Team: Oakland-Craig
Mascot: Knights
Colors: Orange and White
Class: C-2
Conference: East Husker
Head Coach: Aaron Meyer (18th season) (213-178 career record)
2019-2020 record: 17-9 (lost to Sutton in Sub-State Final)
Returning Starters: 3
Overview:
The Oakland-Craig Boys look for their veterans and upcoming talent to mesh well together in hopes of another big season in 2020-2021.
Three starters return for Head Coach Aaron Meyer, including Gunnar Ray (6'1, SR G), Caden Nelson (6'1, SR Post), and Coulter Thiele (6'2, SR G).
Depth figures to be a huge strength for the Knights this year as many other letterwinners and newcomers figure to be in the mix for playing time for Oakland-Craig this season.
The list includes Jaron Meyer (5'11, SR G), Carson Thomsen (6'4, JR G), Grady Gatewood (6'1, JR G), Jaden Harney (6'0, SR G), Amon Bryan (6'5, JR Post), Mike Maline (6'3, SR Post), and Grant Seagren (6'5, SO Post).
The Knights have a really good mixture of Seniors and Juniors, and that is a recipe for success for any team, let alone Oakland-Craig given how talented these kids are.
Coach Meyer gives this preseason assessment of his team. "We will be a little smaller in size, but should remain fairly athletic and should be able to defend the whole court well. We have a handful of guys with varsity experience, and some young bigs coming up."
Of course the offseason looked different this year cause of COVID.
Coach Meyer says everyone else is in the same boat as them. "Honestly, it's awful. But, we have to move forward, whether we know what the future holds or not. Everyone in the area, or even the state, was very limited in what we could do with basketball this summer. We had about 2 weeks of basketball this summer. Right now, we are going on as if we will have a season, and we are pushing for the guys to cherish every practice and game because it legitimately could be the last."
If this Pandemic has taught us anything it is not to take anything for granted.
Season Outlook:
The Oakland-Craig Boys look to reload, and have another season similar to last year if not better.
The Knights will have to do it in front of smaller crowds this year given the new DHM's on Winter Sports Fan Attendance.
Coach Meyer discusses the type of feel the games will have. "I guess it may have the feel of a summer league game, or maybe a holiday tournament game where there's lots of travel involved. We tell the guys that the game is 5 on 5 no matter how many people are in the stands, whether there's 5 or 500 fans. I guess this year it will be closer to 5..."
If anything there shouldn't be a lot of pressure and crowd noise in road and neutral site games on free throws and in big moments and stuff like that.
I think it will allow Oakland-Craig to relax more if anything.
Coach Meyer says playing this season and attending school is vital for the kids. "I think there's excitement with a little apprehension, given the Covid state of things right now. The student athletes need sports, not only for their physical health, but for their emotional health. I don't care what kind of limitations and restrictions they have to impose, we all need to have school and sports move forward."
I completely agree with Coach Meyer.
I feel a season is needed, however and whatever that looks like.
The Knights are in Sub-District C2-3 with GACC, Clarkson/Leigh, Wisner-Pilger, and Tekamah-Herman.
It figures to be an electric year for Oakland-Craig for sure.
2020-2021 Oakland-Craig Knights Boys Basketball Schedule:
12/03/20 @ Logan View-Scribner-Snyder
12/05/20 @ Boys Town
12/08/20 Clarkson/Leigh
12/11/20 @ Pender
12/12/20 @ Howells-Dodge
12/15/20 @ Winnebago
12/17/20 Wisner-Pilger
12/19/20 Madison
12/22/20 Omaha Nation
12/29-12/30 (To Be Determined) Malcolm Holiday Tournament Malcolm High School
01/02/21 Elmwood-Murdock
01/05/21 @ Guardian Angels Central Catholic
01/08/21 @ Stanton
01/15/21 BRLD
01/19/21 @ Tekamah-Herman
01/21/21 @ North Bend Central
01/23/21 Tri-Center, IA Site: Ryan Athletic Center & DJ Sokol Arena Ryan Athletic Center & DJ Sokol Arena
01/26/21 Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
01/30-02/06 (To Be Determined) East Husker Conference Tournament Midland
02/12/21 West Point-Beemer
Team: Oakland-Craig
Mascot: Knights
Colors: Orange and White
Class: C-1
Conference: East Husker
Head Coach: Scott Guzinski (1st season)
2019-2020 record: 26-3 (Took 4th at State)
Returning Starters: N/A
Overview:
The Oakland-Craig Girls are under new leadership as Scott Guzinski and Joe Anderson have switched roles.
