Oregon Institute of Technology Athletics

Tickets  |  Schedule  |  Listen Live on 92-5 KLAD  |  Live Stats  |  Live Video  | 

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Third year Head Coach Justin Parnell returns four starters and 11 overall players from a team that went 22-11 and finished as the No. 21 ranked team in the NAIA a year ago.
 
"This team has a chance to be special," says Parnell. "We are three deep at every position and compete as hard as any I have been a part of. We are out of the youth movement and will rely on our experience, as we have 7 guys who have been in the program two or more years. More important than all of this, we have great young men who pride themselves on being true Oregon Tech guys."
 
"Being ranked at No. 12 is really a tip of the hat to the success and leadership of our seniors the past two years," said Parnell. "They did an outstanding job getting us back to being a top 25 team. With that said, we try not to put too much of a focus on preseason rankings and will continue to try and get ready for the tough schedule ahead." That schedule begins this Saturday and Sunday as the Hustlin' Owls host Northwest Indian College at 7:30 pm on Danny Miles Court.
 
"The CCC is going to be as tough as ever. We feel there are 6-7 teams that are National Tournament worthy. There are also seven teams who return 3 or more starters and three who return 4 starters. As always, you have to take care of business at home and sneak a few on the road," added Parnell.
 
Of the returners, Quim Vallve' and Jalen Carvalho are the lone seniors on the roster with great experience coming from junior returnees, Mitchell Fink, Tyler Hieb and Seth Erickson. Garret Albrecht, Scotty Burge, Cal Stueve and Harrison Steiger all return as sophomores and all nine have played in the national tournament.
 
One of the recruits who Coach Parnell thinks will make an immediate impact is Junior Kellen Gerig out of Big Valley High School in Bieber. He played one year at Humboldt State, and last year at Shasta College. "He has instant energy," Parnell says of Gerig.
 
North Medford standout Kaison Faust joins his father, Richard, and brother, Chris, as members of the OIT basketball family. "Kaison can make plays our fans have not seen the last couple of years, and is a tough defender," Parnell says.
 
"Matt Van Tassell out of Bend and Lachlan Mckimm out of Sydney Australia should be Freshman of the Year candidates," added Parnell.
 
 
After this home opening weekend, The Owls will host the Annual Lithia Classic with games scheduled against Antelope Valley who received votes in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll and New Hope Christian on November 16 & 17 at Danny Miles Court.
 
League play begins Nov. 30 at The College of Idaho, with Tech's first home conference game set for Dec. 14 against The Evergreen State.
 
Coach Parnell and his Hustlin' Owls look for a third straight trip to the NAIA Division II National Championships, this year March 13-19 in Sioux Falls, S.D.
 
New game added, Oregon Tech will now play two games at New Hope Christian next week. The original game on Friday but also now on Thursday in Eugene at 7:00 pm.
 
FOLLOW OREGON TECH ATHLETICS
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube