High School Basketball Preview 2012

BASKETBALL Sunday, November 25, 2012

HIG

L O H SCHO

SEASON PREVIEW

The weird and the wise Central’s veteran coach prepared for one final season in legendary career, still using eccentric style Page 2

File Photo | St. Joseph News- Press

| Basketball Preview 2012-13

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Sunday, November 25, 2012

File Photo | St. Joseph News- Press

Central coach Kevin Kelley, right, reacts from the bench during a game last year at Central High School. The veteran leader already announced his intention to retire after this season.

Lessons from the weird and wise Kelley enters final year of storied career still using trademark eccentric style to lead

By PHIL ERVIN St. Joseph News-Press

T

he wheels were rolling, but Kevin Kelley forgot something.

As the Troy (Kan.) boys basketball team began pulling away from campus back in the 1980s, the Trojans coach noticed a young figure sprinting in the bus’ rearview mirror.

“Oh yeah,” Kelly thought. “I should probably bring my assistant coach along.”

“He can be absent-minded,” said the victim, Dr. Robert Sigrist, now the assistant principal at Central, where Kelley’s set for his final season as the Indians girls coach. “I sometimes think he plays that a bit because he doesn’t let on how much he knows about the game.”

A bit scatterbrained, softspoken, mild-mannered and at times downright goofy, Kelley hardly gives off the air of a hard-nosed disciplinarian. That switch exists somewhere on his inner dashboard, but 34 years

in the business have him firmly entrenched in a mindset of fun over fastidious, enjoyment over irritation.

To a guy about to eclipse 500 career wins with coach of the year honors in both Kansas and Missouri next to his name, basketball is a game.

Nothing more, nothing less.

“We do some things probably a little different than others sometimes to try to keep the interest going,” Kelley said. “It is a long season. You ask a lot out of your team during the course of over four months.”

That means frequent groaner jokes that might have been funny 20 years

COVER STORY

ago — “There are three Miami football players in a car; who’s driving?

The police,” for example — and the occasional slip of the mind perfectly acceptable.

Weird. Wise. Quirky. Crafty. His assistants look up to him. His players adore him.

“He is probably one of the kindest, most generous coaches I’ve ever been around,” said current aide Jessica French, who has served on Kelley’s staff since 2006. “He is, I’d say, kind of a nutty professor where he can look spacey or look confused, but he knows what he’s doing. He’s constantly in control.”

Please see KELLEY/Page A3

CENTRAL GIRLS

Rodney supplies most of experience for retooling Indians

By PHIL ERVIN St. Joseph News-Press

The more Maddyson Schultz looks around practice these days, the older she feels.

The lone senior this season for Central, the 5-foot-8 shooting guard’s got plenty of years ahead of her, but a vast lack of age and experience behind her mean she’s focused on a sort of maternal maturity as the Indians prepare for legendary coach Kevin Kelley’s final go-round.

“I feel like I’m a mom to all these girls,” Schultz said. “I feel like it’s my job to lead them and be their role model.”

And if Central is to get over any of the humps that plagued it during last year’s 13-13 campaign, the youngsters are going to have to grow up fast.

“There’s a freshman; there’s a sophomore, freshman, sophomore, sophomore,” Kelley said during a recent weightlifting session, pointing one-by-one at his players. “They can’t play like freshmen and sophomores this year.”

All-district point guard Ali Howat, Central’s only doubledigit average scorer last season, is now a freshman at Missouri Western. Another starter, forward Ashleigh Bristol, transferred away. Leading rebounder Audrey Eagleburger, guard Melissa Murphy and forward Amber Chivington all graduated.

That leaves Schultz and heir apparent point guard Brady Rodney — the Indians’ leading returning scorer at 9.9 points per game — to try and lead Central into the state playoffs for the first time since 2008. Six defeats by one possession, including a 37-36 Class 5 District 15 tournament loss to Park Hill, made for an excruciating offseason of what-if-type thoughts.

“This year, we need to build each other up,” Rodney said.

“We need to take responsibility for what we’ve done and change it and help each other get better.”

Schultz’s contributions may need to increase the most.

A role player off the bench last year, she made just three field goals and pulled down seven rebounds. The offense — expected to be a bit more wide open — will run through Rodney, who’s also embraced a leadership role this preseason. Both she and Schultz played last year with a pass-first mentality.

That won’t work this winter.

“I admit I probably should’ve stepped up a lot more,” Schultz said. “This year, I think both of us are expected to score and take the shots.”

Central will rely on 6-foot-1 sophomore Madison Pfleiderer, a varsity newcomer, in the post and look to Goldie Woody on the wing opposite Schultz.

Beyond that, Kelley’s guess is as good as anybody’s as to who

else the Indians can expect production from on the floor. The pickings are slim, as the varsity roster includes only nine players.

But that doesn’t have the veteran head man, who announced his pending retirement during the offseason, stressing much.

“I think they’ve all played a lot of basketball,” Kelley said.

“A lot of them have played AAU, and during the summer, they got to go against some players that are a lot better than us.

“They just have to play at an upper level. They understand what that level is. They’ve just gotta have the ability to rise.”

Kelley, with coach of the year honors to his credit in both Kansas and Missouri during a long career, seeks milestone win No. 500 after Central left him stuck at 499 with three straight losses to close 2011-12.

He can’t wait to finally nab it, but his reasons have nothing to do with personal glory.

“I think we want to get off to a good start and want to improve on it,” said Kelley, whose team opens regular-season play Monday at home against Kearney. “Being as young as we’re gonna be, that’s gonna be important, to get started on a good note and just continue to improve throughout the year.”

Phil Ervin can be reached at phil.ervin@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @PhilErvin.

File Photo | St. Joseph News- Press

Central guard Brady Rodney looks to shoot against the Park Hill defense during a game last year at Central High School. A junior, Rodney shifts to point guard this year and must lead a youthful roster dotted with freshmen and sophomores.

| Basketball Preview 2012-13

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Kelley still using unique style to churn out wins

CENTRAL BOYS

Indians’ new coach Musser inherits strengths, struggles

CONTINUED FROM page 2

By ROSS MARTIN St. Joseph News-Press

G I R L S

has rotation questions.

Williams and junior guard Derek Gray — the Indians’ first player off the bench last year — are the most known commodities. Junior forward Tyree Mayfield (1.4 points per game last year) inherits a much more critical role, and senior Brady Cameron and junior Ceyonte Bell step up from junior varsity, likely into the starting lineup.

The example last year’s Central players set could ease the transition.

“They may not have saw much varsity time at all last year,” Musser said, “but what they did was they competed with those guys at practice every day, and those guys were good. They were 21-6 last year, so they weren’t playing just anybody.”

Musser hopes to have Fox, a varsity contributor last year, back at some point. Moeck’s elbow could allow him to return as well.

Senior foreign exchange student Carl Ziemann, sophomore Jackson Riddle and freshman Arnez Stillman round out the projected contributors for early in the season.

Ross Martin can be reached at ross.martin@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

LOCATION Home Away Away Home Away Away Away Away Away Away Home Away Home Home Home Away Home Away Away Away Away Away

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OPPONENT Kearney Liberty North Tourney Liberty Platte County Park Hill South Lee’s Summit West Ruskin Winnetonka Truman Savannah Cameron Tourney NKC Tourney Park Hill Ruskin Truman Park Hill South Lee’s Summit West Park Hill Districts Sectionals Quarterfinals State

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OPPONENT Blue Springs Liberty North Tourney Winnetonka Liberty William Jewel Tourney Kearney Lee’s Summit Liberty Tourney Ruskin Truman Park Hill South Lee’s Summit West Park Hill Ruskin Truman Park Hill South Lee’s Summit West Park Hill Districts Sectionals Quarterfinals State

NT CE• LEARIR N

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HOOL SCATION • INQU

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File Photo | St. Joseph News- Press

Central forward Shun Williams takes a jump shot against Lee’s Summit West during a Class 5 sectional last year at Independence Events Center in Independence, Mo.

brief stop.

In typical fashion, he took the Kelley wasn’t always so Central job almost on a whim. gentle.

Even after interviewing well Troy’s boys coach from 1981in 2002, not much about the 1992, Kelley was famous for con- gig appeared attractive to him ducting backbreaking practices. until he stumbled upon a goal “Coach was tough, but you list he’d created during college knew at the end of the day, if at Northwest Missouri State: you bought in, things would be “Coach at a big school,” it read. good on the court,” said Sigrist, “When I applied for the job, who played for Kelley at Troy I said I really don’t have any from 1984-1987 and served as his interest,” Kelley said. “I really assistant there for two years. wasn’t that excited about it.”

Things were more than good.

After reaching the Class 5 The Trojans won a state champlayoffs in 2005 and 2008 under pionship in 1983-84, and Kelley his watch, the Central hoops earned Kansas coach of the year community’s certainly grateful accolades in 1990-91. he changed his mind.

Even back then, his reputation “He’s impacted a lot of lives in as an amiable mentor was bloshis career,” Sigrist said. “He’s soming. He asked a young Sigrist, been a key mentor in life, not struggling while studying prejust sports.” medicine at Missouri Western, to “I don’t even know how to join his staff and opened the door describe coach Kelley,” Central to a fulfilling career. guard Maddyson Schultz said.

