The Varsity Boys Basketball team improved to 7-8 in the Flint Metro League with victories over Brandon and Lapeer East this past week.
They were able to avenge an earlier loss this season against Brandon on Friday, Feb 13, winning 55-50. The game started out sluggish, but both teams were able to pick up the pace and score. It looked like Oxford was going to take a 13-11 lead heading into the second quarter, but Junior Mike Bertling stole the ball and dunked as time expired, pushing the lead to 15-11. He finished the game with 16 points.
The second quarter was just the same, the momentum going back and forth between the two teams. Brandon was able to tie the score at 25 heading into halftime, but Oxford’s turned up its pressure defense in the third, forcing turnover after turnover as they built a seven point lead heading into the final quarter, 44-37.
‘We really settled down after half-time,? Oxford Head Coach Steve Laidlaw said. ‘We experienced a lot of foul trouble in the first half, but got in sync with our playing rotation and it paid dividends in the second half.?
The Wildcats were eventually able to push the lead to ten with one minute left in the game, but Brandon was able to force a couple of turnovers and trimmed the lead to five, but they were never able to pull any closer. Senior Anthony Esparsa finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds and Junior Tommy Neiman added 10 points for the Wildcats.
The Brandon victory came on the heels of a 52-42 victory over Lapeer East on Monday. After a historic victory in their first meeting, Oxford was able to do something that it hasn’t done in 26 years in the Flint Metro League, sweep the season series with Lapeer East.
The Wildcats trailed 12-3 in the second quarter before they caught fire and pulled within four points by halftime, 19-15, with Senior James Scribner leading the way. He finished with eight points, six steals, and plenty of assists.
The Wildcats took over the second half after Lapeer East scored the first basket. Junior Matt Versteeg hit two quick threes to tie the game and Esparsa scored 10 of his 12 points in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats put the game away with their great defensive pressure.
They scored 37 points in the second half, which made Laidlaw proud.
‘By far their most productive half of the season,? he said. ‘Once again, Oxford’s defense was outstanding, forcing several turnovers and turning them in easy points.?
The Wildcats next game is at Swartz Creek on Friday, Feb 20.