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Senior working on improving his game

Eiras is Cincinnati Christian’s second-leading scorer and leading rebounder.

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2:00 AM Friday, January 13, 2012

By Jay Morrison

Staff Writer

FAIRFIELD TWP. — Jordan Eiras doesn’t talk a lot of trash on the basketball court. In fact, he doesn’t talk much at all, on the court or off it.

“I’m kind of shy, almost too much,” the Cincinnati Christian Schools senior said. “I know I don’t talk enough, and I know I’m not aggressive enough. I’m trying to get over that.”

Moving from the post, where physical play is a prerequisite, to the wing might seem like an odd way to instill aggression, but for Eiras it has worked.

He’s the second-leading scorer (13.0 points per game) and leading rebounder (6.1 rpg) for the  5-2 Cougars.

“His ability to take the ball to the bucket has really improved,” CCS coach Danny Celenza said. “He’s still a really quiet kid, but he has gotten a lot more aggressive with his ability to put the ball on the floor and drive.

“And it’s no coincidence that as those skills have developed, his  3-point percentage has increased to where he’s hitting nearly 35 percent.”

That’s a scary thought for opponents given Eiras’ history with clutch shots.

“He has hit big shot after big shot for us the last couple of years,” Celenza said. “It all started last year in our opener at Deer Park when he hit the go-ahead shot to give us our first lead with a minute to go.”

Later in the season, Eiras helped rally CCS from 23 down and hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with three seconds to go against Cincinnati College Preparatory School. And against Middletown Christian, he helped the Cougars come back from a 24-6 deficit, hitting the go-ahead 3-pointer with 35 seconds to go.

“All three of those were on plays we specifically ran for him,” Celenza said. “He willingly accepted that and came through when we needed him. He’s definitely not afraid to take the big shot.”

He’s just not interested in being a big shot. “I’ve had people tell me I’m a quiet leader,” Eiras said. “That’s just my personality. I’m just kind of laid back.”

But underneath the quiet facade, a passion burns. Eiras loves basketball and spends a good amount of his free time in the gym working on his game.

“He even schedules his family vacations around our summer schedule,” Celenza said.

The son of Mike and Cheri Eiras, Jordan said he wants to continue playing in college.

“I have some small schools looking at me, and I’d even consider trying to walk on at a bigger school,” he said.

He may not ever become a big-time talker, but as long as he’s playing basketball he’ll continue to make noise.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2193.

Focus on your home team Cincinnati Christian Cougars

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