“Best call I ever got,” Sigrist “He’s just so dorky, but we love said. “That really was the first him. He’ll go from being his step in me becoming an educator.” dorky self and just snap in a secThe pair reunited at Central, ond. We’ll think he’s being his but first came a revealing trandorky self — you like, think he’s sition for Kelley himself. joking — but he’s not. He can A Savannah native, he return in a second, and we’re all turned home in 1998 to begin like, ‘OK, we didn’t expect that.” directing the Savages girls Added point guard Brady program. During one of his Rodney: “He’s kind of like a first games, in the infamously grandpa. Kind of. You can go to tough KXTR Classic in Spring- him off the court, too.” field, Mo., which features That affinity makes procurteams from several different ing magic victory No. 500 a high states, he found his team down priority. The first chance comes big at halftime against George- against Kearney in the Indians’ town (Texas) and decided to season opener Monday at home. start a whole new lineup in the “We have to do it,” Rodney second half. said. “We want to do it for coach Kelley’s decision quickly Kelley.” taught him about the emotional Central fell in its final three fragility present in girls hoops outings a year ago, a phenomthat hadn’t required any previenon for which Western coach ous consideration.

Tom Smith bears responsibility, “The five that I had started Kelley chortled. were crying because I was taking The NCAA Division II legend them out, and the five that were — with more than 600 victories going in were crying because to his credit — mentioned the they were so nervous,” Kelley upcoming milestone win at a said. “That was an eye-opener.” late-season coaching function Kelley adjusted, leading Salast year and received a swift vannah to four straight district reprimand from Kelley. “Be championships from 1999 to quiet. I don’t want to hear about 2002. The Savages reached the it,” Kelley told Smith.

Show-Me Showdown semifinals “I didn’t want to get jinxed, and finished second in each of but he jinxed me,” Kelly says the first two years of that span, now with a laugh. then fell in the quarterfinals That many victories is a to the eventual state champion pretty big deal. Naturally, he’s each of the next two seasons. not taking it too seriously.

Their second trip to Columbia gleaned Missouri coach of the Phil Ervin can be reached year honors for Kelley. at phil.ervin@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @PhilErvin.

Savannah turned out to be a

Y • CULTUR IR

Cy Musser’s tenure at Central didn’t even start before he dealt with adversity.

One key player transferred, and two more went down with injuries in the new Indians coach’s inaugural offseason. What a way to begin the follow-up campaign replacing a wellrespected veteran leader after Central’s recordsetting 2011-12 campaign.

“It hasn’t really set in, because I haven’t stepped on a floor with these guys,” Musser said, “so we haven’t really missed a beat. The rest of the guys are picking everyone up. That’s what we’ve talked about. Two things we can’t control is injuries and officials.

“Obviously, we haven’t dealt with the officials yet.”

When Central announced Musser as its next head coach in late March, he inherited a roster dotted with key returners from Central’s 21-6 team which won a Suburban League Red Division crown and Class 5 district championship and compiled the most single-season victories in school history since 1976.

Things have changed.

Standout sophomore Elijah Lee transferred to Blue Springs following the school year and took his 13.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game with him. Expected guard contributor Trevor Moeck hurt his elbow during fall baseball. Kyle Fox, a potential standout, broke his ankle during a recent practice.

The setbacks haven’t dampened the expectations created from the Indians’ 2012 run.

“Honestly, I think we can be as good as last year. I mean, we have the potential to be as good as last year,” said senior forward Shun Williams, an all-state selection who led Central last year with 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

Williams heads up the returning cast hoping to replicate last year’s record-setting season.

Central will have to do it without Neal Hook, the 12-year coach who retired to take the school’s activities director job following last season. Musser comes in full of experience but will be a head coach for the first time.

Following a standout playing career at Benton, Musser played college basketball at Missouri Western before serving on Benton girls coach Brett Goodwin’s staff, embarking on a one-year stint as a boys assistant at Winnetonka and finally returning to St. Joseph for the 2007-08 season to work under longtime Benton boys coach Ron Tyler and last year under new Cardinals leader George Ross, Jr. “I’m chomping at the bit,” Musser said. “I’m excited as I can possibly be.

“There’s always that thought in the back of your mind that says, ‘Are we getting ourselves ready? Are we doing what it takes? That’s just because (the current coaches), we’ve never done this together.

“Implementing a program takes time.”

Due to the recent developments, Central still

3

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Sunday, November 25, 2012

BENTON GIRLS

Cardinals seniors ready to make good on potential

By ROSS MARTIN St. Joseph News-Press

Suddenly, Benton’s roster grew up.

The Cardinals enter the season stacked with players boasting three and four years of experience. They have five seniors, and nine solid options to contribute.

Coach Brett Goodwin hopes the maturation process finally ended for this group.

Benton advanced to the Class 4 District 16 championship game last year — a seventh appearance there in eight years — but came up two points short of the title. With just 30 wins combined the past two seasons, Benton’s players know they haven’t quite reached the lofty expectations they inherited as sophomore and freshman starters.

“As juniors, we thought that they would make the leap,” Goodwin said, “but we were so ineffective offensively it almost put our back against the wall defensively. Now, I think we have enough shooters, a couple of girls who can play with their back to the basket to where I think we can find the right mix.

“I think they feel like they haven’t done their job, so it’s kind of worked out both ways because they want more and know more is expected of them.”

For the second straight year, Benton lost only one contributor.

Point guard Sydney Wilkinson departs, but with sophomore Mallory McAndrews set for a vastly expanded role and freshman Daejah Benard ready to make an instant impact, the Cardinals have

228-73 tenure.

With athletic forwards Lindsay and Lauryn Doolan and Morgan Domann in tow, the Cardinals plan to step up the aggressiveness and develop more of a transition offense, predicated upon creating more steals and fastbreak opportunities. Goodwin said his defense last year forced a bunch of turnovers but too many of them came on errant passes that led to slowed-up, half-court chances.

If the plan comes to fruition, Benton could become a factor in the postseason chase.

The Cardinals last reached the playoffs in 2009-10 and have now endured two straight disappointing seasons while watching Smithville claim back-to-back playoff berths and Midland Empire Conference championships over Benton. The Warriors beat Benton 34-32 in last year’s title game, and they also boast a roster File Photo | St. Joseph News- Press full of returners.

Second best won’t do this time around, Benton guard Andee Wahlert delivers a pass during a game last year against Savannah at Springer Gymnasium. Wahlert, a senior, will be a four-year starter for the Cardinals. and with Benton’s tradition, the players are ready to make good on their potenreason to believe the offense can be better.

When those dried up, so did the offense tial, even if it took a year or two longer And it has to be. on many occasions. than expected to reach the end goal.

Benton struggled all of last year trying “We have to have another dimension to “I’m ready to just have a good year,” to put the ball into the basket. No consis- our game this year, and I think we’re def- Lauryn Doolan said. “I think it’s our tent scorers developed, and that led to initely going to have that,” said Wahlert, year. I have no doubts, really. a decrease in wins from 16-11 in 2010-11 set for her fourth year as a starter.

“Our one goal is to win so we’re going to 14-13. Guards Andee Wahlert, Kenzie “We’re going to get to the line and have to go out there and win.”

Musser, Erin Riddle and Paige Kneale more kids that can get to the line instead — all seniors now — were part of an of just standing outside.”

Ross Martin can be reached outside-heavy attack that led to a large Benton plans to use its trademark at ross.martin@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports. dependence on made 3-pointers. defensive identity in Goodwin’s

BENTON BOYS

Ross starting almost from scratch in year 2 of tenure

By THOMAS HUITT-JOHNSON St. Joseph News-Press

During several games last season, Benton coach George Ross Jr., saw his players commit to his new scheme yet unsuccessful results followed.

The second-year coach said that shouldn’t happen again.

Benton owns an entirely new starting five for this season with a mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen. Ross said with so many new faces, he wants to see what he has now and not worry about the past.

“Last year was last year, and that’s one of the deals that we talked about with our guys was that we wanted to focus on the future of Benton basketball and not look back,” Ross File Photo | St. Joseph News- Press said. “That’s the approach Benton guard Fabian Smith (25) drives to the basket that we want to take.” during a game last year at Springer Gymnasium. Smith Sophomore guard Fabian will be a sophomore.

Smith returns and could be

poised for a breakout season.

Last year, Benton lacked consistent guard play and struggled with turnovers. Chris Young shouldered much of the scoring load early before a hand injury ended his season, which thrust primary ballhandler Jered Ross into a more prominent points producer.

Young graduated, and Ross transfered back home to Atchison, Kan., leaving more openings in the backcourt.

“I expect we’ll start out fast, be efficient and score a lot,” senior guard Quinn Hayes said. “We just got to finish games and take care of the ball. When they start fullcourt press, just take care of the ball.”

After finishing 2-21 a year ago, Benton has reason to be uncertain about the future.

Dalton Dreier, who will start this season, came off the

bench last year and provided a pleasant spark at times, including a 4-for-4 performance on 3-pointers in a matchup with Savannah. The senior will man one of the forward spots for the Cardinals and hopes to provide a more consistent threat.

“Through our offense, I think I’ll get some open shots and be able to knock them down,” Dreier said.

“Last year, we were in a lot of games and couldn’t finish, so this year our focus is the fourth quarter and closing out games and not lose leads like last year.

