Oak Grove winter previews

Boys Basketball
By BILL ALTHAUS
Bill.althaus@examiner.net

When Jerry Girdner took over as head coach at Oak Grove three years ago, he knew his 2007-08 team was going to be special.
And it was.
The 19-8 Panthers enjoyed great success and featured seven seniors, including Adam Hightower, who averaged 16.6 points per game. Add Shawn Boss and Adam Polen and their 10-point per game averages into the mix, along with Austin Cunningham, Colby Reinbold, Chris Stout and Eugene Shores and you have a coach’s dream team.
“But we had to say goodbye to all those players and this year we have a new cast of characters and I think we’re going to surprise some people,” Girdner said.
“Last year was a milestone season for the Oak Grove basketball program. We had just the second winning season in a decade and made it to the district championship game. But we’re not satisfied with what happened last year. We want to use the success of last season to build a foundation.”
And Girdner said part of that foundation is trying to finish the job started by last year’s team.
“We go into this season with two goals,” he said. “First, to improve the program and develop young players and second, we want to strive to win a district championship.
“Oak Grove has not won a district championship n 26 years.”
This year’s team will feature 6-foot-6 Ethan Sticken, the big man in the middle for last year’s squad.
“We’re expecting big things from Ethan, no pun intended,” Girdner said. “I wish I could tell you who the other starters will be, but it’s just too early to tell.”
The newcomers Girdner will be counting on are forwards Brandon Jones and Caleb Barnhill. Danielle Steffe, Ryan Herrington, Tyler Banks and Tim O’Hare will add depth to the guard position.
One player Girdner was counting on, Landon Grego, suffered a season-ending injury in football.
 Last year’s group was probably the best group to come along in a long, long time.
“We had a lot of talented and smart players in the group. It was easy to coach them, because they had a great chemistry.”
Girdner also wants to point out how much he appreciates the home crowd support.
“We’re 13-3 at home over the past two years,” he said. “Our fans help encourage and support the team and I can’t thank them enough.”

Girls Basketball
By BILL ALTHAUS
Bill.althaus@examiner.net

Oak Grove girls basketball coach Aaron Neeser is in much the same situation as his counterpart on the boys team, Jerry Girdner.
Both lost a wealth of talent last year and both as eager and excited about the prospects of a new season.
“The Lady Panthers (12-13 overall, 6-2 in the Missouri River Valley Conference) improved dramatically from last year,” said Neeser, who is also entering his third year as head coach.
“We were so close to a winning record and finished third in the MRVC behind Grain Valley and Boonville. But we are not satisfied and have set our goals high this year.”
Gone are starters Jamie Davis, 3-point standout Lauren Richeson, Amy Thomas, April Stottlemyre and Kelsey Hudson.
Returning are letter winners Taylor Vickers, a second-team all-conference forward; Britney Gittman, Nikki Rajkovacz and Marnie Brodzinski.
“With so many new players, we’re going to have to take each game one at a time,” Neeser said. “There is no doubt that our strength will be our two experience post players.
“Taylor is one of the best power forwards in the league and Britney is coming off and ACL injury this summer, but she is working hard and her ability to come back from a serious injury will be a key to our success.”
Neeser also said that for the most part, this team is very young, featuring only two seniors.
“Our senior leaders will be Marnie and Nikki and we have a slew of talented sophomores – Erin Richeson, Leah Heerman, Rebecca McPherson, Christina Matson, Arian Williams, Jeni Luttrell, Niki Baxter and Macey Embrey,” he said.
“Our success will rely on the leadership of the girls and the learning process in our backcourt. If the girls can play though the peaks and valley of the season, we will be successful.”
The Panthers will also shift to a new conference, to an extent.
This will be Oak Grove’s firstseason in the new MRVC West. The league features tough competition in Excelsior Springs and Harrisonville, in addition to old rivals Odessa, Grain Valley and Pleasant Hill.

Wrestling
By JASON TARWATER
jason.tarwater@examiner.net

At a school with as much history and wrestling tradition at Oak Grove, one year without a state trophy is a lifetime.
Two years is an eternity.
Last year, Oak Grove broke a two-year drought without a trophy by tying for second in state, finishing just a handful of points behind eventual champion Monett.
This year, the Panthers are hungry for more.
With several all-state returners, Oak Grove appears poised to at the very least bring home another trophy.
“We’re back where Oak Grove expects to be,” Panthers head coach Bob Glasgow said.
The Panthers will be led by a tough senior class, which includes Kodie Morgason, Dylan Meisenheimer, Darrick Smith and Riley Glasgow.
All four have state medals. Morgason was a finalist in 2007, while Smith fought his way back to third place at 160 last year after losing his first match of the state tournament.
In addition, a good sophomore class returns, led by Mitchell Bradley, who was all-state at 103 pounds. Caleb Titus was a state qualifier.
Dylan Stiegemeyer nearly missed making state as a freshman last year and Taylor Danner was one match away from the state tournament last year.
Another major key for the Panthers this year, however, will be the health of Smith.
Last year, Smith was a big key to Oak Grove’s state success, coming through the backside of the bracket and earning valuable points.
After having a knee injury, Smith recently had an appendectomy and will be out for at least another week.
“He was a major sparkplug at state,” Glasgow said. “He’s a senior who has put in a lot of time. We need Darrick Smith. It’s going to take some time. We have to make sure he’s ready to go.
“The doctor told him no lifting for two weeks. He’s going to go back, and hopefully we’ll get a clean bill of health and get him in shape. We’d love to have him in time for the Staley dual and for the Toshiba Tournament. But that’s a pretty rough tournament. If he’s not 100 percent, we won’t put him in it.”
If the Panthers can get Smith healthy, they appear fully loaded for a big run through the state tournament.
“Only one team is ever truly happy at the end of the year, and we hope it’s us,” Glasgow said. “Anything can happen.
“But our ultimate goal is to win state. But if we lost by a half-point and had the best tournament we could, then you’re happy.”