After setting a program record with six wins last season, the Lake Oconee Academy boys’ basketball team looks to take another step in the right direction and add to its success on the court.
The Titans have been working hard in the offseason under second-year head coach Josiah Rechenbach, who’s been pushing his players. They’ve been working together since the summer months.
“We’re just trying to build the program step-by-step and day-by-day,” Rechenbach said. “Last year was all about setting a standard and setting a foundation. So, last year, we had five seniors that did just that. The wins and losses didn’t tell the whole story because our guys played their best basketball at the end of the year. We ended up being one win short of making the state playoffs.”
Despite going 6-22 overall, Lake Oconee Academy battled in conference play and won four games.
The Titans knocked off Towns County, which won the Class A Public state championship two years ago. They also defeated cross-town rival Greene County for the first time in program history.
Rechenbach thinks this year’s group can imitate last year’s success, but they have a long way to go.
“With this group, they’re very young and don’t have a lot of experience, but we have some guys that are hungry to get better,” Rechenbach said. “The goal is to be playing your best basketball in February as opposed to November. Hopefully, day-by-day and game-by-game, we will improve a little.”
This season, LOA will rely on junior James Wright along with sophomores Torin Maddox and Henry Hynes. Also, freshman Jaden Hillsman has made strides in the past few months for the Titans.
Christian Moore, Keenan Parham, Major Mercer, and Chris Taylor will all get quality minutes, too.
According to Rechenbach, the team has several goals this year, including winning more region games.
“We want to build on the foundation built by last year’s group,” Rechenbach added. “Our hope and goal is what that group accomplished last year is the floor. So, now it’s just about building on that.”
Lake Oconee Academy was also fighting and competing late in games, which is something that didn’t happen in years prior. Rechenbach hopes his players can go out and have that same mindset this season.
The second-year coach wants his guys to put it all together and play a full four quarters in every game.
“We’re just trying to teach these guys how to win games and how to close them out,” Rechenbach said. “Last year, we had a lot of games get away from us in the fourth quarter. We weren’t able to finish. I’m trying to teach these guys to learn how to win and what it takes to win.”
Lake Oconee Academy started its season 0-2 with losses to Elite Scholars Academy and Lamar County; however, the Titans hope to rebound against Loganville Christian Academy on Dec. 5 at home.