Lake Oconee Academy traveled to Tennessee last week to play in a holiday tournament.
The Titans played in the Great Smoky Mountain Classic in Gatlinburg, TN., from Dec. 27-Dec. 29. They lost to Grace Christian Academy (Tenn.) 65-45 before defeating Jackson Clay (Ky.) 58-49 for their third win of the season. Their third game was a 59-41 defeat to Prestonsberg (Ky.).
Finally, Lake Oconee Academy traveled to Knoxville on Dec. 30 to play Berean Christan, which defeated the Titans, 43-39 in a close battle that ended in the final 30 seconds.
Lake Oconee Academy second-year coach Josiah Rechenbach saw his team have fun on the court.
“It was a chance for us to play teams that are out of state and not on the region schedule,” he said. “It’s about preparing us for success later in the year. The second semester is all about region play.”
While the Titans (3-8, 1-1 Region 8 Class A D II) went 1-3, their head coach saw them grow. The trip also allowed his guys to reset while playing a few more games before region play started back.
LOA begins the final part of its schedule this week, starting Friday at Warren County (8-4, 1-2). The Titans will then face crosstown rival Greene County (8-4, 4-0) on Saturday on the road as well.
Rechenbach felt as if his team competed against the out-of-state competition well, and that it prepared them for region play. He also said the trip was a chance for his team to build more of a bond.
“At this point, the final rotation is getting ironed out. Last week gave us a chance to finalize that,” Rechenbach explained. “Guys are starting to get more comfortable in their roles. We might have gone 1-3, but when I think about last week, we ended on a good note. And we took some steps in the right direction that hopefully we can use to propel us toward a successful second semester.”
Rechenbach is looking for players like juniors Torin Maddox and James Wright, as well as senior Ja’Quon Hall, to continue playing at a high level, but also younger guys such as freshman Keenan Parham and sophomore Henry Hynes to continue to develop in their roles as the year goes on.
Maddox, Wright, Hall, and Hynes, along with a few others, are starting to form a solid core for LOA.
“They are all developing and continuing to develop,” Rechenbach added. “I love to see them grow.”
While the region schedule may be tough, the Titans’ head coach believes his guys can compete for a spot in the state tournament, but wants his players to keep a level head over the next few weeks.
“Greene County has got a good roster, and Towns County had the Region Player of the Year return from last season. Warren County is also talented,” Rechenbach said. “It’s going to be tough.”