“We’ve got a lot of fresh faces and trying to start over.”

Smith recently became eligible after a transfer scare put his status in doubt. Benton also receives an impactdown low in freshman Macio Harris, who should pair with

Dreier in the post.

Ross said a few other young guys could see some playing time.

“The chemistry’s been real good,” said Benton senior Austin Generaux, who along with Cody Leslie rounds out the Cardinals’ four seniors. “(Last year), we seen spurts; we always had that hustle mentality, but togetherness is starting to come in real nice.”

Ross said last year’s team set the bar on how to work hard.

Despite the lopsided final record, Benton started out 1-0 in MEC play before fading down the stretch with Young out for the final seven games of the regular season and a district opening-round loss to Lafayette.

Thomas Huitt-Johnson can be reached at thomas.hj@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

BentonCardinals VARSITY BASKETBALL 2012-2013

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| Basketball Preview 2012-13

Sunday, November 25, 2012

5

LAFAYETTE BOYS

Toughness central to Fighting Irish’s outlook

By PHIL ERVIN St. Joseph News-Press

Only the presence of a round, orange ball separates Lafayette’s basketball practices from a good, old-fashioned street fight.

During a lot of coach Chris Neff’s brutal sessions, simple scrimmage scenarios take precedence over intricate drill work. Some of the game’s general rules, behind the closed doors of Lafayette’s gymnasium, are given little regard.

Players chase loose balls well past the out-of-bounds lines. Hard fouls are met with little reprimand. It’s not uncommon to see an all-out wrestling match for possession.

There’s negligible structure here.

Only tenacity — not unlike the brand of basketball a lot of these North Side youngsters grew up playing at local playgrounds, chain-link nets and all.

“It’s the mentality of if you’re gonna be a killer, you know you have to think like that,” guard/forward Jeff Leeson said.

Things get so rough, junior off guard Billy Cook has started wearing a soccer-style helmet to avoid concussions.

The unusual attire will be worn during games as well.

“I’ve never coached a helmet,” Neff quipped at a recent St. Joseph Sports, Inc., banquet. “I don’t know how to deal with a helmet.”

After several steps back last year, there’s a renewed focus on grit entering the 2011-12 campaign.

By Neff’s own admission, there wasn’t

File Photo | St. Joseph News- Press

Lafayette’s Xavier Kurth receives assistance off the floor from a teammate during a game against Benton last year at Springer Gynasium. nearly enough present last season. Following up the program’s third-ever trip to Columbia for the state semifinals proved an insurmountable chore.

The Fighting Irish stumbled to a 14-14 finish and lost in the Class 4 District 16 semifinals. A typically taxing-by-design slate that included six teams of higher classification and five sizeable out-of-

state opponents broke Lafayette’s players, Neff said, rather than season them as it had in years past.

“Last year’s team was the first team we’ve coached that the schedule was too much,” Neff said. “It destroyed us.”

This year’s slate is a little easier with tournaments at Neosho and Kearney serving up some of the toughest competition.

At the season’s outset, Neff sees plenty of evidence this bunch can handle it, provided some growth — and grit — took place during summer ball and offseason workouts.

“I wish we could’ve played last year’s schedule with this year’s team,” Neff said. “I love this team.”

The optimism hinges primarily on Leeson.

Hampered by injuries to both ankles last year, the 6-foot-7 swing man will be counted on to make more of an impact in the post.

He can shoot from the outside and will continue to do so as the Irish employ more motion in their half-court sets, but the lack of a body banger down low last year following center Ian Toalson’s graduation became detrimental on both ends of the floor.

Leeson hopes to fill the void.

“It’s gonna be a little more post-oriented this year, but still everywhere,” Leeson said. “It’s gonna be different, but then again, I mean, I like the adversity.”

Leeson was expected to emerge as a goto player at this time last year. It never fully came to pass. He missed most of preseason practice with one strained Achilles’ tendon and sat out a couple midseason tournament contests when he hurt the other.

The senior’s final opportunity now arrives. Same for lanky forward Xavier Kurth.

“They’re gonna play post basketball; that’s where they’re gonna spend most of their time and hopefully get most of their touches,” Neff said. “They both can step out, dribble-drive a little bit, shoot a little bit, but we really like them inside.”

Cook and senior forward Austin Day are back in the mix, too. Their experience, combined with the emergence of sophomore guards Drew Cortez and Chester Goudeau, have Neff salivating at what could be in store for this year’s installment.

“We like what we have back as far as the nucleus, and we have some new guys in the mix,” Neff said. “They’re having a ton of fun together; they’re as fun to coach as any team I’ve been around.”

But there’s pressure associated with rebounding from the lowest point in the coach’s five-year career. Reaching the state championships, winning or sharing three MEC titles and three district crowns since he took over translates to heightened expectations.

That’s exactly how it should be.

“Getting to Columbia raises everything up a little bit,” said Cook, who’s earned varsity playing time since his freshman year but will start at point guard this season. “That’s what we’re setting out to do, to make it back.”

Phil Ervin can be reached at phil.ervin@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @PhilErvin.

LAFAYETTE GIRLS

Weston leads cast looking to build on success under Madison

By MATT GLEAVES St. Joseph News-Press

Ryan Madison has steadily improved Lafayette in his first two seasons.

After finishing 9-17 in his first year and 13-14 in 2011-12, Madison’s goal is to not only keep improving the win total but to finish above .500 for the first time since 2004-05 when the Fighting Irish also won the Midland Empire Conference title.

For Madison’s vision to succeed, defense is key.

The Irish struggled last season with nine of their 13 losses by fewer than 10 points.

“I think last year we were playFile Photo | St. Joseph News- Press ing not to lose a lot of times inLafayette forward Oceonna Weston stead of playing to win. That’s my (50) goes up for a shot during a game fault. This year we know that we against Platte County last year. have to get after it defensively to

win ball games,” Madison said.

“The first part of all of our practices so far has been defense, and it gets loud in here because we’re all talking.”

Senior Ariel Dydell will also help with the new focus on defense.

Dydell returns this season after unspecified issues forced her departure from last season’s squad late in the year. The speedy guard averaged nearly three steals per game in 2011-12, and her ability to disrupt passing lanes will be key for Lafayette’s defense.

The senior’s offensive capabilities will also help a shuffled backcourt.

According to Madison, Dydell has shot the ball better than he’s seen in his short tenure at Lafayette, leading to even more options to support his new point guard. Junior Ashley Hinkle

takes over the role after Myia Weston’s graduation, a not so familiar situation for Hinkle.

After playing much of last season on the wing, Hinkle makes the switch from being a shooter to a more consistent scorer and contributor.

Hinkle averaged just 5.9 points per game last year, but the more important role will likely raise her scoring as well as add plenty of offseason work to prepare for a different position.

“It’s really weird not having Myia back there anymore,” Hinkle said. “Now, I’m bringing the ball up, which is something I’ve never done, but I just have to work hard to get better.”

Luckily, Hinkle has a weapon teams have struggled to stop for three years.

Oceonna Weston averaged

nearly a double-double last season with 14.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. The low-post offense represents just part of the four-year starter’s arsenal.

Entering this season, Oceonna Weston’s outside game has improved, giving Madison even more options offensively to move the 5-foot-9 forward around the court to create matchup problems.

“If its possible, I think she’s gotten a lot better,” Madison said. “She shoots the ball better from the perimeter than she did, and I think she’s gotten in better shape. We’ve noticed she’s a lot quicker, and we’re going to do everything we can to get her the ball.”

Matt Gleaves can be reached at matt.gleaves@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports

VARSITY BASKETBALL 2012-2013

B O Y S

DATE 11/26-11/30 12/1 12/4 12/7 12/18 12/20 12/26-12/29 1/7-1/12 1/14 1/15 1/18 1/29 2/1 2/4 2/8 2/12 2/15 2/19 2/25-3/2

Free Student Checking

OPPONENT Savannah Tourney Helius Benton Platte County Maryville JC Harmon Neosho Annual Holiday Tourney Kearney Tourney Hogan Prep East Buchanan Kearney Savannah Cameron Benton Bishop LeBlond Chillicothe Smithville Harrisonville Districts

LOCATION Savannah Away Away Home Home Home Away Away Home Home Away Away Home Home Away Away Home Away Away

TIME TBA 3:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

TBA TBA 7 p.m.

7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

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TBA

G I R L S

DATE 11/26-12/1 12/4 12/11 12/19-12/20 12/26-12/30 1/7-1/12 1/14 1/16 1/17 1/22 1/29 2/1 2/5 2/7 2/12 2/14 2/19 2/25-3/2

OPPONENT Savannah Tourney Maryville Penny Holiday Hoops PVCC Holiday Tourney Kearney Tourney Excelsior Springs Lathrop Falls City (NE) Maryville Savannah Cameron Benton Bishop LeBlond Chillicothe Smithville Savannah Districts

LOCATION Away Home Home Away Away Away Away Away Home Away Home Away Home Home Home Away Away Away

TIME TBA 7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

TBA TBA TBA 7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

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TBA

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| Basketball Preview 2012-13

6

BISHOP LEBLOND GIRLS

Sunday, November 25, 2012

BISHOP LEBLOND BOYS

Familiarity among turmoil leads Kastner into 4th term

By PHIL ERVIN St. Joseph News-Press

File Photo | St. Joseph News- Press

Bishop LeBlond’s Danielle Beers enters the floor as starters announced during a game last season in the Bishop LeBlond Holiday Tournament at Grace Gymnasium.

