Oak Hill seeks to fill holes on offense
By Steve Keenan the fayette tribune
Oak Hill will be seeking increased offensive production from several players during the 2022- 23 boys basketball season .
Among the departures from a 2021-22 squad that went 11-10 and dropped a 48-34 verdict to Greenbrier East in a Class AAAA section tournament opener were leading scorer Jacob Perdue and third-leading scorer Samuel Crist .
“ That ’ s two of the leading scorers , so that is big holes to fill ,” said head coach Benitez Jackson .
Among the other departed seniors is Cade Maynor .
Starters back include Omar Lewis , Ethan Vargo-Thomas and Jerimiah Jackson . All are now seniors .
“ And both Trevor Kelley and Malachi Lewis played a lot last year ,” coach Jackson said . “ Trevor started some games , and Malachi started toward the end of the season some . So we ’ ve got those two to kind of fill those holes that was left by Sammy and Jacob .”
While looking to Omar Lewis , Vargo-Thomas and Jackson for leadership , the coach also says they will be expected to provide solid on-court contributions .
“ Omar ’ s played a lot of
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Jenny Harnish / The Register-Herald
Oak Hill ’ s Ethan Vargo-Thomas tries to get around Greenbrier East ’ s Bryson Brammer during the Class AAAA Region 3 , Section 2 game March 1 in Fairlea .
basketball here ,” Jackson said . “ I think he can score more than he has in the past . I don ’ t think he has looked to score much , but I think he can fill a hole for us in scoring some .
“ We want him to shoot the ball more .”
“ Ethan has big games , but he ’ s got to get a little more consistent ,” the coach said . “ We think he can be a 16-17 ( pointsper-game scorer ).”
Of Malachi Lewis , a junior , Jackson said , “ He ’ s really talented ” and could also help provide much-needed offense .
“ I think both of those guys can play a role down there ( in the post ),” he said of Kelley and Jackson . “ Trevor is more of a stretch forward type of guy , but is really athletic .
“ The good thing about those guys is they really run the floor really well . Both those guys run . They run hard every time down the floor , which creates some open shots for our guys , hoping to get some easy baskets .”
Omar Lewis will help increase the pace for the Red Devils . “ Omar pushes the ball down the floor really hard . He ’ s really unselfish for us .”
Remaining active in transition “ will be a big part of our offense ,” said Jackson .
Also on hand is Chance Minor , a soccer player now playing on the hardwoods who is a “ big body for us , an athletic kid ,” said Jackson .
Minor will help support Jerimiah Jackson and Kelley in the post .
“ I don ’ t think we ’ re going to be as deep as we were last year , but I think sometimes that ’ s not a bad thing ,” the coach said . “ I think sometimes we tried to play too many people .
“ Going in , we ’ re looking at playing seven or eight guys right now . But we think we have ( another player or two ) that “ can fill a role for us . We ’ ve got to develop them .”
One of those , senior Moses Manns , “ should be playing a lot for us .” Another expected to provide contributions is senior Cole Legg .
“ From last year ’ s team , I think this year ’ s team is more athletic ,” Jackson said . “ We ’ re a little bigger .
“ Depth early on we may be a little bit weaker , and just shooting the ball consistently . I think we can shoot the ball if we just get into the rhythm and have confidence shooting the ball .”
On the positive side of that , “ I think both things we have the potential to overcome pretty quickly .”
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