Hoops preview: Eagles coming back with a vengeance
As much as it stings to face disappointment, many times the greatest improvements are made following trials and adversity.
That’s what the Oak Mountain High School boys basketball team is banking on this winter, as the Eagles come off a season-ending run in 2016-17 that left a sour taste in the mouths of head coach Chris Love and the entire program.
“As much as you hate to do that, we were your typical team that got complacent,” Love said. “It’s my fault that I didn’t hold them accountable on those things. We were 13-6 last year, had just beaten Grissom at our tournament and then we go 1-9 the last 10 games.”
Following the Eagles’ run to the Class 7A regional final in the 2015-16 season, the program was unable to sustain that success and faltered down the stretch last year.
“We just didn’t play very well toward the end,” Love said. “We got punched in the face, and we didn’t really respond to it. That reverberates every day with our kids in terms of our lifting and conditioning. I don’t think any of our kids who were part of it last year liked it, and I’m glad they don’t. That is absolutely a motivator for us.”
But Love and the Eagles have turned last season’s finish into fuel, and Love believes his program has come out on the other side with a renewed sense of optimism for this year.
“We understand we are going to play hard, with great effort, and we’re going to do it with great attitude, and we’ll let the chips fall where they may,” Love said.
Talk of this year’s squad begins with Josh Pierce, a 6-foot-7 senior forward who holds an offer from Birmingham-Southern College. Junior guards Chris Mayweather and Drew Dunnwill also be relied upon heavily. Mayweather came on last season, and Dunn will likely garner a significant amount of minutes at point guard.
Christian Stockdill should receive plenty of playing time, as the 6-8 center creates mismatches on the floor as well. The Eagles also have a pair of tall wide receivers from the football team in Carson Bobo and Nathan Jones who will be factors. Bobo stands 6-5 and Jones is 6-4.
Zach Nelson is another name Love mentioned to keep an eye on.
“I like this bunch,” Love said. “I think we’ve got a chance to compete.”
Jonah Barrett, Luke Jasinski, Blake Hollingsworth, Alex Nguyen, Turner Youngblood, Stone Evers and Antheny Carey round out the varsity roster.
Love said his team is not intimidated by the fact that Class 7A, Area 6 is extremely tough. Reigning state champion Mountain Brook is joined by Huffman and Spain Park. Huffman lost standout guard Myreon Jones but returns Travarus Carroll, and Spain Park is always a tough opponent.
“Our kids are not scared or intimidated about that. They’re excited about that opportunity to play against the best,” Love said.
Love said the Eagles talk about goals at the beginning of the year and then leave that talk in the past, as the season becomes a matter of getting better each day. Winning 20 games is “a landmark” Oak Mountain attempts to reach each season, along with aiming to win the area and qualify for the regional tournament.
The Eagles tip the season off at Pelhamon Nov. 16.