What an eventful few weeks it has been for Oak Grove… not only needing two overtimes to take down Kings Mountain to start the playoffs, but they are coming off a thrilling buzzer-beating win on the road against East Henderson.
Now, they will be hitting the road again as they hope to knock off another big-time team on the road in Crest and continue their magical run. Though, looking at this season overall, one could already say this has been one magical season and one to remember. After finishing 12-15 last year and 7-17 the year before, the Grizzlies sit at 19-6 overall as Coach Essick has enjoyed the magical ride with his group.
“This was the JV group I began coaching when I arrived here at Oak Grove,” Essick told Phenom Hoops. “We are truly a family. Most of this team I have been with for 4 years and it’s been an incredible ride. I’ve watched them grow as young men and shared some lifelong memories with these guys. Basketball this time of year is funny because you don’t have to beat anyone in a 7-game series, just have to catch them on the right night. I’d say after these last few weeks we have been as hot as any team in the state, so we are just not ready for this ride to be done!”
This is a senior-led team that hopes to give this program one of the best seasons they have had in program history. And one could say they have already done that, but one knows they hope the season doesn’t come to an end on Tuesday night.
But for the seniors like Loucas Shoaf, Max Hurt, Tristan Nunez, and the rest of the team, this is a team that has proven itself in a big way this season and they hope it only continues Tuesday night.