Sullivan tasked with molding Eagles in head coaching debut

By MATT GLEAVES St. Joseph News-Press

When Bishop LeBlond fell, the program fell hard.

The Golden Eagles experienced their worst season in recent memory last year, going from a Midland Empire Conference factor and perennial playoff contender to just two wins — none during the 2012 portion of the 2011-12 season. Jeff Sullivan inherits the challenge of returning the Eagles to usual status.

The first-year coach, who took the job after assisting former Central boys basketball coach Neal Hook, finds his biggest task isn’t the Xs and Os so much as changing the players’ mentality.

“Its just trying to teach them how to win again,” Sullivan said. “It’s a hard thing to do, but it’s a lot of drills that we do in practice. Our drills are competitive; there are winners and losers, and sometimes that really builds confidence.”

From 2009-11, LeBlond competed in three consecutive Class 3 District 16 title games, losing to Maryville on all three occasions. Prior to that, the Eagles reached the Class 3 playoffs in 2006 and 2007.

According to Sullivan, his biggest concern isn’t returning to the district championships as much as making the team competitive and instilling the mindset to work hard both offensively and defensively.

The Eagles return six players that saw varsity time last season during LeBlond’s 2-21 campaign under Wayne Miller, who retired from those duties at the end of the year, but the biggest contributions could come from the younger members this season.

Freshman Tyler Reid likely steps into the starting lineup in the low post

alongside senior Erin Jones, providing a significant advantage on the block.

The 5-foot-8 freshman will be able to use her inside talent as well as midrange shooting to provide a new element LeBlond didn’t have last year.

Reid is one of six underclassmen that will see plenty of minutes in Sullivan’s up-tempo offense. “(The younger players) are really pushing us,” Jones said. “They are making us work a lot harder, which helps out a lot.”

Juniors Mackie Browning and Dayle Dickens will be looked upon to run a youthful backcourt while freshman Emily Madden could contribute off the bench.

Sophomore Megan Dawkins will rotate with Reid and Jones down low.

Installation of Sullivan’s new offense has gone smoothly, which will hopefully allow his athletic players to run the floor and wear out opposing defenses while staying under control in the half-court.

The youth and returning experience replace just two starters from a year ago. Sydney Olinger and Hailey Slater provided the spark for a lackluster LeBlond squad which won twice in the last week of December at the LeBlond Holiday Tournament and then not again the rest of the season, going 0-7 in MEC play.

Despite losing two key players as well as two other players that chose not to participate this season, this year’s squad is focusing on the task ahead.

“We’re not thinking about last year,” Jones said. “I think just not thinking about winning or losing and just getting ourselves better and working on the basics.”

Matt Gleaves can be reached at phil.ervin@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

Continuity may not ring out as an apparent theme for LeBlond this season.

But deeper examination reveals its paramount presence.

“We have a lot of experience,” forward Grant Gillaspie said. “We think we can compete with anyone in St. Joe and anyone around the area. It’s just a matter of time.”

The firing of the program’s longtime leader.

The sudden resignation of his replacement. A fill-in coach to start the season for the second straight year.

Minimal preseason practice time for multi-sport athletes transitioning from successful football and soccer postseason runs.

The array of current challenges facing coach Greg Kastner and his team are almost enough to overshadow the fact the Golden Eagles have suffered three consecutive losing seasons.

But led by returning starters Matthew McCullough, Grant Gillaspie and Jacob Madden, the hurdles have been met with resoluteness born from perseverance.

“The varsity kids have been around,” said Kastner, also the school’s activities director and baseball coach. “They know what’s going on.”

With the trials comes familiarity.

Kastner embarks on his fourth stint in charge of the program, taking the reins in an emergency capacity for the third time.

He did so midseason in 1998 and coached 10 games to begin last year while then-head man Steve Vertin recovered from heart surgery. Kastner had served as an assistant for more than a decade, first stepping on the Grace Gymnasium floor as head coach in 1987, a capacity he served in for five years.

So while Kastner (216-150 all-time as a head coach)

B O Y S

VARSITY BASKETBALL 2012-2013

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Bishop LeBlond forward Jacob Madden corrals a loose ball against Mid-Buchanan last year. was saddened to see Vertin let go after 13 years at the helm and disappointed when newly-hired Tim Wenkel resigned after an arrest for theft, the new, old coach is ready to take on yet another job description.

The busier he is, the more fulfilled he is.

“I don’t know how to live any other way than what I’m doing,” said Kastner, who led LeBlond to the state baseball playoffs in the spring. “If I’m at home not doing nothing, my wife and I, we’ll go do something. Thirty-six years of sports and coaching and AD-ing, you watch and you get that work ethic.

“You just learn how to work.”

And it’s hard to imagine a more symbiotic relationship between a quick-fix head man and his players.

When the current crop of seniors were freshmen, Kastner was their coach.

An avidly involved AD, there’s not an athlete at the school he doesn’t possess some sort of friendly connection with.

It’s made for a transition so seamless it barely feels like one, according to McCullough.

“Having coach Kastner makes everybody comfortable,” said the junior point guard. “It comes with a lot less pressure.”

McCullough, Gillaspie and Madden accounted for 60 percent of LeBlond’s scoring during last year’s 9-16 campaign which saw the Eagles finish fifth in the Midland Empire Con-

OPPONENT Savannah Tourney Jefferson Falls City (NE) Bishop LeBlond Holiday Tourney Chillicothe Mid Buchanan Excelsior Springs Lawson Cameron Cameron Tourney Maryville Savannah Pembroke Hill Lafayette Smithville Benton Districts

LOCATION Away Away Home Home Away Home Away Home Away Away Home Home Away Home Away Away Home

TIME TBA 7 p.m.

7 p.m.

TBA 7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

TBA 7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

TBA

DATE 11/26-12/1 12/4 12/14 12/20 12/27-12/29 1/4 1/11 1/14 1/15 1/18 1/21-1/26 1/29 1/31 2/5 2/7 2/2 2/14 2/18-2/23

OPPONENT Savannah Tourney Jefferson St. Pius Mid Buchanan Bishop LeBlond Holiday Tourney Chillicothe Excelsior Springs O’Hara Falls City (NE) Maryville Cameron Tourney Notre Dame De Sion Savannah Cameron Lafayette Smithville Benton Districts

LOCATION Away Away Away Away Home Home Home Home Away Home Away Away Away Home Away Home Home Home

TIME TBA 5:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

6 p.m.

TBA 7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

TBA 6 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

TBA

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Phil Ervin can be reached at phil.ervin@newspressnow.com.

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DATE 11/26-12/1 12/4 12/11 12/27-12/29 1/3 1/8 1/11 1/15 1/18 1/21-1/26 1/29 2/1 2/5 2/8 2/12 2/15 2/18-2/23

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ference and fall in the first round of the Class 3 District 16 tournament. Madden and reserves Pierce Jarett and Baxter Schanze barely touched a basketball until this past week; they were busy reaching the Class 1 soccer semifinals.

McCullough, Patrick Dillon and Cort Patrick experienced a similar hurried turnaround after helping LeBlond to the Class 2 District 8 football title game.

Occurring in the midst of other sport seasons, Vertin’s firing and Wenkel’s incident provided some shock value, but preseason practices in preparation for this week’s Savannah Tournament have provided a medium for moving past all that.

“None of us really saw it coming,” said Gillaspie, the team’s leading scorer last year at 15.1 points per game.

“We have no control, so we just go with the flow. Whoever we have (coaching), we just try our hardest.

“It’s a lot of adversity, but you’ve got to try to overcome it.”

A young, energetic Wenkel came in vowing to change the way LeBlond played. No more 1-3-1 zone patented under Vertin, and a straightforward, businesslike approach.

Kastner’s mark on the program definitely has a unique flair, but his personality and demeanor skew more comparable to those of Vertin.

But that doesn’t mean a resurrection of the 1-3-1 as a base defense. LeBlond will employ an aggressive man-to-man instead.

“There’s only so many drills you can do in basketball,” Kastner said, “so a lot of things, we’re not changing. That’s gonna help out.

A lot of what they’ve done in the past is gonna remain the same. You play man or you play zone; there’s only so much that you can do.”

