Led by one of the top players in the state, University of Maine-bound Andrew Fleming, Oxford Hills returns three starters and has high hopes to contend in the first season of Class AA North basketball.
Fleming, a 6-foot-6 forward, led Oxford Hills to the Class A North championship two years ago before an up-and-down season ended with a quarterfinal loss to Messalonskee last winter.
The Vikings absorbed an offseason loss when the other half of its one-two punch from 2014-15, Tyus Ripley, transferred to Massabesic. Point guard Blake Slicer and versatile Jake Beauchesne lead Oxford Hills’ solid supporting cast.
Oxford Hills will need to find some added scoring punch and rebounding strength in the paint, and it may come from Fleming’s talented freshman brother, Matt.
Senior leadership and good shooters should allow the Vikings to keep up with most opponents on the scoreboard, and venerable coach Scott Graffam is excited about the strengthened schedule. Oxford Hills’ ability to improve defensively throughout the season may determine its ultimate success.
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