Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
A new spark in Oakesdale is drawing notice in Southeast 1B league gyms around the county.
Third-year coach Carl Crider graduated five seniors off last year's team and now has only two, along with three underclassmen starters and a junior transfer from Colfax.
The team record is at 3-4, 1-2 league, and they have not yet lost by a double-digit margin.
“We've had a real solid year so far,” said Crider. “We've been really competitive. Now we're just trying to figure out how to be ahead at the end of the game. We have the ability to do so.”
The Nighthawks starters for 2016-17 include freshman point guard Matt Hockett, sophomore shooting guard Evan Henning, sophomore center Kieron Anderson, senior small forward/all positions Austin Rutledge and junior guard Cal Gregory.
“His strength is in his quickness; getting to the basket,” said Crider.
Players off the bench include sophomore guard Jacob Himes and senior forward Cameron Schell.
“He's doing a good job, giving us some really good minutes,” Crider said of Schell.
Oakesdale split games last weekend, losing at Waitsburg 42-37 and beating St. John/Endicott 54-37.
The Nighthawks play next at Dayton Dec. 27.
Overall, Crider aims to bring this team to some of the heights he experienced as a four-year starter for Tekoa/Oakesdale from 1990-93. After a state championship his senior year, playing point guard for coach Ron Cox, Crider played two years at Eastern Washington before transferring to Gonzaga as a walk-on. He played two seasons for the Bulldogs, graduating in 1998.
“I really enjoy coaching here,” Crider said. “I felt like it was a real gift to play in a small town growing up, especially Oakesdale.”
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
Reader Comments(0)