Listen Here
By: Dylan DeWitt
Email: dewittd@findlay.edu
Twitter:@dd_witt
The Oilers basketball team has been at work while the rest of the students were home for the holidays. The team currently holds a 12-2 record where they are shooting nearly 50 percent from the field. The Oilers are currently shooting 48.8 percent as a team which places them at 43 best in all of Division II basketball. This percentage puts them only about six percent away from the top spot in shooting percentage.
Over the holiday break, the basketball team stuck around for practices and games along the way. Over the break, the Oilers were able to maintain a 4-1 record with wins over Olivet, Lake Erie, Davis & Elkins, and Alderson Broaddus. Their loss came on the road with a three-point loss at Lewis.
The Oilers wins comes from their team efforts on both sides of the ball backed by four different players averaging double digits in the scoring column. The team is led by senior Alex White who is having a stellar senior season through the first half of competition. The Cincinnati native is averaging 18.3 points per game on top of a 9.5 rebounds per game effort. The Oilers also get some big points from Aaron Overhiser. Overhiser currently averages 14.9 points a game through 14 games. Two other players hold their respected double digit scoring averages through the start of the season, Trey Smith and Anthony Masterlasco. The pair average 12.7 and 10.5 points per contest.
From anywhere on the court, whether it be in the lane or outside the arc, the Oilers have proven to score efficiently. From the behind the arc, four players are shooting above 40 percent from three-point range including Masterlasco, Smith, Overhiser, and Ethan Linder. Tommy Schmock continues to be a flash on the court with his assists as he sits 26 in the country with 5.9 assists per game.
Thursday’s game was against Ohio Dominican who the Oilers looked to avenge the last season loss in the G-MAC Semifinals. The Oilers were defeated that game 68-66 at the buzzer. The two teams sat at No. 1 and No. 2 in the conference ranks before going in to the game. The other two conference games will be played against Ohio Valley and Hillsdale. These games are set for Jan. 12 and 19. The Oilers and the Chargers of Hillsdale were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the preseason polls according to the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Coaches Poll. The Oilers look to begin their climb to the top starting with the visiting Ohio Dominican Panthers at 7:30 p.m. at Croy Gymnasium.
