Team: Oakland-Craig
Mascot: Knights
Colors: Orange and White
Class: C-2
Conference: East Husker
Head Coach: Aaron Meyer (16th season) (196-169 career record)
2018-2019 record: 12-11 (lost to Omaha Nation in Sub-Districts)
Returning Starters: N/A
Overview:
The Oakland-Craig Boys Basketball Team looks to have a huge season this year.
The Knights bring back some of last year's team, including 3-year starter Wyatt Seagren (6'7, SR C), who averaged 8 points and 8 rebounds a game last year.
Head Coach Aaron Meyer expects Seagren to be a big force inside this year. "We expect him to alter a lot of shots in the middle, grab a lot of rebounds. We'd love to see him get at a 50% clip or better inside."
Oakland-Craig also welcomes back Colton Thomsen (6'3, SR F), who averaged 9 points a game last year.
Other returning letterwinners are Jaron Meyer (5'10, JR G), Gunnar Ray (5'9, JR G), Coulter Thiele (6'2, JR F), Ian Lundquist (5'8, SR G), Blake Johnson (6'2, SR F), and Caden Nelson (6'0, JR F).
Newcomers likely to contribute are Grady Gatewood (5'9, SO), Carson Thomsen (6'1, SO), Mike Maline (6'2, JR), Amon Bryan (6'5, SO), Trey Deemer (6'1, JR), and Jaden Harney (6'0, JR).
Meyer has this preseason assessment of his team. "I think we have the potential to be a very good team if we can learn to score in the half court. Defensively we should be very strong, and we like to get out and run. We lost quite a few starters from last year’s team, but our leadership and chemistry should be solid. At the same time, we will be fairly long and athletic."
Meyer says the team had a decent summer.
The Knights lost Garrison Dodge, Robby Mayberry, Tyson Harney, Cole Bures, and Jared Mulder to graduation last year.
Lots of kids to replace, but it sounds like there is a lot of up and coming talent on this team.
I think Oakland-Craig will be faster and more athletic than they were a year ago.
I look for this team to be able to get out run and score a lot points in transition.
I think the Knights will be able to create a lot of turnovers defensively as well.
I fully expect Oakland-Craig to be right there in the end when it comes to competing for Sub-State and a berth in the State Tournament.
It should be a pretty darn good year for the Knights I must say.
Season Outlook:
The Oakland-Craig Boys look for a huge season this year.
The schedule is challenging though with Logan View/Scribner-Snyder, Boys Town, Howells-Dodge, Winnebago, Wisner-Pilger, Omaha Nation, BRLD, North Bend Central, and Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family among the teams on the schedule.
The Knights open up the season at home on Thursday against LVSS.
Meyer expects the Raiders to be tough. "I think they'll be solid. They were good last year, they were well coached. Defensively, they didn't let teams score very many points."
I think not having a lot of practices due to a long football season could affect Oakland-Craig's offense in this game. It will be interesting to see what happens.
Meyer thinks the conference will be about as tough as it has been in a long, long time. Maybe the toughest since the expansion. There are as many rated teams as in the late 80's.
The Knights are in Sub-District C2-3 with GACC, Fremont Bergan, Yutan, and Omaha Brownell Talbot.
Bergan and Yutan figure to be the two toughest teams in the Sub-District other than Oakland-Craig.
I think it's important for O-C to play well during the course of the year in case they need a wildcard to Sub-State.
Every game, every half, every quarter, every possession, every shot, every rebound is so critical.
Everything counts, and one slip up or one mistake could make a big difference.
The Knights need to bring their best effort and game night in and night out.
This conference is absolutely loaded, and Oakland-Craig will be challenged each and every time they take to the floor.
I feel the Knights definitely have what it takes to rise to the challenge and be a great team though.
I think Oakland-Craig can go deep and far this year, and look for the Knights to have a good and solid season.
I feel this team has the potential to be the best team Oakland-Craig has had since making State in 2017.
2019-2020 Oakland-Craig Knights Boys Basketball Schedule:
12/05/19 Logan View-Scribner-Snyder
12/07/19 Boys Town
12/10/19 @ Clarkson/Leigh
12/13/19 Pender
12/14/19 Howells-Dodge
12/17/19 Winnebago
12/19/19 @ Wisner-Pilger
12/21/19 @ Madison
12/27-12/28 (To Be Determined) Malcolm Holiday Tournament Malcolm
01/03/20 @ Omaha Nation
01/07/20 Guardian Angels Central Catholic
01/10/20 Stanton
01/11/20 @ Elmwood-Murdock
01/17/20 @ BRLD
01/21/20 Tekamah-Herman
01/24/20 North Bend Central
01/25/20 Treynor, IA Site: D.J. Sokol Arena D.J. Sokol Arena
01/28/20 @ Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
02/01-02/08 (To Be Determined) East Husker BBB Tournament TBD
02/14/20 @ West Point-Beemer
Team: Oakland-Craig
Mascot: Knights
Colors: Orange and White
Class: C-2
Conference: East Husker
Head Coach: Joe Anderson (8th season) (92-54 record)
2018-2019 record: 23-4 (Took 3rd at State)
Returning Starters: N/A
Overview:
The Oakland-Craig Girls look to reload this year after going 23-4 and taking 3rd at State a season ago.
