Sunday, November 23, 2014
BASKETBALL HIGH SCHOOL SEASON PREVIEW
LAFAYETTE BOYS
RELOADING Fighting Irish look for return to state after 2nd-place finish
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By CODY THORN | St. Joseph News-Press
he new era, or rather, the next era for Lafayette starts with plenty of question marks. Chris Neff has developed one of the strongest programs in northwest Missouri and last year the season ended in the Class 4 championship game, a 45-42 loss to Republic.
The second run to the Missouri Show-Me Showdown in Neff’s tenure ended with another plaque to add to the legacy for the North Siders but also coincided with the loss of three starters. Now, the next part for the Fighting Irish legacy starts. With so many starting jobs up for grabs, the competition has been strong in the early weeks of practice. “The competition makes practice so much fun, because every day is a job interview for
every single person in here,” Neff said, pointing to a group working on shooting drills in the paint. “It was hard to take three spots last year, no one was taking spots (from Xavier Kurth, Cody Massey and Billy Cook). Now, it is up for grabs every single day. That makes us better down the road, I would expect.” There are a few known names left for Lafayette, but the departure of the three
File photo | St. Joseph News-Press
Please see LAFAYETTE/Page 4
Lafayette’s Gary Wilkinson brings the ball up the court in the Class 4 title game against the Republic Tigers during the 2014 ShowMe Showdown in March at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.
Lafayette coach Chris Neff, center, barks out instructions from in front of his bench to players on the court last year during the Class 4 quarterfinal at Independence Events Center in Independence, Mo. File photo | St. Joseph News-Press
BENTON GIRLS
Three starters back for Cardinals after semifinal run By CODY THORN St. Joseph News-Press
File photo | St. Joseph News-Press
Benton guard Mallory McAndrews takes a jump shot during Thursday’s game against Bishop LeBlond last year at Springer Gymnasium at Benton High School.
Brett Goodwin’s team will enter this winter with a different role — the hunted. Benton ended a three-year playoff drought and the victories kept coming after a district championship win over rival Lafayette. Sectional and quarterfi nal victories followed — part of a 10-game winning streak — to send the Cardinals back to the Show-Me Showdown for the third time under Goodwin. Benton lost both games in Columbia and returned with the fourth-place trophy for Class 4. “There is a lot of drive there to get back,” All-State guard Mallory McAndrews said. “That was the best two weeks of our lives. We want to go back. That is one of our goals. “I say there is a little pressure. We have a little target on our back. It will be a whole lot different year. We will have to learn to play together and not let the pressure get to us.” Six of the eight players that played in the third-place game last spring return for Benton off a 20-10 campaign. The Cardinals overcame a four-game losing
File photo | St. Joseph News-Press
Benton coach Brett Goodwin, right, celebrates with Benton athletic director Mike Ziesel following a Class 4 quarterfinal win against Notre Dame de Sion last year in Independence (Mo.) Events Center. streak in the middle of the season that erased a chance as repeating as Midland Empire Conference champions. The expectation for Goodwin doesn’t change despite the postseason success last winter. “We are still going in and trying
to compete at a high level,” Goodwin said. “Come out and guard and try to be physical. Try to push the tempo and make sure we work hard to do it better than everyone else.” Please see BENTON’S/Page 3