FOXBURG — If Levi Orton had his druthers, every day would be basketball season.

The junior guard on the A-C Valley boys basketball team treats the sport as a year-round occupation.

“Six days a week is not enough for him,” said A-C Valley coach Tony McGarvey. “Three open gyms in the summer are not enough for him.”

Orton can always be found not far from a basketball court, even during baseball season in the spring.

Orton puts up between 100 and 150 shots a day, depending on how much work he's already done.

That kind of dedication to the sport is one of the main reasons why that despite his size — Orton is only 5-foot-10 and weighs 150 pounds — he's averaging 25 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.3 steals per game.

He's already had two triple-doubles this season, including a monster 33-point, 12-rebound, 10-steal night against Forest Area in mid-December.

Orton has scored 20 or more points in seven of the eight Falcon games this season. The one game in which he didn't crack 20 was a 19-point effort against North Clarion.

Even Orton, who averaged 20.3 points per game last season, has been surprised by the numbers he's putting up so far this season.

“I didn't really expect it,” Orton said. “It sort of shows me all the work I put in is worth it. It's my junior year and I only have one year left after this.”

He wants to make the most of the time he has left.

Enter Orton's crazy work ethic.

“As soon as the season ends until it begins again I want to be in the gym as much as I can,” Orton said.

The key to Orton's success is his quickness and his ability to slash his way to the hoop.

Most of his points come in the paint because of his uncanny ability to slice through a defense.

Even one that sees him coming.

“I told him everyone is going to focus on you,” McGarvey said. “I told him we're going to see box-and-one on him and triangle-and-two on him and Eddie (Stevanus) and even when they play man, they are going to faceguard (Levi). He still gets his points.”

Many times McGarvey doesn't realize how many points Orton has scored until he looks at the book.

“I'm not a big stat guy,” the coach said. “I look at defensive stats mostly. But I'll look down and see he's scored 25 and say, 'Holy cow, I thought he had half that.'”

Points come organically for the Falcons because of a new emphasis on defense.

Eli Penny has spearheaded that charge, taking on the biggest scoring threat the opposing team has to offer.

Orton admitted his defense is a work in progress, but he's endeavoring to be another shutdown defender.

“He's the type who is always asking, 'What can I do to get better?'” McGarvey said of Orton.

McGarvey challenged everyone on the team following a 6-17 campaign last year.

The Falcons have responded and are 6-2.

A-C Valley doesn't play again until Monday at Union.

“We go into games focusing on defense knowing our offense will come,” Orton said.

McGarvey said three quarters of practice time is spent on defense and free throw shooting.

The offense has also changed. It's more up-tempo and the Falcons push the ball up the court.

“It's a ton of fun,” Penny said. “Last year we didn't win a lot.”

Orton said his scoring surge is a product of the change in style and is a perfect fit for his skills.

His rebounding, though, is just his advanced knowledge of the game.

“His basketball IQ is just so good,” McGarvey said. “He just knows where to be to get a rebound.”

Orton isn't sure if he will play basketball in college. He said there are several factors that will go into that decision.

He hopes his size isn't one of them.

“Maybe a little,” he said. “I think I more than make up for it.”