Low scoring affair; Tigers and Blue Jays total 16 points in half

VILLISCA – The scrimmage between the Red Oak Tigers and Villisca Blue Jays boys’ basketball teams could be seen as a defensive struggle or a rough day shooting the ball. Regardless, the 9-7 Blue Jay win, in a two-quarter exhibition Tuesday, was not the way either team was hoping to get their season started.

As the Blue Jays started their run at a second consecutive 1A state tournament berth, the Tigers were hoping to improve from last season’s 2-20 record.

Villisca leaned mostly on the guard-play of Timmy Myers and Marshall Dolch as they started their 2009-10 campaign without the big men they had inside the paint last season.

The Blue Jays are missing the scoring and rebounds of graduated seniors Ryan Focht (22 points per game, 14 rebounds per game) and Eli Cordon (15.5 ppg, 10 rpg), but will look to 6-foot-3 Chris Schaaf and 5-foot-11 Nathan Cordon to step up in the paint.

Myers, Dolch, and Cordon scored most of the points for the Blue Jays in their two-point margin over the Tigers, but the Blue Jays were on pace to be far below their 62.7 points per game scored last season.

On the other side, the Tigers relied on small forward Cody Walford and center Josh Kasubick for most of their offense inside the paint against Villisca.

The Tigers were able to work the ball around the perimeter against the Blue Jays, sharing the ball amongst guards Colby Wise, Matt Goracke, and Tanner Johnson, but were unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

Up Next:

Both Villisca and Red Oak tip off their regular season this week.

Red Oak travels to Council Bluffs to meet St. Albert Tuesday, in their season opener before returning home to face Shenandoah, Friday.

St. Albert is coming off a 20-4 season last year, losing two of their top five scorers, Matt Waters and Jake Anderson, to graduation.

Jake Water was the top scorer and second best rebounder for St. Albert averaging 13.9 ppg.

Shenandoah, on the other hand, is coming off a tough year as they only won one game, beating South Page in their season opener, 60-48.

The Mustangs are only losing one starter; power forward Kyle Daily, who averaged six points a game.

Their top scorer, Casey Wright (11.5 ppg) and Nick Allely who led the team in steals (44) will return to try to improve on last season.

Villisca starts their season Tuesday, on the road against the Lenox Tigers.

Connor Lange, who led the Tigers with 13.6 points and 13.8 rebounds per game last season, leads Lenox. The 6-foot-5 senior center should be a challenge for the Blue Jays’ smaller lineup.

The Tigers only lost two seniors who contributed much time from last season’s 12-10 team.