Oasis' Joel Mincer looks for an open teammate around Tonopah player Derek Eason.
The Bighorns basketball team closed its inaugural season in the NIAA with a home game against Tonopah, falling 66-28.
Caden Johnson, Brenden Norman-Leary and Joshua Mikulak led the Bighorns, each scoring six points. Douglas Lee was close behind them with five, Joshua Mincer scored four and Kenyen Hicks added one.
Oasis coach Donald Schank said the team played well in the early game. He noted how quickly the score got away from them.
Schank said he appreciated Mikulak for how hard he played. He recalled the senior did everything he could on offense and defense to help Oasis; in the end, the coach said Tonopah just had a bigger, faster team.
Oasis closed the season 2-13 overall. The Bighorns are currently an independent status in the Nevada Interscholastic Athletics Association; as a result they are not eligible for playoffs.
Schank said the team did its best. He recalled many of the players were new to this level of competition, some of them having never played this many games in four months.
Schank added he has high hopes for next year’s team because of how much the team grew and everything they learned this year. The coach said the junior varsity team has lots of talent as well.
“I’m hoping for good stuff next year” Schank said.
He said he’s also been happy with how positive the players have been throughout the season. He recalled times where the other team would go on a run, but the Oasis players wouldn’t get discouraged and kept pushing the ball.
Schank said he plans to work with the team during the summer. He said priorities include scheduling the Bighorns in tournaments, as well as arranging workouts.
Summer training is currently planned for sometime after April. Schank said he wants everyone to have time to decompress and relax or pursue other interests for awhile.
“We’ve been going since the second week of August,” Schank said. “That’s a long time; we’ll recharge the batteries, then we’ll come back.”
The Bighorns will have new sports during the spring season. They will field boys and girls lacrosse, girls softball and boys golf.