Eagles eager for sixth straight winning year

Jim Gloth is one of a handful of new coaches in the Scott-Mississippi Conference.

Gloth may face one of the tougher tasks in the conference, though, as he tries to bring along a team that graduated four starters.

Gone is the inside presence of leading scorer Nathan Seyer, along with Patrick Friga and Tyler Cookson. Garrett Roslen (6-foot-3) and David Asmus (6-3) will try to replace the Eagles' trio of post players.

"That's going to be the biggest problem for us -- to get an inside game established," Gloth said. "We don't have a starter back there."

The Eagles had five straight winning seasons, but losing scorers like Seyer and guard Ryne Wood will be a hurdle. This year's team will have to rely on an experienced guard tandem of senior Matt Seyer and junior Ryan Bouge.

Gloth said his group of guards and incoming forwards should be able to make up for the loss in scoring punch.

"Overall we're a better shooting team than we were last year," he said.

With limited size behind Asmus and Roslen, the Eagles' forwards will be put to the test early. Facing conference schools like Scott City and Scott County Central, which each have bigger lineups, Oran will have to find a way to make things happen inside.

"The biggest thing for us is defense and rebounding," Gloth said.

While the first couple of months may be a growing process for Oran's top reserves, made up of mostly junior varsity players from last season, the Eagles will look to turn things on once they hit the conference tournament in mid-January.

"We're not stepping into it as a rebuilding year," he said. "We've got a pretty good bunch to work with and a good nucleus."