High Expectations For Oxford Hills Boys Basketball by Shannon Kriger

The Oxford Hills boys basketball team are more than ready to make a statement about themselves this year. After losing to Hampden Academy in the Eastern Maine Finals to last year, the team is determined to make it back to the Augusta Civic Center.

With 6-foot-6 junior Andrew Fleming and 6-foot-3 junior Tyus Ripley, the Vikings are expected to dominate in the paint this year. This season for the two is looking very promising after their first regular season game against Edward Little, where Fleming had scored 27 points and Ripley contributed 13 points.

Although the team had lost several senior players last year, they are confident in their young team.

“We are adjusting to the change by trying to teach the new players about being and acting like varsity athletes. Also, having them play in preseason games benefitted them in getting used to the speed of the game,” Head Coach Scott Graffam explained.

The team is looking forward to their 18-game season and are prepared to compete against all the teams in their league night in and night out.

The team of 10 is very confident with their offensive skills. Graffam mentioned that once the athletes get used to playing together and strengthen their competence on the defensive end, they will be practically unstoppable.

“We are a very hardworking team. We are very capable of scoring, and we are getting better at defending,” Graffam commented.

Scott Graffam has led the Oxford Hills Vikings through numerous successful seasons. He has always pushed the boys to become the best that they can be, and he also often emphasizes the importance of working together and playing like a united team.

When asked about his coaching philosophy, Graffam replied, “Athletics are a good way to teach life lessons without some of the consequences of real life problems. Also, I find it important to coach how to behave and prosper in situations where you can’t control what goes on around you.”

The boys have had their fair share of setbacks, but it has only made them more motivated and ready to dominate in the Eastern Maine Class A conference this year.