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| Basketball Preview 2012-13

Sunday, November 25, 2012

MEC BOYS CAPSULES

7

MEC GIRLS CAPSULES BENTON ❯ Last year: 14-13 (4-3 MEC) ❯ Coach: Brett Goodwin, entering 12th season ❯ Top returners: G Andee Whalert, Sr.; F Lauryn Doolan, Sr.; F Lindsay Doolan, Jr.; G Erin Riddle, Sr. ❯ Key losses: G Sydney Wilkinson

CAMERON ❯ Last year: 24-5 (5-2 MEC), lost to Lawson in Class 3 sectional ❯ Coach: Matt Wenck, entering 4th season ❯ Top returners: G Ashli Lykins, Jr.; G Melia Richardson, So.; F Taylor Hamilton, So.; G Brooke Lee, So. ❯ Key losses: G Anna Curtis, F Azalee Morgan

Williams, Sr.; G Maggie Graves, Jr.; F Samantha McKiddy, Sr. ❯ Key losses: F Sarah Baldwin

LAFAYETTE ❯ Last year: 13-14 (3-4 MEC) ❯ Coach: Ryan Madison, entering 3rd season ❯ Top returners: F Oceonna Weston, Sr.; G Ariel Dydell, Sr.; G Ashley Hinkle, Jr.; G Brooke Ward, Sr. ❯ Key losses: G Myia Weston

BISHOP LEBLOND

CHILLICOTHE

❯ Last year: 2-22 (0-7 MEC) ❯ Coach: Jeff Sullivan, entering 1st season ❯ Top returners: F Erin Jones, Sr.; G Danielle Beers, Sr. ❯ Key losses: G/F Haley Slater, G Sydney Olinger

❯ Last year: 10-16 (1-6 MEC) ❯ Coach: Rachael Parkey, entering 3rd season ❯ Top returners: G Maddy

❯ Last year: 15-10 (3-4 MEC) ❯ Coach: Grant Hageman, entering 7th season

MARYVILLE

❯ Top returners: G Chelsea Byland, Jr.; G Blair Twaddle, Sr. ❯ Key losses: F Brooke Byland, G Holly Wilmarth, G Hailey Roush, F Baylee Scarbrough

SAVANNAH ❯ Last year: 17-9 (5-2 MEC) ❯ Coach: Terry Hopkins, entering 11th season ❯ Top returners: F Carly Cox, Sr.; G Hanna Miller, Sr. ❯ Key losses: G Blayre Helm, G Morgan Knorr, G Gailynn Kelly, G Brittney Chambers

SMITHVILLE ❯ Last year: 25-4 (7-0 MEC), lost to Republic in Class 4 state championship game ❯ Coach: Trevor Mosby, entering 8th season ❯ Top returners: F Paige Imhoff, Jr.; G Bethany Pierce, Jr.; F Abby Waters, Sr. ❯ Key losses: F Kristen Stewart, G Maddie Nelson

File Photo | St. Joseph News- Press

Cameron guard Carter Morrison takes a 3-pointer against Lafayette County during a Class 3 sectional last year at Excelsior Springs High School in Excelsior Springs, Mo.

BENTON ❯ Last year: 2-21 (2-5 MEC) ❯ Coach: George Ross, Jr., entering 2nd season ❯ Top returners: F Dalton Dreier, Sr.; G Fabian Smith, So. ❯ Key losses: G Ryan Mitchell, G Jered Ross, G Chris Young, G Luke Powers, F Tyler Fredrickson, F Will Sexton

CAMERON ❯ Last year: 22-7 (7-0 MEC), lost to Lafayette County in Class 3 sectional ❯ Coach: Richard Berry, entering 2nd season ❯ Top returners: G Carter Morrison, Sr.; G Luke Hunter, Sr.; F Tyler Roberts, Sr.; F Colton Boyer, Sr. ❯ Key losses: F Michael Fleshman, F Vince Franks

CHILLICOTHE ❯ Last year: 14-14 (2-5 MEC) ❯ Coach: Tim Cool, entering 2nd season ❯ Top returners: G Tyler Clampitt,

Jr.; G D.J. Gannan, Sr. ❯ Key losses: G Nic Voorhies, G Jake McKiddy, G Tyler Midgyett

LAFAYETTE ❯ Last year: 14-14 (5-2 MEC) ❯ Coach: Chris Neff, entering 6th season ❯ Top returners: F Xavier Kurth, Jr.; F Jeff Leeson, Sr.; G Billy Cook, Jr. ❯ Key losses: G Caleb Bates, F Craig Curtis, F John Lucas

BISHOP LEBLOND ❯ Last year: 9-16 (1-6 MEC) ❯ Coach: Greg Kastner, entering 17th season ❯ Top returners: F Grant Gillaspie, Sr.; F Jacob Madden, Sr.; G Matthew McCullough, Jr. ❯ Key losses: F Joe Voltmer, G Sage Barnes, G Chuck Kempf

MARYVILLE ❯ Last year: 13-14 (2-5 MEC) ❯ Coach: Mike Kuwitzky, entering 27th season

❯ Top returners: G Jonathan Baker, Sr.; F Tyler Kenkel, Sr.; F Trent Nally, Jr. ❯ Key losses: G Tyler Walter, F Payton Scarbrough

SAVANNAH ❯ Last year: 19-9 (6-1 MEC), lost to Liberty North in Class 4 sectionals ❯ Coach: Nick Kemerling, entering 11th season ❯ Top returners: G Austin Nolan, Sr.; G Bert Ernst, Jr.; G Jesse Dickens, Jr.; Michael Barbosa, Jr. ❯ Key losses: G Tyler Peterson, F Ryle Williams, G Blake McFadden

SMITHVILLE ❯ Last year: 8-17 (3-4 MEC) ❯ Coach: Chad Jones, entering 11th season ❯ Top returners: G Brock Mick, Jr.; F Derek Howe, Jr.; G Cory Marmet, Sr.; G Blane Towsend, Sr. ❯ Key losses: F Austin Frerichs

File Photo | St. Joseph News- Press

Cameron guard Melia Richardson goes up for a layup against Lawson during a Class 3 sectional last year at Excelsior Springs High School in Excelsior Springs, Mo. Richardson, a sophomore, made an immediate impact as a freshman and helped the Dragons to a record-setting season.

CAMERON Varsity Basketball 2012-2013 Boys DATE

11/26 11/30 12/3-12/8 12/11 12/13 12/20 12/28 1/3 1/7-1/12 1/15 1/18 1/21 1/29 2/1 2/4 2/8 2/11 2/12 2/15

OPPONENT

LOCATION

TIME

Excelsior Springs Richmond Liberty North Tourney Lawson Lathrop East Buchanan NCMC Holiday Hoops Savannah Kearney Bulldog Classic Tourney Staley Bishop LeBlond Cameron Tourney Benton Lafayette Hamilton Smithville Maryville Trenton Chillicothe

Home Away Away Home Away Away Away Away Away Away Home Home Home Away Home Away Home Away Away

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

TBA 6 p.m.

7 p.m.

6 p.m.

TBA 6:30 p.m.

TBA 6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

TBA 7 p.m.

7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

OPPONENT

LOCATION

TIME

11/27 12/3-12/8 12/11 12/18 12/20 12/28-12/29 1/4 1/7-1/12 1/14 1/15 1/17 1/21-1/26 1/28 2/1 2/5 2/7 2/12 2/14

Excelsior Springs Liberty North Tourney Lawson Truman East Buchanan NCMC Holiday Hoops Savannah Bill Burns Classic Tourney Lathrop Maryville Hamilton Cameron Tourney Benton Lafayette Bishop LeBlond Smithville Trenton Chillicothe

Away Away Home Home Away Away Home Away Away Away Away Home Away Home Away Home Away Home

6:30 p.m.

TBA 6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6 p.m.

TBA 6:30 p.m.

TBA 7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

TBA 7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

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| Basketball Preview 2012-13

8

2012 ALL NEWS-PRESS GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAMS

Sunday, November 25, 2012

2012 ALL NEWS-PRESS BOYS BASKETBALL TEAMS

1st team

1st team PLAYER

HEIGHT CLASS

SCHOOL

PLAYER

HEIGHT CLASS

SCHOOL

Austin Eckert

6-2

Sr.

ACCHS

Shun Williams*

6-5

Jr.

Central

Tyler Peterson

6-3

Sr.

Savannah

Sierra Michaelis*

5-10

Jr.

Mercer

Emilee Buckler

5-9

Sr.

North Platte

Megan Rosenbohm

5-8

So.

Nodaway-Holt

Elsie Greenwood

5-9

Jr.

Hamilton

Cory Bower

6-2

Sr.

East Buchanan

Maddie Nelson

5-7

Jr.

Smithville

Dre Irvin

6-1

Sr.

Central

2nd team

2nd team PLAYER

HEIGHT CLASS

SCHOOL

PLAYER

HEIGHT CLASS

SCHOOL

Brent Bush

6-1

Sr.

Forrest Hicks

6-7

Sr. St. Joseph Christian

Michael Fleshman

6-0

Sr.

Cameron

Ali Howat

5-6

Sr.

Central

Oceonna Weston

5-9

Jr.

Lafayette

Tara Ellerman

6-1

Sr.

ACCHS

Kendle Schieber

5-7

Sr.

Jefferson

Tyler Walter

5-10

Sr.

Maryville

Anna Curtis

5-7

Sr.

Cameron

Colton Hartley

6-1

Jr.

Mercer

Alexa Taff

5-5

Sr. St. Joseph Christian

Elijah Lee

6-3

So.

Central

HEIGHT CLASS

SCHOOL

3rd team

DeKalb

3rd team

PLAYER

HEIGHT CLASS

SCHOOL

PLAYER

Marc Ellis

6-2

Sr.

Doniphan West

Andee Wahlert

5-5

Jr.

Benton

Carly Cox

5-9

Jr.

Savannah

Clayton Schieber

5-11

Sr.

Jefferson

Chelsea Dewey

5-6

Jr.

East Buchanan

Lucas Schawang

6-1

Sr.

Mound City

Sammie Jo Copeland 6-0

Jr.

