By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
How do you follow up a dream season?
For the Bolivar and head coach Robby Hoegh, you simply get back to the grind.
The Liberators ended last season’s thrilling run through the state playoffs with a Class 4 runner-up finish, falling 44-32 in the title game to Vashon.
Bolivar loses a deep, experienced class, including Brandon Emmert, Conley Garrison, Connor Sechler, Hayden Lewright, Jack Pitts and Hunter Jones.
With its core group of graduated seniors moved on, Hoegh must now look to replace 81% of the team’s scoring, 83% of its rebounds and 79% of its assists this season.
Emmert and Garrison, in particular, will difficult to replace. The 6-foot-6 Emmert will play for Central Missouri State University this winter, and the 6-foot-1 Garrison will do the same at Drury University.
“Conley and Brandon are awesome basketball players, and their talent and skill allowed us to play at a very high level,” Hoegh said. “However, it is the character in each of them along with Connor Sechler, Hayden Lewright, Jack Pitts and Hunter Jones that we want to build upon. It was their commitment to getting better each day and how they treated each other that we need to maintain.”
Hoegh now looks to a establish a new core group from the team’s returning players.
CLICK HERE FOR ALL WINTER SPORTS PREVIEWS
6-foot-1 junior Ian Jones is Bolivar’s lone returning starter and will key the team’s perimeter attack. Jones hit 52 3-pointers last season at a 44% clip, according to Hoegh.
6-foot-5 senior Corey Spindler, Bolivar’s sixth man last season, now moves into a pivotal role for the Liberators. Spindler logged over 450 minutes in 2016-17 and often drew one of the tougher defensive assignments.
Kyler Murphy, a 5-foot-10 senior, started two games last season and logged close to 300 minutes, according to Hoegh. Working each year to make himself better, Murphy delivers key baskets and guards well.
The three returning lettermen will set the tone for Bolivar’s attack, which will depend on creating solid opportunities on the perimeter.
“We feel like we have a team that can shoot the ball well from the perimeter when we get good looks,” Hoegh said. “The issue is going to be getting the good looks. Brandon and Conley required two and sometimes three defenders, so our shooters had good looks. This year will require more guys collapsing the defense from drives, which may take a while.”
Bolivar also features several newcomers that will challenge for varsity minutes, including a pair of 6-foot-5 seniors in Mason Payne and Levi Manning. They will be joined by 6-foot junior Jaden
Spindler, 5-foot-9 sophomore Hunter Berry and 6-foot-1 sophomore Jamison Jones.
While Bolivar expects to feature a strong outside-shooting game, Hoegh believes the focus and will to play defense and rebound will determine the Liberators’ overall competitiveness this season.
“Even good-shooting teams can have bad nights,” Hoegh said. “If they can still play defense and rebound, they will still have a chance. Can’t play defense without great effort and can’t be successful unless all five guys are connected.”
If another postseason run is in the works for Bolivar, it will first have to navigate a difficult schedule of competitive conference and district opponents. Hillcrest, Helias Catholic, Springfield Catholic, Rogersville and Ozark are among the games that will test Bolivar’s mettle this season.
In his 16th year at Bolivar — tenth as its head coach — Hoegh is looking forward to the opportunity.
“The biggest challenge each year is to get individuals to collectively care about one another — form a strong team,” Hoegh said. “We lack some experience and, with some of our early-season games, we have to stay focused on getting better and improving, not just as basketball players but as people. Sports are fun and that is one reason we play, but sports also gives people a chance to deal with adversity, make mistakes, learn from mistakes and become better people.”
Bolivar opens jamboree play Nov. 16 at Clever along with Kickapoo. The Liberators tip off the regular season Nov. 30 in the Battle at the Border tournament played in Branson.
