After a 58-37 win over Rochester High in the first round of playoffs the Oxford Wildcats boys basketball team will travel to Clarkston High School (March 11 to battle the Wolves on the hardwood in the varsity MHSAA District Semifinals.
The game will begin at 7 p.m.
‘Rochester’s Coach John Pleasant was my high school coach and his father (Garth) was my college coach, so it was more than a game to me,? explained Oxford’s Head Coach Stephan Henning. ‘With Rochester being down 0-20 this year, I didn’t want to give him that 21st loss, but I knew I had to.?
Henning said the game started off slow, as Rochester battled Oxford with a 1-3-1 zone defense. ‘We weren’t used to going against a 1-3-1 defense, but we have faced a few teams that played it against us,? Henning said. ‘We struggled with it at first, so it was a low scoring game at halftime, but I knew if we attacked the gaps, were patient and took shots in rhythm it would turn around.?
The Wildcats kicked off the second half knocking down some big threes and going on a 10-0 scoring streak.
‘Once we got ahead a little bit, that forced them to come off the 1-3-1 and play man-on-man defense,? explained Henning. ‘Once they went out and played man-on-man, I knew they had no shot (of catching up).?
Leading players included seniors Mason Vires with 21 points, Connor Elzerman with 15 and Delxino Alexander with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
‘Jordan Jadan, my other sophomore guard, has really stepped up and taken the leadership role of our point-guard,? Henning said. ‘I’m glad I have two more years with him to kind of mold him to play the way I would like him to play and get better.?
The Wildcats win over Rochester came off a tough 87-66 loss to West Bloomfield on Friday. ‘They could have taken that two different ways and said we just got popped on the road by 20 points, who cares about districts. But that’s just not the mindset of my kids,? Henning said, ‘We’ve been facing adversity all year.?
Win or lose, he said his boys show up everyday ready to practice, which is an inspiration to him as a coach.
‘I think I have one of the top three guards (Vires, Elzerman and Alexander) in the whole county and I still believe that,? Henning said ‘I think they’re as good as anybody in the county.?
Henning is glad they get a chance to play Clarkston.
‘I told my kids, ‘Why would you not want to play against that team?? We’re playing at their place. They’re a top five team in the state, and undefeated. Why not be that upset (in their perfect season)?,? Henning said. ‘They watch college basketball and believe in Cinderella stories. Why can’t we be that team if we prepare and believe in each other??