Polo

Dalton Mills

6-1

Jr.

Polo

Torri Blythe

5-8

Jr.

Maysville

Jesse Utt

6-4

Jr.

Braymer

Paige Imhoff

5-9

So.

Smithville

Chris Young

6-1

Sr.

Benton

Neal Hook

Central

Coach of the Year:

Matt Wenck

Cameron

*Denotes player of the year

DATE 11/26-12/1 12/4 12/11 12/12 12/14 12/18 12/29 1/3 1/7-1/12 1/15 1/18 1/22 1/24-1/26 1/29 2/1 2/5 2/8 2/12 2/15 2/25-3/1

OPPONENT Savannah Tourney O’Hara Benton Excelsior Springs Atchison Penney NCMC Shootout Cameron Kearney Tourney West Platte Maryville Clarinda Eldon Tourney Lafayette Bishop LeBlond Smithville Chillicothe Benton Maryville Districts

DATE DATE 11/26-12/1 12/5 12/14 12/17 12/20 12/27-12.29 1/4 1/7 1/9 1/15 1/21-1/26 1/29 1/31 2/5 2/7 2/12 2/14 2/19 2/25-3/1

OPPONENT OPPONENT Savannah Tourney Derrick Thomas Academy Atchison Benton Lathrop NCMC Shootout Cameron Maryville Excelsior Springs Central Cameron Tourney Lafayette Bishop LeBlond Smithville Chillicothe Benton Maryville Lafayette Districts

File Photo | St. Joseph News- Press

Mercer’s Sierra Michaelis, the 2011-12 News-Press player of the year, attempts a shot against Jefferson during a Class 1 sectional last year at Bearcat Arena.

LOCATION Home Away Away Away Home Home Away Home Away Away Home Home Away Home Away Home Away Home Away Away LOCATION LOCATION Home Home Away Home Home Away Away Away Home Home Away Away Home Away Away Away Home Home Away

TIME TBA 6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

TBA 6:30 p.m.

TBA 7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

TBA 7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

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TBA TIME TIME TBA 6 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

TBA 6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

TBA 7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

TBA

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| Basketball Preview 2012-13

Sunday, November 25, 2012

9

ST. JOSEPH CHRISTIAN BOYS

Fresh challenges await Lions after record run to state

By PHIL ERVIN St. Joseph News-Press

If last year brought with it a dream season for St. Joseph Christian, this winter’s shaping up to serve as a reality check.

A year after reaching their first-ever Show-Me Showdown state semifinals, the Lions are in for a more taxing road back to Columbia. The 2012-14 cycle moved Christian back up to Class 2 in the latest undulation of its classification yo-yo.

A deeper pool of opposing talent awaits, and coach Scott Jenkins lost some key pieces from the best team in school history.

“When you’re focusing on the big picture,” Jenkins said, “you’re going, ‘OK, We do have to play tougher.’”

Gone are all-state center Forrest Hicks, forward Jordan Morrison and guard Matt Dahlgren.

Their graduations leave Christian needing to make up 60 percent of last year’s scoring production, led by Hicks’ 21.2 points per game in the post.

Hicks will be missed just as much on the boards, where he pulled down 12.4 rebounds per game and kept many Lions’ possession’s alive.

Robbie Kaufman — a 6-foot-6 forward, the same height as Hicks, now a freshman at St. Mary’s in Leavenworth, Kan. — moves into a bigger role, both on the blocks and in terms of leadership.

“As a senior, you just naturally

File Photo | St. Joseph News- Press

St. Joseph Christian players, including guard Brandon Shank (center), celebrate a Class 1 quarterfinal victory against Jefferson last year at Bishop LeBlond High School. Shank banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to secure the win. take that leadership role and kind of build it,” said Kaufman, who scored 7.6 points and pulled down 6.4 boards per game last year. “You’re the standard.”

The loss of Hicks forces Jenkins to schematically switch things up a bit this year, too.

Deliberate, half-court sets featuring Hicks in the post and at both elbows will give way to more fast-break basketball.

Guards David Beard (teamhigh 101 assists last year) and Brandon Shank (leading returning scorer at 8.4 points per game) can get up and down the floor quickly, and so can Kaufman.

“We’ve got the speed; I think we’re a little faster this year than we were last year, so let’s utilize some of that,” Jenkins said. “We can get a little more of that tempo.

“There’s no need to slow it down too much.”

Behind those three aforementioned returning contributors, there’s not a whole lot of depth for Jenkins to work with. He’s already found that out with Beard nursing a preseason ankle injury suffered during a P.E. class dodgeball game just days after he came back from a sprain in his other ankle during

football season.

“The kid who did it to him, I already had him kicked out of school,” Jenkins joked. “It was a freak accident. Sometimes those things happen.”

A look at the Lions’ new district doesn’t provide much more room for optimism — East Buchanan, South Harrison, Gallatin and others represent a noticeable jump from Christian’s Class 1 alignments in recent years. South Harrison and East Buchanan spent recent cycles playing in Class 3.

Christian’s regular-season schedule remains much the same, but the postseason will bring greater challenges.

But the taste of state success that came with this past winter’s semifinal appearance — albeit an 0-2, fourth-place showing — brought with it a new air of confidence to the program.

Beard hopes the Lions can ride it right over the new obstacles standing in their way.

“It definitely brings positive thoughts to the guys,” said Beard, who hopes to return by the time Christian opens it season Dec. 4 at South Nodaway.

“Hey, we’ve done good in basketball ... before last year, we’d never had that before, and just to get it was like, ‘Wow, we can do this thing.’”

Phil Ervin can be reached at phil.ervin@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @PhilErvin.

ST. JOSEPH CHRISTIAN GIRLS

Juhl sets out on rebuilding project with fewer players available to him

By MATT GLEAVES St. Joseph News-Press

St. Joseph Christian’s success under former coach David Johnson can’t be denied.

In two seasons, the nomadic Kansas resident led the Lions to two Class 1 District 14 championships, including a sectional victory over Southwest Livingston last season before ultimately bowing out to Jefferson in three overtimes during quarterfinals.

This year, Christian will be hard-pressed to find the same success.

Johnson resigned prior to this season, and four stalwart starters also departed to graduation. Mark Juhl, who has headed the Lions’ football team for its entire existence, takes over but has not coached basketball since leading

Christian’s boys during the 2001 season. He also spent three years at now-defunct Midway-Denton coaching boys basketball in the late 1970s-early 1980s.

Juhl also doesn’t have four players that made Christian so dangerous in 2011-12.

Point guard Alexa Taff, who now plays for Benedictine, Kasey Hall, Danielle Beard and Courtlin Osborn are gone, leaving Christian’s first-year coach with just 10 players on the roster and only two that saw playing time last season.

“We’re really young,” Juhl said. “There’s no doubt about it that this will be a rebuilding year, which means we will be working a lot with the fundamentals.”

Osborn and Taff played a pivotal part in Chris-

contributing from the perimeter.

King takes over the point guard role full time with inexperienced players surrounding her and less ability to run the fast break and pressure defense, which played a pivotal role in Christian’s success under Johnson.

The speedy guard helped force the necessary turnovers in a frenetic fullcourt press that haunted most opponents, but with a new coach comes a new philosophy.

Juhl wants to slow down the pace and play a more File Photo | St. Joseph News- Press half-court based offense, St. Joseph Christian guard Emylee King, right, defends against Riverwhich will rely heavily on side during a game at Riverside Middle School in Elwood, Kan. executing plays.

“It’s night-and-day diftian’s three-guard offense trio of guards, and Ashley that routinely took teams Critchfield are the only ference,” King said. “This out of contention, by forc- two holdovers. King start- year is definitely going to ing outside jump shots. ed in the backcourt along be a rebuilding year with Emylee King, who made with Taff, while Critch- us working on the basics up the final third in the field came off the bench, and figuring out how to

play the game with our young team.”

Another obstacle facing Christian will be a higher classification.

The Lions move back up to Class 2 this season and will compete in District 16, which will prove to be even tougher with the youth and inexperience. Christian experienced profound difficulties from 2008-2010 during its last two-year run outside of Class 1.

Way too early to focus on how Christian will fare in the postseason when so many questions abound entering the regular season.

“We just want to get better every day, and we will worry about districts when they get here,” Critchfield said.

Matt Gleaves can be reached at matt.gleaves@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports

St. Joseph Christian School BOYS & GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL 2012-2013

DATE 12/4 12/6 12/11 12/13 12/18 12/27-12/29 1/4 1/7-1/12 1/15 1/17 1/21-1/26 1/28 1/29 2/1 2/5 2/12 2/15 2/19-2/23

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TIME 6 p.m.

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6 p.m.

6 p.m.

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TBA 6 p.m.

TBA 6 p.m.

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TBA 6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

TBA

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SINCE 1958 Owners: Mike & Mary Brown

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LOCATION Away Home Away Away Away Bishop LeBlond Holiday Tourney (VB) Away Jefferson Home Fairfax Tourney Away Tarkio Home DeKalb Away King City Tourney Away Mid Buchanan Away Rock Port Home North Andrew Home Nodaway Holt Away South Holt Away East Buchanan Home Districts TBA

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| Basketball Preview 2012-13

10

Sunday, November 25, 2012

AREA KANSAS BOYS CAPSULES ACCHS ❯ Last year: 21-1 (13-0 DVL) ❯ Coach: Jeff Starkey, entering 2nd season ❯ Top returners: F Jake Hansen, Sr.; G Ramsey Hundley, Sr.; F Nathan Miller, Sr. ❯ Key losses: G Austin Eckert, G Mitch Kurtz, F Trenton Joice

Maur Hill-Mount Academy guard Sam Cooney drives to the basket against Doniphan West during a Riverside Invitational game last year at Riverside Middle School.

