HOWLAND – A moment two years ago in Girard was an influential one for a lot of people.

The Indians boys basketball team trailed Jefferson by 15 points in the second half and was well on its way to a blowout loss. Then something happened. A lanky sophomore named Dylan O’Hara, who hadn’t played much in his short high school career, found his shooting touch – and he didn’t lose it for the next two years.

“I think he ended up hitting six or seven 3s, and about three or four in a row in the fourth quarter,” Girard coach Craig Hannon said. “We all as a staff remember thinking, ‘We got something special here.’ And at that time he was still kind of the guy who just stood in the corner. But that game against Jefferson at our place, that’s when he really took a step forward.”

O’Hara actually only hit five 3-pointers in the game, one that Girard ended up winning. It seemed like more because four 3s came in a wild fourth quarter in which Girard rallied for the victory.

O’Hara was just a spot-up shooter who came off the bench as a sophomore. His progression over the next two years is a big reason he was named the Trumbull County Player of the Year at the 28th annual banquet Monday at Leo’s Ristorante. He is the third player from Girard to receive the honor, joining Nick Cochran (1988) and Greg Morgan (2001).

“You could see the progression every summer into the next season and the next summer,” Hannon said. “He was a kid who got absolutely everything out of his game. We got absolutely everything out of him. He’s become an all-around player, and it’s because of hard work.”

O’Hara averaged 19.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.4 steals as a senior, leading Girard to a 19-6 record, a conference championship and a second straight appearance in the district final. The sharpshooting O’Hara also made more than 40 percent of his 3-pointers and 84 percent of his free throws. He became the fourth player in Girard history to score 1,000 points, doing so in the district final and finishing 1,003 points for his career.

“I was surprised,” said O’Hara of winning the award. “There are a lot of great players here. It’s a big honor.”

The evolution of O’Hara’s game really took off after that Jefferson game. He said it was then that he realized his potential, not just as a shooter but as a basketball player. His father, former Liberty and Girard basketball coach Bryan O’Hara, helped him see what he could become, and Dylan spent the following offseasons working out and improving his game. The results were evident during spectacular junior and senior seasons.

“He was a much better defender than anyone gave him credit for,” Hannon said. “He’s much stronger than he looks, and he was a good rebounder. He went from a spot-up shooter and developed himself into a very good all-around basketball player. And to me, that shows a sign of a kid who worked his butt off.”

His physical attributes were just part of skill set. His work ethic and knowledge of the game helped him become a leader for the Indians, who have reached back-to-back district championship games and won more than 50 games in the past three seasons. The traits didn’t come easy.

“It helps when you’ve been in the gym since I was about 4 (years old),” O’Hara said with a smile. “My dad was a coach, so I’ve learned the game and know it very well. It helps when you have great teammates too.

“There were a lot of sacrifices over the summer, getting extra shots and stuff like that. It paid off.”

The 6-foot-2 O’Hara is going to continue his playing career in college. He is still deciding between Mount Union, Westminster, Waynesburg and Marietta. While his future is still uncertain, the mark he left at Girard is set in stone.

“The players have made this place what it’s become – they’ve put Girard back on the map,” Hannon said. “That’s the special thing. They really take pride in being a Girard Indian. It means an awful lot – and it meant an awful lot to Dylan.”