Bell-Jeff’s Oses earns All-CIF first-team honors in boys’ basketball

When Abid Oses was a sophomore last season for the Bellarmine-Jefferson High boys’ basketball team, he had to share the floor with a group of seniors.

As a result, he took a back seat in most of the Guards’ games and ended up averaging a steady 13 points a contest.

With the graduation of the senior contingent, Oses took more of a centralized role this past season for Bell-Jeff. The junior stepped into the role nicely, leading the team in scoring and helping the Guards advance to the CIF Southern Section quarterfinals.

For his efforts, Oses was rewarded when the All-CIF Division V selections were handed out Monday by the Southern Section Office, as he earned first-team honors.

He was joined by Guards teammates, junior wing Clark Thomas and sophomore guard Isaac Etter, who both made the second team.

Playing forward, Oses averaged 18.8 points and 7.6 rebounds a game to lead the Guards. He also had 2.8 steals a game.

“Looking where he was last season where he averaged only about 13, he has come a long way,” Bell-Jeff Coach Julian Andrade said. “He stepped up this year for us and his scoring production was way up, as he averaged nearly 19.

“He also improved his field-goal percentage and his free-throw percentage. So overall, he just improved all around as a player for us.”

Oses said his maturity, along with improved confidence, from his sophomore to his junior season helped him thrive this past campaign.

“When we had mostly seniors last year it was tough for me,” he said. “But I felt a lot better this season and I was able to play a bigger part for my team. But it had a lot to do with my teammates, they got me the ball and they helped me out a lot.

“I really tried to work more on my shooting this year, and I think I shot a lot better.”

Andrade said Oses was able to step up in crucial situations for the Guards.

“In some of our playoff games he really had some good games,” Andrade said. “He also helped us win some key games during the league and he was big in some of our tournament games.”

Thomas, a first-team all-league selection, averaged 13.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals a game. Etter, a second-team all-league pick, averaged 11.9 points, 2.1 steals and nearly two rebounds and assists a game.

With Oses leading the way, Bell-Jeff (18-11) placed second in the Santa Fe League and earned playoff victories against Mammoth (81-34) and Mesa Grande Academy (73-49), before losing in the quarterfinals to Capistrano Valley Christian (54-52).