ATCHISON ❯ Last year: 0-21 (0-10 KCAL) ❯ Coach: Matt Hall, entering 2nd season ❯ Top returners: G Tyson Downing, Sr.; G Jered Ross, Sr.; G Ivan Cushinberry, Jr.; F Blake Dykstra, Jr. ❯ Key losses: none

DONIPHAN WEST ❯ Last year: 6-15 (3-10 DVL) ❯ Coach: Matt Ellis, entering 3rd season ❯ Top returners: G Austin Ricklefs, Sr.; C Derek Gibson, Sr.; G Luke Twombly, Sr.; G Jordan Sellers, Sr.

File Photo St. Joseph News- Press

ATCHISON

Boys & Girls Varsity Basketball 2012-2013 DATE 12/4 12/7 12/11 12/14 12/14 12/18 1/3 1/4 1/11 1/14-1/19 1/25 1/28 1/29 1/31 2/1 2/5 2/8 2/11 2/12 2/15 2/19 2/21 2/25-3/2 3/6-3/9

OPPONENT Pleasant Ridge ACCHS McLouth Savannah (VB) Savannah (VG) Washington Spring Hill Sumner Schlagle Tonganoxie Tourney Tonganoxie Harmon (VG) Harmon (VB) Wyandotte (VG) Wyandotte (VB) Washington Sumner Schlagle (VG) Schlagle (VB) Harmon Wyandotte Maranatha Sub State State

LOCATION Away Home Away Away Home Away Home Home Home Away Home Away Away Away Away Home Away Away Away Home Home Away Away

e g a t i r e H

TIME 6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

TBA 6 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

6 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

TBA

❯ Key losses: G Marc Ellis, F Tyler Diveley, F Ben Petrik

HIAWATHA ❯ Last year: 5-16 (1-11 Big 7) ❯ Coach: Andrew Eckert, entering 1st season ❯ Top returners: F Peyton Newell, Jr.; G Taylor Lee, Sr.; F Logan Gormley, Sr.; F Connor Bigham, Jr. ❯ Key losses: G Madison Campbell, G Drake Wohelickie, F Cooper Winterscheidt

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HORTON ❯ Last year: 5-16 (4-9 DVL) ❯ Coach: Michael Lanter, entering 3rd season ❯ Top returners: G Curtis Doxtator, Sr.; F Brent Matthias, Sr. ❯ Key losses: F Josh Merz

MAUR HILL-MOUNT ACADEMY

MAUR HILL

Boys & Girls Varsity Basketball 2012-2013 DATE 11/30 12/4 12/7 12/8 12/11 12/18 1/4 1/8 1/11 TBA 1/25 1/29 2/1 2/5 2/8 2/12 2/15 2/19 2/25-3/1 3/5-3/8

OPPONENT Heritage Christian NEK Shootout-Troy NEK Shootout-Riverside NEK Shootout-Doniphan West Troy Jackson Heights ACCHS KC Christian Pleasant Ridge Doniphan West Tourney Riverside Horton Immaculata Doniphan West Valley Falls Jefferson County North Oskaloosa McLouth Sub State State

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DATE 12/4 12/7 12/8 12/11 12/14 12/18 1/4 1/8 1/11 1/15-1/19 1/22-1/26 1/29 1/31 2/1 2/5 2/8 2/15 2/19 2/22 2/25-3/2 3/6-3/9

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OPPONENT LOCATION NEK Shootout-Maur Hill Home NEK Shootout-Doniphan West Home NEK Shootout-Riverside Away Maur Hill Away McLouth Home Riverside Away KC Christian Away Jackson Heights Home Valley Falls Home Nemaha Valley Tourney (VB) Away Hiawatha Invitational Tourney (VG) Away Pleasant Ridge Home Wetmore Home Horton Home Immaculata Away ACCHS Home Jefferson County North Away Doniphan West Away Oskaloosa Away Sub State Away State Away

TIME TBA TBA TBA 6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

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TBA TBA 6 p.m.

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TROY ❯ Last year: 4-16 (2-10 DVL) ❯ Coach: Dallas Keller, entering 5th season ❯ Top returners: F Reece Simpson, Sr.; G Collin Jasper, So.; G Jake Ross, So. ❯ Key losses: F Dylan Norris, Jacob Stock

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RIVERSIDE ❯ Last year: 11-10 (6-7 DVL) ❯ Coach: Derek Mitchell, entering 1st season ❯ Top returners: G Andrae McGaughy, So.; G Colby Scott, Jr.; F Zach Halter, Jr.; C Kyle Studler, Sr. ❯ Key losses: F Blane Wilson, C Derek Nold

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| Basketball Preview 2012-13

Sunday, November 25, 2012

11

AREA KANSAS GIRLS CAPSULES ACCHS ❯ Last year: 22-3 (13-0 DVL), lost to Hillsboron in Class 3A 3rd-place game ❯ Coach: Cy Wallisch, entering 14th season ❯ Top returners: F Allison Wallisch, Sr.; F Nikki Thompson, Sr.; G Paige Boos, Sr.; G Taylor Vandeloo, Jr. ❯ Key losses: F Tara Ellerman, G Brooke Fowler

ATCHISON ❯ Last year: 11-10 (9-1 KCAL) ❯ Coach: Roni Ettleman, entering 5th season ❯ Top returners: G Madison Sanders, Sr.; F Arika Smith, Jr.; G Alyson Weber, Sr. ❯ Key losses: none submitted by coach

❯ Top returners: G Payton Leach, Jr.; G Scotti Twombly, Jr.; F Kassiday Blevins, Sr. ❯ Key losses: G Rachel Rush

❯ Top returners: G Jordan Fry, Sr.; F Jacey Frakes, Sr. ❯ Key losses: G Marija Crockett

RIVERSIDE

HIAWATHA

❯ Last year: 10-10 (7-6 DVL) ❯ Coach: Bryan Adkins, entering 2nd season ❯ Top returners: G Allie Simonin, Sr.; G Erica Halter, Jr.; F Ariel Diggs, Sr.; G Kim Euler, Jr. ❯ Key losses: none

❯ Last year: 0-20 (0-12 Big 7) ❯ Coach: Jolene Kabriel, entering 1st season ❯ Top returners: none submitted by coach ❯ Key losses: none submitted by coach

HORTON ❯ Last year: 14-6 (10-3 DVL) ❯ Coach: Ken Shippy, entering 1st season ❯ Top returners: none submitted by coach. ❯ Key losses: G Ashley Dishon, F Paige Gasper

DONIPHAN WEST

MAUR HILL-MOUNT ACADEMY

❯ Last year: 12-6 (9-4 DVL) ❯ Coach: Troy Hoffman, entering 4th season

❯ Last year: 1-18 (1-12 DVL) ❯ Coach: Brad Kunecke, entering 1st season

DATE

OPPONENT

LOCATION TIME

12/4

NEK Shootout-Riverside

Away

TBA

12/7

NEK Shootout-Troy

Away

TBA

12/8

NEK Shootout-Maur Hill

Home

TBA

12/11

Jackson Heights

Home

6 p.m.

12/14

Immaculata

Away

6 p.m.

1/4

Oskaloosa

Away

6 p.m.

1/8

ACCHS

Away

6 p.m.

1/11

McLouth

Home

6 p.m.

TBA

Doniphan West Tourney

Home

TBA

1/22

Frankfort

Home

6 p.m.

1/29

Jefferson County North Away

6 p.m.

2/1

KC Christian

Away

6 p.m.

2/5

Maur Hill

Away

6 p.m.

2/8

Horton

Away

6 p.m.

2/15

Riverside

Away

6 p.m.

2/19

Troy

Home

2/22

Pleasant Ridge

TROY ❯ Last year: 10-10 (7-6 DVL) ❯ Coach: Derek Jasper, entering 16th season ❯ Top returners: F Paige Fenley, Sr.; G Kelli Marriott, Sr.; C Claire Turpin, Sr.; G Tanner Wishaar, Sr.; G Alex Winder, So. ❯ Key losses: G Jessica Weatherford

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File Photo St. Joseph News- Press

Doniphan West

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State

Doniphan West forward Regan Gibson (44) fights for a loose ball with Troy’s Paige Fenley during a Sub-State playoff game last year.

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Home of the Cyclones Boys & Girls Varsity Basketball 2012-2013 Date Opponent Location 11/30 Jefferson West Home 12/4 NEK Shootout-Doniphan West Home 12/7 NEK Shootout-Maur Hill Away 12/8 NEK Shootout-Troy Away 12/11 Horton Home 12/14 Pleasant Ridge Away 12/18 Troy Home 1/4 Immaculata Away 1/8 Valley Falls Home 1/11 Oskaloosa Home 1/18 Maur Hill Home 1/21 Doniphan West Tourney Away 1/29 ACCHS Home 2/1 McLouth Away 2/5 Jefferson County North Away 2/8 KC Christian Home 2/15 Doniphan West Away 2/19 Jackson Heights Away 2/25-3/2 Sub State Away 3/6-3/9 State Away

Time 6 p.m.

