By Nolan Epstein (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Similar to its football program this season, Marionville basketball is entering a new era with a new coach and a rather inexperienced roster.
It might be a lot to ask the Comets to repeat last year’s achievements, including a district championship win over traditional power Crane, but for new head coach Ted Young, who spent 2011-2015 with the girls’ program, not much has changed in terms of expectations.
Gone is the prolific scoring trio of Jacob LaSalle (13.7 PPG), Lathan Kerans (10.4 PPG) and Rane Bateman (12.5 PPG), who were instrumental in leading Marionville to a 19-11 overall record a season ago.
Adding in the graduations of Mason Clevenger and Tanner Wright, the Comets will showcase some lesser-known faces ready to step up and take over the reigns on the court.
Returning the most experience out of any player on the varsity roster is senior Cole Brown, who averaged 5.1 PPG and 1.9 RPG during his junior campaign. Brown figures to be the go-to player on offense for Young and will likely take on some hefty leadership duties.
“Cole will have to step up his role and become more of a leader for his senior year,” said Young, who has become accustomed to creating winning traditions and is taking over for current Marionville football coach Paden Grubbs. “He has the most returning experience this year and we will look for him to take his game to another level in all phases of the game.”
Complementing Brown on the hardwood is fellow senior Aaron Head (3.2 PPG, 2.7 RPG). Like Brown, Head will be expected to expand his game and will be looked upon to score from anywhere on the court.
“He can create mismatches with his ability to play inside and out,” Young said of Head. “Aaron will have to stay out of foul trouble this year and will be asked to play a lot of minutes.”
Rounding out the senior group for the Comets will be Levi Doyle, Brandon Horn and Nick Dean. While Dean is the tallest of the bunch at 6-foot-4, all three will be asked to provide physical play and put points on the board when needed.
Six gritty and talented sophomores will also be utilized by Young in Josh Goodman, Evan Dotson, Gavin Stanton, Dominick Clevenger, Coltin Elliot and Lathen Utke. The lone junior is Ryan Mayberry, standing at 5-foot-11 and weighing 180 pounds.
“It’s exciting to see these young men work hard and be disciplined and playing together,” said Young. “We have a team with lots of intensity.”
In addition to recently coaching the Marionville girls’ team, Young also coached the Marionville boys in the mid-2000s when they reached the final four on four occasions in a five-year span, including a state title in 2005.
Marionville’s schedule will once again refuse to offer any breaks as the Comets will be tested with quality road games, including three straight in mid-February against Skyline, Fair Grove and Strafford.
Marionville will also host the Marionville Invitational, while partaking in two other mid-season tournaments (Spokane Invitational and Crane Tournament).
“We want to battle each day to get better and hopefully be playing our best ball come district time,” added Young.
The 2016-17 season gets underway for the Comets on Nov. 28 as they host the Marionville Invitational.
