Senior duo returns to lead Oasis Academy

Senior guard Trevor Halloran leads the 1A in 3-point shooting and is in the top five in the entire state for all classifications.

Senior guard Trevor Halloran leads the 1A in 3-point shooting and is in the top five in the entire state for all classifications.

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A year after making the playoffs for the first time in school history, the encore season looked promising.
Boasting what would have been a senior-studded team with ample experience, enough to challenge for a state berth, the Oasis Academy boys basketball team, like the rest of the state, saw the 2020-21 season disappear before the first jump ball.
The pandemic resulted in a canceled season but this year’s Bighorns are relying on a trio of seniors to help them make a repeat trip to the postseason.
“Not having a season was devastating to us,” coach Donald Schank said. “We were so senior-heavy last year, graduating seven, and having probably the best team in five years with this program, seemed like it sucked the desire out of our underclassmen. I lost at least four players who could have come back and really helped us compete this year, but we can’t dwell on that. We just have to move forward and develop what we have and try to keep what we got.”
So far, Schank’s cagers are off to a 6-4 start despite falling to Coral Academy last Tuesday in the Battle for the Ore Cart. A big 20-point second quarter pushed the Falcons ahead of the Bighorns as Coral Academy won, 49-42, to give the Reno school the Ore Cart for the first time in the six-year history.


Thomas Ranson/LVN
Senior Jacob Pike is one of two returners for this year’s Bighorns who are looking for a repeat trip to the postseason.

 
Seniors Jacob Pike and Trevor Halloran are the only returners from the 2019-20 team that made it to the 1A regional tournament. Through 10 games, Halloran leads the 1A state in 3-point shooting after sinking four in a 21-point effort against Coral Academy. He also had 12 rebounds for a double-double. Pike’s presence in the key led to 14 points and eight rebounds.
“They have accepted that role very well and I have seen their leadership during games and practices as they help the younger and inexperienced players learn our system,” Schank said of his trio. “For us to be successful, they will need to accept that role of really (being) an assistant coach to me.”
New to the team are Casamaro White, Aaron Housel, Fenn Mackedon, Elijah Matter, Westin Booker and Tyler Siebecker. Mackedon, a freshman, has become a consistent contributor after pulling down eight rebounds to go with a pair of 3-pointers.
“Coming back after a lost season and working through all the precautions of this new normal will be challenging,” Schank said. “I’m extremely grateful for the kids that have dedicated themselves to our program and the new ones that have joined us and hope that we can all stay safe and healthy and compete in and complete our 21-game season.”
It’s no secret that Schank’s goals for the season are to get his team back to the playoffs. He wants the Bighorns to go a step further and advance to the state championship.
“In order to do that, we need to consistently build our program by improving player skills, having a better knowledge of the game and figuring out how to retain players coming up from our development teams,” Schank said.
And it starts with the small senior class.
“I believe our team’s strength lies in the leadership of our three returning seniors,” Schank added. “Their knowledge of the game is like having three additional assistant coaches. I also believe that our outside shooting, if consistent, can be a strength. Two of my seniors have worked really hard since eighth grade to develop their scoring skills and it has shown in the games we have played so far.”
While the offense has the potential to torch the opposition from long range, Schank said the defense is another story. The newcomers’ lack of in-game experience will initially be a weakness cured by time as the Bighorns enter 1A play in January.
“Learning the concept of five guys guarding the ball, transitioning from offense to defense and playing at a faster pace takes a while to teach when most of the group I have this year have never played the game,” Schank said.

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