TBA TBA TBA 6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

TBA 6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

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TBA TBA

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Wathena, KS

2335 165th Road Wathena, KS 66090

Phone: (785) 989-4550 • Fax: (785) 989-4674 www.mconunderground.com Mark D. Newton Agency

Good Luck, Cyclones!

105 E. St. Joseph St. Wathena, KS 785-989-4561

©2012 American Family Mutual Insurance Co. and its Subsidiaries Home Office - Madison, WI 53783 07497 11/12

State Farm®

Providing Insurance and Financial Services Home Office, Bloomington, Illinois 61710

Auto Life

Fire

Jessica L Studer, Agent • Underground Utilities • Terrace & Field Tiling • Directional Boring • Dump Trucking

P.O. Box 403 Wathena, KS 66090 Business Phone: (785)989-3453 Fax: (785) 989-4674

James E. Miller - Owner Cell: (785) 741-1496 Tyler J. Miller Cell: (785) 850-0376

209 St. Joseph Street P.O. Box 355, Wathena, KS 66090-1201 Bus. 785-989-3555 Toll Free 888-989-9625 Fax 785-989-3339 www.jessicastuder.com Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

James E. Miller

Tyler J. Miller

Cheers On The Cyclones!

Farmers State Bank of Wathena Celebrating Over 100 Years!

1903-2012 Online Banking & Bill Payment www.fsbwathena.com 211 St. Joseph St. • Wathena, KS • 785-989-4431

| Basketball Preview 2012-13

12

KCI BOYS CAPSULES

Sunday, November 25, 2012

KCI GIRLS CAPSULES EAST BUCHANAN ❯ Last year: 13-12 (2-4 KCI) ❯ Coach: Cori Elms, entering 3rd season ❯ Top returners: G Chelsea Dewey, Sr.; F Sidney Plackemeier, Sr.; G/F Makayla Aebersold, Sr.; G Lauren McDonald, Jr. ❯ Key losses: none

HAMILTON ❯ Last year: 24-4 (9-0 GRC) ❯ Coach: David Prather, entering 7th season ❯ Top returners: G Elsie Greenwod, Sr.; F Morgan Prather, So.; G Molly Ward, So. G/F Erin Finch, Sr. ❯ Key losses: F Katrina Grossman, G Kathleen Clevenger

LATHROP ❯ Last year: 14-11 (3-3 KCI) ❯ Coach: Mark Gordan, entering 8th season ❯ Top returners: F Isabell Maddick, So.; G Ashley Beers, Sr.; F Katie Cordray, Jr. ❯ Key losses: G Samantha

Williams, F Tayler Fisher

LAWSON ❯ Last year: 25-5 (5-1 KCI), lost to Stockton in Class 3 quarterfinal ❯ Coach: Lisa Glenn, entering 10th season ❯ Top returners: F Janee Kassanavoid, Sr.; G MaKayla McNeely, Jr.; G Kerstin Huffman, So. ❯ Key losses: G Kayla Glenn, F MacKenzie McNeely, G Katelyn Rickwa

MID-BUCHANAN ❯ Last year: 16-11 (2-5 KCI) ❯ Coach: Rod Elms, entering 1st season ❯ Top returners: G Mikaylee Henningsen, Sr.; G/F Nichole Scaggs, Sr.; G/F Brianna Hayner, Sr.; F Sara Voisard, Sr. ❯ Key losses: F Erica Phillips, G Cassy Moppin, F Kadesha Rowland

NORTH PLATTE ❯ Last year: 26-5 (6-0 KCI), lost to Class 2 3rd-place

game to Marionville ❯ Coach: Karl Matt, entering 6th season ❯ Top returners: G Maddie Roberts, Jr.; F Olivia Paden, Sr.; G Courtney Kipping, So.; F Chelsi Sams, So. ❯ Key losses: F Emilee Buckler, G Crystal Haugsness, G Kelsey Adkins

PLATTSBURG ❯ Last year: 11-13 (3-3 KCI) ❯ Coach: Dave Kopp, entering 2nd season ❯ Top returners: G Jackie Graham, Sr.; F Tori Kelley, So.; F Becca Williams, So. ❯ Key losses: C Ashlyn Stevens, G Kenzie Treese

WEST PLATTE ❯ Last year: 8-17 (0-7 KCI) ❯ Coach: Jesse Stewart, entering 2nd season ❯ Top returners: G Chloe Farris, Sr.; G Brooke Horseman, Sr.; F Jana Hochard, Sr. ❯ Key losses: C Samantha Comer

File Photo | St. Joseph News- Press

Mid-Buchanan guard Alex Burkhart defends during a Class 3 District 16 game against Bishop LeBlond last year at Plattsburg High School. Burkhart will be a senior for the Dragons this season.

EAST BUCHANAN

❯ Key losses: none

❯ Last year: 20-7 (5-1 KCI) ❯ Coach: Kevin Jermain, entering 7th season ❯ Top returners: G Eddie Kilgore, Jr.; F Brent Schultz, Jr.; F Jace Zeit, Sr. ❯ Key losses: F Cory Bower, G Ryan Stallard, F Brandon McNeely

HAMILTON ❯ Last year: 16-10 (7-2 GRC) ❯ Coach: Ken Ruffcorn, entering 20th season ❯ Top returners: F Jalen Richman, Sr.; G Drew Finch, So. ❯ Key losses: F T.J. Schieber, G Eli Kipp

LAWSON ❯ Last year: 21-6 (5-1 KCI) ❯ Coach: Brad Smith, entering 18th season ❯ Top returners: F Blake Edwards, Sr.; G Spencer Wood, Jr.; F Cole Shobe, Jr. ❯ Key losses: G Garrison Green, F Taylor Dameron, F Sam Hendrickson

MID-BUCHANAN

LATHROP ❯ Last year: 5-21 (0-6 KCI) ❯ Coach: Ben Thomason, entering 2nd season ❯ Top returners: G Brandon Stimelsky, Sr.

❯ Last year: 18-9 (4-2 KCI) ❯ Coach: Bryce Kemper, entering 8th season ❯ Top returners: G Colton Hoffman, Jr. ❯ Key losses: G Mike Tupica, G Jeremy Lance, G Cooper Roberts

NORTH PLATTE ❯ Last year: 12-14 (2-4 KCI ❯ Coach: Brenden Cary,

entering 1st season ❯ Top returners: G Levi Hill, Sr.; F Kameron Poepping, Sr. ❯ Key losses: G Tanner Catlett, G Joe Fedrizzi

PLATTSBURG ❯ Last year: 6-17 (1-6 KCI) ❯ Coach: Shawn Gibbs, entering 1st season ❯ Top returners: F Andrew Dickerson, Sr.; G Carter Ward, Jr.; G Braden Price, Jr.; F LeAaron Hicks, So. ❯ Key losses: F Jacob Hogle

WEST PLATTE ❯ Last year: 18-8 (4-2 KCI) ❯ Coach: Zane Tanner, entering 16th season ❯ Top returners: F Adam Roe, Jr.; F. Nathan Coulson, Sr., G Logan Moose, Sr. ❯ Key losses: G Hunter Faris, C Connor Walsh

EAST BUCHANAN BULLDOGS Boys & Girls Varsity Basketball 2012-2013

Good Luck, Bulldogs!

Gower, MO 1-816-424-6476 1-816-424-6645 fax

Banking on the Bulldogs! www.bankofgower.com 816-424-6476

DATE 11/29 12/1-12/7 12/10 12/14 12/17 12/18 12/20 12/27-12/29 1/4 1/7-1/12 1/15 1/18 1/22 1/25 1/28 2 2/1 2 2/5 2 2/8 2 2/12 2 2/15 2 2/18-2/23

File Photo | St. Joseph News- Press

North Platte’s Maddie Roberts fights for a loose ball with two Marion County defenders during last year’s Class 2 Show-Me Showdown third-place game at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Roberts will be a junior forward this year, one of only a handful of returners for the Panthers coming back off of two straight trips to the state semifinals under head coach Karl Matt.

OPPONENT Orrick KCI Tourney Maryville (VB) North Platte Gallatin South Harrison Cameron Bishop LeBlond Holiday Tourney Lawson Lathrop Tourney Lafayette (VB) Mid Buchanan Mound City (VG) Maryville (VG) Jefferson West Platte Penney Lathrop Plattsburg St. Joseph Christian Districts

Gower, Smithville & Edgerton

424-6481 “GOOD LUCK BULLDOGS”

TIME 6 p.m.

TBA 6 p.m 6 p.m.

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TBA 6 p.m.

TBA 7 p.m.

6 p.m.

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6:30 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

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TBA

BONNETT TRAILERS Sales & Service

The Klein Family

HOME/AWAY Away Away Home Home Away Away Home Away Away Away Away Away Home Home Home Home Home Home Away Away Away

816-669-3794 Authorized Stewartsville, MO

Dealer

www.bonnett-trailers.com

A U T 217 S. US HWY. 169 O Lets Go, Bulldogs!

HORN’S GOWER, MO

816-424-6479

S U P P L Y