Oskaloosa Boys Continue To Roll
Spencer Tucker gets the high percentage shot against Grinnell on Friday night.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Oskaloosa boys varsity basketball team continued its winning way on Friday night in front of a packed house.
The red-hot Indians pounded on the Tigers from Grinnell 76-30.
Oskaloosa Head Coach Ryan Parker found out Friday night that at least four on his squad can dunk the ball. Spencer Tucker rocked the house with the big play which stunned the Tigers.
“It was good for Spencer. He’s been trying that all year,” added Parker.
Parker was pleased with the start of the game, and the effort from his team. “In the last four games, we really haven’t started all that well.”
On Friday night, “we came out like a ball of fire”, added Parker.
The defensive effort was better than in the previous four games. “More intensity,” said Parker.
Parker and his squad know that everyone is going to bring them their best game, and those best efforts by the Indians have to be all the time. “You have to bring your best game every night. That’s hard to do.”
The Indians continue to face the zone defense from their opponents, and the team continues to build on that experience.
Parker has the road game to Dallas Center-Grimes circled on his calendar as a test for his team. It’s a place where the Indians have yet to win, and will be facing a tough Little Hawkeye opponent.
Spencer Tucker described his moment with the dunk as “cool”.
Tucker says he just decided to go up and try it [dunk].
The crowd went wild, and Tucker says he couldn’t even think after the dunk due to all the excitement.
Another Indian enjoyed some big recognition during the past week when he was voted Player of the Week by fans at Prep Hoops. This was a first for Junior Cole Henry and the Oskaloosa Indians.
“It was really exciting when I heard the news. Really humbling and I’m just proud of my teammates,” said Henry.
Henry thanked all the fans that voted for him.
Henry says he’s feeling solid this season, where he’s averaging 16 points a game. “More importantly we’re five and zero, and two and zero in the conference.”
Henry scored 16 points in the effort against Grinnell. Xavier Foster also scored 16 points, while Jared Kruse added 12 more.
Rian Yates had nine big points off the bench, hitting three of four from beyond the arch.
Xavier Foster had seven rebounds on the night, while Henry pulled down six additional rebounds.
Jared Kruse had four rebounds, and Tanner DeKock had three.
The Oskaloosa girls varsity team also played Friday night, but had difficulty with the fourth-ranked Grinnell Tigers.
The Indians were lead by Marleigh Denburger who had 10 of the Indians 21 points. Mary Nelson added 5 more points for the Indians.
Three Indians had three rebounds each; Ashley Drost, Denburger, and Kaylee Johnson. Emma Kelderman had two rebounds.
The boys will take on Washington Tuesday night at home. Both teams will travel to DCG on Friday.
