By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Weaubleau Tigers are hoping to build on a successful season after winning a district title, finishing 22-7 overall and 4-3 in the Polk County League.
Weaubleau won the Class 1 District 6 championship last season, holding off Hermitage 54-50 in the final before falling 76-59 to Walnut Grove in sectionals.
The Tigers lost three starters and four lettermen total, but bring back two starters and five lettermen.
Matt Johnson is in his second season leading the Tigers and carries a 36-19 career coaching record.
Gone from last season’s district champion are Kaleb Minica, forward, guard Rhett Burkhart and guard/forward Gatlin Freeman.
Minica was an MBCA all-state first-team selection, as well as a first-team pick on All-District and All-Polk County League. Freeman was a second-team pick for All-District and All-PCL, while Burkhart was honorable mention All-District and All-PCL.
With the loss of Minica, the Tigers will have to find a way to replace 19 points and 16 rebounds a game, not to mention the attitude and energy he brought to every game.
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Freeman is another double-figure scorer the Tigers are going to have to try and replace, and Burkhart’s outside threat and defense will be missed.
“All three of last year’s seniors will be greatly missed, but their absence presents some of the younger players with an opportunity to step up and have a positive impact on the team,” Johnson said. “Freeman provided a good chunk of the scoring last year, Burkhart was a serious defensive threat, and Minica was a rebounding machine who also regularly added points on the board for us.
“We are going to need players to work hard to fill those roles and find their own niche. The guys have all put in a lot of time in the off-season individually, and are ready to get started. It will be interesting to see how the new team dynamic develops and who steps up.”
The Tigers will be young this season, returning only one senior letterman – 5-10 forward Thomas Queen. Johnson looks for Queen to battle on the boards and in the post on the defensive end.
The Tigers’ returning starters are sophomores Cameron Ott and Chase Ratliff.
Ott, a 5-10 guard who Johnson describes as “a super-quick guard who handles the ball well,” averaged 6.6 points, 4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game, while 5-7 guard Ratliff averaged 4.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1 steal. Ratliff started every game as a freshman and will likely see time at the point guard and shooting guard positions.
“I’m looking for Ratliff to really be an intense defender this year and capitalize off fast-break opportunities,” Johnson said. “We need smart ballhandling from Ott, and he will be the go-to guy for points.”
The Tigers’ other returning lettermen include Chris Ritter, a 6-2 junior who could be an inside-out threat and Paden Harryman, a 5-9 junior.
“Ritter has to use every inch of his size to be tough on the boards offensively and defensively,” Johnson said. “Both (Queen and Harryman) have worked hard over the summer and we are expecting them to bring a positive energy to the team during practices and games.”
The future should be bright for the Tigers, who have seven freshmen looking to make an impact.
The newcomers include: Cadan Kauffman, 5-8; John Caufield, 5-11; Michael Conduff, 5-11; Emmitt Stewart, 5-9; Tucker Hilliard, 5-6; Tate Burkhart, 5-5 and David King, 5-10.
“We are going to look to play with an offensive style that best fits our team this year, and that will require some definite adjustments from last year’s offense,” Johnson said. “Defensively, we always look to go man-to-man and out-hustle our opponents.”
Weaubleau averaged 60.4 points, 35.1 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 7.9 steals per game and made 145 3-pointers. The Tigers held their opponents to 48.4 points per game.
“Every season is completely different from the one before,” Johnson said. “You have different players, different dynamics, and different circumstances. We may be a little outsized this season, so we are going to have to adapt and use our speed to make up the difference.
“If we absolutely play to the best of our ability this year and give maximum effort, we can accept whatever outcome we get.”
