After two convincing wins over Williamsport and Governor Thomas Johnson to finish off the regular season, Oakdale’s boys basketball team looks to carry that momentum into the playoffs in hopes of a deep run.
Oakdale kicked off their season with a 4-0 record, including strong finishes against Urbana and Linganore; however, a discouraging six-game losing streak followed. It became apparent that the team was lacking the size and experience that they’ve had in past seasons. On top of that, the team suffered from several injuries.
Cooperation and effort has been emphasized in order to adjust against bigger opponents. “B-I-G doesn’t spell M-A-N, so we don’t have to be 6’6 to rebound. It’s all about heart, and I think this team is really full of heart,” Varsity Boys Basketball Coach Brandon Long stressed while explaining the team’s new approach.
Working together has been a trend in the success for the Bears this season, and being an undersized team requires communication and teamwork. “I think the big keys are just playing together and strong defense. We’re not the best offensive team, but if we can work together and run our sets we’ll win,” expressed star player and senior Gage Linton.
“We just have to stay locked in, keep the momentum up, and play as a team. When we get selfish that’s when we tend to mess up,” senior and center Wesley Wilson voiced. Wilson has been a powerful force this season, bringing strength and hustle to the team while averaging 4.9 RPG.
When elaborating on Oakdale’s need for fresh legs due to poor health, Long suggests that the team’s young and low-minute players have worked harder to contribute. “I feel this season has been a success with everything that has happened. The roster has been completely reshaped, we lost Evan and Dom early, and we’ve had a lot of juniors that have been injured or have not played. I think everyone who has been given the opportunity has stepped up,” Coach Long explained.
Through offensive struggles this season, Oakdale has still figured out ways to get the job done. They’re led by stars Linton and sophomore Alex Rodriguez, who are both averaging a team high 17.4 ppg. The team also gets strong help from Freshman Christian Rivera and Senior Zach Nelson. Will Scott has been providing a needed boost off the bench, shooting over 40% from the field this season. Junior Marcus Jones and Senior Colin Reno have also contributed to Oakdale’s newfound depth.
Oakdale pulled off a convincing 78 to 46 win against Westminster on Tuesday to kick off the playoffs. The Bears started off strong and didn’t take their foot off the pedal, dominating for all four quarters. Rivera led the way with a game high 28 points followed by 16 points from Linton and Rodriguez each. Wilson had a big day on the boards with nine rebounds. The Bears take on North Hagerstown on the road Thursday at 6:00 PM for their second round matchup.
Oakdale kicked off their 2nd round playoff matchup against North Hagerstown on Thursday. This season North Hagerstown has had Oakdale’s number beating them in both previous matchups. The Bears brought the energy and dominated the whole game, beating North Hagerstown 64-56 in a dominating performance. Linton and Rodriguez both led the way scoring with 17 each. The Bears take on Linganore in the regional finals on Tuesday at home.
