Oak Ridge basketball finding chemistry in Chaffee

The Oak Ridge boys' basketball team went from winning a combined 15 games in 2021 and 2022 to winning 21 games this past season. It was the most amount of wins in a single season for the Blue Jays since going 23-6 in 2011.

The Blue Jays will have to learn quickly to move on from the priceless production they received from graduating senior Camren Volz. Fortunately for them, they have the summer to work on filling the void.

"So far it's been a great week because we've had everybody down here," Oak Ridge coach Cody Bova said. "I think this is just a good event to help our guys get some unity and get us ready for the season."

The Blue Jays have been taking part in the Chaffee Varsity Summer Shootout from Monday through Wednesday. Oak Ridge played Perryville and Kelly on Monday, Scott County Central and St. Vincent on Tuesday, and Woodland and Meadow Heights on Wednesday.

"[Chaffee coach Joshua Govreau] does a great job of getting us games and getting us to play other high schools around it," said Bova, who also has the Blue Jays playing in scrimmages and games in the Sportsplex this summer. "I think it's a good opening week for our kids to play."

Bova expects to enter the upcoming season with a new senior core to maintain their winning ways.

"We had [Ty] Wilson and [Konnor] Hobeck return, all-conference players," Bova said, "and we have three or four other guys that will be seniors that contributed a little bit last year that are ready to step up this year."

Hobeck and Wilson led the Blue Jays through these exhibition games this week. Hobeck spent much of the game against Scott County Central displaying his 3-point shooting ability.

Bova expects Hobeck and Wilson to be their "two leading scorers," but also expects a lot from the Hahs brothers next season.

"We got a sophomore that really shoots the ball in Cohen Hahs," Bova said, "and our big guy, Carson Hahs, has done a very good job this summer."