By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Jeff Williams is entering his fifth season at the helm of Joplin Basketball and, with three returning starters, is hoping that the program to take the next step towards regularly competing for conference and district championships.
Those results will come as the program continues the process of changing the culture of the program.
“Changing our culture means everything to us,” said Williams. “If we put in the time and effort winning will take care of itself. We return a lot of good young ladies this year. Our goal each game will be to improve.
“We want this season to be better than the last. Changing culture for us is built in our youth programs and following up to middle school then high school. We are in our second season combining our middle schools into one team.”
Seniors Malia Mack and Dayleigh Smith, as well as junior Gabriella Quinn, are the returning starters that will be tasked with continuing the evolution of the program.
Mack averaged a team-high 5.7 rebounds as a junior. Smith averaged 6.6 PPG and Quinn added 3.2 PPG.
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Helping Mack in the post will be classmates Matea Fowler and Grace Ipsen, junior Addison Wallace and sophomore Sophie Schuller.
“We will rotate our post players and try to wear our opponents down,” said Williams. “It’s important that they share most of our scoring as well.”
Seniors Blair Jordan and Zane Hinson, along with juniors Madeline Farber and Avery Gage, are also expected to see increased minutes and production.
Joplin will have several adjustments this season, as the Lady Eagles transition from the Ozark Conference to the equally loaded Central Ozark Conference. The change won’t be too drastic as Joplin played Webb City, Carthage, Carl Junction, Neosho and Willard last season.
However, six of the nine teams in the league finished above .500 last year and the league returns four of its six All-COC performers.
Williams is excited about the positives of joining the COC both on and off the court.
“We feel the change of conferences is very beneficial especially travel time,” said Williams. “Both conferences are very good and in due time we expect to have an impact.”
Joplin will open the 2018-19 season in the Carthage Tournament starting on Nov. 26. The Lady Eagles will play their home opener on Dec. 6 in the Freeman Lady Eagle Classic.
