a 65-64 loss in late December at Union (12-4), which is currently third in WPIAL Section 1-A with a 2-3 record.

"That game showed we could play with any team," said Orie, "because Union is a tough place to play. They were undefeated at that point."

That game displayed Orie's leadership and the team's willingness to work with him, Rodriguez said.

"Jimmy brought the guys along in the Union game, and everyone has been playing better since then," the coach said. "That was a game where all of them grew up."

Orie's versatility has played out well for the Chargers. He is as effective driving to the basket as he is shooting from the perimeter.

"I've been a shooting guard my whole life, but I started playing point guard in [Amateur Athletic Union] basketball," he said. "I'm comfortable with either one."

His complete effort has been evident all over the court.

"Jimmy has a good outside shot and can go to the hoop with either hand," Rodriguez said. "He takes the ball to the basket and gets a lot of points from the free-throw line because he gets fouled driving to the basket. If [an opposing defense] packs it in, he'll open it up from the outside."

Orie isn't concerned about his points as much as he is on another key aspect.

"I like to get rebounds because we can get up and down the court," he said. "If I can get the rebound, I don't have to wait for the outlet pass. I just go with it."

Division II and Division III collegess are taking a close look at Orie as are two of the service academies, Rodriguez said.

"Army and Air Force have come to see him play," the coach said.

Orie said there will be plenty of time to think about college choices once the season ends.

"I'm just worried about the team right now," he said. "I'm not thinking about college right now."

Tied for third place with Vincentian in the section behind Sewickley Academy and Cornell, OLSH has a crucial game against the Royals Saturday night at Robert Morris.

In the team's first meeting, the Royals earned a 76-71 home-court victory. In that game, Orie scored 37 points, while teammates John Lach and Matt Sangermano added 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Royals, conversely, had five players in double figures.

Orie won't be able to achieve all of his goals, the first of which was to win every game this season. But he and the Chargers could take a big step toward a satisfying accomplishment this week with a victory against Vincentian.

"We weren't able to [win every game], but we can reach the WPIAL playoffs," he said. "It's all there for us right now. We just have to win."

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