By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Lamar Tigers look to build on the success of last season and first-year coach Matt Powell thinks they have the pieces to do so.
The Tigers finished 17-11 overall and 6-1 in the Big 8 Conference, playing a difficult schedule, which included the Neosho, Bolivar and Big 8 tournaments, before falling to Mount Vernon 71-58 in the Class 3 District 12 championship game.
In 2018-2019, Lamar will be competing in the Big 8 Conference West division, which includes some familiar foes Cassville, East Newton, McDonald County, Monett, Nevada and Seneca.
“I would like to think we have the pieces to compete at a high level in the conference and the district,” said Powell, who previously coached at Gainesville (2015-2018) and was an assistant at Rogersville (2012-2015). “We think our schedule is tough and we expect to be competing at a high level in January and March.”
The Tigers must first find a way to replace Ian Moore, who averaged 19.3 points per game, 8.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
“Ian handled the ball and scored,” Powell said. “You can’t replace someone like Ian. We will have to replace him with multiple guys.”
Lamar also lost Garrett Morey, who averaged 8.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and was a great shooter, to graduation, as well as Parker King, who averaged 2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1 assist per game for the Tigers.
“Anytime you lose players like Ian and Garrett, it is difficult,” Powell said. “We won’t have one player replace all that scoring; it will be a group effort. I do believe we are capable of doing that, but there will be a learning curve. Everyone will have to find their role that best benefits the team.”
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Key returnees for Lamar include:
• JD Bishop – junior G/F – named All-Big 8 Conference Honorable Mention; averaged 8.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.4 apg. “Can play anywhere on the floor on the offensive or defensive end. We need him to be more assertive this year.”
• Landon Hardman – senior G – 4 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.9 spg; “FAST. Will handle the ball and get the toughest defensive assignment every night. Worked on improving his decision-making this summer. He will be asked to do a lot.”
• Travis Bailey – senior F – 5.7 ppg, 5 rpg; “Strong and physical post player. Has a great motor and will do whatever he can to help the team.”
• Truman Kaderly – senior F – 5 ppg, 3.6 rpg; “Long and athletic. Great rim protector. Has put a lot of hours in the gym and improved his offensive game.”
Also back for the Tigers are:
• Case Tucker – sophomore G – 2 ppg; “Case can do a little bit of everything and will help with handling the ball on offense and guarding good players on the perimeter or in the post.”
• Jonny Jeffries – senior G – 2 ppg; “Extremely good outside shooter, who has worked hard expanding his game and will be asked to do more this year.”
Powell will looking to these upper-class newcomers to contribute:
• Donte Stahl – junior G “Will help with the ball handling and is capable of knocking down outside shots. Good defender. Had a great summer.”
• Chase Davey – senior G/F – “Tough. Good defender and rebounder. Hard worker.”
• Connor O’Neal – senior C – “Effects shots around basket.”
• Wyatt Hull – junior G/F – “Hard worker, coachable and a good rebounder.”
• Drew Bunton – senior F – “Mobile, big. Can stretch the floor on offense.”
“All of these guys will have a chance to play meaningful minutes,” Powell said. “There will be a lot of competition in practice. I thought they kids were coachable and picked things up fairly quick this summer.”
Some key tournaments on Lamar’s schedule are Lockwood (Nov. 29), Neosho (Dec. 26) and Bolivar (Jan. 24), and the Tigers’ experience and depth will be the team’s biggest strength, Powell says.
“We have several kids who had a large role on varsity last season,” Powell said. “However, with the loss of Ian and Garrett, they will be expected to produce more than they were last year. We have at least a couple of players at each position, so there will be competition every day in practice. I believe that will benefit us all season.”
