By Calen VanNess
Coming off a five-win season, the Ava Bears are turning to long-time Willow Springs coach Mike Mallow to right the ship and bring a new tradition of winning back to Ava.
After finishing the year 5-18 (1-6 in the South Central Association), including a first-round loss in district play, the Bears look to improve on both ends of the floor with eight returning players from last year’s team, but Mallow already understands what his team has and what his team needs.
“We need to improve our fundamentals and shooting,” said Mallow. “We have decent size and an enthusiastic team, and our hope is for constant improvement and an increase in our competitive nature.”
The Bears only lost one player from last year’s team as Austin Potts graduated. Potts played in all 23 games for the Bears last season and used his size to protect the paint while also averaging 3.3 points per game and 3.3 rebounds per game.
The Bears are bringing back their leader from a year ago as 6’5” senior Anthony Rosas looks to step up his game even further for his final high school season. Rosas was an SCA honorable mention last year with an average of 13.1 points per game (on 45% shooting from the floor) and 8.3 rebounds per game. This season, Rosas will be playing primarily the post position. If he plays up to his potential, Rosas can expect to battle for conference player of the year.
“He has range and is solid around the basket,” said Mallow of Rosas. “He gives an inside presence, and he is a quality rebounder.”
Rosas’s play in the post will be an integral part of any success Ava will have this year.
“We will try to throw the ball in the post and attack inside out,” said Mallow of his team’s strategy this year. “We will push when we have the opportunity, but I believe we must attack the paint in order to be successful.”
Besides Rosas, Ava also has three other returning starters in seniors Colton Skyles (who received SCA honorable mention last year) and John Paul Lazorchak, along with athletic sophomore Caleb Johnson.
Aside from the returning starters, Ava also has some underclassmen players looking to play big minutes this year.
“We have several younger players looking to step in, but no one has secured a spot as of yet,” said Mallow.
Being a long-time veteran of the SCA, Mallow knows the road back to respectability will be a difficult one.
“The conference is deep with quality teams,” said Mallow. “Mountain Grove and Liberty are teams that may play deep into March. The other teams have the ability to knock you off any night. Our district includes those conference teams plays a twenty-win Licking team and that returns everyone and the Conway Bears. Willow Springs is in our district and conference and has one of the better players in our area.”
Ava will begin their season on November 22 with a date at home against the Seymour Tigers.
