After an 0-3 start, the Lake Oconee Academy boys’ basketball team got its first win this past Saturday, with the Titans (1-3) knocking off Westminster Christian 54-41 at home in the Titans Center.
Lake Oconee Academy led from the start, jumping out to a large lead by the end of the first quarter.
According to Titans’ head coach Josiah Rechenbach, his team was determined to come out with a win, but his players still showed a few weaknesses, but his players still showed a few weaknesses, despite getting their first win.
“We’re a work in progress and at this point in the season, we’re trying to iron out our rotation,” Rechenbach said. “We’re trying to fit guys into the roles that best fit them and this program. It’s early in the process and we got the win Saturday, but we are far from what I want us to look like.”
In the win, Lake Oconee Academy shot well from behind the arc at 44.4 percent. The Titans also defended the 3-point line, limiting the Lions to make 2-of-9 attempts (22 percent) from that mark.
Henry Hynes, a 6-foot-1 sophomore, led in scoring with 13 points, with nine points coming from the 3-point line. The young point guard also grabbed five rebounds and dished out two assists in the win.
Torrin Maddox contributed 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting, while Jaden Hillsman added 11 points as well.
While LOA got the win, Rechenbach saw his team turn the ball over 24 times, which can’t happen when region play starts.
He said his players need to start taking better care of the ball moving forward.
“It got pretty sloppy there in the second half,” Rechenbach explained. “We open up with our first region game this Saturday, so we need to clean that up and start getting ready for it. I thought that in the first quarter (against Westminster) we started strong, but with a young team, I thought we made a lot of young mistakes. Guys are still trying to figure each other out.
The way I put it to them is that we never apologize for a win, but we’re far from being satisfied and are a work in progress.”
LOA is hoping to keep its winning streak alive against Lincoln County in the region opener this Saturday. The Titans will continue their region schedule next Tuesday at Taliaferro County on the road.
Rechenbach said his team will spend the next week working on getting better and learning to click.
“Before we head (up) to the Christmas tournament in Tennessee, we have two region games. That is a huge point of emphasis for us right now,” Rechenbach said. “Our goals are tied to how we perform in the region. We really want to start off solid and it starts with Lincoln County on Saturday. It really just starts with practice and getting better. We want to build off our win this past week.”