The Oakland-Craig Boys kept things close with defending Class C-2 State Runner-up Elmwood Murdock in the first round of State at Lincoln Southeast Thursday night, but in the end, Elmwood-Murdock was too much for Oakland-Craig as they won 44-38.
Elmwood-Murdock led 14-11 after one and extended their lead to 25-21 at halftime by winning the second quarter 11-10.
Elmwood-Murdock outscored Oakland-Craig 12-8 in the third quarter to go up 37-29 at the end of three.
Oakland-Craig cut the lead to 5 late in the game, but couldn't get any closer as they put up 9 points in the fourth quarter compared to 7 for Elmwood-Murdock.
Garrett Seagren led all scorers with 22 points while Carter Thiele chipped in 11 points and 11 rebounds, good enough for a double-double.
I thought Oakland-Craig played a pretty good game, at least defensively. Oakland-Craig may not have been as sharp offensively though.
Oakland-Craig ends the year at 16-8.
It was a good season for the Knights, and Oakland-Craig should be very happy and content with what they accomplished this season,
Thiele was first on the team in scoring and rebounds with 448 points and 191 boards. Seagren was second with 437 points and 131 rebounds.
The Knights will definitely miss Thiele next season along with Zach Ahrens,
Oakland-Craig figures to be back next season though given everyone that returns.
Seagren, Kobe Benne, Evan Reinert, Robby Mayberry, Cole Bures, Tyson Harney, Wyatt Seagren, and others return for the Knights.
Oakland-Craig should be very good once again next year as long as they can find someone to replace Thiele.
That will definitely be the challenge though. His production and leadership doesn't figure to be easy to replace.
The Knights have to be excited about next year and the future though.
Oakland-Craig's returning players and newcomers have to wake up everyday dreaming about state and what it would be like to play at the Devaney Center and Pinnacle Bank Arena.
The Knights took that first step in making it to state, now it's a matter of getting back there and winning a game or two.
The ultimate goal has to be playing and winning on the final day of the state tournament at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Oakland-Craig has to dream of what it would be like to win a state championship, and have it on their minds during every workout this offseason.
Champions are made from April to November, and the more work these kids put in this offseason, the better they will be in 2017-2018.
There has to be a lot of excitement and optimism around the Oakland-Craig program given the kind of season they had this year.
It's definitely an exciting time to be a Knight and part of the Oakland-Craig Boys Basketball Program.
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