ORAN 8TH GRADERS POST PERFECT MARK

ORAN -- After the Oran Junior High School seventh grade basketball team finished with an 11-1 record last year, there was only one way for the players to finish better as eighth-graders.

Mission accomplished.

Oran's eighth grade basketball team recently wrapped up a perfect season with a 15-0 record, including championships in the Delta Tournament and Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament.

Oran averaged 60 points per game while holding its opponents to only 25 points per game.

Ryne Wood was the top individual scorer with an average of 18 points per game, which included two 30-point performances. Patrick Friga averaged 14 points per contest.

The team was coached by Mitch Wood, Larry Boshell and Joe Shoemaker.

"We had the whole package, with Ryne out front to knock down 3-pointers and Patrick, Tyler Cookson and Josh Dennis taking care of business in the paint," said Wood. "We also had kids like Nathan Seyer, who could really guard well, and Joey Bickings, who was a good all-around player.

"I am real proud of these kids and what they have accomplished in the past two years. If they keep working hard and thinking like a team, they will have a chance to be pretty successful."

Oran's seventh grade also had a successful season this year, going 6-4 and placing second in the Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament. The squad was led by Matt Seyer, who averaged 10 points per game.