Rasile’s offseason work leads to state mark

March 2, 2017 at 12:05a.m.

McDONALD

Even in front of big crowds, and even though he is just a freshman, there are times when Zach Rasile makes it all look effortless.

In reality, the McDonald High standout insists that his accomplishments are the result of countless hours of time and effort put forth while no one is watching.

Rasile estimates that he fired up roughly 60,000 3-point shots last summer.

“Five-hundred to a thousand a day, every day,” Rasile said. “In the driveway, in the gym, whenever I had the chance. Success during the season is the result of hard work in the offseason.”

Rasile’s commitment and love for the game of basketball has paid off, both personally and for the Blue Devils.

McDonald recently finished its regular season with a 21-1 record, and was the top-ranked Division IV school in Ohio. It marked the first time in school history the Devils earned an Associated Press poll title.

McDonald opened tournament play with a 106-15 win over Heartland Christian on Tuesday.

Against the Lions, Rasile made 10 3-pointers and finished with 32 points. In the process, he set a state record (all divisions) for most three-pointers made in a single season.

Rasile’s final 3-pointer of the night came in the early stages of the third quarter, giving him 123 for the season. The previous mark of 122 was set in 1997-98 by J.T. Hoyng of Sparta Highland.

“It’s a pretty neat accomplishment, but I look at it as a complete team record,” Rasile said. ‘Getting open shots only happens with great ball movement and with your teammates setting screens. Without all of those guys, I’m not getting the looks.”

Rasile is averaging 20.2 points, and is on pace to set six single-season school records and a trio of Trumbull County marks. He leads his team in 3-point shooting percentage (45 percent) and free-throw shooting (88 percent).

McDonald coach Jeff Rasile (Zach’s dad) said he isn’t surprised by Zach’s numbers, noting his son is a “gym rat” who has been shooting a basketball “his entire life.”

Zach (5-foot-10) made 109 3-pointers in 16 games as an eighth-grader. And all those long-range shots he took over the summer? Jeff kept track, and says that Zach made them at a 72-percent rate.

“Going into this season, we felt that Zach could have a big scoring year, because that was going to be his role,” Jeff said. “All he had to do is shoot. Guys like Evan Macgill and Dylan Portolese have had unbelievable success this year scoring and doing everything else. We have the type of players who can get Zach the ball and set the screens, and that’s why he is having the year that he is.”

Zach, who says he is comfortable shooting “from anywhere within 10 feet of the midcourt stripe” popped in eight three-pointers and scored 26 points in his first-ever varsity start in December. He experienced just one brief scoring drought this year. In back-to-back games in mid-season, he tallied just one three-pointer.

“I try to not get too up when things are going well or too down when I’m struggling,” Zach said. “I just try to concentrate on the moment.”

As for the future, with McDonald still in the tournament, Zach has the opportunity to add to his state record. And with three more years ahead of him, chances are there will be more records shattered by the end of his senior season.

The all-time state record for 3-pointers made in a career is 329 (Tyler Engle, Beverly Fort Frye, 2003-2007). That would give Zach three years to tally just 206 shots from beyond the arc — or just roughly 69 per year.

However, Zach insists he is not looking that far ahead, and says “I’ll take wins over individual points any day.”

Jeff sees Zach’s role changing in the future.

“Zach is scoring these points this year because of the makeup of our team,” Jeff said. “Next year, he’s likely going to assume the role of a point guard. He’s going to be driving to the hoop more. The points might not be there, but we’ll see more of the all-around player that we haven’t yet seen.”

As for Zach’s future beyond high school?

“Right now, Zach’s form, his release, his footwork and his quickness, it’s all college-ready,” Jeff said. “As a pure high school shooter, I’ve not seen anything like him. His size, and how much he grows over the next three years will go a long way in dictating what he can do in college.

“For now, I just want to enjoy having him be a part of this McDonald program.”

McDonald returns to action Friday when it hosts Heritage Christian in a sectional final.