The Lake Oconee Academy boys basketball team saw its season end in the region tournament on Feb. 11.
Lincoln County defeated the Titans 60-35 in the quarterfinal round, ending their hopes of making the postseason for the first time in program history. They finished the 2024-25 season with a 14-11 overall record.
LOA head coach Josiah Rechenbach acknowledged he saw growth this year but was still disappointed his team missed the playoffs.
“It was definitely a disappointing end to the season,” Rechenbach admitted. “We dealt with our fair share of adversity and then some. Losing a couple of our top guys to injuries was really, really tough. Ultimately, we didn’t accomplish some of our main goals, and hopefully, that fuels our young guys to work even harder.”
LOA’s boys lost two of their top three leading scorers — sophomore Jaden Hilsman and freshman Canon Mullen — to injuries late in the season. The Titans had a young roster and consistently struggled to score late in the year.
Rechenbach said the team’s two seniors — James Wright III and Torin Maddox — were great leaders this year, especially at the end of the season. Their losses were felt, especially down the stretch late in the season.
Rechenbach, Wright, and Maddox helped establish the program's foundation.
LOA’s record was 6-21 during Wright and Maddox's sophomore year but improved to 8-19 when they were juniors. As seniors, they played a crucial role in leading the Titans to the first winning season in program history.
“I’m proud of both of my seniors. They’re guys who are historical to the program,” Rechenbach said. “They put in a lot of energy, hard work, and effort over the last few years, so I am blessed to have coached them.”
Wright was Lake Oconee Academy’s starting point guard, averaging around nine points, four rebounds, and three assists a game. Maddox was a starting forward for the Titans, averaging around 13 points and six boards.
LOA had underclassmen like Kam Geter, Henry Hynes, Keenan Parham, CJ Stembridge, and Cole Sandoval show flashes of potential. These five players and others also contributed to the team’s overall success this year.
Rechenbach explained that while the younger guys stepped up, he wants to see more consistency next season.
“We showed how good we could be in our best moments but also how much we still have to improve on in our lowest moments,” Rechenbach said. “As we prepare for next season, I’m just trying to find consistency with this group and teach them that each day matters and that everything matters. Even all of our habits matter.”
After a historic season in 2024-25, LOA will return a strong core and hopes to make the playoffs next season.