South Oldham 2013/2014

[gold sunrise]

Basketball season for 2013/2014 should provide another exciting year. What should we expect from South Oldham? Remember, please be constructive.

[ColonelMike]

Steve Simpson is back for his 14th year at South Oldham, and what a job he has done. Last year's 8th Region coach of the year finally was able to take the Dragons to the Sweet 16 - their first-ever trip to the Big Dance. Over the past 4 seasons, the Dragons have won 90 games and gone to the 8th region finals twice, while winning last year's event. Like last year, Simpson has to practically start over, with 4 starters gone. Kyle Young started most games last year for South, and returns after averaging about 10 ppg last year. Young, who is an electric scorer, has the capacity to put up 30 points per game, although he's not likely to average anywhere near that in Simpson's balanced attack. Despite the numbers of graduates, don't expect opposing coaches to be too sorry for South; Drew Bullock, Michael Griffin, Johnathan Blair, and Drew Greenwood all played in over 30 games last season and are used to playing big minutes in big games. Griffin and Greenwood - like so many South sharpshooters - are extremely prolific beyond the arc. Don't expect any major changes this year - South will attack quickly with good ballhandlers and passers. They will almost certainly be among the state's best in three-point shooting again this year, and overly aggressive defense on the outside shooters will merely lead to layups. Again, South will be fairly short, but that didn't stop them from winning the region last year.

 

In the end, South should have every expectation that they can repeat in a wide-open region 8. The biggest question in Crestwood is who will take over the leadership on the glass exhibited by Michael Haysley last year? If South can hold its own on the boards, this will be a very dangerous team.