Trojans sit 2-3 in league play with big week ahead

After a 10-2 start to the season, Oak Ridge High's varsity boys' basketball team had the misfortune of missing players from the lineup at the start of league play and lost their first two games. With two starters, Kaleb Edwards and Lucas Cutler, out of the lineup against Granite Bay on Jan. 6, as well as key bench player Isaac Pierce, the Trojans were upset by the Grizzlies, 71-60, after the Grizzlies had completed a 3-11 non-league schedule in December. Cutler was back two days later against Rocklin, but it wasn't enough to help as the Thunder cruised to a 68-43 victory. The Trojans finally picked up its first league win on Friday, Jan. 10 against Davis, 58-46. "We were missing Kaleb and Isaac all week; Lucas didn't play against Granite Bay and we had four or five guys sick, as a sickness went through the team," Oak Ridge coach Marcus Bray said. "We were missing a lot of guys that whole first week. Isaac hurt his knee and hasn't played a league game yet. We'll find out about him on Wednesday. " Edwards returned to the team last week, and the Trojans defeated Whitney on Jan. 15, 71-61. The Trojans then lost a close game to Jesuit on Friday, 62-56. "I felt we played very well against Whitney," Bray said. "The sickness in our team was gone and we had everyone back. "I felt we played well against Jesuit too, but we just didn't make any shots, particularly in the fourth quarter where we only scored 12 points." In the win over Whitney, Edwards scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Connor Sullivan scored 14 points and had six assists, while Ayden Schumacher finished the game with nine points. "Against Jesuit, we got off to a good start and led 19-11 after the first quarter," Bray said. "In the second quarter, they went on an 8-0 run that made the game close again. We didn't shoot well the whole game. Plus Gavyn Hoenig wasn't able to finish the game because of an injury and we were a little short on guards." Edwards again led the team with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Sullivan added 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists. "We've got five guys, almost six, averaging double digits but only had those two make it this game," Bray said. "We needed that third guy to step up. I thought we played really good defense, though." With everyone back from sickness, except Pierce who's hurt, the Trojans will be a full force this week with home games against Del Oro on Wednesday and Folsom on Friday.