After a disappointing 2007-2008 season where they finished 4-12 in the Flint Metro League and 5-16 overall, there’s only one direction for the Oxford Wildcats Varsity Boys Basketball Team to go.
Up.
The team looks to improve upon last season, when they finished seventh out of the nine FML teams.
If size does matter (and it’s definitely a factor in basketball), then the Wildcats hoops players are headed in the right direction. Last season, they had two players who were 6?3? while everyone else was six feet tall or less. This year, several players are in the 6?4? range.
Gone from last year’s team are Steve Laidlaw, Zach Tilley and Chris Keenist. The team returns six players, three of which are captains. The captains are Anthony Esparza, Mike Stumph and Mitch Seeling.
Other returning players are Mike Bertling, Gary Wurtz and James Scribner.
New to the Wildcat basketball team are Tommy Nieman, Kevin Cramer, Matt Versteeg, Jordan Macocha, Corey Olson and Chris Calvin’the team’s only sophomore.
‘We’re pretty athletic,? said Head Coach Steve Laidlaw. ‘We’re tall and we have great versatility. There are lots of guys who can play different positions.?
The coach expects to have ‘big years? out of Bertling, Esparza and Scribner. The team’s two best competitors are Wurtz and Stumph.
‘Nieman and Calvin have great potential that could put us over the top,? he added.
Improving on last year’s record also means getting back to the basics. Laidlaw wants the team to take care of the ball and feels that’s the main concern.
‘If we eliminate turnovers, that will solve a lot of our problems,? he said.
Laidlaw expects Holly and Swartz Creek to be among Oxford’s toughest opponents.
The season begins Dec. 9 when the Wildcats host the Armada Tigers.