Oran boys preview: Young Eagles hope to make up ground in tough district

After winning only four games in his first season as the Oran boys coach last year and with no experienced seniors on this year's squad, Jason Andrews still has hopes of his team winning a district title.

The Eagles lost five players to graduation and will sport one senior, Jordan Mason, who sat out his junior year. Therefore, the key to Oran's success this season is a junior class that split time between junior varsity and varsity last season.

"A lot of juniors did get a lot of playing time last year," Andrews said, "but they're still just juniors. It would be a lot different if we had five seniors out there."

The lone returning starter, 6-foot-3 Chase Seyer, also spent some time on the junior varsity team last year. Seyer averaged about eight points and four rebounds per game, but he rarely played an entire varsity game.

"I think we're going to be strong inside," Andrews said.

Andrews also is looking for big things out of Mason and the guards. Steven Mock shot about 40 percent and Chris Asmus shot 37 percent from 3-point range last year.

"We do have good shooters," Andrew said. "Our season is going to depend on two things: whether we can guard people or not, and whether we can handle the basketball. If we do those two things, we'll have a pretty good season.

"We'll take some lumps early, but by the end of the year, I think we'll be solid."

The Eagles will need to be to make a dent in Class 1 in this area with Bell City expected to be among the state contenders.

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Oran boys

Coach: Jason Andrews, second season

Assistants: Wade Sanders, Cody Bova

Last season: 4-16

Conference: Scott-Mississippi Conference

Returning starter

Chase Seyer 6-3 Jr. F/C

Rest of roster

Chris Asmus, 6-1, Jr., G; Steven Mock, 5-10, Jr., G; Hunter Glastetter, 6-3, Jr., F/C; Robert Lange, 6-2, Jr., C; Nick Anderson, 5-7, Jr., G; Devan Moore, 5-7, Jr., G; Kody Campbell, 6-0, So., G; Jordon Mason, 5-11, Sr., G/F; Klayton Kyle, 5-10, So., G; Kory Kluesner, 6-2, Jr., F/C

Schedule

Nov. 28-Dec. 2 -- Oran Invitational

Dec. 9 -- at Scott City

Dec. 13 -- at East Prairie

Dec. 16 -- at Delta

Dec. 26 -- SE Missourian Christmas tourney

Jan. 3 -- St. Vincent

Jan. 5 -- Saxony Lutheran

Jan. 6 -- Marquand

Jan. 10 -- Zalma

Jan. 16-20 -- Scott-Miss. Conference Tournament

Jan. 24 -- at Oak Ridge

Jan. 27 -- at Leopold

Jan. 31 -- Scott County Central

Feb. 3 -- at Bell City

Feb. 7 -- Sikeston

Feb. 14 -- at Advance

Feb. 17 -- Chaffee

Feb. 21 -- at Woodland

Feb. 23 -- Kelly