Oakland Boys Basketball Team Hoping For Another State Tournament Run This Season

The Oakland boys’ basketball team is looking to make another run at the state tournament after losing in the state quarterfinal to Knappa 53-50 a year ago. The Oakers went 25-4 last season including going 13-1 in the Central Valley Conference to win their league title. Oakland comes into the season ranked third in the 2A OSAA preseason coaches’ poll but lost seven seniors from last year’s team. Three starters and the first post player off the bench where included in the group of seniors who graduated last season. “We lost a good group of core guys,” Oakland coach Jeff Clark said. “Our seniors are going to be missed. Some of the newer guys are untested we have a few bench players who will have bigger roles so it’s uncharted waters.” They return Colton Brownson a 6’5 senior wing who was 1st team all-state last year. Brownson won the CVC league MVP along with 1st team all-league honors. He averaged 18 points along with seven rebounds, two blocks, 2.5 steals and 2.5 assists per game last season. Oakland also returns Tristan Mask a 5’9 senior wing who was 2nd team all-league last year and averaged 11 points, two assists and one steal a game while he hit 73 3-pointers last season. Noah Strempel is a 6’1 senior point guard who got honorable mention in the CVC while averaging eight points, five assists and two steals a game last season. Zach cummings, Caleb Chastain and Chandler Miller will all be looked at to contribute more this season. The Oakers have ten seniors, two juniors and two sophomores on their varsity roster. “We can score in a variety of ways, we can get up and down pretty well but the question will be how we handle things defensively because we lost some key defensive guys.” Clark said. Oakland opens up their season Friday night against Lakeview at 4:15 p.m. at Sutherlin high school in the Bill Spelgatti Invitational. “Practice has gone well so far. Guys are working hard and pushing each other to get better every day,” Clark said. “Some players from last year’s JV squad are stepping in and contributing as well. Looking forward to getting on the court versus Lakeview Friday to get going and see where we are at. Our goal is to get better every day and hopefully compete for a league title and hopefully secure a spot in the state playoffs.”