DUKE CENTER — With an 0-7 record and its back against the wall in late January, the Otto-Eldred boys basketball team didn’t give up hope and knew it could make a run.

Over a month later, the Terrors are a completely different team that’s clicking on all cylinders as they buy into first-year coach Steve Bell’s system.

That was on display once again on Monday night when O-E rolled past Sheffield, 82-63, in a District 9 Class A first round matchup inside the Terror Dome. The victory made it seven straight wins for the Terrors (9-8), who have won nine of their last 10 overall.

“The kids never quit,” Bell said. “And every day they come into the gym, they want to get better and because of that, the whole year long we just kept getting better the whole way. You get to a game like this and you have an opportunity to show that, just glad they were able to do it.”

Coming into Monday, Bell said controlling the paint and rebounding were the biggest keys to victory for O-E.

And it did just that, dominating the paint all game, while answering each of Sheffield’s offensive runs and rallies to keep momentum on its side.

O-E jumped out to a 9-0 lead before Sheffield called a timeout. Even after the Wolverines (10-11) narrowed their deficit to three points in the quarter, the Terrors answered back and took a nine-point lead heading into the second quarter.

“We came out and executed really well,” Bell said. “But Sheffield was not going to go away. They had lots of energy and we had to match that and we did.”

Led by Connor Finch, who finished the game with 11 points, Sheffield again narrowed O-E’s lead, this time down to four points at 30-26.

Bell said one of the turning points came with about two minutes left in the first half when he sent Cole Sebastian and Zaz Bell back into the game to stop Sheffield’s run after they sat the bench with foul trouble with two each.

The move paid off as the Terrors took a 39-26 lead halftime lead and closed the half on a 9-0 run. Gavin Jimerson, who dominated the paint and led O-E with 22 points, got the run started with a three-point play and followed that up with another bucket. Jake Merry, who recorded 19 points on the night, then closed the half with back-to-back baskets.

The team’s man-to-man defense also proved to be effective again throughout the game.

“Cole Sebastian and Gavin, they were locking up (Tyler Hepinger) and (Tony Richards) and then everything was flowing easily with us on the offensive end,” Merry said. “(We) found the open guy and we finished buckets.”

The Terrors’ run continued in the second half when the team built its lead up to 19 points with six straight points to start the third.

From there, O-E was able to cruise to victory and keep the Wolverines from making a big run and comeback.

Sheffield was led by Hepinger, who scored a game-high 23 points.

O-E’s dominance in the paint also led to opportunities on the outside with the team sinking five treys, three coming from Austin Cousins, who had 14 points. Sebastian recorded 11 points during the win.

A foul occurred against Cousins on one of his threes, which sent the Terror Dome into a frenzy. He went on to complete the four-point play.

“It was just a good team win,” Merry said. “When the shots are falling, it’s easy for the rest of us to get going.”

“This is what happens when you buy in,” Steve Bell added. “We play really well together…that’s been the key to our success — all playing together, playing our roles, understanding those roles.”

Awaiting O-E is top-seeded Elk County Catholic in the D9 Class A quarterfinals on Wednesday at 7 p.m. This will be the third meeting between the teams this season, with the Crusaders (18-4) coming out victorious in both matchups.

Both Merry and Steve Bell know the Terrors will have their hands full, but also know that if they play their game, they have an opportunity for an upset victory.

Interestingly enough, ECC beat O-E during the season to put them at 0-7 — before O-E went on its hot streak.

“We’re just on a roll right now and we’re going to continue it over to ECC,” Merry said. “They’re good, we just have to be better.”

“We’ve seen them twice, so we know what they’re about,” Steve Bell said. “I don’t think we’re the same team we were, but ECC, there’s a reason why they’re the No. 1 seed. It’ll be a hard-fought game.”

AT DUKE CENTER

Sheffield (63)

Tyler Hepinger 5 10-13 23, Tony Richards 5 1-2 13, Connor Finch 5 1-1 11, Conner Johnson 3 2-4 10, McNeil 2 0-0 4, Alabaugh 1 0-0 2. Totals: 21 15-22 63

Otto-Eldred (82)

Gavin Jimerson 10 2-2 22, Jake Merry 7 4-4 19, Austin Cousins 5 1-1 14, Cole Sebastian 3 4-4 11, Bell 3 0-0 6, Smith 2 0-0 4, Love 1 0-0 2, Splain 1 0-2 2, Walker 1 0-0 2. Totals: 33 11-13 82

Sheffield 13 26 40 63

Otto-Eldred 22 39 64 82

Three-point goals: Sheffield 5 (Hepinger 3, Richards 2), O-E 5 (Cousins 3, Merry, Sebastian); Total fouls: Sheffield 14, O-E 17; fouled out: Bell (O-E)