The Weaubleau boys will have a target on their backs this season with three all-conference and all-district seniors returning from last year’s team that finished 19-9 overall.
That trio includes seniors Cameron Ott and Chase Ratliff and junior Cadan Kauffman.
Ott led that group with 14 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He also had 2.4 steals and 1.8 assists per contest.
“(He is) smooth in the post and can score even when outsized. (He) Can score off the dribble and can shoot,” Weaubleau head coach Charley Dryer said. “He will need to guard multiple positions throughout the year. He makes a lot happen for us.”
Ratliff put up 8.5 points. 3.7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.7 steals per game as a junior.
“(He is) a fast kid with a lot of stamina,” Dryer said. “Chase is our lock down defender with his speed etc. Chase also can get to the basket offensively. He has worked on his shot in the off season. If he can get consistent from behind the arc he will become even harder to guard.”
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Kauffman had a strong sophomore season with 12.5 points, 3.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. He knocked down 72 3-point shots as well.
“He (Kauffman) played point guard most of the year last year. Hopefully we can get the ball out of his hands more this year and let him concentrate on shooting and scoring for us. He is working on other phases of his game offensively,” Dryer said.
Fellow juniors Sam Rutherford, Tucker Hillard and Emmitt Stewart along with sophomore Treyton Foster return. All by Stewart saw time in at least 26 varsity games last year. Rutherford averaged 4.8 points per game with Hillard just behind him at 4.3 points per game.
Sophomores Kaiden Gannaway and Brylie Fielder and freshmen Ethan Foster, Brady Herring, Chandler Welch and Kainen Baker will be some new players who could compete to see time on the varsity court.
Expectations will be high for the Tigers this year with a deep and talented roster returning.
“I am a believer that every game is going to be big for us this year. We have to get better to reach the goals we want to reach, so all court time is going to be big for us. We now have a target on us after a big year last year; returning the majority of the core of the team and add some strong pieces. Each night we are going to have to be ready to play,” Dryer said. “We are talented and I expect us to be better than we were a year ago. I am eager to see what we do in the early part of the schedule.”
