Athlete of the Week: Dennis Oralls
When one guy leaves, another one steps in.
In Norwich’s case, when one really good basketball player finishes his high school playing career, another good one seems to step to the forefront – every single season. The Tornado boys lost their leading scorer and rebounder (Richie Bonney) and top playmaker and assist man (Derek Hughes) to graduation. What remained was a returning lineup devoid of any varsity starting experience.
“When we looked at this team, we thought it was important that Jon (Foulds), Dennis (Oralls), and Seth (Thomsen) be the nucleus that we build around,” said longtime NHS head coach Mark Abbott. “These are the guys that had the most varsity playing experience, and they’re relishing their roles.”
For Oralls, the transformation from a spot reserve to a starter and leading scorer has been nothing short of remarkable. The junior guard, in the words of Abbott, could not have had a much better start to the 2010-2011 season.
Oralls was the epitome of efficient and effective in scoring a game-high 29 points in an opening-season win over Chenango Valley last Friday. He took only 11 shots, making seven, and was 4-for-5 from beyond the three-point arc. At the foul line, the Warriors continually fouled Oralls, and he kept knocking the shots down to the tune of a 12-for-12 effort – the best success rate for that many foul shots in Abbott’s tenure. To go with his points, Oralls also grabbed nine rebounds and dealt four helpers.
Oralls led Norwich to a blowout win in the opening round of the Tom Schwan Tournament, and followed that up with 12 points, seven assists, and six rebounds in a tournament championship game victory over Owego. Oralls was named the tournament’s most valuable player, and he is also our Smith Ford, Giant’s Warehouse/Evening Sun Athlete of the Week.
Oralls saw limited time off the bench when he moved up to varsity last year. Had had 61 total points, averaged less than three points a game, but did drain13 three-pointers in limited duty. Abbott said Oralls was brought into the games when his team needed another threat from beyond the three-point arc. Outside of that, Abbott and the coaching staff were concerned that he would not match up physically with opponents on the defensive end.
“He’s worked awfully hard in the offseason, and he has had a lot of role models to learn from,” Abbott said, who noted that Oralls was a basketball team manager for three years during his elementary school years, and has been around the Norwich program close to seven years. “He has come back this year a couple inches taller, he’s definitely stronger, and he has a lot of confidence in his game. The way he played at the Schwan Tournament will only increase his confidence.”
Oralls was used last year primarily on the perimeter, mainly because that was the primary asset he brought to the Norwich offense. He has already unveiled new tools in his game. He now is comfortable taking the ball to the basket, he scored on offensive rebounds, and his aggressiveness on the offensive end yielded 17 foul shots in two games. He made 15 charity tosses, further proof that he is now a deadly offensive player anywhere on the floor.
“The style of offense that we play, it’s really ideal for a player like Dennis,” Abbott said.
And the results for Norwich have also been nothing short of idyllic.
In Norwich’s case, when one really good basketball player finishes his high school playing career, another good one seems to step to the forefront – every single season. The Tornado boys lost their leading scorer and rebounder (Richie Bonney) and top playmaker and assist man (Derek Hughes) to graduation. What remained was a returning lineup devoid of any varsity starting experience.
“When we looked at this team, we thought it was important that Jon (Foulds), Dennis (Oralls), and Seth (Thomsen) be the nucleus that we build around,” said longtime NHS head coach Mark Abbott. “These are the guys that had the most varsity playing experience, and they’re relishing their roles.”
For Oralls, the transformation from a spot reserve to a starter and leading scorer has been nothing short of remarkable. The junior guard, in the words of Abbott, could not have had a much better start to the 2010-2011 season.
Oralls was the epitome of efficient and effective in scoring a game-high 29 points in an opening-season win over Chenango Valley last Friday. He took only 11 shots, making seven, and was 4-for-5 from beyond the three-point arc. At the foul line, the Warriors continually fouled Oralls, and he kept knocking the shots down to the tune of a 12-for-12 effort – the best success rate for that many foul shots in Abbott’s tenure. To go with his points, Oralls also grabbed nine rebounds and dealt four helpers.
Oralls led Norwich to a blowout win in the opening round of the Tom Schwan Tournament, and followed that up with 12 points, seven assists, and six rebounds in a tournament championship game victory over Owego. Oralls was named the tournament’s most valuable player, and he is also our Smith Ford, Giant’s Warehouse/Evening Sun Athlete of the Week.
Oralls saw limited time off the bench when he moved up to varsity last year. Had had 61 total points, averaged less than three points a game, but did drain13 three-pointers in limited duty. Abbott said Oralls was brought into the games when his team needed another threat from beyond the three-point arc. Outside of that, Abbott and the coaching staff were concerned that he would not match up physically with opponents on the defensive end.
“He’s worked awfully hard in the offseason, and he has had a lot of role models to learn from,” Abbott said, who noted that Oralls was a basketball team manager for three years during his elementary school years, and has been around the Norwich program close to seven years. “He has come back this year a couple inches taller, he’s definitely stronger, and he has a lot of confidence in his game. The way he played at the Schwan Tournament will only increase his confidence.”
Oralls was used last year primarily on the perimeter, mainly because that was the primary asset he brought to the Norwich offense. He has already unveiled new tools in his game. He now is comfortable taking the ball to the basket, he scored on offensive rebounds, and his aggressiveness on the offensive end yielded 17 foul shots in two games. He made 15 charity tosses, further proof that he is now a deadly offensive player anywhere on the floor.
“The style of offense that we play, it’s really ideal for a player like Dennis,” Abbott said.
And the results for Norwich have also been nothing short of idyllic.
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