They don’t have a lot of experience and they’re not very tall, but the Oxford boys varsity basketball team is looking to end their season atop the Flint Metro League.
‘Our goal is to win the league this year,? said Coach Steve Laidlaw. ‘It’s a very difficult goal and a very ambitious goal, but it’s one the kids have embraced and think they can do.?
Last year, the team ‘barely missed winning? Oxford’s first ever FML championship, finishing second with a league record of 10-4. The only two league losses FML champion Brandon suffered last season were at the hands of Oxford.
This year Oxford isn’t settling for second best, but first the team has some obstacles to overcome.
Obstacle Number One is a lack of experience. ‘We only have one returning starter from last year,? Laidlaw said.
But fortunately, it’s senior Brandon Dugan, who’s now a team captain.
Described by Laidlaw as the team’s ‘best player? by far, Dugan is expected to ‘carry a lot of the offensive burden for us? as point-guard.
Joining Dugan in the starting lineup is fellow captain and senior Vinnie Ives, who was a part-time starter last season, the team’s ‘sixth man.?
A star on the football field, Laidlaw is ‘hoping (Ives) brings that ‘type of controlled aggressiveness to the basketball court.?
Despite being an ‘undersized center? at 6 feet, senior Adam Peterson brings some experience and aestheticism as a starter.
‘He played some last year for us. He didn’t play a lot, but he played in every game,? Laidlaw said. ‘He’s a slasher-type player (meaning) he can slash between other players, get to the basket and score. He’s gonna be important.?
Rounding out the starting five are senior Todd DeGracia and junior Zach Tilley.
DeGracia is ‘one of our better athletes,? according to Laidlaw. Although he didn’t play much last year, ‘We’re hoping he can contribute a lot to our team.?
As for Tilley, another football player, he ‘brings some toughness and aggressiveness to the team.?
‘He played varsity as a sophomore last year so he was around a winning environment,? Laidlaw said. ‘We need him to play well.?
On the bench, Oxford will look to ‘four key players, all of them juniors.?
As one of the tallest members of the team, Laidlaw said ‘we expect big things? from 6-foot, 3-inch Chris Keenist.
‘One of our more talented offensive players? is 6-foot, 2-inch Russell Luxton, according to the coach.
A ‘real solid? player with ‘good ball skills? is how Laidlaw described 6-foot Ryan Markowitz.
Although he’s only 5 feet, 6 inches tall, Byron Nolde is ‘one of our better shooters.?
‘Those four kids right now are our four key subs,? Laidlaw said. ‘We’re really counting on them to contribute this year.?
Seniors Tony Censullo, Derek Richardson and Eric Kubina along with juniors Mathew Patria, Joel Baldwin and Eric Turk round out the rest of the 15-man team.
‘We’re carrying a pretty sizable group,? Laidlaw said. ‘We’ve got pretty good depth.?
Putting up a solid defense, avoiding turnovers, getting the rebounds, getting to the foul line, making free throw shots ? those are the keys to winning this season, according to Laidlaw.
Fortunately, the coach said Oxford is one of those teams whose play ‘gets better and better as the season goes on.?
Oxford proved that last year when it finished 12-9 overall ? the first winning season in six years.
If Oxford has another successful season this year, it will be the first time the Wildcats have had back-to-back winning seasons since 1993-94.
Can lightning strike twice?
Stay tuned.