ORAN HOPES 'JF' CAN MAINTAIN WINNING WAYS

First-year Oran boys basketball coach coach Larry Boshell hopes this year's seniors took some notes last year.

Because all last year's group of Eagles did was win.

Oran went to the state sectionals last year and ended the season with a 23-9 record. Many of those basketball players also played on a baseball team that went to the final four.

The early indication is that this year's basketball team will pick up where last year's Eagles left off."We're used to winning," said Boshell. "These seniors won at the JV level and were part of the winning last year. I think that will help us."Oran returns just one starter from last year's varsity squad and that was 6-3 forward/center Travis Friga who averaged about 11 points per game."We were just senior loaded last year so it was tough to get (this year's seniors) into the ballgame," said Boshell.

While Oran's varsity was churning out victories, though, so was its junior varsity.

The Eagles' JV team went 21-1.

Adam Friga a 5-11 guard could be the team's best player this year, Boshell said, and was the leader of that junior varsity team."He's a heck of a kid," Boshell said. "But he's mean once he gets on the floor."Philip Seyer, a 6-3 senior center played quite a bit off the bench on last year's varsity team and "will be called on to do more this year," Boshell said.

Other seniors who will see varsity action will by 5-7 point guard Ryan Dennis, 6-1 forward Ryan Chailland and 6-0 forward Andy Gadberry.

Six-foot junior guard Garrett Cook, 6-3 center Paul Roberts and 5-9 guard Russ Hatfield will get playing time as juniors."Garrett can shoot the ball real well and if he can play defense, he'll play a lot," Boshell said. "Paul Roberts has the best big-moves of anyone on the team He did a good job this summer and he'll play a lot also."We'll be very competitive. If the kids keep working hard and we continue to improve, we've got a shot at the district championship. If we work hard, that is a legitimate goal."Oran opens its season this week in its own tournament.