Oxford High School’s Boys Varsity Basketball team went 1-1 on the court last week.
The week began with a battle of the Wildcats as the Oxford took on the Plymouth Wildcats. Oxford was down by four with two minutes left until battling back in order to get the 56-52 win, according to Head Coach Stephan Henning.
‘Plymouth is probably the best team we’ve played all year,? Henning said. ‘They’re a quality team and a really quality program.?
The pressure was on from the very beginning as Plymouth full-pressed Oxford the entire game.
‘That was something we haven’t seen yet this year. We’ve seen presses, but not the entire game,? Henning added. ‘It was intense, but my guys handled it well. They got after it.?
Highlight players included Mason Vires finished with 18 points, Jamal finished with 12 points and 10 assists. All the players finished well. Conner Elzerman had 11 points and Delxino Alexander had 6-points and 10 rebounds.
‘It was a quality win,? Henning said. ‘Every player played hard, the bench was into it, the crowd was into it. It was a really good game.?
Henning was hoping the win over Plymouth was a ‘step forward,? and would continue into their match-up against Birmingham Seaholm, but unfortunately the Wildcats took a 53-47 loss.
‘I just don’t think we played with energy. If we would have lost to Plymouth I could have dealt with that because my kids gave it their all,? he added. ‘When we don’t play with energy that really frustrates me a lot and that’s what I try to pride myself and this program on.?
While the team has a good record with 9-2 overall and 1-1 in the league, Henning said he’s wants his players to see the big picture and that ‘the little things count,? which is a big difference between this year’s team and last year’s he said.
‘What I have this year is a really talented team, but they’ve not bought into doing the little things,? he said. ‘Last year’s team we weren’t that talented, so we had to do the little things and they knew that.?
Henning said he is going to start changing some things up on the court and see if mixing players up will bring some different energy.
‘I usually let the heavy minute guys, kind of fight through their mistakes and give them a chance to find it and fix their errors, but I am definitely going to start going to my bench more,? he explained. ‘Some of the guys that are heavy-minute guys are going to have to be reflective on the bench if they don’t correct their actions.?
Henning is looking forward to their home Friday night match-up against West Bloomfield starting at 7 p.m.
‘West Bloomfield has got one of the top players in the county with Tristan Jackson, Henning said. ‘It should be a dog fight and I’m excited for it.?
The key to the game will be the energy of the players.
‘If we play with energy we can honestly beat anyone, I honestly believe that. When we don’t play with energy we can get beat by anyone,? Henning said. ‘It’s just that energy and effort and when we play with it, it’s scary, but when we don’t it’s also scary.?