By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
A new season dawns for the Greenwood Blue Jays, but the 2016-17 campaign won’t be one to forget.
Greenwood had its best season in nearly 25 years, coming up just shy of a trip to the Class 2 final four after losing 49-48 to Crane in the Class 2 quarterfinal round.
The Blue Jays finished 25-4 overall.
Four starters are gone: all-state performer Julius Walker (now playing for Drury University), Tony Brandt, Wesley Bergen and Garett Nau.
“After an outstanding season last year, graduation has hit this team pretty hard,” said Greenwood coach Darren Taylor.
Walker is Greenwood’s all-time leading scorer and finished with over 2,200 career points. He averaged about 28 points and nine rebounds per game as a senior.
Brandt was Greenwood’s facilitator and primarily-handler. Bergen led the team in 3-pointers, and Nau often guarded the opposition’s best player.
Simply put, their production and leadership will be missed.
But their departures mean opportunities for new players to shine.
Senior Joe Brock is Greenwood’s lone returning starter. He averaged about six points and six rebounds per game last season, both tops among returning Blue Jays.
“He will be looked to for leadership this year,” Taylor said. “We look for Joe to have a great senior year.”
Senior Aki Coller saw action off the bench last year. Taylor praised the energy and effort-level he consistently brings to the court and said the 5’8” guard has improved his shooting range.
Senior Caleb Haverstick and the junior trio of John Sharp (2.5 ppg), Tate Dukewits and Garrett Litherland filled out the Greenwood bench last season. All four are contending for more playing time this winter.
“Caleb has a high basketball IQ,” Taylor said. “John is extremely quick and contributes in many ways both offensively and defensively. Tate plays with a lot of energy and is a good rebounder. Garrett has grown and gotten stronger over the summer and has tremendous upside.”
New names to watch include seniors Kade Horacek, juniors Channing Carlson and Hayden Hopkins, sophomore Aidan McQueary and freshman Cooper Clark.
Horacek is a solid perimeter shooter, Carlson (6’2”) provides a promising inside presence, while Hopkins and McQueary gained “valuable experience” on the JV last season, Taylor said.
The 5’11” Clark played well on the 8th grade level last season and could see varsity minutes as a freshman.
“The experience our returning players gained practicing against one of the best teams in the area should pay off,” Taylor said. “This group plays extremely hard and are very coachable.”
Taylor’s approaching a career milestone. He enters the 2017-18 season with 494 career wins, about half of which have come at Greenwood.
Greenwood opens the season Nov. 27 at the Pierce City Invitational.
