Cagers now 24th in state

For the first time since the 1990s, Oxford’s boys varsity basketball program is a state-ranked team.

After winning over Berkley on Feb. 2 in a 61-44 game, the Wildcats extended their winning streak to 14 games and was ranked 24th in the state, something that hasn’t happened since 1993.

Junior forward Trey Townsend led the Wildcats with 19 points and nine rebounds. Senior forward and captain Connor Nicholson followed Townsend with 12 points. Another top scorer for the Wildcats in the win was senior forward and captain Michael Raisch, who put up nine points, six assists and five blocks.

But if the team has showed anything this season, it’s that the starters aren’t the only ones who can bring the heat.

Coming off the bench, senior forward Grant Kornburger put up six points and, according to Head Coach Steve Laidlaw, played a stellar defensive game. Other key bench players were senior forward Dujoun Williams with seven points and strong defense and senior guard D’Wayvay Turner with key defensive efforts.

Laidlaw also noted senior guard Nolan Hiler who played “his best game since returning from an injury” last month with six points and was an important defender.

The Wildcats are now 14-0 overall and 9-0 in the OAA Blue, sitting atop the league. The team will be back at it on Feb. 8 against Ferndale. Last time the two teams met in January, the Wildcats left victorious 75-65.

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