Fans of the and high school boys basketball team might want to wear shades to the games next year.
That’s because the future looks bright.
Although the Panthers and Wolves did not advance in the Class 4A state tournament, both programs have a lot to look forward to in the coming years.
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Oswego went 18-9 overall, 10-4 to finish second in the Southwest Prairie Conference and its starting lineup was void of seniors. Of its 14 rostered players, 12 of them are eligible to return next year with a year of seasoning under their belts.
That means the Panthers could be the early favorites to win in the balanced and improving SPC in 2012.
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“We’re young and skilled,” Oswego coach Kevin Schnable said. “We just have to learn how to play the game of basketball. There’s a whole heck of a lot we have to be proud of with this group.”
The Panthers started the season 8-0. Oswego played in 10 league games decided by five points or less. It went 6-4 in those contests.
“We started four juniors and a sophomore and we won 18 games,” Schnable said. “It’s not just the record, the wins and losses, it’s the learning process. The learning curve won’t be as steep next year. We can hit the ground running.”
Sophomore Elliot McGaughy (18.1 points per game), sophomore Miles Simelton (15.7) and junior Ryan West (15.7) accounted for 70 percent of the Panthers’ offense this year, which ended in a 67-54 loss to Naperville North in the Naperville North regional semifinals Wednesday in Naperville.
“We’re going to continue to grow from situations like this,” Schnable said. “I’m happy with our kids.”
Oswego East finished the season 16-11 overall and 8-6 in the SPC.
It was eliminated 61-55 overtime loss to Glenbard West in a Class 4A Glenbard East regional quarterfinal game Monday in Lombard.
Four of the Wolves’ 15 players on its regional roster this year were seniors.
However, one of them was guard Wesley Brooks, who was the team’s leading scorer this year. Third-year varsity regular Sean Gant led the team in rebounding.
He also is alive in the Country Financial Three-Point Showdown.
Gant has advanced to the regional championship round, which will be contested prior to the regional championship game at 7:30 p.m. today at Glenbard East High School in Lombard.
He made 7 of 15 shots in the regional semifinal round to advance.
