The 2009-2010 varsity boys basketball team for the Oroville Hornets. Photo by Terry Mills

Hornet coach Carl Iverson finds himself at the helm of a smaller group of younger team players this year than his previous four years of coaching the basketball team.

Iverson, who is assisted by Brett Fancher, also in his fifth year with the team, said, “We are going to push the ball this year in hopes of speeding the game up. We are small and we need to have an up tempo game to get easy baskets.”

The Hornets have a smaller turnout this year with 14 players right now, which is smaller than the last four years. The team graduated eight seniors last year and have two seniors, three juniors, five sophomores and four freshman this year.

“In our half court offense we want to attack the basket and use our speed and shooting ability to offset our lack of size,” said Coach Iverson. “We are young, but do have two seniors in Brandon Funston and Blaine Wagner, who have been in the program for all four years.”

Additional experience is supplied by juniors Preston Iverson and Charlie DeMartino as well as sophomore Zach Speiker who gained some varsity time last year and went to state with the team. Two freshmen, Connor Hughes and Michael Garrett will play full time varsity also, said Iverson.

“Our strengths are speed and shooting…our weakness is size,” said the Hornet coach. “I believe we will fight for a playoff spot and get much better as the season progresses. Entiat and Soap Lake are the clear favorites, but the other two playoff spots are wide open.”

Last season the Hornets were co-league champions and went to state.