Coach Guzinski is now the Head Coach and Coach Anderson remains an Assistant.
Coach Guzinski used to Coach at Tekamah-Herman and has a Daughter on the team who is a Sophomore.
Projected starters are Chaney Nelson sophomore 5’7” guard second team all conference last year 10 pts/game, Sydney Guzinski sophomore 5’7 guard honorable mention all conference 7 pts/game, Sadie Nelson sophomore 5’7” guard honorable mention all conference 6 pts/game, Makenna Pearson 5’11” senior forward 3 year starter, Edie Anderson 5’4” senior guard 3 year letter winner, or Maycie Johnson 5’7” sophomore guard--did not play last year.
Coach Guzinski has this preseason assessment of his team. "We have enough talent to be a top 10 team. Players have experienced a lot of success the last three seasons and that should continue. Won’t have much depth--need to stay healthy. Chaney Nelson, Syd Guzinski, and Sadie Nelson should be all conference type players. Makenna Pearson and Edie Anderson will be important role players. These five kids all played a lot last season and understand what it takes to be good. We should challenge for a conference championship and state berth."
Of course the Coronavirus Pandemic has thrown everything for a loop.
Coach Guzinski says his team didn't get to play much ball this past offseason. "We didn't get to do much of anything in the summer but lift weights. Normally we would do team camps and open gyms--we did not get much of that."
I'm sure many if not all other teams are in the same boat as Oakland-Craig.
Season Outlook:
The Oakland-Craig Girls look to build off their success in recent years and make another state run this season.
If the Knights are to do that, however, it looks like it will be in front of just immediate household family members and 25% Capacity in gyms.
Coach Guzinski says the team will have to adapt. "We are going to have to be able to bring our own energy."
Find the spirit, drive, will, and determination from within...that's what Oakland-Craig and everyone else will have to do this season.
That's of course if there is a season and everyone plays. Coach Guzinski says they hope for the best. "We just have to take it one day at a time. We don't have any control over whether there is a season or not--we don't get to make those decisions. I just hope for the kids who have put in all the work that they will get a season. We have been doing everything that has been asked of us in order to allow us to play just like we did in the fall."
I'm hopeful and optimistic that there will be a season.
I'm thinking there will be anyways, however it looks.
The Knights have made the jump to C-1 this year and are in Sub-District C1-5 with West Point-Beemer, North Bend Central, Logan View/Scribner-Snyder, and Arlington.
It should be a heck of a ride for Oakland-Craig once again if they get to play.
2020-2021 Oakland-Craig Knights Girls Basketball Schedule:
12/03/20 @ Logan View-Scribner-Snyder
12/08/20 Clarkson/Leigh
12/11/20 @ Pender
12/12/20 @ Howells-Dodge
12/15/20 @ Winnebago
12/17/20 Wisner-Pilger
12/19/20 Madison
12/22/20 Omaha Nation
12/29-12/30 (To Be Determined) Malcolm Holiday Tournament Malcolm
01/02/21 Elmwood-Murdock
01/08/21 @ Stanton
01/09/21 Broken Bow Site: UNK UNK
01/15/21 BRLD
01/19/21 @ Tekamah-Herman
01/21/21 @ North Bend Central
01/23/21 Norris Site: DJ Sokol Arena-Ralston DJ Sokol Arena-Ralston
01/26/21 Humphrey/Lindsay Holy
01/29-02/06 (To Be Determined) East Husker Conference Tournament Midland University
02/09/21 Archbishop Bergan
02/12/21 West Point-Beemer
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