Basketball Recap: Dynamic Duo of Roderick Dozier and Derrick Kirks Jr Lead O'connell to Victory

O'Connell won the last time they faced Van Vleck and things went their way on Friday too. The O'Connell Buccaneers took down the Van Vleck Leopards 55-36. Given the Buccaneers' advantage in MaxPreps' Texas basketball rankings (they are ranked 389th, while the Leopards are ranked 1375th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Roderick Dozier

Points

01/03/25 @ Van Vleck	15
12/05/24 vs Hearne	25
12/03/24 @ St. John XXIII	23

O'Connell was led to victory by Derrick Kirks Jr and Roderick Dozier. Kirks Jr went 6 of 10 on his way to 18 points in addition to seven assists and three steals, while Dozier dropped a double-double on 15 points and 14 boards. The game was Dozier's third in a row with at least ten points. The team also got some help courtesy of Jarrius Smith, who went 5 of 9 on his way to 11 points and three blocks.

They weren't the only one working in the assists department: O'Connell was working as a unit and finished the game with 13 assists. That's the most assists they've posted since back in December of 2024.

O'Connell moved to 19-5 with that win, which also ended their three-game losing streak. As for Van Vleck, this is the second loss in a row for them and nudges their season record down to 3-8.

O'Connell will venture away from home to challenge Hardin-Jefferson at 7:00 p.m. on January 10th. As for Van Vleck, they will welcome Hitchcock at 7:30 p.m. on January 10th.