Back for Head Coach Joe Anderson are Briar Cliff signee Kennedy Benne (5'7, SR G), who averaged 14 points a game last year, Mya Guzinski (5'7, SR PG), Jeannina Blahak (6'1, JR P), Makenna Pearson (6'0, JR P), and Edie Anderson (5'5, JR G).
The Knights said goodbye to Dacey Nelson, Ashley Denton, Grace Pille, Natalia McNeill, and Ellie Weitzenkamp last year.
Anderson has this preseason assessment of his team. "Kennedy Benne should be an All C2 player after returning to form in last year’s districts and state tourney. Replacing 5 seniors including Dacey Nelson will be a challenge. New players in the rotation include guards junior Edie Anderson and freshmen Chaney Nelson, Sadie Nelson, and Sydney Guzinski. Senior point guard Mya Guzinski at the top of class C2 the last two seasons in assists will be key to pressure defense and transition offense. Jeanina Blahak became a force rebounding and defensively in the post towards the end of last season and her continued improvement is important to a successful season. We will potentially be deeper and more athletic than last year despite the loss of three starters. The three freshmen coming in are really talented."
Anderson says there is a good mixture of veterans and younger kids coming up.
He feels the offensive attack will be more balanced this year.
Anderson discusses the offseason. "We attended a few camps, we try to do a lot of things on our own here. But we attended 3 or 4 camps and performed very well."
I think taking 3rd at State last year and seeing the football team win state this year will really help out the Knights this year.
I look for Oakland-Craig to get back down to Lincoln this year and be in the thick of things for a State Championship.
The Knights know how to win, and they work hard, and the program is very successful year in and year out.
Last year was amazing, but this year has a chance to be pretty special too.
I'm really excited to see what the three freshmen coming in can do. I have heard nothing but good things about them.
Season Outlook:
The Oakland-Craig Girls look to have a big year this year.
The schedule looks pretty favorable early on for the Knights with tough games against Clarkson/Leigh and Pender before Christmas.
Stanton, North Bend Central, BRLD, Norris, Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family, Fremont Bergan, and West Point-Beemer will all be tough as well.
The schedule at the end of the season is very difficult for the Knights.
Oakland-Craig plays host to Logan View/Scribner-Snyder in Thursday's season opener. "I know they lost a few of their top girls from last year, but I know they return a couple good guards." Anderson said.
The Knights are in Sub-District C2-2 with Tekamah-Herman, Cedar Bluffs, Mead, and Yutan.
Anderson says they don't know a whole lot about most of the teams. "A little bit unfamiliar. Other than Tekamah we're fairly unfamiliar with the teams down there in Cedar Bluffs and Yutan."
I fully expect Oakland-Craig to be just fine and find a way to win that Sub-District when it comes time though.
After all, the Wildcats, Raiders, and Chieftains probably won't know a whole lot about the Knights either.
Anderson says his team is hungry to get back down to state. "Our girls after last year they got a really good taste of the state tournament and just had a lot of fun, and really enjoyed it. And that's something they're definitely working for."
Replacing Dacey Nelson is going to be really difficult, but Benne and the incoming freshman should have a huge impact on the team.
I feel like Oakland-Craig will have more scoring depth than in years past in that they won't have to rely on one or two players to do all the scoring.
The Knights should have 3, 4, maybe even 5 girls in double figures on any given night.
It should be a fun ride a special season once again for Oakland-Craig, and I'm excited to see how it all unfolds and turns out.
2019-2020 Oakland-Craig Knights Girls Basketball Schedule:
12/05/19 Logan View-Scribner-Snyder
12/07/19 Boys Town
12/10/19 @ Clarkson/Leigh
12/13/19 Pender
12/14/19 Howells-Dodge
12/17/19 Winnebago
12/19/19 @ Wisner-Pilger
12/21/19 @ Madison
12/27-12/28 (To Be Determined) Malcolm Holiday Tournament Malcolm High School
01/03/20 @ Omaha Nation
01/10/20 Stanton
01/11/20 @ Elmwood-Murdock
01/17/20 @ BRLD
01/21/20 Tekamah-Herman
01/24/20 North Bend Central
01/25/20 Norris Site: D.J. Sokol Arena D.J. Sokol Arena
01/28/20 @ Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
01/31-02/08 (To Be Determined) East Husker GBB Tournament TBA
02/11/20 @ Archbishop Bergan
02/14/20 @ West Point-Beemer
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